WASHINGTON CONTRACTOR LICENSE PRACTICE
EXAMINATION 2026–2027 — COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE | LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027 | ACTUAL
EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | EXAM
REVIEW | 100% CORRECT ANSWERS | VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS
1. Under RCW 18.27, which of the following persons is required to register as
a contractor with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries?
A) An employee performing construction work for a registered contractor
B) A homeowner performing work on their own residence without
compensation
C) A person who advertises, offers to do work, submits bids, or performs
construction for compensation
D) A material supplier delivering lumber to a job site
Correct Answer: C
RCW 18.27.010 defines a contractor broadly and requires registration for any
person or business that advertises, offers, bids, or performs construction work for
compensation. Employees working for a registered contractor are not required to
register themselves. Homeowners doing their own work without compensation
and material suppliers are exempt.
2. A registered general contractor in Washington wants to perform electrical
work on a project. Which statement is correct?
A) The general contractor may perform electrical work if it is incidental to
the project
B) The general contractor must subcontract the electrical work to a licensed
, electrical contractor or hold the appropriate electrical license
C) A general contractor may perform any specialty work as long as they are
registered
D) Washington does not require separate electrical licensing
Correct Answer: B
Electrical work in Washington requires an electrical contractor license issued by
L&I, separate from general contractor registration. A general contractor cannot
perform or supervise electrical work unless properly licensed as an electrical
contractor or subcontracting to one. Specialty licenses are required for electrical,
plumbing, and elevator work.
3. A contractor submits a bid for a residential project in Washington. The bid is
accepted by the homeowner. When must the contractor provide a written
contract?
A) Within 10 days of starting work
B) Before starting work
C) After the first progress payment
D) Only if the project exceeds $5,000
Correct Answer: B
Washington law requires a written contract for residential construction before
work begins. The contract must include specific disclosures, including the
contractor's registration number, project description, payment schedule, and right
to cancel. Providing the contract after starting work violates consumer protection
provisions.
4. Which Washington law governs mechanic's liens on private construction
projects?
A) RCW 19.28
B) RCW 60.04
C) WAC 296-200A
D) RCW 18.27
,Correct Answer: B
RCW 60.04 is Washington's mechanic's lien statute, providing lien rights to
contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers who furnish labor or materials for
private construction. RCW 19.28 governs electrical licensing. WAC 296-200A
governs contractor registration. RCW 18.27 is contractor registration law.
5. A subcontractor wants to preserve lien rights on a private project. What is
the first required step?
A) File a lawsuit
B) Send a pre-claim notice to the owner within 60 days of first furnishing
labor or materials
C) Record a lien immediately after starting work
D) Request a bond from the general contractor
Correct Answer: B
Under RCW 60.04, a subcontractor or supplier who does not have a direct contract
with the owner must send a pre-claim notice to the owner within 60 days of first
furnishing labor or materials to preserve lien rights. Failing to send this notice may
result in loss of lien rights. Filing a lawsuit is a later step.
6. What is the maximum civil penalty L&I may impose on a contractor who
performs work without being registered in Washington?
A) $500
B) $1,000
C) $5,000
D) $10,000
Correct Answer: C
Under RCW 18.27.020 and related penalty provisions, L&I may impose civil
penalties up to $5,000 per violation for unregistered contractor activity. Additional
penalties may apply for repeat violations. The other amounts are below the
statutory maximum.
7. A contractor's registration in Washington expires. What must the contractor
do to continue working legally?
, A) Continue working while the renewal is pending
B) Stop work and renew the registration before performing any further
contracting work
C) Work only on projects under $10,000
D) Work under another contractor's registration
Correct Answer: B
A contractor must renew registration before it expires. Working with an expired
registration is unlawful and may result in penalties, loss of lien rights, and inability
to enforce contracts. There is no grace period for performing construction work;
working under another contractor's registration is also prohibited.
8. Which of the following must be included in a Washington residential
construction contract?
A) The contractor's social security number
B) The contractor's registration number and a description of the work
C) The owner's bank account information
D) A waiver of all warranties
Correct Answer: B
RCW 18.27.800 and WAC 296-200A require residential contracts to include the
contractor's registration number, a description of the work, the total price or
estimate, and a schedule of payments. The other items are not required and some
are prohibited or inappropriate.
9. A contractor hires a subcontractor who is not registered with L&I. The
subcontractor performs work but is not paid. Which statement is true?
