Alabama Masonry Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Alabama does not issue a standalone Masonry classification. Masonry contractors performing work valued at $50,000 or more on commercial projects (or $10,000+ on residential swimming pools) must hold an Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors (LBGC) license under Code of Alabama §34-8 with the Masonry subclassification ("Masonry, Brick, Stone & Block"). Smaller projects fall under the LBGC subcontractor registration. This page documents the verified path for masonry contractors in Alabama including classification, NASCLA-accepted examination, bond, insurance, and silica compliance.

Governing Authority

This license is issued and enforced by Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors (ALBGC) pursuant to Code of Alabama Title 34 Chapter 8 (General Contractors). ALBGC licenses general contractors statewide, sets monetary classifications, administers the Alabama portion of the contractor exam, and conducts disciplinary proceedings under Title 34 Chapter 8.

Official portal: https://genconbd.alabama.gov/
Address: 2525 Fairlane Drive, Suite 100, Montgomery, AL 36116
Phone: (334) 272-5030

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, an applicant must have reached age 19 and hold a valid Social Security Number. No Alabama residency requirement. Out-of-state entities must register with the Alabama Secretary of State as a foreign entity.

Good moral character

LBGC reviews character and prior license history; felonies and unresolved judgments may bar issuance.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure required on the LBGC application.

Experience & Education Matrix

Eligibility requires 3 years of verifiable masonry experience installing brick, CMU, stone veneer, structural masonry, mortar joints, flashing, and weeps under a licensed contractor, documented and independently verifiable. Payroll, tax, project, and supervisor records are the usual proof the board will accept.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

LBGC experience affidavit signed by licensed contractor supervisors
W-2, 1099, or payroll records covering the qualifying period
Photos of completed masonry projects with addresses and dates (LBGC requirement)

Examination Structure

Examinations are administered by PSI Services LLC under contract to AL LBGC. The applicant must pass the following examination parts before the license can issue:

NASCLA Accredited Masonry Examination — TMS 402/602, IBC Chapter 21, brick, CMU, stone, flashing — 100 questions, 330 minutes, passing score 70%
Alabama Business and Law Examination — 50 questions, 135 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $219 NASCLA trade exam plus $80 Alabama business and law exam paid to PSI.

Retake policy: Failed sections may be retaken after 30 days with a new fee. Approval letter is valid for one year from issuance.

Insurance & Financial Security

This credential carries no state-level surety bond requirement under the cited sources. Individual jobs may still trigger a permit or public-works bond, which should be verified before bidding.

General liability

No state minimum, but LBGC verifies a current GL certificate at application. Most owners require $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory for any Alabama employer with five or more employees under §25-5-50. Masonry NCCI code 5022 carries one of the higher manual rates.

Additional financial requirements

A reviewed or audited financial statement showing minimum $10,000 net worth is required for the General Contractor license. Subcontractor classification requires no minimum.

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$300
Examination	$299
Initial license	$300
Renewal (every year)	$300

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the Alabama Masonry — AL Licensing Board for General Contractors (Specialty/Subcontractor) every year. Renewal currently costs $300. Alabama LBGC licenses renew annually on the licensee anniversary date. Late renewal incurs a $100 reinstatement fee.

Continuing education: No state CE requirement for masonry contractors, but workers comp and GL must remain current.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Alabama Masonry License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is accepted by Alabama for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Mississippi	NASCLA Commercial GC exam	Bilateral acceptance of NASCLA exam scores between AL LBGC and MS State Board of Contractors.
Tennessee	NASCLA Commercial GC exam	NASCLA score may be transferred to TN BLC application.

Alabama is a NASCLA accredited examination state — passing the NASCLA exam waives the trade portion in 16+ partner states.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Masonry license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Determine the threshold. If any single masonry project meets or exceeds $50,000 (commercial) or $10,000 (residential pools), an LBGC license is required; smaller projects fall under the subcontractor registration.
Form an Alabama entity. Register your LLC or corporation with the Alabama Secretary of State and obtain an EIN.
Document three years of masonry experience. Compile signed affidavits, payroll, and project photos as required by LBGC.
Pass the NASCLA Masonry exam. Score 70% or better on the 100-question NASCLA accredited masonry examination at PSI.
Pass the Alabama Business and Law exam. Score 70% or better on the 50-question state business and law exam.
Submit LBGC application with financial statement. File the application, $300 fee, current GL certificate, workers comp certificate, and reviewed financial statement showing $10,000+ net worth.
Receive license and post insurance. LBGC issues the license at the next monthly board meeting. Maintain GL, workers comp, and silica written exposure control plan continuously.

Study and Reference Materials

These are the preparation and reference materials tied to this credential — cited by the regulator or widely used by applicants. CLR earns nothing from listing them.

NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — Alabama edition — NASCLA. Required reference for the Alabama business and law exam.
TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures — The Masonry Society. Adopted by reference under IBC Chapter 21.
International Building Code Chapter 21 — Masonry (Alabama-adopted edition) — International Code Council. State-adopted code reference for the masonry trade exam.

Common Filing Mistakes

Working from the cited board instructions, here are the snags most likely to trip up a Alabama Masonry filing.

Missing the $50,000 threshold trigger

Splitting one masonry job into separate invoices to stay under $50,000 is treated as license law evasion under §34-8-7. LBGC has prosecuted contractors for this.

Subcontractor registration confusion

A subcontractor card does not authorize prime contracting. Direct contracts with owners on $50,000+ projects require the full LBGC license even if you only do masonry.

Reviewed vs compiled financial statement

LBGC rejects compiled or self-prepared statements. Only CPA-reviewed or audited statements satisfy the $10,000 net worth requirement.

Silica plan absent on site

OSHA inspectors target masonry sites. A missing written exposure control plan under 29 CFR 1926.1153(g) draws immediate citations regardless of LBGC status.

Letting workers comp lapse with NCCI 5022

Masonry class code 5022 is one of the highest comp rates in Alabama. Lapses suspend the LBGC license automatically and trigger a Department of Labor stop-work order.

Pre-Submission Checklist

These are the pieces to lock down before filing with ALBGC:

☐ Alabama Secretary of State entity registration
☐ EIN and Alabama Department of Revenue tax account
☐ Three years of documented masonry experience with photos
☐ NASCLA Masonry exam pass certificate (70%+)
☐ Alabama Business and Law exam pass certificate (70%+)
☐ Reviewed financial statement showing $10,000+ net worth
☐ GL insurance certificate and workers compensation certificate
☐ OSHA silica written exposure control plan

Other Alabama Trade Licenses

If the Masonry license is not the right fit, the following published Alabama trade guides are also covered by CLR:

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Alabama have a standalone masonry license?

No. Masonry is a subclassification of the AL LBGC general contractor license, required only for projects of $50,000 or more.

Is the NASCLA exam accepted in Alabama?

Yes. Alabama is a NASCLA accredited state and the NASCLA Commercial Masonry exam satisfies the trade portion.

What is the project value threshold?

$50,000 per project for commercial masonry. Below that threshold no LBGC license is required, only the subcontractor registration.

What financial statement does LBGC require?

A reviewed or audited statement prepared by a CPA showing minimum $10,000 net worth for the General Contractor license.

Does Alabama enforce the OSHA silica rule for masonry?

Federal OSHA enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 in Alabama. Cutting and grinding brick or CMU triggers the standard — written exposure control plan and Table 1 controls are mandatory.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-06-12 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-10