If you want to get a contractor’s license in the state of Massachusetts, the first thing you must know is which kind of license you need to get for the jobs you want to do. Here are your options:
- Supervisor’s License
- Home Improvement Contractor’s License
- Abatement License
- Electrician Contractor’s License
- Plumbing Contractor’s License
Within these categories are a few sub-categories, so take a look at the information below to get the scoop on each.
You need to have a license before you can get to work in the state of Massachusetts.
Supervisor’s License
Every Massachusetts job site needs to have a licensed supervisor to satisfy state needs. The three types of supervisor licenses being offered are: unrestricted, restricted, and specialty. An unrestricted supervisor’s license applies to any structure that is 35,000 square feet or less, while a restricted license applies to one or two-family homes, or masonry work. The specialty licenses cover areas such as insulation, roofing, siding, windows, and solid fuel burning devices.
All three licenses require at least three years of proven field work and cost $150 for the initial license, $100 to take the exam, and $100 every three years for renewal. An unrestricted license requires 12 hours of class time, a restricted license requires 10 hours of class time, and each specialty license requires six hours of class time.
Home Improvement Contractor’s License
If you already have an unrestricted supervisor’s license, then you may not need a home improvement license, depending on where you intend to do you work. You will have to check with the local zoning board to find out what licenses are required. Normally, a home improvement contractor only needs to register with the state and does not need to take an exam. Registration will cost $100.
Abatement Licenses
The removal of lead or asbestos from a structure is referred to as abatement and you need a separate license for each type of abatement in the state of Massachusetts. Abatement licenses come in a variety of types and each carries its own fee that must be paid annually to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. An asbestos abatement contractor license costs $2,050 per year and a lead abatement contractor license costs $575 per year. Each type of abatement has its own training requirements that include classroom training and safety certifications.
Electrician Contractor’s Licenses
The electrician contractor licenses are broken down into journeyman, system contractor, system technician, and master. Before you can take the journeyman license test, you need at least three years of experience and 300 hours of classwork. Before you can take the master license, you need to have been a certified journeyman for at least one year.
All four licenses require classroom training and the successful completion of a written test. Each electrical contractor license is good for three years and then must be renewed. A journeyman or system technician license each cost $312, while a master license or system contractor license each cost $402.
Know the licensing rules for contractors in Massachusetts so you can always run a legal job site.
Plumbing Contractor’s License
The state of Massachusetts offers plumbing and gasfitters licenses under the same criteria but as separate licenses. For both licenses, you must be an apprentice for at least three years before being able to take the journeyman’s licensing test. Plumbing contractors require 300 hours of classroom time for plumbing theory, while gasfitters require 150 hours of classroom time for gasfitter theory. Each exam costs $117 and that covers the licensing as well.
Massachusetts Contractors Academy offers approved courses to satisfy all ongoing educational needs for contractors in the state of Massachusetts. The best part is that you do not have to pay for your course until you pass it. Why not sign up now to take our Construction Supervisor License classes for free?