Michigan Pool Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Michigan does not issue a standalone "swimming pool contractor" license. Residential pool construction is instead authorized as the Swimming Pools (S) trade classification under a Residential Maintenance & Alteration (M&A) Contractor license issued by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes (a Residential Builder license also covers this work). MCL 339.2404 expressly lists swimming pool installation as an M&A craft under Article 24 of the Occupational Code (PA 299 of 1980). To obtain the credential an applicant must be at least 18, complete a 60-hour LARA-approved prelicensure education course, apply to LARA to receive an Authorization to Test, and then pass two PSI examinations — a Business & Law exam and the Swimming Pools (S) trade exam — each at a 72% passing standard. This classification governs residential pool construction; public and commercial pools involve separate local building permits and public-health code administered outside this license.

Who Regulates This Work

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs — Bureau of Construction Codes (Licensing Section, Residential Builders) (LARA BCC) is the primary authority or official reference used for this guide. The controlling authority cited here is Michigan Occupational Code, MCL 339.2404 (Article 24 — Residential Builders); PA 299 of 1980, as amended. The LARA Bureau of Construction Codes licenses and regulates residential builders and residential maintenance & alteration (M&A) contractors under Article 24 of the Occupational Code (PA 299 of 1980). Swimming pool construction on residential structures is a specific trade classification (Swimming Pools, code "S") issued under the M&A Contractor license and also covered by a Residential Builder license. The Bureau administers prelicensure education standards, authorizes candidates to test through PSI, and processes initial licensure and three-year renewals.

• Official reference: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bcc/sections/licensing-section/residential-builders
• Address: P.O. Box 30254, Lansing, MI 48909 (correspondence without payment); payments to P.O. Box 30255, Lansing, MI 48909
• Phone: (517) 241-9316

State and Local Eligibility Rules

There is no single statewide application for this work, so this guide does not impose a uniform applicant-age, identification, or tax-number rule. Check the business, specialty-trade, and local authorities that govern the actual project. No Michigan residency requirement.

State-level applicant screening

MCL 339.2404 permits LARA to require evidence of good moral character. The applicant must disclose convictions, and LARA reviews fraud and construction-related offenses under PA 299 on a case-by-case basis. A conviction is not an automatic bar.

Background-check requirements

Criminal history disclosure is made on the application; no fingerprint-based background check is required for residential builder or M&A contractor licensure.

Disqualifying conditions

• Fraud
• Construction-related felonies reviewed under PA 299 §2404 (case-by-case, not automatic disqualification)

Experience and Scope Requirements

No single statewide year-based experience threshold governs the local or scope-specific path described here. The controlling requirement is No work-experience requirement under PA 299. The mandatory 60-hour state-approved prelicensure education course is the competency gate before examination..

Relevant records and local documents

• 60-hour LARA-approved prelicensure education completion certificate

Education and scope boundaries

Not applicable — the 60-hour course is required of all applicants and cannot be waived by experience.

Testing Requirements

Testing provider or authority: PSI Services LLC (contracted by LARA). 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:

• Business & Law — 50 questions, 75 minutes, passing score 72%
• Swimming Pools (S) trade/specialty exam — 50 questions, timing: confirm with the authority, passing score 72%

Examination fee: $91 for M&A first-time Business/Law plus one trade (per 2016 PSI bulletin); current PSI schedule may be higher and should be reverified

Retake policy: Retest fees are $66 for one part and $86 for two parts. A passed part's score is valid for one year, and the LARA authorization/application is valid for one year.

Insurance, Bonds, and Project Requirements

No statewide contractor-license bond applies to the local or scope-specific path described here. A city, county, permit authority, public owner, or project contract may still require a bond, so confirm the actual project requirements before bidding.

General liability

Not a state statutory minimum, but most Michigan municipalities require general liability coverage (commonly $500,000–$1,000,000) at permit issuance.

Workers' compensation

Mandatory for Michigan employers with 3 or more employees (and under a 1-employee/13-week continuous-work trigger) per MCL 418.115.

Financial or filing requirements

No financial statement is required for licensure.

