Maryland Contractor License Courses, Classes & Exam Prep

Obtaining a Maryland Home Improvement License can open a lot of doors. It boosts not only your earning potential but credibility as well. If you’re thinking about obtaining your Maryland Home Improvement license, congratulations! There are so many benefits to getting your Home Improvement license in MD. Contractor Training Center is here to make the process as hassle-free as possible.  

Before we jump into this guide, here is a brief list of the items you’ll need to meet Maryland contractor requirements in order to obtain a Maryland contractor license:

• General Liability Insurance Policy in the amount of $50,000
• 2 years of experience in home improvement, construction, or renovations
• Prove financial good standing depending on the size of work you wish to complete. If you submit a surety bond, it must be in the amount of $20,000.
• For a corporate entity, you need to send the articles of incorporation along with your application.
• Contractor’s license number displayed on all vehicles, advertisements, and cards.

Additionally, if you’re performing work on homes older than 1978, you may be required to obtain a lead abatement certificate. For more information on this, contact the EPA or the MD Maryland Department of Environment.

The benefits of having a contractor's license in Maryland

Holding a Home Improvement Contractor's license in Maryland can make you stand apart from the competition. A license makes you credible and trustworthy. Anyone can perform work on someone else’s property. However, a license shows you’re properly trained and know what you’re doing.

Gives You Credibility

Having a license increases your credibility, allowing you to build trust with your clients. There are other ways you can gain their trust, but this is a big part of establishing yourself and your business, especially if you're working with new customers.

Gives You A Higher Earning Potential

Consequently, there are larger projects that you can't perform without a contractor's license. With one, you can take on big assignments, get more jobs, and increase your profit. More times than not, clients will pay a higher price to a licensed contractor as opposed to unlicensed handymen.

If you don’t have this license and perform work on someone’s home illegally, you and your business could face legal trouble. Not only will this cost you money, but it will discredit your business as being reputable. Avoid losing your clients and reputation by getting started on this beneficial process.  

Our team of instructors are passionate, knowledgeable, and experienced. With us, you can expect to receive quality resources, tools, and information from start to finish. We will gladly guide you through every step of the MHIC license process.

Moreover, for extra help, we have study resources available on our website. Our exam is open book. If you don’t pass it the first time, we give you another try free of charge!

Contractor Training Center is committed to your success. We give you all the necessary resources to pass the Maryland Home Improvement Contractor (MHIC) exam on your first try and get your MHIC License! Not to mention our friendly customer care team is always readily available. We are here to help you out when you run into questions or concerns. 

Maryland Courses

We teach 2 different courses for Maryland Contractors:

• Home Improvement Contractor Exam Prep Course 
• Home Improvement Salesperson Exam Prep Course

Ready to learn more or get started on this exciting journey? Email us any time at support@contractortrainingcenter.com or give us a call today at 888-585-7350.

Contractor Training Center takes a lot of pride in the work that we do. We have helped over 30,000 individuals obtain their contracting license. We look forward to helping you achieve your goals and get one step closer to be a certified contractor.

Every state has its own rules and regulations for obtaining a contractor’s license. Fortunately, the process in the state of MD is quite simple.

You will need to complete the following steps in order to get a contractor's license Maryland:

Register for the exam

The registration form is listed within the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin. Refer to page 8 of the document, linked here, or go to psiexams.com. Be sure the registration form is complete, accurate, and signed. Be sure that you include all attachments and the correct fees. You must first register for an examination and then schedule an examination appointment. There is a $63* fee to register.

*fees are subject to change; this fee is due to PSI Examination Services, not associated with Contractor Training Center.

Prepare

This second step is where we come in. All our books and preparation tools are available on our site. Our Online course and practice material are available 24/7. We have instructors ready to answer any questions and make the prep process as stress-free as possible. We’re extremely proud of our first-time pass rate. In fact, most contractors who train with us pass the MHIC exam on their very first try.

Take the exam

In the state of MD, you will need to take and pass the Maryland Home Improvement Contractor (MHIC) Exam.

With our courses, you’ll be ready to take this exam. You’ll gain an understanding of Maryland laws for operating a contracting business. We make sure you have the skills and knowledge needed to conduct the types of work you wish to perform.

You can find all the prep class information for a general contractor license in Maryland, right here with us. We supply everything you need to be successful from the books to necessary tabs. Our first-time pass rate is extremely high. If you don’t pass on your first try, we offer you the class again until you do (free of charge)!

Important: If you fail the licensing examination, there is a waiting period of 30 days before that individual is eligible to retake the test; each subsequent retest requires a waiting period of 60 days.

Submit an application

You will need to submit the application to the State of Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation to apply for a license. The review and approval process usually takes about 8 weeks.

There is a license fee of $325 and a renewal fee of $305. For sales contractors, the license and renewal fee is $75. Along with your application, you’ll also need to submit the following:

• Credit report
• $75 for the Guaranty Fund
• Proof of liability insurance

For any changes within your business, you must notify the Commission board. The window of time is no later than 10 days after this change has been made. Changes can include a change of directors, entity name, or if your business has been sold.

Further, any applicant with a conviction for a misdemeanor or a felony relating to a home improvement project needs to get in touch with the Maryland Home Improvement Commission. The applicant will need to send in copies of conviction records.

We go into even more depth in our How to Become a Contractor in Maryland blog!

How to get a home improvement license in Maryland

• Applicants for a contractor's license must provide proof of at least two years of experience in home improvement work, construction, and/or related education.
• Applicants must provide proof of financial solvency based on the scope and size of their business in relation to total assets, liabilities, a full credit report, and net worth. Any applicant who does not meet the financial solvency guidelines may purchase a surety bond or obtain an indemnitor.
• If a contractor represents a corporation, they must submit articles of incorporation and a Certificate of Good Standing from the Department of Assessments and Taxation.
• A contractor using a trade name must first check with the Commission to make sure the name is available for use with the Commission and then register the name with the Department of Assessments and Taxation.
• A certificate of trade name registration must be submitted with the license application.
• Proof of current $50,000 liability insurance must be filed with the application for licensure.

Contact PSI Examinations to register for your licensing exam.

Apply for a Maryland original license – home improvement commission

Are you looking to apply for a Maryland Original License? Here are some quick links to reference to get this process started:

• License applications can be found on the Maryland DLLR website here.

Supporting documents to be filed with an original license application include:

• Contractor's Personal Financial Statement 
• Co-Owner's Signature - Submit if assets are co-owned

If the applicant doesn’t meet Commission’s financial solvency guidelines, they may purchase a surety bond:

• Information for Indemnitor for Applicant 
• Surety Bond form ($20,000) 
• Surety Bond form ($100,000) 
• Sample List of Bonding Agencies
• PSI Application for the MD HI Exam, which includes the Experience Verification Form (Page 10)