NY Home Improvement Contractor Exam
Study Guide Questions and Answers with
Rationales Latest Version A+
What parts of a home can a H.I. include?
Any part of the home OR land (including basements, driveways, fences, garages,
landscaping, patios, porches, sidewalks, swimming pools, and terraces.)
Home improvement (HI systems) includes, among other things, installation of
Central heating/air conditioning
Central vacuum cleaning system
Storm windows
Awnings
Communication systems
What is "home improvement" (H.I.)?
construction, repair, replacement, remodeling, alteration, conversion, rehabilitation,
renovation, modernization, improvement, or addition to any land or building or any part
of the land or building used or designed to be used as a residence or dwelling
place, including basements, driveways, fences, garages, landscaping, patios, porches,
sidewalks, swimming pools, and terraces
What is NOT considered H.I.?
Construction of a new home or building, Sale of goods or materials in connection with
the installation of or application of goods or materials, Work performed on a residence
owned or controlled by the state or municipality
When is Painting or decoration of a building, residence, home, or apartment
considered H.I.?
When there is painting work being done as part of other home improvement work.
When is Painting or decoration of a building, residence, home, or apartment NOT
considered H.I.?
When it is a standalone job not part of of other home improvement work.
Who is a "contractor"?
Anyone who owns, operates, maintains, conducts, controls, or transacts a home
improvement business and undertakes or agrees to perform any home improvement or
solicits a home improvement contract, whether or not the contractor is a prime
contractor or subcontractor. Can be an individual, a firm, a company, a partnership, or a
corporation.
What legal entity is a contractor required to be?
A contractor may be an individual, a firm, a company, a partnership, or a corporation.
What is a H.I. contract?
, An agreement between a contractor and a consumer or tenant for performance of a
home improvement
What must a H.I. contract include?
All labor, services, and materials to be furnished and performed.
Who is a "salesperson"?
Someone who negotiates a H.I. contract with a consumer or tenant, or solicits a home
improvement contract from an owner or tenant.
- Local Law 31 of 2020 repealed the licensing requirement for Home Improvement
Salespersons, individuals who solicit or negotiate contracts on behalf of contractors. As
of August 9, 2020, DCWP no longer licenses Home Improvement Salespersons.
Who must have a DCA license?
Any person who solicits, canvasses, sells, performs, or obtains a H.I. contract as a
contractor or salesperson must have a DCA license.
Does an individual employee of a contractor, who does not solicit or negotiate
contracts, need to be licensed?
No
What is the maximum amount an H.I. job can be to not require a licensed
contractor?
$200
Do plumbers and electricians who do not perform work outside their trade need a
H.I. license?
No, they have their own trade licenses.
When would an architect or engineer involved with an H.I. project need a
contractor's license?
If they are physically performing H.I. functions outside the scope of an architect or
engineer.
Who does not require a DCWP license?
- An individual employee who works for the contractor, including a salesperson
- A person performing a home improvement job, which is less than $200
- Plumbers and electricians acting within the scope of their licensed craft
- Architects and engineers acting exclusively within the scope of an architect or
engineer
Must a H.I. Contractor license be posted?
Yes, it must be posted in the Contractor's office where all consumers can see it, or show
it to consumers upon request.
Change of business address, ownership, management, or trade name must be
reported to DCA within how many days?
10 days before a change to your business trade name or address; You must notify
DCWP in advance to get approval for a change of ownership (management).
How does a person obtain a license or renew a license?
You must submit an application to DCWP for a new or renewed license. A separate
Home Improvement Contractor license is required for each place of business.
How many business locations can a H.I. Contractor's license cover?
One. A seperate license is required for each place of business.
When and how does a H.I. Contractor's license get renewed?
Study Guide Questions and Answers with
Rationales Latest Version A+
What parts of a home can a H.I. include?
Any part of the home OR land (including basements, driveways, fences, garages,
landscaping, patios, porches, sidewalks, swimming pools, and terraces.)
Home improvement (HI systems) includes, among other things, installation of
Central heating/air conditioning
Central vacuum cleaning system
Storm windows
Awnings
Communication systems
What is "home improvement" (H.I.)?
construction, repair, replacement, remodeling, alteration, conversion, rehabilitation,
renovation, modernization, improvement, or addition to any land or building or any part
of the land or building used or designed to be used as a residence or dwelling
place, including basements, driveways, fences, garages, landscaping, patios, porches,
sidewalks, swimming pools, and terraces
What is NOT considered H.I.?
Construction of a new home or building, Sale of goods or materials in connection with
the installation of or application of goods or materials, Work performed on a residence
owned or controlled by the state or municipality
When is Painting or decoration of a building, residence, home, or apartment
considered H.I.?
When there is painting work being done as part of other home improvement work.
When is Painting or decoration of a building, residence, home, or apartment NOT
considered H.I.?
When it is a standalone job not part of of other home improvement work.
Who is a "contractor"?
Anyone who owns, operates, maintains, conducts, controls, or transacts a home
improvement business and undertakes or agrees to perform any home improvement or
solicits a home improvement contract, whether or not the contractor is a prime
contractor or subcontractor. Can be an individual, a firm, a company, a partnership, or a
corporation.
What legal entity is a contractor required to be?
A contractor may be an individual, a firm, a company, a partnership, or a corporation.
What is a H.I. contract?
, An agreement between a contractor and a consumer or tenant for performance of a
home improvement
What must a H.I. contract include?
All labor, services, and materials to be furnished and performed.
Who is a "salesperson"?
Someone who negotiates a H.I. contract with a consumer or tenant, or solicits a home
improvement contract from an owner or tenant.
- Local Law 31 of 2020 repealed the licensing requirement for Home Improvement
Salespersons, individuals who solicit or negotiate contracts on behalf of contractors. As
of August 9, 2020, DCWP no longer licenses Home Improvement Salespersons.
Who must have a DCA license?
Any person who solicits, canvasses, sells, performs, or obtains a H.I. contract as a
contractor or salesperson must have a DCA license.
Does an individual employee of a contractor, who does not solicit or negotiate
contracts, need to be licensed?
No
What is the maximum amount an H.I. job can be to not require a licensed
contractor?
$200
Do plumbers and electricians who do not perform work outside their trade need a
H.I. license?
No, they have their own trade licenses.
When would an architect or engineer involved with an H.I. project need a
contractor's license?
If they are physically performing H.I. functions outside the scope of an architect or
engineer.
Who does not require a DCWP license?
- An individual employee who works for the contractor, including a salesperson
- A person performing a home improvement job, which is less than $200
- Plumbers and electricians acting within the scope of their licensed craft
- Architects and engineers acting exclusively within the scope of an architect or
engineer
Must a H.I. Contractor license be posted?
Yes, it must be posted in the Contractor's office where all consumers can see it, or show
it to consumers upon request.
Change of business address, ownership, management, or trade name must be
reported to DCA within how many days?
10 days before a change to your business trade name or address; You must notify
DCWP in advance to get approval for a change of ownership (management).
How does a person obtain a license or renew a license?
You must submit an application to DCWP for a new or renewed license. A separate
Home Improvement Contractor license is required for each place of business.
How many business locations can a H.I. Contractor's license cover?
One. A seperate license is required for each place of business.
When and how does a H.I. Contractor's license get renewed?