State and Local Fees

To budget for the applicable registration, permits, insurance, and project requirements, open the cost calculator preloaded for Michigan pool contractor.

Renewal and Ongoing Compliance

Renewal of the Residential Maintenance & Alteration Contractor License — Swimming Pools (S) classification comes due every 3 years. There is no single statewide renewal fee for this path; local and scope-specific charges vary by authority. Licenses renew every 3 years and expire May 31. Continuing competency is tracked by LARA, and renewal is denied without documented hours. The renewal dollar amount is a separate, lower fee than the $195 initial application fee and could not be confirmed on a live official page; third-party estimates suggest roughly $150–$185. Confirm the amount on LARA or MiPLUS before relying on any figure.

Continuing education: 21 hours of continuing competency per 3-year cycle during the first two license cycles (first 6 years), with at least 3 hours each calendar year including at least 1 hour each in building codes, safety, and construction/business law; reduced to 3 hours per cycle after the first 6 years of licensure.

Out-of-State Credentials and Local Recognition

Michigan has no single statewide credential for this path to transfer through NASCLA. An authority may consider an outside license, examination, or experience record only under its own current rules.

Michigan has no reciprocity for residential builder or M&A contractor licensing and does not accept the NASCLA Accredited exam for this classification.

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

Pool Contractor Licensing in Neighboring States

Contractors working near a state line, or weighing where to qualify first, should compare Michigan's requirements against the bordering jurisdictions before bidding or beginning work:

• Indiana Pool Contractor License Requirements — No state swimming pool contractor license — pool construction is regulated locally (municipal/county contractor registration and building permits) under the state Swimming Pool Code (675 IAC 20)
• Ohio Pool Contractor License Requirements — No Ohio state license for swimming pool & spa construction (regulated locally; OCILB does not license pool contractors)
• Wisconsin Pool Contractor License Requirements — No Wisconsin state license to build swimming pools or spas (pool-construction contractors are not licensed by the state)

Step-by-Step Compliance Roadmap

1. Confirm the correct license classification. Verify that residential pool work is authorized under the Residential Maintenance & Alteration Contractor license with the Swimming Pools (S) classification, or under a Residential Builder license per MCL 339.2404.
2. Complete the 60-hour prelicensure course. Finish a LARA-approved 60-hour prelicensure education course and obtain the completion certificate, which is the required competency gate before examination.
3. Apply to LARA and obtain Authorization to Test. Submit the application (with the $195 application fee) to LARA and receive the Authorization to Test before registering with PSI; disclose any convictions as required.
4. Register with PSI and pass both exams. Register with PSI and pass the Business & Law exam (50 questions, 75 minutes) and the Swimming Pools (S) trade exam (50 questions), each at 72% (36 of 50 correct).
5. Receive license issuance from LARA. Once both exams are passed and the application is approved, LARA issues the M&A Contractor license with the Swimming Pools (S) classification (issuance is covered by the $195 application fee).
6. Secure insurance and meet local permit requirements. Obtain workers' compensation coverage if required by employee count, and carry general liability commonly required by municipalities at building-permit issuance for pool barrier and safety-code compliance.

Pre-Work Checklist

Before bidding or beginning work, confirm each item below with the authorities that govern the project location and scope:

• Confirm eligibility: at least 18 years old with a Social Security number; no Michigan residency requirement
• Complete a 60-hour LARA-approved prelicensure education course and keep the completion certificate
• Submit the LARA application with the $195 application fee and disclose any convictions
• Receive the Authorization to Test from LARA before registering with PSI
• Pass the PSI Business & Law exam (50 questions, 75 minutes) at 72%
• Pass the PSI Swimming Pools (S) trade exam (50 questions) at 72%
• Obtain workers' compensation coverage if required and general liability insurance for local permits

Progress is saved in this browser, so you can return to this checklist while your compliance work is in progress.

Common Compliance Mistakes

The issues below are the most likely to create an unlicensed-work, registration, permit, or scope problem for Michigan Pool Contractor work, based on the official sources cited on this page.

