Maryland Home Improvement Contractor FAQ

What types of contractor licenses are offered in Maryland?

• Contractor
• Subcontractor
• A subcontractor may only work for a licensed contractor.
• A subcontractor may not enter into contracts with homeowners.
• Salespersons

I have a misdemeanor, will I need to provide written proof to Maryland to get licensed?

Any applicant who has had a conviction of a misdemeanor relating to a home improvement transaction or a felony must provide the Maryland Home Improvement Commission with copies of conviction records.

Does Maryland require a general contractor (commercial contractor) license?

Licenses are required for commercial work and new home construction, but passing a test is not required. These licenses are issued by the Clerks of the Circuit Court. Contact the State License Bureau for further information.

Who needs an Maryland Home Improvement Contractor (MHIC) license?

Anyone performing additions to or alterations of, conversions, improvements, modernizations, remodeling, repairs, or replacements of a building or part of a building that is used or designed to be used as a residence or dwelling place or a structure adjacent to that building; or an improvement to land adjacent to the building.

A person may only be licensed to represent two licensed contractors in the selling of home improvements.

How do I get an MHIC license?

1. Register to take an exam with PSI.
2. Apply for your license.
3. Pay the fees.

What are the fees for getting an MHIC license?

• $250 Application Fee
• $250 Per Each Additional Company Location
• $100 Guaranty Fund Assessment
• $20 Processing Fee

You must pass the Contractor exam provided through PSI.

$63

The exam contains 55 questions. You must get 39 correct to pass. You will have 150 minutes to complete the exam.

A. Home Improvement Law (41 Items)
B. Door-to-Door Sales Act (4 Items)
C. Labor Laws (3 Items)
D. Safety Regulations (4 Items)
E. Estimating (3 Items)

• College Park
• Crofton
• Hagerstown
• Lanham
• Baltimore
• Salisbury

1. Notice of license expiration and renewal instructions will be mailed to you approximately 60 days prior to your expiration.
   • If you do not receive a renewal notice within 30 days of your expiration, contact the Maryland Home Improvement Commission
2. Renew your license online or fax 410-962-8482 for a hardcopy renewal form.
3. Pay the renewal fees

• $250 Application Fee
• $250 Per Each Additional Company Location
• $125 Guaranty Fund Assessment

No.

For licenses issued prior to July 1, 1999, each licensee was issued a personal renewal date from which the license must be renewed every two years. For licenses issued after July 1, 1999, the license period is two years from the date of issuance of the original license.

Temporary licenses are no longer issued. The provision for temporary licenses was removed from the law in 1999.

All applicants must take and pass the licensing exam before they can apply for a license.

Any applicant who has had a conviction of a misdemeanor relating to a home improvement transaction or a felony must provide the Commission with copies of conviction records.

The Home Improvement license does not cover new home construction. All builders who build homes in Maryland must be registered with the Home Builder Registration Unit of the Office of the Attorney General.

You may begin immediately! Simply click the Login button in the upper right-hand corner on your desktop or in the upper-right menu on mobile. Once you’ve entered your login and password, you will be taken to your courses. Follow the instructions and enjoy!

Our courses are available online 24/7 and you are able to log in and log out at any time during the course. If you are going to be away from your computer for more than 10-15 minutes, simply log out. When you log back in, you will be able to re-enter the lesson you were last in.

Continuing education requirements vary by state. Each course lists a minimum number of credit hours required to complete the course.

Each course lists the total amount of hours for the course. However, we cover materials quickly and many contractors like to re-watch materials. In other words, this question really depends on your learning style. We recommend that you go through the course as many times as you need to be comfortable with the material and any applicable reference books. The more familiar you are with the materials, the better you will do on your exam!

We allow up to 6 months for you to complete the courses. During the six months you have unlimited, 24/7 access. If you need additional time, please contact our offices to arrange an extension (please note: a fee may apply).

This varies depending on whether the course is continuing education or exam prep.

There are no quizzes for continuing education courses in Michigan. All other states with continuing education require quizzes to check completion progress.

In exam prep courses there will be a short quiz at the end of each lesson and there is also a longer practice test at the end of each course. These quizzes and tests will help you practice taking an exam and identify areas you may wish to study more.

Practice tests are just that: for practice. You will have the opportunity to retake the practice tests until you do pass. The practice tests are there to help you get used to the process of using your reference materials and finding the correct answers during an exam. If you don’t pass on the first try, take the time to note what sections of the material you need to review.

You are able to review the lessons and quizzes at any time during the six months you’ll have access to the courses.

Maryland Home Improvement Commission
500 North Calvert Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 230-6169 or (888) 218-5925
DLOPLMHIC-LABOR@maryland.gov
http://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/mhic/

Home Builder Registration Unit
200 St. Paul Place
Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 576-6300 or (888) 743-0023
Office of Maryland Attorney General

Maryland Comptroller
60 West Street, Suite 102
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 260-6240
http://www.marylandtaxes.com

PSI Services
3210 E Tropicana
Las Vegas, NV 89121
(800) 733-9267
https://www.psiexams.com