Contractor Licensing in Massachusetts: Which Trades Need a License
Yes, Massachusetts requires a statewide license for 3 of 5 contractor trades, issued by 3 separate agencies. Initial costs run $83 to $238.
Massachusetts does not issue a single 'general contractor' license. Structural supervision of construction, reconstruction, alteration, or repair is governed by the Construction Supervisor License (CSL), issued by the Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) within the Office of Public Safety and Inspections. Separately, anyone soliciting, bidding on, or performing home-improvement work on an existing 1-4 unit owner-occupied home must hold a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration through the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation -- many residential jobs require both. Electricians (Board of State Examiners of Electricians) and plumbers/gas fitters (Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters) are separately licensed via PSI exams. There is no dedicated statewide HVAC license, and roofers are not separately licensed.
General Contractor
RequiredOversees and manages construction projects, coordinating subcontractors, materials, and timelines for residential and commercial builds.
View full requirements →Electrician
RequiredInstalls, maintains, and repairs electrical wiring, systems, and fixtures in residential, commercial, and industrial settings.
View full requirements →Plumber
RequiredInstalls and repairs water supply lines, drainage systems, fixtures, and appliances in buildings and other structures.
View full requirements →HVAC Technician
Not requiredInstalls, services, and repairs heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems.
View full requirements →Roofing Contractor
RegistrationInstalls, repairs, and replaces roofing systems on residential and commercial structures.
View full requirements →Reciprocity Agreements
Massachusetts has reciprocity agreements with 1 state. Licensed contractors from these states may be eligible to skip certain exams. Full Massachusetts reciprocity guide: which states, what is waived, what it costs →
Massachusetts Licensing Overview
Massachusetts requires statewide licensing for 3 of 5 contractor trades. The licensed trades — general contractor, electrician, plumber — are regulated by 3 separate agencies: Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) / Office of Public Safety and Inspections (BBRS), Board of State Examiners of Electricians (BSEE), Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters (BSEPGF). Roofing Contractor requiresa statewide registration rather than a license — mandatory, with its own fees and bond, but no trade exam. HVAC Technician licensing is handled at the city and county level rather than statewide. Across all licensed trades, initial costs range from $83 to $238, including application fees, exams, license issuance, fingerprinting, and any other fees the state requires to obtain the license. Massachusetts also participates in reciprocity agreements with 1 other state, which can streamline the process for out-of-state contractors.
Massachusetts Contractor License Cost Summary
| Trade | Application | Exam | License | Bond | Est. Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Contractor | $23 | $65 | $150 | — | $238 |
| Electrician | $226 | — | — | — | $226 |
| Plumber | $31 | — | $52 | — | $83 |
| HVAC Technician | Local — no statewide fees | ||||
| Roofing Contractor | — | — | — | — | — |
Estimated totals include application, exam, license, and fingerprinting fees, plus any other fees the state requires to obtain the license. Bond amounts are separate and typically paid as an annual premium.
Set up the business before you apply in Massachusetts
Most states license the company as well as the person, so the application usually asks for an LLC or corporation and a registered agent in Massachusetts. Northwest forms the entity and acts as your registered agent — a flat fee, no upsell funnel.
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Form an LLC with Northwest→Recommended exam prep
Formal prep pays for itself against a $100+ retake. Many states examine contractors on two separate papers — the trade exam and a business and law exam — so we list the course covering both first, with trade-specific depth after.
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Mometrix · SponsoredContractor License Online Study CourseFull online prep course covering the trade and business-and-law exams — video lessons, practice questions, and a study plan built for a first-try pass.See the course →
Mometrix · SponsoredContractor's Exam FlashcardsPortable flashcards for the high-frequency exam topics — a cheaper add-on for drilling terms and code references on the go.See the flashcards →Key Facts About Massachusetts Contractor Licensing
- No state-level general-liability requirement found for individual plumber licensure; workers' compensation is required for employers under M.G.L. c.152.
- Massachusetts requires statewide registration, not a license, for roofing contractors — no trade exam.
- Massachusetts does not require a statewide license for hvac technicians. Local permits may still apply.
- Massachusetts has reciprocity agreements with 1 state, which may allow licensed contractors to skip certain exams.
- Massachusetts has NO generic 'general contractor' license. The CSL governs supervision of structural work; Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration (separate, via OCABR) is required for anyone soliciting, bidding on, or performing residential remodeling on an existing 1-4 unit owner-occupied home. Most residential jobs require BOTH a CSL-licensed supervisor AND HIC registration for the business.
- HIC registration: $150 fee + a one-time Guaranty Fund contribution on a sliding scale by employee count (0-3 employees $100, 4-10 $200, 11-30 $300, more than 30 $500). HIC renews every 2 years for $100. The Guaranty Fund compensates homeowners up to $25,000 for unpaid judgments against a registered contractor.
- Continuing education per 2-year cycle: Unrestricted 12 hours, Restricted (1-2 family) 10 hours, Specialty 6 hours (up to 6 hours may be completed online for the Unrestricted license).
You're licensed in Massachusetts — the next 30 days
Most of the steps below are required before your first paid job; the order is the order the state and its counties will ask for them.
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Form the business and get an EIN.
The Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) / Office of Public Safety and Inspections issues the Construction Supervisor License (CSL); the business that invoices Massachusetts customers is a separate decision. A sole proprietorship is the default, an LLC keeps business liability off your personal assets, and either needs an EIN before the first payroll. Settle it before the license number goes on an estimate.
Bond: none required by the state.
Massachusetts does not require a surety bond for this license — No state bond required for the CSL itself. Out-of-state contractors may be required to post a bond with the MA Department of Revenue on larger contracts.
Set up quoting, scheduling and invoicing before the first call.
Your first customers will ask for a written estimate and expect to pay by card on site. Most one-truck home-service businesses run that on field-service software; Housecall Pro is the one we link because it is built for this size of company and this link carries 20% off your first 12 months. Start a free trial of Housecall Pro→
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Massachusetts require a contractor license?
Yes, Massachusetts requires statewide licensing for 3 of 5 trades: general contractor, electrician, plumber. HVAC Technician and Roofing Contractor do not require a statewide license.
How much does a contractor license cost in Massachusetts?
Initial licensing costs range from $83 to $238 depending on the trade, including application, exam, license and fingerprinting fees, plus any other fees the state requires to obtain the license.
Does Massachusetts have license reciprocity with other states?
Yes, Massachusetts has reciprocity agreements with 1 state. Licensed contractors from these states may be eligible to skip certain exams or have an expedited application process.
What trades require a state license in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts requires statewide licenses for: general contractor, electrician, plumber. HVAC Technician and Roofing Contractor licensing is handled at the local level.
Do I need workers compensation insurance in Massachusetts?
No state-level general-liability requirement found for individual plumber licensure; workers' compensation is required for employers under M.G.L. c.152.
Official Massachusetts Licensing Resources
- Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) / Office of Public Safety and Inspections (BBRS) — for general contractor
- Board of State Examiners of Electricians (BSEE) — for electrician
- Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters (BSEPGF) — for plumber