Maryland Carpentry License Requirements (2026)

Maryland does not issue a separate statewide carpentry license. A person who contracts with an owner for covered home-improvement carpentry on an existing residence generally needs a Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) contractor license. The law covers improvements to a residence, a structure adjacent to it, and adjacent land. It excludes new-home construction and certain other work, so confirm the project scope before relying on MHIC. A subcontractor working for an MHIC-licensed contractor does not need a separate MHIC subcontractor license, but only MHIC-licensed contractors may contract directly with homeowners.

Regulatory Body

Maryland Department of Labor — Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (MD DOL) administers the credential or scope-specific rules discussed here under Maryland Code, Business Regulation and Business Occupations Articles. Whether that pathway applies depends on the work scope and conditions explained below. The Maryland Department of Labor houses the occupational boards that license home improvement contractors, master electricians, plumbers, and HVACR contractors statewide, adopts technical codes by reference, and conducts disciplinary proceedings.

Official portal: https://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/
Address: 1100 North Eutaw Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: (410) 230-6231

Eligibility Requirements

This guide does not establish a minimum applicant age; confirm any age requirement with the issuing authority. Applicants must provide a Social Security Number. MHIC publishes no general Maryland-residency requirement. Business entities and trade names must provide the applicable Maryland registration documents with the application.

Good moral character

Applicants must report qualifying felony or home-improvement-related misdemeanor convictions and provide the records MHIC requests.

Background investigation

MHIC’s published application requirements call for conviction disclosure; confirm current application instructions for any additional records.

Experience and Education

Plan to substantiate 2 years of At least two years of home-improvement, construction, or related education is required for a contractor license. with hard records. Payroll, tax, project logs, and supervisor verification are what the board relies on when it reviews the claim.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

MHIC experience record and supporting application documents

Education substitution

Related education may count toward the published two-year experience, construction, or related-education requirement.

Exam Requirements

Testing provider or authority: PSI Examination Services for the Maryland Home Improvement Commission. The following examination requirements cover the pathways described in this guide; follow each part's classification, waiver, and local-scope conditions. Unpublished format details do not remove an examination requirement:

MHIC contractor examination — 55 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $63 standard PSI examination fee.

Retake policy: After an unsuccessful attempt, wait 30 days before reapplying; later requests require a 60-day wait. Pay the exam fee for each attempt. A passing score expires if no license application is made within two years.

Insurance and Bonds

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

Maryland Business Regulation §8-302.1 requires at least $500,000 in general liability insurance for an applicant and licensed home-improvement contractor.

Workers' compensation

Confirm workers’ compensation obligations with the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission for the business’s staffing arrangement.

Additional financial requirements

MHIC reviews financial solvency using the scope and size of the business, assets, liabilities, credit report, and net worth. An applicant not meeting its guidelines may obtain an indemnitor or surety bond.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application	$303.75
Examination	$63
Initial license	$403.75
Renewal (every 2 years)	$456.25

To turn these board fees into a realistic year-one budget — bond premium, liability insurance, and exam prep included — open the cost calculator preloaded for Maryland carpentry.

Renewal and Continuing Education

Renewal of the Maryland Home Improvement Contractor (MHIC) License comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $456.25. Current renewal charges shown by MHIC are $281.25 application plus a $175 two-year Guaranty Fund assessment. Maintain required liability insurance.

Continuing education: MHIC’s published contractor requirements do not list a general continuing-education requirement; verify current renewal instructions before filing.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is not accepted by Maryland for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

MHIC publishes no general reciprocity program for out-of-state carpentry or home-improvement licenses. Meet the normal MHIC requirements unless MHIC confirms an applicable expedited military pathway.

