Obtaining a contractor's license means being able to practice your profession with ease. In Massachusetts, it means that you can oversee the construction of large two-family dwellings. 

As a licensed Construction Supervisor, your authorization and legality clearance is much more significant and can help you take on larger better-paying projects. 

There are only a few qualifications that you need to obtain your license, other than the exam. These include:

• Be 18 years old with at least three years of experience in the field spanning at least 36 documented months of full-time employment.
• You must have completed and passed a bachelor’s degree program in a related field (even science, technology, or architecture). This can count as experience.
• Include any unions you are a member of, but these cannot be considered prior experience.
• Supply a notarized letter from your prior employer.
• Include your notarized signature indicating that you deliver factual information and have paid all state taxes.
• You must not have pursued and passed an exam in the same category or class before this test.

The Benefits of Having a Contractor's License in Massachusetts

Recognition as a Trustworthy and Competitive Professional 

The legality surrounding clearances and licenses is strict for Massachusetts contractors because the state wants to protect the people. Structures must be built with expertise and experience and not shoddily constructed. This means that not being licensed could cost you some high-paying opportunities.

However, when you have a license, the state recognizes you as a professional and trustworthy candidate for various construction projects. In turn, potential clients will see you have adequate credentials and consider you for job opportunities.

When you receive your license, you can expect to be in the running for more competitive and high-paying projects and improve trust with clients and expand your portfolio.

Increased Opportunities for Supervision

Getting your license is a sign that you’re capable of leadership. In construction, it means being able to oversee your projects and demolitions. 

When you have your contractor's license, you can supervise the construction process for one-family dwellings and two-family dwellings. This only applies to buildings under 35,000 cubic feet; an engineer must oversee anything above that.

With this higher licensure, you don't have to bring in someone to oversee your project or lose out on business because you will have a new CSL title on your resume.

If you want to supervise rather than just being part of the crew, your license could be a great way to launch your own construction business.

Certification to Work on State-Wide Projects

There are some jobs that fall outside of the requirements of licensure in Massachusetts. These projects can be supervised without a license in some municipalities.

An unlicensed person can carry out projects like swimming pools, tents, signs, and buildings subject to construction control in some areas. 

The problem is that this is not state-wide. If you want to supervise projects state-wide, you must have a license. 

At Contractor Training Center, we offer exclusive affordable coaching and consulting, as well as application assistance, are included as part of our offerings.

Choose the preparation services that you need to help simplify the intimidating licensure process. Learn in your style with the choice of four separate services that you can follow at your own pace:

• Application Assistance
• Coaching and Consulting

Contractor Training Center utilizes a team of expert instructors to ensure that each test taker passes on the first try. Instead of getting bogged down by flashcards or saving all your studying until the last minute, work with the Contractor Training Center for a relaxing and stress-free process.

While this license could mean significant benefits for your career, it is not always a fast process. This may be a time investment in terms of studying, gathering forms, filling out paperwork, and attending the exam, but the payoff can make itself worth it by your first post-license job.

For an in-depth look at the requirements, take a look at our blog covering the process of getting your Massachusetts contractor license.

As with any certification process, follow the instructions carefully to ensure that you complete the process correctly. You may not yet be eligible to take the exam if you do not have at least 36 months of documented full-time work in the field, so be sure to read the bulleted section above before beginning your registration process.

Register for the Exam

You will be required to submit the Prometric exam form via the mail. You can reach the Prometric testing facility on the web here.

Once you send in your registration form, it is time to call and schedule your appointment-only exam spot. You'll want to wait approximately ten days after sending your exam form before making the call. This is to ensure that your form has arrived.

Decide What Type of License Your Business Needs 

There are a few different license specialties under the umbrella of contractor licenses. A few discussed below are unrestricted, restricted, and specialty like roofing, masonry, etc.

Unrestricted Construction Supervisors

This license permits a contractor to supervise one-family home and two-family home projects like:

• Demolition
• Construction
• Reconstruction
• Alteration
• Repair
• Removal

This license also allows a contractor to supervise any building within the bounds of 35,000 cubic feet with enclosed space.

Restricted Construction Supervisors

This licensure refers to only one-family and two-family dwellings. It also allows for the supervision of projects that deal with accessory buildings of any size. It only refers to the supervision of the following construction processes:

• Demolition
• Construction
• Reconstruction
• Alteration
• Repair
• Removal

Specialty Contractors

If you hope to supervise only one type of specialty project, a specialty contractor license could be more effective for your needs. The specialty categories include:

• Roofing
• Masonry
• Windows and siding
• Demolition
• Solid fuel burning
• Insulation

Which Exam Should You Take?

Choosing the right exam can be crucial for your career in contracting. When you put all this time into getting your license, you will want to get whichever one suits your business. 

However, it is possible to upgrade from restricted to unrestricted even after getting licensed. More information about how to do this is in the Frequently Asked Questions section at the bottom of this page.

Think about your business plan before attempting to get licensed. Getting your license adds to your credibility and industry know-how, but it is also an investment. Choose a category that will open you up to exciting and viable business opportunities. 
 

Complete the Exam

Study at home to ensure that you achieve passing marks to earn your licensure. Also, be sure to bring your identification and any other necessary paperwork to your appointment. Once you attend your exam appointment and complete the test, you will receive a final score report with the next steps for those who passed.

It's as simple as that! The Board of Building Regulations and Standards will eventually issue the license. It is active for two years and should thus be renewed every two years for a small fee of $100.00. Licenses that are not renewed timely get a grace period of one year after expiration, but an additional $100.00 is added for renewal up to two years past expiration. After two years, rather than a simple renewal, contractors will have to retake the exam to renew.