General Contractor License Requirements in Massachusetts
| Licensing Authority | Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) / Office of Public Safety and Inspections (BBRS) |
| License Type | Construction Supervisor License (CSL) |
| Experience Required | 3 years of full-time (40 hrs/week) experience in building construction or design within the past 10 years. Union affiliation alone is not acceptable. |
| Education Substitute | Vocational/trade program completion or a bachelor's degree (any field) = 1 year credit; a bachelor's in architecture/engineering/science/technology = 2 years credit. Education cannot substitute for more than 2 of the 3 required years. |
| Exam Required | Yes — CSL Examination (Unrestricted, Restricted, or Specialty) |
| Bond Required | No |
| Insurance | General liability: not required. Workers comp: required with employees |
| Continuing Education | 12 hours 2 years |
| Processing Time | ~30 days after the Board receives a passing exam score and application |
Fee Breakdown
| Application Fee | $23 |
| Exam Fee | $65 |
| Initial License Fee | $150 |
| Est. Initial Total | $238 |
Related & additional fees
Separate or ongoing costs — not included in the estimate above.
| Late renewal (up to 2 years after expiration) | $100 |
| HIC registration (separate, via OCABR) | $150 |
| HIC Guaranty Fund one-time contribution (0-3 employees) | $100 |
Renewal: $100 every 2 years
Exam Requirements
CSL Examination (Unrestricted, Restricted, or Specialty)
Exam provider: PSI
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 →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.
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Form an LLC with Northwest→License Tiers
Unrestricted
3 years of building construction or design experience; supervises structural work across most use groups within code size limits
Exam: Required
Restricted (1-2 Family Dwellings)
3 years of experience; limited to one- and two-family dwellings
Exam: Required
Specialty (Masonry, Roof Covering, Window/Siding, Solid Fuel, Demolition, Insulation)
3 years of experience; each specialty scope defined by the building code
Exam: Required
Notes
- 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).
- Massachusetts does NOT recognize out-of-state contractor licenses for CSL purposes.
- The $150 initial CSL license-issuance fee is corroborated via 201 CMR 18.02 (which ties the HIC fee to the current CSL fee) but was quoted directly only from an older candidate bulletin; confirm with OPSI if exactness matters.
Local requirements on top of your Massachusetts license
The BBRS general contractor license is the credential that lets you work anywhere in Massachusetts. On top of it, most Massachusetts cities and counties require a local business license (a tax registration) to operate, and a few add their own contractor registration or permit. These are in addition to your state license, not a replacement — always confirm the rules with the city or county where the job is.
You're licensed in Massachusetts as a general contractor — 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.
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
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.
Register locally.
Most Massachusetts cities and counties require a local business license (a tax registration) on top of the state credential, and a few add their own contractor registration or permit — confirm with the city or county where the job is.
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 general contractor 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→
Keep the license.
Renewal is every 2 years at $100. Continuing education: 12 hours every 2 years.
Other licenses in Massachusetts
- Electrician license in Massachusetts
Statewide license required · $226 in initial government fees · BSEE
- Plumber license in Massachusetts
Statewide license required · $83 in initial government fees · BSEPGF
- HVAC Technician license in Massachusetts
No statewide license — check local requirements
- Roofing Contractor license in Massachusetts
Statewide registration, not a license · OCABR
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a general contractor license in Massachusetts?
Yes, Massachusetts requires a statewide general contractor license through the Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) / Office of Public Safety and Inspections.
How much does a general contractor license cost in Massachusetts?
The estimated initial cost is $238, including application, exam, and license fees.
What experience do I need for a general contractor license in Massachusetts?
3 years of full-time (40 hrs/week) experience in building construction or design within the past 10 years. Union affiliation alone is not acceptable. Education substitute: Vocational/trade program completion or a bachelor's degree (any field) = 1 year credit; a bachelor's in architecture/engineering/science/technology = 2 years credit. Education cannot substitute for more than 2 of the 3 required years.
What exams are required for a general contractor license in Massachusetts?
You must pass the CSL Examination (Unrestricted, Restricted, or Specialty) exam. A passing score of 70% is required. Exams are administered by PSI.
How long does it take to get a general contractor license in Massachusetts?
Processing time is typically ~30 days after the Board receives a passing exam score and application after submitting a complete application.
Is continuing education required for general contractors in Massachusetts?
Yes, 12 hours per 2 years is required for license renewal.
Next steps
You know the requirements for general contractors in Massachusetts— here's how to actually pass and apply.
Data last verified: 2026-07-05 | Source: BBRS