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

Carpentry Licensing in Neighboring States

Contractors working near a state line, or weighing where to qualify first, should compare Maryland's requirements against the bordering jurisdictions before committing to an application:

Delaware Carpentry License Requirements — Delaware Contractor Business License and Contractor Registration Certificate
District of Columbia Carpentry License Requirements — DC Carpentry Contractor Requirements — General Contractor/Construction Manager or Home Improvement Contractor
Pennsylvania Carpentry License Requirements — Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor Registration
Virginia Carpentry License Requirements — Virginia Class A, B, or C Contractor — Finish Carpentry (FIN) or Framing (FRM) Specialty
West Virginia Carpentry License Requirements — West Virginia Carpentry Contractor License — Classification Guide

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Confirm that the carpentry is MHIC-covered. MHIC generally covers improvements to existing residences; new-home construction and statutory exclusions follow different rules.
Document qualifying background. Prepare evidence of at least two years of home-improvement, construction, or related education.
Pass the MHIC contractor exam. The PSI exam has 55 questions, a two-hour time limit, and a 70% passing score.
Prepare financial and business documents. Provide the financial-solvency information and any entity or trade-name documents MHIC requires.
Obtain required liability insurance. Maintain at least $500,000 in general liability insurance.
Apply and pay the initial fees. Current original contractor charges are $281.25 application, $22.50 processing, and a $100 Guaranty Fund assessment, plus the exam fee.
Use compliant contracts and advertising. Follow MHIC contract disclosures and display requirements for covered home-improvement business.
Renew on the two-year cycle. Keep insurance current and submit the renewal charge and Guaranty Fund assessment before expiration.

Application Checklist

The most critical documents or confirmations the applicant should have in hand before filing with MD DOL:

MHIC-covered scope confirmed
Two years of qualifying experience, construction work, or related education documented
PSI MHIC contractor examination passed
Financial-solvency documents prepared
$500,000 general liability insurance certificate
Entity or trade-name documents, if applicable
Original MHIC fees and $100 Guaranty Fund assessment
MHIC-compliant contract and advertising procedures

Common Filing Mistakes

Based on the board's own instructions and the sources cited here, the problems below are what most often stall a Maryland Carpentry application.

Treating a trade as exempt

Carpentry is not separately licensed, but covered existing-residential improvement contracts generally require an MHIC contractor license.

Using the stale $50,000 insurance figure

The current statute requires at least $500,000 in general liability coverage.

Applying before passing the exam

An applicant must pass the examination before submitting the MHIC license application.

Ignoring financial-solvency review

MHIC reviews the applicant’s financial information and may require an indemnitor or surety bond if its guidelines are not met.

Mixing new-home and home-improvement scope

New-home construction is outside MHIC’s home-improvement definition and has a separate registration path.

Study and Reference Materials

The references below are either cited by the board, used during the application, or standard preparation for the trade. They are listed purely for convenience — CLR earns no commission on any of them.

MHIC Contractor Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI Examination Services. Use the current PSI bulletin and its list of references.
Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, 5th edition — PSI/MHIC. MHIC identifies this as the basis for contractor-exam content.
Maryland Business Regulation Title 8 — Maryland General Assembly. Primary statutory source for MHIC scope and licensing.

Other Maryland Trade Licenses

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a separate Maryland carpentry license?

No. For covered existing-residential work, the relevant statewide credential is the MHIC contractor license, not a carpentry trade license.

Does MHIC cover new-home construction?

No. The statutory definition excludes construction of a new home. Maryland’s Home Builder Registration program is separate.

Can an unlicensed carpentry subcontractor work for an MHIC contractor?

MHIC states that subcontractors may perform home improvements without a subcontractor license for an MHIC-licensed contractor. Only an MHIC-licensed contractor may contract with homeowners.

What insurance amount does MHIC require?

State law requires at least $500,000 in general liability insurance for applicants and licensed MHIC contractors.

How often does an MHIC contractor license renew?

The license period is two years from original issuance. Current contractor renewal charges include a $281.25 application fee and a $175 Guaranty Fund assessment.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-09-04 · Next scheduled review 2026-12-03

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Corrections and presentation updates

2026-09-30: Corrected examination detection when format details are unpublished and updated the summary layout and requirements score. Source-check dates are unchanged.
2026-09-08: Shared template updated to distinguish unspecified eligibility requirements, retain cost qualifications, and use consistent headings. Source-check dates are unchanged by presentation updates.
2026-09-21: Local-only guides now use a compliance-focused structure and terminology instead of implying a statewide license application. Source-check dates are unchanged by this presentation update.