Michigan Carpentry License Requirements (2026)

Michigan regulates residential carpentry through the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Bureau of Construction Codes Residential Builders and Maintenance & Alteration Contractors Board under MCL §339.2401 et seq. Any person who contracts with a homeowner for residential construction, alteration, repair or maintenance for compensation over $600 must hold a Michigan Residential Builder license or a Maintenance and Alteration (M&A) Contractor license in the relevant trade. Carpentry is one of the M&A trades, but in practice most residential carpenters obtain the broader Residential Builder license. Applicants must complete a 60-hour pre-license course, pass the PSI Residential Builder exam, and pay the $600 application fee.

Federal requirement: EPA Lead RRP Rule

The federal EPA Lead RRP Rule applies in every state — including Michigan — to renovation, repair, or painting that disturbs paint in housing built before 1978. See our complete EPA RRP Lead Certification guide for who needs firm and renovator certification, what it costs, and how renewal works.

Regulatory Oversight

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs — Bureau of Construction Codes (LARA BCC) administers and enforces this credential under the authority of Michigan Occupational Code, MCL 339.2401 et seq. (Article 24 — Residential Builders); Skilled Trades Regulation Act, MCL 339.5101 et seq.. LARA Bureau of Construction Codes administers Michigan licensing for residential builders, electricians, plumbers, and mechanical contractors through its trade-specific boards, adopts the Michigan building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical codes, and conducts disciplinary proceedings.

Official portal: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bcc
Address: P.O. Box 30254, Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: (517) 241-9313

Who May Apply

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

No fixed number of years of experience is set out in the cited sources for this credential; instead, the controlling requirement is No experience years required, but the 60-hour LARA-approved pre-license course is mandatory..

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

PSI Services LLC under contract to LARA runs the examination for this credential. Issuance is contingent on passing every part below:

Michigan Residential Builder Business and Law — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%
Michigan Residential Builder Trade exam — 60 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $600 application fee plus $117 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

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

LARA does not impose a state GL minimum. Most owners and lenders require $500,000 to $1,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers compensation is mandatory under MCL §418.611 for any contractor with one or more employees on any one day in any 13-week period.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$600
Examination	$117
Initial license	$195
Renewal (every 3 years)	$195

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Michigan Residential Builder License (Carpentry) comes due every 3 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $195. Triennial renewal on the licensee birthday. Late renewal up to 60 days incurs a $20 fee.

Continuing education: 21 hours of continuing education each three-year renewal cycle, including 3 hours of code, 1 hour of safety, 1 hour of laws and rules, and 1 hour of business management.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Michigan 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 Michigan for this classification.

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

Michigan has no formal reciprocity. Out-of-state contractors must complete the 60-hour pre-license course and pass the PSI exam.

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

Complete the 60-hour LARA-approved pre-license course. Online or classroom.
Submit the LARA Residential Builder application with $600 fee. Online via mylicense.michigan.gov.
Pass the PSI Business and Law and Trade exams at 70%. Schedule with PSI.
File proof of GL insurance and workers compensation. Per LARA requirements.
Receive the LARA Residential Builder license number. Display on every contract.
Obtain local registration where required. Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor.
Renew every three years on the licensee birthday. Submit 21 CE hours and renewal fee.

Recommended References

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.

LARA Residential Builder Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI Services. Free PDF with content outline.
Michigan Residential Code (2015 with state amendments) — International Code Council. Open-book at PSI.
MCL Chapter 339 Article 24 and Mich. Admin. Code R 339.16001 — State of Michigan. Licensing law and rules.

Frequent Application Errors

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

Skipping the 60-hour course

PSI will not seat applicants without the LARA pre-license course completion certificate.

M&A vs. Residential Builder

M&A Carpentry only authorizes carpentry. Adding plumbing, electrical or HVAC requires separate licenses or the Residential Builder.

Lead RRP for pre-1978 trim

EPA RRP certification is federally required and Michigan EGLE enforces concurrently.

Recovery Fund

Michigan operates a Residential Builders Recovery Fund. Any unpaid judgment against a licensee can result in license revocation.

Local registration

Detroit, Grand Rapids and other Michigan cities require additional contractor registration on top of the LARA license.

Document Checklist

The items below are the ones worth confirming before the application is filed with LARA BCC:

☐ 60-hour LARA pre-license course completion certificate
☐ LARA Residential Builder application with $600 fee
☐ PSI Business and Law and Trade exam pass certificates
☐ Certificate of general liability insurance
☐ Workers compensation certificate (if employees)
☐ Local contractor registration (Detroit, Grand Rapids, etc.)
☐ EPA Lead RRP certification (pre-1978 work)

Other Michigan Trade Licenses

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

Questions Applicants Ask

Does Michigan have a carpentry license?

Carpentry is one of the Maintenance and Alteration (M&A) Contractor trade categories, but most residential carpenters obtain the broader Residential Builder license that covers all trades.

What is the 60-hour pre-license course?

A LARA-approved curriculum covering business, law, building codes, contracts and safety. Online and classroom options exist. Required before sitting for the PSI exam.

What is the project value threshold?

Michigan licensing applies to any residential project over $600 in combined labor and material.

Does Michigan accept NASCLA?

No. LARA requires the Michigan-specific PSI exam and the 60-hour pre-license course.

How often does the license renew?

Every three years on the licensee birthday with 21 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 2026-04-24 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-23