(a) There shall be nine (9) major construction classifications in which a contractor may apply for a license, the major classifications being:

(1) Commercial building construction;

(2) Industrial construction;

(3) Heavy construction;

(4) Highway, railroad and airport construction;

(5) Municipal and utility construction;

(6) Mechanical construction;

(7) Electrical construction;

(8) Environmental and special construction; and

(9) Residential construction.

(b) The board shall promulgate by rules or regulations specialty classifications required under each major classification set out in subsection (a). Issuance of a license by the board to a contractor in any major classification automatically includes issuance of a license to the contractor in all specialty classifications included under the major classification.

(c) A contractor may obtain a license in any of the specialty classifications that the board by rule or regulation may promulgate under each major classification, but the license in a specialty classification allows the contractor to bid, contract for or perform contracting work in that specialty classification only.

(d) A contractor may not be licensed in six (6) or more specialty classifications under any one (1) major classification without successfully passing the written or oral examination, or both, for the major classification.

(e) Notwithstanding any provision of this part to the contrary, the board may promulgate rules or regulations establishing subclassifications within the residential construction classification for which a limited license may be issued to an applicant who has successfully completed a seminar sponsored by the board in lieu of the written or oral examination, or both, and who has otherwise complied with the requirements of this part.

(f)

(1) A commercial building contractor is authorized to bid on and contract for the construction, erection, alteration, repair or demolition of any building or structure for use and occupancy by the general public, including residential construction with more than four (4) units or greater than three (3) stories in height.

(2) A small commercial building contractor is authorized to bid on and contract for the construction, erection, alteration, repair or demolition of any building or structure for use and occupancy by the general public, the total cost of which does not exceed one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000).

(g)

(1) Licensed contractors in the category set forth under subdivision (a)(9), licensed on or after January 1, 2009, must complete continuing education, a minimum of eight (8) hours biennially, by a board-approved provider. Proof of compliance with this requirement must be filed with the board biennially in the format required by the board, as a condition for the maintenance or renewal of the license.

(2) Active membership in a professional trade association, approved by the board, qualifies as four (4) hours of continuing education annually. Proof of membership must be filed with the board biennially.

(3) The board shall promulgate rules to effectuate this subsection (g). The rules shall include, at a minimum, provisions allowing online and in-person training. All such rules must be promulgated in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.