The rules for contractors from state to state vary in a variety of ways, and people interested in becoming contractors will always have questions. The commonwealth of Massachusetts has its own set of licensing and continuing education rules for contractors, and those rules are broken down by the various construction disciplines.
In some instances, Massachusetts contractors do not need to be licensed or worry about continuing education at all. It is important for potential contractors in Massachusetts to become familiar with the rules regarding education specific to the commonwealth, and where to get more information.
Contractors in Massachusetts have unique continuing education requirements.
How do I get a general contractor’s license for Massachusetts?
One of the most common questions regarding licensing and continuing education in Massachusetts revolves around the requirements necessary to get a general contractor’s license. According to the Construction Certification Institute, there is no such thing as a general contractor’s license in Massachusetts. You can call yourself a general contractor whether you have a license or not, but you are not allowed to get the building permits you need to do the work. Only licensed tradespeople with the proper education and certification are allowed to get the building permits you need to start and complete your job.
How long are the continuing education courses for Massachusetts supervisors?
The Massachusetts Office of Public Safety and Security oversees the continuing education requirements for Massachusetts contractors, and the office has the classroom requirements broken down into three categories. The requirements are broken down like this:
• Classroom time for an unrestricted supervisor (a supervisor able to manage any one or two-family construction project) – 12 hours
• Classroom time for a restricted supervisor (a supervisor who may be limited in the types of activities they can manage from county to county) – 10 hours
• Specialty contractor (a contractor that can only engage in activities such as demolition or masonry, depending on the license they get) – 6 hours
You cannot take the licensing test for your particular type of license until you have completed all of the classroom hours as offered by a certified organization. There are also initial field work and educational requirements that have to be met before you can take the exams as well. These vary by discipline, and you should look up the requirements of your particular discipline before applying for the test.
Let PDH Contractors help you maintain your contractor’s license in Massachusetts with certified training courses.
How do I prove that I took my course?
PDH Contractors indicates that Massachusetts does not allow training centers to report their results to any central agency within the commonwealth. When you complete your continuing education classroom work, it is your responsibility to make sure that you get a completion certificate and that you present that certificate to the exam site before you take your exam.
With the housing boom going on in Massachusetts, there have been plenty of contractors heading to the commonwealth to set up shop. If you want to get involved in the increased amount of construction work available, then you need to be sure to start a course with PDH Contractors to make sure you meet all of the education requirements for testing. Each license also requires a renewal every one to three years (depending on the license), and PDH Contractors can help you with your continuing education requirements to renew your license as well.