How to get a contractor license in Mississippi

Licensing office Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) · (601) 354-6161 [8][9]

The license pathway in Mississippi

1. 1

   Residential Remodeler

   • Residential Remodeler exam (50 questions, 150 minutes) plus Law and Business Management (50 questions, 2 hours)
   • $50 application; $120 PSI fee per exam portion
   • Yearly ($100); 2 hours CE

   Needed when you remodel, repair or add on to an existing home and the job costs more than $10,000. It covers homes up to three floors and includes roofing. A separate Residential Roofer license covers roofing only. [2][6][7][18][19]

2. 2

   Residential Builder

   • Residential Builder exam (80 questions, 3 hours) plus Law and Business Management
   • $50 application; $120 PSI fee per exam portion
   • Yearly ($100); 2 hours CE

   Needed to build a home for someone else when the job costs more than $50,000. It covers residential buildings for 50 or fewer families, up to three floors, including remodeling and roofing, and new commercial buildings up to 7,500 square feet and two stories. [1][2][3][6][7][18][19]

3. 3

   Commercial Building Construction (Certificate of Responsibility)

   • Building Construction exam (80 questions, 3 hours) or the NASCLA (National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies) Commercial General Building exam, plus Law and Business Management
   • $400 application (one classification included; $100 each extra); $120 PSI fee per exam portion
   • Yearly ($400)

   Needed for commercial jobs over $50,000. You need a CPA-reviewed financial statement showing a net worth of at least $50,000 for a major classification, and liability insurance of at least $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate. [1][3][6][7][8][10][18]

When you need an MSBOC license

• New homes: a residential builder license when the job costs more than $50,000.
• Remodeling, additions and roofing on homes: a residential remodeler (or roofer) license when the job costs more than $10,000.
• Commercial work: a commercial license for contractors and subcontractors on jobs over $50,000, including equipment installation.
• Home trades: electrical, plumbing, mechanical and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) subcontractors, of any tier, on any residential project need a license no matter the dollar amount. See the electrician, plumber and HVAC pages.
• Home solar: a residential solar contractor license to install, modify, maintain and repair thermal and photovoltaic solar energy systems.

A residential builder may also do new commercial projects up to 7,500 square feet and two stories. The commercial law doesn't cover residential projects for 50 or fewer families and up to three stories, or owners building or improving their own building that isn't for sale, lease, public use or assembly. [1][2][3][5][6]

Exams

PSI gives all MSBOC exams. All are open book, and you need 70% to pass. PSI charges $120 per exam portion.

• Law and Business Management: required for every applicant. 50 questions, 2 hours.
• Residential Builder: 80 questions, 3 hours.
• Residential Remodeler: 50 questions, 150 minutes.
• Building Construction (commercial): 80 questions, 3 hours. You can take the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building instead.

The person who takes the exams is the company's qualifying party: an owner, officer or responsible managing employee who actually works in the classification. One person can qualify at most three companies. [1][4][7][8][9][10]

Insurance, finances and local rules

Residential applicants need general liability insurance (no minimum amount) and workers' compensation if the law requires it. When you sign a contract for home work, the law says you must tell the buyer in writing, in bold, larger type just before the buyer's signature, whether you carry general liability insurance. Commercial applicants need at least $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate, plus a CPA-reviewed financial statement: a net worth of at least $50,000 for a major classification such as Building Construction, or $20,000 for others.

Cities add their own steps. Jackson, for example, requires a copy of your MSBOC license before it issues a building permit, makes contractors register with its building official, and requires liability insurance of $500,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate. [1][5][10][11][12][13]

If you're licensed in another state

MSBOC's agreements waive only the trade exam: everyone takes the Mississippi Business and Law exam and completes the full application. MSBOC lists agreements with the Alabama General Contractors Board and Home Builders Licensure Board, the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board, the California Contractors State License Board (commercial building only), the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board, the Georgia Board of Residential and General Contractors, the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors, the South Carolina Contractors Licensing Board and Residential Builders Commission, and the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. It still accepts passing Louisiana exam scores. Conditions (years licensed, no recent discipline) vary.

Under the Universal Recognition of Occupational Licenses Act, someone who has established Mississippi residency and has held a similar license in another state for at least one year, or worked three years in a state that doesn't license construction, can ask MSBOC to waive the trade exam. Military members and their families are covered by the Military Family Freedom Act.

The law also says nonresident contractors must be licensed by MSBOC to do residential construction or improvement work in Mississippi. [5][8][14][15]

Steps to get licensed in Mississippi

1. Choose your classification

   Check the MSBOC classifications: Residential Remodeler, Residential Builder, Commercial Building Construction or a specialty. [6]

2. Apply to MSBOC

   Send the application with the fee ($50 residential, $400 commercial), three reference letters, a list of at least three completed jobs and proof of insurance. Commercial applicants add a CPA-reviewed financial statement. [10][16][17][18]

3. Take the exams with PSI

   After MSBOC approves you to test, PSI emails you. Book the Law and Business Management exam and any trade exam; all are open book. [4][7]

4. Get board approval

   MSBOC reviews completed applications weekly; approval and license issue take about seven working days. [1]

5. Renew every year

   Renew yearly ($100 residential, $400 commercial). Residential license holders complete 2 hours of continuing education a year. A residential license expires 12 months after it's issued or renewed; you can still renew within 180 days after it expires by paying the fee plus a 10% penalty. [1][5][18][19]

Where to get the hours

Programs that train general contractors in or for Mississippi, from their own official pages. Listed by type, not ranked.

• Other

  MCEF Kickstart classes (Build Mississippi)

  The Mississippi Construction Education Foundation offers paid 8-week Kickstart classes, including Construction 101, with NCCER credentials, OSHA 10 and CPR/first aid certification. [20]

• Open shop

  MCEF apprenticeships

  MCEF runs 4-year apprenticeships in electrical, HVAC, plumbing and sheet metal, training in Pearl or Gulfport while you work full time. [20]

Licensed in another state?

Questions people ask