A) The subcontractor can file a lien because the general contractor is
registered
B) The subcontractor cannot enforce its contract or file a lien because
unregistered contractors lose those rights
C) The homeowner must pay the subcontractor directly
D) The general contractor is not liable for payment
EXAMINATION 2026–2027 — COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE | LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027 | ACTUAL
EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | EXAM
REVIEW | 100% CORRECT ANSWERS | VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS
1. Under RCW 18.27, which of the following persons is required to register as
a contractor with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries?
A) An employee performing construction work for a registered contractor
B) A homeowner performing work on their own residence without
compensation
C) A person who advertises, offers to do work, submits bids, or performs
construction for compensation
D) A material supplier delivering lumber to a job site
Correct Answer: C
RCW 18.27.010 defines a contractor broadly and requires registration for any
person or business that advertises, offers, bids, or performs construction work for
compensation. Employees working for a registered contractor are not required to
register themselves. Homeowners doing their own work without compensation
and material suppliers are exempt.
2. A registered general contractor in Washington wants to perform electrical
work on a project. Which statement is correct?
A) The general contractor may perform electrical work if it is incidental to
the project
B) The general contractor must subcontract the electrical work to a licensed
, electrical contractor or hold the appropriate electrical license
C) A general contractor may perform any specialty work as long as they are
registered
D) Washington does not require separate electrical licensing
Correct Answer: B
Electrical work in Washington requires an electrical contractor license issued by
L&I, separate from general contractor registration. A general contractor cannot
perform or supervise electrical work unless properly licensed as an electrical
contractor or subcontracting to one. Specialty licenses are required for electrical,
plumbing, and elevator work.
3. A contractor submits a bid for a residential project in Washington. The bid is
accepted by the homeowner. When must the contractor provide a written
contract?
A) Within 10 days of starting work
B) Before starting work
C) After the first progress payment
D) Only if the project exceeds $5,000
Correct Answer: B
Washington law requires a written contract for residential construction before
work begins. The contract must include specific disclosures, including the
contractor's registration number, project description, payment schedule, and right
to cancel. Providing the contract after starting work violates consumer protection
provisions.
4. Which Washington law governs mechanic's liens on private construction
projects?
A) RCW 19.28
B) RCW 60.04
C) WAC 296-200A
D) RCW 18.27
,Correct Answer: B
RCW 60.04 is Washington's mechanic's lien statute, providing lien rights to
contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers who furnish labor or materials for
private construction. RCW 19.28 governs electrical licensing. WAC 296-200A
governs contractor registration. RCW 18.27 is contractor registration law.
5. A subcontractor wants to preserve lien rights on a private project. What is
the first required step?
A) File a lawsuit
B) Send a pre-claim notice to the owner within 60 days of first furnishing
labor or materials
C) Record a lien immediately after starting work
D) Request a bond from the general contractor
Correct Answer: B
Under RCW 60.04, a subcontractor or supplier who does not have a direct contract
with the owner must send a pre-claim notice to the owner within 60 days of first
furnishing labor or materials to preserve lien rights. Failing to send this notice may
result in loss of lien rights. Filing a lawsuit is a later step.
6. What is the maximum civil penalty L&I may impose on a contractor who
performs work without being registered in Washington?
A) $500
B) $1,000
C) $5,000
D) $10,000
Correct Answer: C
Under RCW 18.27.020 and related penalty provisions, L&I may impose civil
penalties up to $5,000 per violation for unregistered contractor activity. Additional
penalties may apply for repeat violations. The other amounts are below the
statutory maximum.
7. A contractor's registration in Washington expires. What must the contractor
do to continue working legally?
, A) Continue working while the renewal is pending
B) Stop work and renew the registration before performing any further
contracting work
C) Work only on projects under $10,000
D) Work under another contractor's registration
Correct Answer: B
A contractor must renew registration before it expires. Working with an expired
registration is unlawful and may result in penalties, loss of lien rights, and inability
to enforce contracts. There is no grace period for performing construction work;
working under another contractor's registration is also prohibited.
8. Which of the following must be included in a Washington residential
construction contract?
A) The contractor's social security number
B) The contractor's registration number and a description of the work
C) The owner's bank account information
D) A waiver of all warranties
Correct Answer: B
RCW 18.27.800 and WAC 296-200A require residential contracts to include the
contractor's registration number, a description of the work, the total price or
estimate, and a schedule of payments. The other items are not required and some
are prohibited or inappropriate.
9. A contractor hires a subcontractor who is not registered with L&I. The
subcontractor performs work but is not paid. Which statement is true?
A) The subcontractor can file a lien because the general contractor is
registered
B) The subcontractor cannot enforce its contract or file a lien because
unregistered contractors lose those rights
C) The homeowner must pay the subcontractor directly
D) The general contractor is not liable for payment
