How Does the Qualifying Agent Relationship Actually Work?
It's a genuine employment relationship, not a credential rental. It's at-will, can be part-time or full-time, either party can end it, and the terms are negotiated directly between the two parties like any other hire.
Is this a genuine employment relationship?
Yes, and it has to be. A qualifying agent has to be actively, genuinely involved in the business's work — regulators treat anyone simply attaching their name to a business without real involvement as a license rental, not a legitimate arrangement. Beyond that requirement, it works like any other job: it's at-will employment in most states (learn more about your state here), it can be part-time or full-time, either party can end it, and the terms are negotiated directly between the two of you, not set or verified by findQualifier.com.
What is the scope of a qualifier's responsibility?
A qualifier's responsibility ultimately comes down to one thing: supervising the actual work the company performs in the trade they're licensed for. That's the scope — not just paperwork or permits, but the real work being done under their license, which is exactly why genuine, active involvement is a legal requirement, not a formality.
What does "supervision" actually look like in practice?
Real, hands-on involvement — reviewing work, pulling permits, and being genuinely reachable and involved in decisions related to the trade. It's not a passive or symbolic role; the amount of actual involvement expected is exactly what separates a legitimate qualifying agent from a rented license.
Does the license belong to the business or the qualifier?
The qualifier, personally. It's portable — it belongs to them, not the business, and it's not something the business keeps or owns if the relationship ends.
Can a qualifier work for more than one business?
Yes, as long as they can genuinely fulfill the role for each one. See our guide on whether a business can have more than one qualifying agent for how that actually works.
Do you need to be licensed yourself to hire one?
No — this relationship is exactly what makes that possible. See our guide on starting a contracting business without a license for how that works.
How much does this cost?
There's no fixed number — see our guide on how much it costs to hire a qualifying agent for how pay actually breaks down.
How do you find a qualifying agent?
findQualifier.com is a public, searchable board of licensed professionals advertising their availability to work as a qualifier, by state and trade. Browse available qualifiers or post a listing so qualifiers can find you instead.