Mississippi Contractor License Requirements
Every figure below was read off the MSBOC or the statute, and the sentence it came from is listed at the bottom of this page. Where a figure could not be verified this page says so rather than showing a number.
What the state requires
- Licence
- Commercial Certificate of Responsibility (major classification Building Construction)
- Issued by
- Mississippi State Board of ContractorsMiss. Code Ann. §§ 31-3-1 to 31-3-23; 30 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 802, Chapter 527
- Exam
- Mississippi Law and Business Management examination, plus a trade examination where the classification requires one; passing score 70%PSI
- Exam fee
- No verified figureThe $400 commercial application fee covers one classification and is paid by check with the application; each additional classification is $100. Annual renewal is $200, late renewal adds $50. A waiver of examination costs $50, an oral examination $50, a name change $50, inactive or reactivation $25. PSI collects its own examination fee, which is not published on msboc.us, so exam_fee_usd is null.
- Application fee
- $400
- Initial licence fee
- No verified figure
- Licence bond
- Not requiredNo licence bond. Financial responsibility is demonstrated by the reviewed financial statement and net-worth minimum instead.
- General liability
- $300,000General liability of $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate, with MSBOC named as certificate holder for cancellation notice and the insured name matching the licence name exactly. Workers' compensation certificate required if such coverage is required by state law. While a certificate is on inactive status neither the financial nor the insurance requirement applies.
- Workers compensation
- Required
- Experience
- No verified figureThe rules set no minimum number of years. The qualifying party - an owner, responsible managing employee or officer, or member of the executive staff - must be regularly employed by the certificate holder, actively engaged in the classification, and have the necessary experience, knowledge and skills to supervise or perform the work.
- Financial requirement
- Net worth of at least $50,000 for major classifications and $20,000 for all other applicants, on a reviewed financial statement prepared and signed by a CPA within the prior twelve months; an audited statement is expressly not required and a compilation is not accepted
- Continuing education
- No continuing education requiredChapter 527, the commercial laws and rules, contains no continuing education requirement for the commercial certificate of responsibility. MSBOC's continuing education program is aimed at residential licensees.
- Renewal
- Every year
- NASCLA exam
- AcceptedThe NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building may be taken instead of the Mississippi Building Construction trade exam. It does not replace the Mississippi Law and Business Management exam, which every applicant sits.
What people get wrong
The commercial certificate of responsibility is triggered at $50,000 or more of contract value on public or private work; residential remodeling or additions over $10,000 and residential roofing over $10,000 fall under the separate residential licence. Public agencies must return unopened any bid of $50,000 or more from a contractor without a certificate. Fetching msboc.us over plain https fails on a certificate name mismatch - the certificate only covers secure.msboc.us and www.secure.msboc.us - so use www.msboc.us.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a contractor licence in Mississippi?
- Yes. Mississippi issues a state general contractor licence — Commercial Certificate of Responsibility (major classification Building Construction) — through the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. The commercial certificate of responsibility is triggered at $50,000 or more of contract value on public or private work; residential remodeling or additions over $10,000 and residential roofing over $10,000 fall under the separate residential licence. Public agencies must return unopened any bid of $50,000 or more from a contractor without a certificate. Fetching msboc.us over plain https fails on a certificate name mismatch - the certificate only covers secure.msboc.us and www.secure.msboc.us - so use www.msboc.us.
- Does Mississippi accept the NASCLA exam?
- Yes. The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building may be taken instead of the Mississippi Building Construction trade exam. It does not replace the Mississippi Law and Business Management exam, which every applicant sits.
Sources
“Assets of applicants for major classifications must include a net worth of at least Fifty Thousand Dollars (50,000.00). Assets of all other applicants must include a net worth of at least Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00).”
https://www.msboc.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/COMMERCIAL-LAWS-AND-RULES-REVISED-2022.pdf“An applicant must provide a certificate of insurance evidencing current minimum coverage of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($ 300,000) per occurrence and Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($ 600,000) aggregate for general liability purposes.”
https://www.msboc.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/COMMERCIAL-LAWS-AND-RULES-REVISED-2022.pdf“Rule 3.4 Fee Schedule The following is a list of all pertinent fees as charged by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors: Commercial Application (1 classification) $400.00 Commercial License - Additional Classification $100.00 Commercial License Renewal $200.00”
https://www.msboc.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/COMMERCIAL-LAWS-AND-RULES-REVISED-2022.pdf“The passing score for the examination requirement provided in Miss. Code Ann. § 31-3-13(a) (1972, as amended) is a grade of at least 70%.”
https://www.msboc.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/COMMERCIAL-LAWS-AND-RULES-REVISED-2022.pdf“All applicants are required to take a Mississippi Law and Business Management exam. Applicants must also take a trade exam if one is required for their classification.”
https://www.msboc.us/general-info/frequently-asked-questions/“A general building contractor may choose to take the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building instead of the Mississippi Building Construction exam.”
https://www.msboc.us/general-info/frequently-asked-questions/“A license is valid for one year and must be renewed annually by the contractor.”
https://www.msboc.us/general-info/frequently-asked-questions/“Mississippi State Board of Contractors”
https://www.nascla.org/nascla-commercial-exam-participating-state-agencies
Then there is the exam
Practise Mississippi exam questions free, with explanations that cite the reference book and section.