Things to Remember When Getting a Contractors License

Contractors are one of the essential members in the field of construction. They oversee the project in terms of providing the necessary materials and manpower to build future spaces. 

The Contractors License Law, also known as R.A. 4566, makes sure that only qualified contractors, subcontractors, and specialty Filipino contractors engage in business by obtaining a Philippines Contractor Accreditation Board (PCAB) license. 

Looking to get yours? Don’t forget to keep these tips in mind:

1. The applicant should only apply for the license they need.

There are two kinds of licenses that PCAB regulates. There is the regular license given to domestic construction firms under sole proprietorships, partnerships, or corporations. Another one is the special licenses, which are produced only for joint ventures, consortiums, and foreign contractors.

These licenses need different requirements depending on the purpose it’s being applied for, so make sure you got the right documents!

2. The applicant must meet all requirements.

As stated in this checklist, applicants must submit all the necessary paperwork in a regular legal-size folder. These supplementing documents will include legal, financial, and technical requirements that will be checked by the Board.

Applicants must also take a 2-day AMO seminar, a 40-hour Construction Safety & Health Seminar (COSH), and pass the written examination as part of the requirements.

3. The applicant must be physically present for the new license.

It is now possible to renew your license online, but the firm’s owner/proprietor, authorized managing officer, or authorized representative has to make an official visit to file and claim if it’s a new license. Applicants can download the forms and check the results online, but all other procedures such as submission, prescreening, evaluation, and claiming will be done through accredited offices.

You can file your application through the PCAB office of the (Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines) CIAP offices at the DTI Regional Office or DTI Provincial offices.

4. The total processing time depends on the license you applied.

Each license can get affected by a whole slew of factors that could shorten or even prolong the processing time. Apart from checking the documents, the application also undergoes review by the Board and may add a few more days for additional revisions or projects.

But for good measure, issuing new licenses usually takes 30 business days. Licenses that are for renewal get released after at least 10 business days.

Regular licenses are valid from July 1 until June 30 of the next year unless it gets revoked, canceled, suspended, or invalidated by the Board. After that, PH contractors may renew their licenses annually. Special licenses also expire once the project is complete.