Assuming a standalone pool license exists

Michigan issues no dedicated swimming pool contractor license. Applicants must license as a Residential M&A Contractor with the Swimming Pools (S) classification (or as a Residential Builder), which changes the application and exam path.

Relying on the wrong passing score

Third-party sources commonly cite 70% or an erroneous 27-correct figure. The official PSI bulletin sets the passing standard at 72% (36 of 50 correct) on both the Business & Law and Swimming Pools trade exams.

Treating the $195 application fee as the renewal fee

The $195 figure is the initial application fee, not the three-year renewal fee. The renewal amount is a separate, lower fee that must be confirmed on LARA or MiPLUS before budgeting or filing.

Overlooking continuing competency and the May 31 expiration

Renewal is denied without documented continuing competency hours (21 hours per cycle in the first six years), and licenses expire May 31 with a $20 late fee applying within 60 days.

Official References and Preparation Materials

What follows are the regulator-cited and commonly used preparation references for this trade. They appear here for convenience only; CLR takes no compensation for them.

• PSI Michigan Residential Builder / M&A Contractor Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI Services LLC. Official bulletin listing exam question counts, the 72% passing standard, and fees; verify against the latest edition since figures derive from the Rev. 6/1/2016 bulletin.
• Michigan Occupational Code, MCL 339.2404 (Article 24) — Michigan Legislature. Statutory basis for the M&A contractor license and the swimming pool installation craft classification.
• Residential Builder (RB) FAQ — Michigan LARA — Bureau of Construction Codes. Official FAQ covering the 60-hour course, application process, and renewal expectations.

Other Michigan Trade Licenses

CLR covers other Michigan trades as well — the published guides below may be more relevant:

• Michigan General Contractor License Requirements
• Michigan Electrician License Requirements
• Michigan Plumber License Requirements
• Michigan HVAC Technician License Requirements
• Michigan Roofing Contractor License Requirements
• Michigan Painting Contractor License Requirements
• Michigan Landscaping Contractor License Requirements
• Michigan Masonry Contractor License Requirements
• Michigan Concrete Contractor License Requirements
• Michigan Carpentry Contractor License Requirements
• Michigan Solar Installer License Requirements
• Michigan Low-Voltage Technician License Requirements
• Michigan Fire Sprinkler Contractor License Requirements
• Michigan Home Inspector License Requirements
• Michigan Handyman License Requirements
• Michigan Pest Control License Requirements
• Michigan Septic Contractor License Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Michigan issue a dedicated swimming pool contractor license?

No. Michigan does not issue a standalone swimming pool contractor license. Residential pool construction is authorized as the Swimming Pools (S) trade classification under a Residential Maintenance & Alteration Contractor license, and a Residential Builder license also covers the work. MCL 339.2404 expressly lists swimming pool installation as an M&A craft.

Is prior work experience required to get licensed?

No work-experience requirement applies under PA 299. Instead, every applicant must complete a mandatory 60-hour LARA-approved prelicensure education course, which serves as the competency gate before examination. This course cannot be waived by experience and must be completed before testing with PSI.

What exams must a pool builder pass, and what is the passing score?

Applicants must pass two PSI exams: a Business & Law exam (50 questions, 75 minutes) and the Swimming Pools (S) trade exam (50 questions). The passing standard is 72%, meaning 36 of 50 correct on each part, per the official PSI candidate bulletin — not the 70% figure sometimes cited by third parties.

Is a surety bond required for a Michigan pool contractor license?

No. Michigan does not require a license or surety bond for Residential Builder or Maintenance & Alteration Contractor licensure, and no financial statement is required. However, most municipalities require general liability insurance at permit issuance, and workers' compensation is mandatory for employers meeting the statutory employee-count threshold.

How often is the license renewed and what does renewal require?

The license renews on a three-year cycle and expires May 31. Renewal requires documented continuing competency hours — 21 hours per cycle during the first two cycles (first six years), reduced to 3 hours per cycle thereafter. The exact renewal fee is a separate, lower amount than the $195 application fee and should be verified on LARA or MiPLUS before filing.

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