How to get a contractor license in Massachusetts: Construction Supervisor License (CSL) and Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration
Massachusetts licenses general contractors at the state level. Massachusetts uses a supervisor-license model: the state issues a Construction Supervisor License (CSL) through OPSI for those who supervise construction of one- and two-family homes and other smaller buildings, and home improvement contractors must also register separately with the state.
- Licensing level
- state
- Exam vendor
- PSI
- Verified
- Official source
Massachusetts contractor licenses at a glance
| License | Issued by | How you get it |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Supervisor License (CSL) | OPSI, Division of Occupational Licensure | Three years of documented building experience, the PSI exam on the Massachusetts building code (780 CMR), then the OPSI application. Unrestricted or Restricted (one- and two-family) versions. |
| Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration | Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation | Registration, not an exam: required to contract for improvements to existing one- to four-family homes, with a fee into the Guaranty Fund. |
| Electrical, plumbing and gas licenses | Boards of State Examiners | Separate state trade licenses with their own exams. |
Start at the source
Office of Public Safety and Inspections (OPSI), Division of Occupational Licensure is the official authority. Its site, www.mass.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 look up a Massachusetts home improvement contractor license?
HIC registrations are searched on the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation's HIC lookup on mass.gov, by name or registration number; it shows status and any complaint history. Construction Supervisor Licenses are checked separately through the Division of Occupational Licensure's license verification search.
How do I get a CSL in Massachusetts?
Document three years of experience in building construction, apply to OPSI for exam eligibility, pass the PSI Construction Supervisor exam on the Massachusetts building code (open book against the allowed references), then complete the OPSI license application. The candidate bulletin names the exact code editions allowed at the exam.
Is there a general contractor license in MA?
Not by that name. Massachusetts regulates the supervisor of the work through the CSL and the business through HIC registration for home improvement; a contractor building or remodeling homes usually needs both. Commercial projects are supervised under the Unrestricted CSL and permitted locally.
Does Massachusetts require a state contractor license?
Massachusetts licenses general contractors at the state level. Massachusetts uses a supervisor-license model: the state issues a Construction Supervisor License (CSL) through OPSI for those who supervise construction of one- and two-family homes and other smaller buildings, and home improvement contractors must also register separately with the state.
Who do I contact to get licensed in Massachusetts?
Office of Public Safety and Inspections (OPSI), Division of Occupational Licensure is the state authority. Its official site carries the current application requirements.
Is the Massachusetts contractor exam open book?
Where Massachusetts 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
- www.mass.gov/office-of-public-safety-and-inspections-opsi-licensing
- www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-construction-supervisor-license
Other states
| Kentucky | local |
| Louisiana | state |
| Maine | local |
| Maryland | hybrid |
| Michigan | hybrid |
| Minnesota | hybrid |
| Mississippi | state |
| Missouri | local |
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.
The 120-second study sheet, free
Every topic weight on all four residential exams, the code-vocabulary glossary, and the two-week study sequence, on one printable page. Enter your email and we will send you straight to it.
No spam. One useful sheet and occasional notes.