If you want to get a Massachusetts builders license, you must follow the state-mandated requirements. They might seem like nothing more than hurdles to jump, but they protect the public as well as contractors. Before you jump into the process, familiarize yourself with these six important facts.
1. You’ll Need Construction Experience
Get some on-the-job experience under your tool belt before you apply for a Massachusetts builders license.
In Massachusetts, contractors need at least 3 years of professional construction industry experience before they can apply for supervisor, home improvement, or other contractor-related licenses in the state. You must be employed full time, with at least 40 hours of work per week, for the time to qualify for this requirement. However, if you took a break between construction jobs, you can still add up all the different pieces as long as they add up to 3 years’ experience in 10 years or less.
2. Several Massachusetts Builders License Options Exist
Unlike many states, Massachusetts doesn’t offer a general contractor license option. In fact, anyone can operate as a contractor, but only when they’re working on a site with a licensed supervisor. However, to lead your own jobs, you need to get a supervisor’s license yourself. You can get a restricted, unrestricted, or specialty license depending on your needs and goals.
3. You Might Want a Specialty License
A specialty supervisor’s license in the contracting industry allows you to perform specific jobs in a supervisory capacity. For example, if you want to run a company that specializes in roofing, you might want a roofer supervisor’s license. Other specialties include masonry, windows and siding, demolition, and insulation.
4. Costs Vary Depending on the Type of License
For a supervisor’s license, contractors typically must pay an initial fee of $150 to obtain their licenses. They must also pay $100 to take the licensing exam and another $100 each time they must renew their licenses. The fees for other license options range from $117 to more than $500. If you decide to obtain more than one license, you must pay the fee for each. If you let your license lapse or commit any infringements, you’ll face other charges and fees.
5. You’ll Know Your Score Right Away
When you take the licensing exam to become a supervisor contractor or any other professional in the industry, you’ll receive your score right away. The license proctors will score your test so you know whether you’ll need to retake it. You can take the exam as many times as you wish, but you must pay the full fee each time you sit for it.
6. Your Out-of-State License Doesn’t Transfer
You might be a licensed contractor in another state or have a CSL (construction supervisor’s license) from another jurisdiction, but Massachusetts won’t recognize it. To practice in the state, you must take the exam and obtain your license just like everyone else.
Getting a Massachusetts builders license opens the doors to numerous income-generating opportunities. If you have your license and need to fill your continuing education requirements, start your course now.