Social Security Number No Longer Required to Obtain a Contractors License

Due to Senate Bill 1159 professional and vocational licensing in California will no longer require a Social Security Number (SSN), effective no later than January 1, 2016. This affects those obtaining a contractors license among many others. These types of licenses can now be obtained with only an IRS-issued ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number).

The practicality of this is dubious since you need to have a contractors license bond in order to have an active license, unless you can make a cash deposit of $12,500.00. A bond usually requires a credit check and therein lies the dilemma.

Whether you are for it or against it, it is now the law of the land. The Contractors State License Board is being proactive and accepting applications now with only ITIN's, ahead of the mandated effective date.