How to get a contractor license in Maryland: MHIC home improvement license and MHBR home builder registration
Maryland uses a split system: part state, part local. Maryland licenses home improvement contractors statewide through the MHIC (with the exam administered by PSI), but there is no statewide general/commercial building contractor license, so commercial GC requirements are set locally.
- Licensing level
- hybrid
- Exam vendor
- PSI
- Verified
- Official source
Maryland contractor licenses at a glance
| License | Issued by | How you get it |
|---|---|---|
| Home improvement contractor license (MHIC) | Maryland Home Improvement Commission, Department of Labor | The PSI MHIC exam, proof of liability insurance, financial solvency and the application. Required for improvements to existing homes. |
| Home builder registration (MHBR) | Office of the Attorney General, Home Builder Registration Unit | Registration for builders of new homes; no exam. |
| Commercial general contractor | City or county | No statewide license; requirements are local. |
Start at the source
Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC), Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Maryland Department of Labor is the official authority. Its site, www.labor.maryland.gov, carries the current requirements, applications and any candidate bulletin. Everything on this page routes back to it, because requirements change and the agency's version is the one that counts.
The path, wherever you are
- Confirm the licensing level above with the authority, then pull the current application checklist from its site.
- Where a trade exam is required, get the candidate bulletin: it names the exam vendor, the topics, and the exact reference editions allowed on the table.
- Buy the referenced code books in the exact editions listed, and tab them yourself within whatever marking the bulletin permits.
- Train the lookup, not just the knowledge: contractor trade exams are commonly open book, which makes finding the governing section fast the actual tested skill.
- Expect a separate business and law exam in many jurisdictions, with its own reference book.
Why open book changes your prep
An open-book exam gives you the answers and takes away the time to find them. The candidates who fail are rarely the ones who knew the least; they are the ones who found things slowest. That lookup skill is what this site trains:the free timed drill shows you your seconds-per-lookup in two minutes.
Not sure whether you need a contractor license or an ICC inspector certification? The two are issued by different bodies and scored differently: seeinspector certification vs contractor licenseand why the ICC passing score is a scaled 75.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get an MHIC license in Maryland?
Pass the PSI MHIC home improvement exam, then file the MHIC application with proof of liability insurance, evidence of financial solvency and the fee. The Commission's site carries the exam bulletin, fees and the current insurance minimum. A salesperson license is separate from the contractor license.
How do I look up an MHIC number?
Use the MHIC license search on the Maryland Department of Labor's website: search by contractor name or license number to confirm the license is active and see its expiration. Maryland requires the MHIC number on contracts and advertising, so a missing number is itself a warning sign.
What is an MHBR license?
Maryland Home Builder Registration, issued by the Home Builder Registration Unit in the Office of the Attorney General. It covers building new homes rather than improving existing ones, which is MHIC's territory; many residential contractors hold both.
Does Maryland require a state contractor license?
Maryland uses a split system: part state, part local. Maryland licenses home improvement contractors statewide through the MHIC (with the exam administered by PSI), but there is no statewide general/commercial building contractor license, so commercial GC requirements are set locally.
Who do I contact to get licensed in Maryland?
Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC), Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Maryland Department of Labor is the state authority. Its official site carries the current application requirements.
Is the Maryland contractor exam open book?
Where Maryland or its localities require a trade exam, contractor trade exams are commonly open book against the adopted code and reference list, administered by PSI. The candidate bulletin for your specific exam is the authority, and it names the exact editions allowed on the table.
Sources
Other states
| Kansas | local |
| Kentucky | local |
| Louisiana | state |
| Maine | local |
| Massachusetts | state |
| Michigan | hybrid |
| Minnesota | hybrid |
| Mississippi | state |
The kit that goes on the table
2024 IRCThe book itself
2021 IRC + tabsIf you register on 2021
2024 Fast-TabsPlace them yourself
Construction Master ProFeet-inch math, no errorsMatch the book and tabs to the edition you register for.Confirm which, first.
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