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How to become a licensed general contractor in Massachusetts. State-level licensing required. Experience: 3 years. Total initial fees: $400. Verified 2026-03-22. Data verified 2026-03-22. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
General Contractor
Yes
License Required?
3 years
Experience Required
No
Bonding Required?
$400
Total Initial Fees
2 years
Renewal Period
12 hrs
CE Hours
Description
Construction Supervisor License (CSL) through OPSI/BBRS. Required for structural work. Three types: Unrestricted (buildings <35,000 cu ft + 1-2 family), Restricted (1-2 family only), Specialty. Requires 3 years experience + exam. A CSL holder must ALSO register as HIC to do home improvement work on existing owner-occupied 1-4 unit residential.
Project Limit
CSL required for any structural construction work
Additional Requirements
Description
HIC Registration through OCABR. For work on existing 1-4 unit owner-occupied residential. NO exam required. Covers 'ordinary repairs' only (painting, wallpapering, existing deck repair). Any structural work (building a deck, additions, etc.) requires a separate CSL. Registration fee $150 + Guaranty Fund contribution. All registrations/renewals via MA Contractor Hub (online only, effective Jan 5, 2026).
Project Limit
Written contract required for work estimated at $1,000+
Additional Requirements
Description
Specialty Construction Supervisor License for specific trades. Fee: $150 + $100 per specialty classification. Requires 3 years experience + exam. 6 hours CE per 2-year cycle.
Additional Requirements
Experience & Documentation
Verified3
Years Required
Required
Documented Project History
Journeyman/Trade Experience
Minimum 3 years of documented experience in the construction trade
Alternative Pathways (Education Substitutions)
Exam Requirements
VerifiedRequired
Trade Exam
Not Required
Business & Law Exam
Exam Provider
PSI
Passing Score
70%
Open Book
Yes
Trade Exam Details
CSL exam administered by PSI (switched from Prometric effective Jan 1, 2025). Unrestricted: 75 questions, 3 hours, open book, 70% passing. Restricted: 60 questions, 3 hours, open book, 70% passing. Based on 10th Edition State Building Code (2021 ICC codes). 9th Edition exams discontinued Dec 31, 2024. HIC registration does NOT require any exam.
Business & Law Exam Details
No separate business/law exam — included in CSL exam
Retake Policy
May retake after waiting period. Contact PSI for scheduling.
Bonding Requirements
VerifiedSurety Bond Not Required
Bond Types
Surety bonds protect consumers by providing financial recourse if a contractor fails to complete a project or violates licensing regulations. Bond costs are typically 1-3% of the bond amount annually.
Insurance & Workers' Comp
VerifiedRequired
General Liability
Required
Workers' Compensation
Minimum Coverage
No specific GL dollar minimum for CSL. Workers' compensation required for all employers with 1+ employees (no exemptions).
Additional Insurance Requirements
Workers' Comp Threshold
Required for all employers with 1 or more employees — no exemptions in construction
Workers' Comp Details
Massachusetts requires workers' compensation insurance for ALL employers with 1 or more employees. There is no sole proprietor exemption for construction work.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee CSL license fee (Unrestricted or Restricted) | $150 |
Exam Fee Per exam attempt (PSI). Sources conflict: $65 vs $100. $100 appears more current. | $100 |
License Fee CSL: $150. HIC registration: $150. Specialty: $150 + $100/specialty. | $150 |
Renewal Fee CSL renewal: $100 biennial. HIC renewal: $100 biennial. 1-year grace period, up to 2 years with $100 late fee. Beyond 2 years: retake exam. | $100 |
Total Initial Fees CSL: ~$150 license + $100 exam + Guaranty Fund. HIC: $150 registration + Guaranty Fund. | $400 |
Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified2 years
Renewal Period
12 hrs
CE Hours Required
CE Topics
Renewal Fee
$100
Regulatory Board
Contractor licenses must be renewed on schedule. Many states require continuing education covering building codes, safety practices, business law, and energy efficiency standards.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedDoes Not Accept Out-of-State Credentials
ICC Certification Not Accepted
Reciprocity Type
Full application required
Transfer Details
No reciprocity. CSL is Massachusetts-specific. No NASCLA. Out-of-state contractors must complete full CSL exam and application process.
General contractor license reciprocity varies significantly by state. Some states recognize ICC certifications, while others require passing the state exam regardless of prior credentials. Always verify current policies with the state licensing board.
Massachusetts is one of few states with completely separate credentials: CSL (exam-based license for structural work) and HIC (registration only for home improvement). A CSL holder must also register as HIC to do home improvement work, and HIC alone only covers 'ordinary repairs.' Exam provider switched from Prometric to PSI on Jan 1, 2025.
Massachusetts has TWO completely separate contractor credentials: Construction Supervisor License (CSL) through OPSI for structural work, and Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration through OCABR for residential repairs. These are NOT interchangeable.
CSL exam switched from Prometric to PSI effective January 1, 2025. Now based on 10th Edition State Building Code (2021 ICC codes).
All HIC registrations/renewals must be completed online via the MA Contractor Hub (effective January 5, 2026). Paper applications and certified checks no longer accepted.
No bond required — Guaranty Fund replaces bonding. Max claim $25,000.
Buildings >35,000 cu ft require licensed engineer or architect, NOT a CSL.
No reciprocity, no NASCLA.
Written contract required for HIC work estimated at $1,000+.
OPSI: One Federal Street, Suite 600, Boston, MA 02110-2012. Phone: (617) 727-3200.
HIC consumer hotline: 888-283-3757. HIC address: 1 Federal Street, Suite 0720, Boston, MA 02110-2012.
Lien Law Basics
Preliminary Notice: Required
Lien Deadline: 120 days after completion
Massachusetts construction lien law: Preliminary notice is required to preserve lien rights. Lien filing deadline: 120 days after completion.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Massachusetts.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#31 of 51
Salary
#7 of 51
Cost
#8 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (SOC 47-1011)
Entry Level
$79,080
25th percentile
Median
$97,480
+24% vs. national avg ($78,690)Experienced
$118,920
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
20,110 employed in this state
Note: BLS category "First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades" is broader than general contractors specifically. It includes supervisors across all construction specialties.
Source: BLS OEWS – First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
+5.5%
Average GrowthNew Jobs
+40,500
over 10 years
Annual Openings
55,200
per year (avg.)
729,900 currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Electrical Career Ladder+19% salary growth potential
You are here
Electrical Contractor
$97,480
Master electrician license + contractor license
Apprenticeship (4-5 years) + journeyman exam
$82,120
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Electrical Contractor
Master electrician license + contractor license
$97,480
Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024 for this state. Career paths represent common advancement routes — actual progression may vary. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Estimated total: 164–178 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
4–12 weeks
Estimated processing time
Study guides and practice tests for the general contractor licensing exam.
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Accessed 2026-03-06
Accessed 2026-03-22
Accessed 2026-03-22
Massachusetts requires state-level contractor licensing. 3 years of experience is required. All licensing is managed through the Massachusetts OPSI (CSL) / OCABR (HIC).
Requirements vary by state and local jurisdiction. Always verify current requirements with your state or local licensing authority.