Massachusetts Carpentry License Requirements (2026)

Massachusetts regulates carpentry through two parallel credentials administered by the Office of Public Safety and Inspections (OPSI). Anyone who contracts with a homeowner for residential improvements must register as a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) under M.G.L. Chapter 142A. The HIC is administrative and requires a $150 fee, contribution to the Home Improvement Contractor Arbitration and Guaranty Fund, and use of the statutory written contract. Anyone who supervises construction or alteration on buildings of one to four units, or commercial buildings up to 35,000 cubic feet, must additionally hold a Construction Supervisor License (CSL) Unrestricted under 780 CMR R5. The CSL Unrestricted requires three years of experience and passing a proctored exam on the Massachusetts State Building Code.

Federal requirement: EPA Lead RRP Rule

Independent of Massachusetts licensing, federal law (the EPA Lead RRP Rule) governs any paint-disturbing renovation, repair, or painting in pre-1978 housing. See our complete EPA RRP Lead Certification guide for who needs firm and renovator certification, what it costs, and how renewal works.

Regulatory Oversight

Under Massachusetts General Laws (MGL) Chapter 143 §95; 780 CMR (Massachusetts State Building Code), Massachusetts Office of Public Safety and Inspections — Board of Building Regulations and Standards (OPSI/BBRS) is the body that issues this license and enforces compliance with it. OPSI administers the Construction Supervisor License (CSL) program under the Board of Building Regulations and Standards, enforces the Massachusetts State Building Code, and conducts disciplinary hearings for licensed construction supervisors.

Official portal: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/office-of-public-safety-and-inspections
Address: 1000 Washington Street, Suite 710, Boston, MA 02118
Phone: (617) 727-3200

Who May Apply

To qualify, an applicant must have reached age 18 and hold a valid Social Security Number. No Massachusetts residency requirement.

Good moral character

Criminal history is reviewed case-by-case by the licensing authority.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure required on the application.

Required Experience and Education

Plan to substantiate Three years of experience in building construction supervision is required for the CSL Unrestricted. The HIC has no experience requirement. 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

Notarized experience affidavits from licensed supervising contractors
W-2s, 1099s, or payroll records covering the qualifying period
Apprenticeship completion certificate where applicable

Education substitution

Approved carpentry apprenticeship or accredited trade school coursework may substitute for part of the experience requirement.

Examination Requirements

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

Massachusetts CSL Unrestricted Building Code exam — 75 questions, 165 minutes, passing score 70%
Massachusetts CSL Business Practices module — 25 questions, 45 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $150 HIC registration plus $100 CSL application and $89 PSI exam fee.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be retaken after paying a new exam fee. Applications remain valid for one year.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

The cited materials impose no contractor license bond for this credential. Bear in mind that specific contracts, permits, or public works can still require their own bonds.

General liability

OPSI does not impose a state GL minimum, but most owners require $1,000,000/$2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers compensation is mandatory under M.G.L. Chapter 152 §25C for any contractor with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$150
Examination	$89
Initial license	$250
Renewal (every 2 years)	$100

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Massachusetts Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration and Construction Supervisor License (CSL) comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $100. HIC renews every two years on June 30. CSL renews every two years on the birthday of the license holder.

Continuing education: CSL Unrestricted requires 12 hours of continuing education each two-year renewal cycle through OPSI-approved providers.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

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

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

Massachusetts CSL has limited reciprocity with Rhode Island and New Hampshire CSL programs. HIC has no reciprocity.

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

Application Process, Step by Step

Register the business with the Massachusetts Secretary of State. Required before HIC registration.
Submit the HIC registration application with $150 fee. Online via mass.gov/opsi.
Pay the $100 Guaranty Fund contribution. Required at HIC registration.
Document three years of construction supervision experience. For the CSL Unrestricted.
Pass the PSI CSL Unrestricted exam at 70%. Schedule with PSI.
File proof of GL insurance and workers compensation. Per OPSI requirements.
Receive the HIC and CSL numbers. Display both on every contract and ad.
Use the statutory HIC contract on every job. M.G.L. Chapter 142A §2 mandatory.
Renew HIC and CSL biennially with 12 CSL CE hours. HIC renewal $100; CSL renewal $100.

Document Checklist

The most critical documents or confirmations the applicant should have in hand before filing with OPSI/BBRS:

☐ Massachusetts Secretary of State business registration
☐ HIC application with $150 fee
☐ $100 Guaranty Fund contribution
☐ Three years of construction supervision experience
☐ PSI CSL Unrestricted exam pass certificate
☐ Certificate of general liability insurance
☐ Workers compensation certificate (if employees)
☐ EPA Lead RRP certification and Massachusetts Deleader certification (pre-1978)
☐ Statutory HIC written contract template

Recommended References

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.

Massachusetts State Building Code 780 CMR (Ninth Edition) — Office of Public Safety and Inspections. Primary CSL exam reference.
CSL Unrestricted Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI Services. Lists exam content and references.
M.G.L. Chapter 142A and 201 CMR 14 — Commonwealth of Massachusetts. HIC statute and regulations.

Frequent Application Errors

Drawn from the board instructions and sources cited on this page, the pitfalls below are the ones most likely to slow down or sink a Massachusetts Carpentry application.

Pulling permits as the homeowner

Carpenters who let homeowners pull their own permits to avoid CSL requirements is illegal under 780 CMR 110.R5 and triggers a stop-work order.

No CSL on a 4-unit building

CSL Unrestricted is required for any building of one to four units. Working without it is unlicensed building permit pulling.

Lead RRP for pre-1978 trim

Massachusetts has its own Lead Law (Chapter 111 §190) that supplements the federal EPA RRP rule. Mandatory deleadling certification is required for pre-1978 work.

Statutory written contract

M.G.L. Chapter 142A §2 requires a written contract on any home improvement of $1,000 or more, with detailed scope, payment schedule, contractor HIC number, and three-day cancellation notice.

Door-to-door three-day rule

In-home solicited contracts are subject to the three-day cancellation rule. Carpenters who collect a deposit before three days face Attorney General enforcement.

Other Massachusetts Trade Licenses

Should the Carpentry path not apply, these other Massachusetts trade guides from CLR may help:

Questions Applicants Ask

What is the difference between HIC and CSL?

HIC is the consumer-protection registration that lets you contract with a homeowner. CSL is the building code competency license that lets you supervise construction and pull building permits. Most carpenters need both.

Is there a CSL exam?

Yes. The Massachusetts CSL Unrestricted exam is a 75-question proctored test on the Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR) plus 25 business practices questions.

What is the HIC Guaranty Fund?

The Home Improvement Contractor Arbitration and Guaranty Fund compensates homeowners up to $10,000 per claim for losses caused by registered contractors. Registrants contribute $100 at registration.

Do I need both credentials for a deck?

Yes. The HIC lets you contract for the deck. The CSL lets you pull the building permit for the deck.

How often do these credentials renew?

HIC renews every two years on June 30. CSL Unrestricted renews every two years on the licensee birthday with 12 hours of continuing education.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-20 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-18