Insurance
Some states will require proof of insurance and perhaps bonding before you can get your license.
Some states don't regulate the painting trade
There are some states in the "land of the free and home of the brave" that do not require a painter to be licensed at all. In these states it is "buyer beware" for the most part.
Does your state require licensing?
You can check with the Contractor's Licensing Reference Site to see what they have there for your state. While I cannot vouch for the accuracy of this site, it is worth noting that the national PDCA trade association lists this site on their website under "check on state licensing requirements" , so that holds some weight. To be safe use the references listed on the site and you own state's website (or call your state licensing department) to verify the information listed there.
My recommendation
I am not big on government regulation as a rule, but I do favor states requiring some sensible licensing procedure for painting contractors to help weed out the "Bubbas" from the serious tradesmen. Find out your state's requirements and operate within that framework.
At a minimum even if your state does not require licensing , the painting contractor should join a trade association so that he stays current with the latest laws and issues affecting the trade. The primary trade association for painters is The Painting and Decorating Contractors of America.
Many, but not all states require a painter to have a contractor's license. There is not a national licensing board that distributes the license requirements and tests, it is done on a state to state level, and requirements vary from state to state.
In the state of Michigan for instance, a person who does business in painting of residential or a combination of residential and commercial painting with a contract value of $600 or more must be licensed.
They want to know that you are competent
The usual requirements for licensing are: showing you have the necessary expertise to do painting and decorating jobs. This is usually ascertained by a written test. Some states require a number of years work experience working in the trade also.
Written tests often (as in the state of Michigan) will test you on contracting law on such topics as contractors lien law requirements, contacts etc....
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