Section 20-397. Exceptions

No contractor's license shall be required in the
  following instances:
    1. An individual who performs labor or services for a  contractor  for
  wages or salary.
    2.  A  plumber,  electrician, architect, professional engineer, or any
  other such person who is  required  by  state  or  city  law  to  attain
  standards  of  competency or experience as a prerequisite to engaging in
  such craft or profession, or any person required to be licensed pursuant
  to article six-D of the general business law to engage in  the  business
  of installing, servicing, or maintaining security or fire alarm systems,
  and  who is acting exclusively within the scope of the craft, profession
  or business for which he or she is currently licensed pursuant  to  such
  other law.
    3.  Any retail clerk, clerical, administrative, or other employee of a
  licensed contractor,  as  to  a  transaction  on  the  premises  of  the
  contractor.
    4. This subchapter shall not apply to or affect the validity of a home
  improvement  contract  otherwise  within  the purview of this subchapter
  which is made prior to October first, nineteen hundred sixty-eight.
    5. Any home improvement, where the aggregate contract  price  for  all
  labor  materials  and other items is less than two hundred dollars. This
  exemption does not apply where the work is only  part  of  a  larger  or
  major   operation,  whether  undertaken  by  the  same  or  a  different
  contractor, or in which a division of the operation is made in contracts
  of amounts less than two hundred dollars for the purpose of  evasion  of
  this provision or otherwise.