Fenn, J E; Hutchings, D M and Burr, K L (2008) The purposes for state residential general contractor licensing in the United States. International Journal of Construction Education and Research, 4(2), pp. 67-81. ISSN 1557-8771
Abstract
Justification of professional licensure for residential general contractors in the United States is a topic that has been debated for some time. Many believe license laws are enacted to protect consumers from unscrupulous builders or to guarantee quality construction. Others argue that they are enacted to limit entry to the profession. Others might think licensure fulfills both purposes. This study identifies the stated purposes for licensing residential general contractors and identifies the methods used to evaluate whether or not those purposes are being fulfilled. In addition, requirements for licensure are reported. Only about half the states require licensure for residential general contractors, and most find they lack the manpower to effectively regulate contractors and protect consumers. Because the main purpose of licensure is to protect the health and safety of consumers, and because states have a difficult time enforcing their own regulations, it can be argued that licensure may not be fulfilling its stated purpose.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | licensing; occupational regulation; residential contractors |
| Index terms: | health and safety, licensing, United States, profession, regulation, builder, guarantee, general contractor |
| Subjects: | practitioner, institututions, health safety and environment, political science, knowledge transfer, Geography, contract structure |
| Topics: | Governance, Roles and Professions, Health and Safety, Digital Applications, Procurement, Geographical Context |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PC |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here