Mississippi General Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) licenses two distinct categories under Mississippi Code Title 31, Chapter 3 and Title 73, Chapter 59. The Commercial Contractor license is required for any commercial, industrial, or public project of $50,000 or more (or $5,000 or more for hazardous and certain specialty work). The Residential Builder license is required to build new homes valued at $50,000 or more, and the Residential Remodeler license is required for residential remodeling of $10,000 or more. Each license requires a classification matching the trade, a financial statement, and a passing exam score administered by PSI.

Regulatory Body Profile

Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under Mississippi Code Title 31, Chapter 3 (Public Contracts) and Title 73, Chapter 59 (Residential Builders). The Mississippi State Board of Contractors licenses commercial contractors on projects of $50,000 or more and residential builders and remodelers on projects of $50,000 or more, administers examinations through PSI, and enforces bonding and financial-statement requirements statewide.

Official portal: https://www.msboc.us/
Address: 2679 Crane Ridge Drive, Suite C, Jackson, MS 39216
Phone: (601) 354-6161

The Eligibility Audit

The applicant must be at least 21 years of age and possess a valid Social Security Number. No Mississippi residency requirement; out-of-state applicants may be required to designate a Mississippi resident agent.

Good moral character

MSBOC reviews fitness on every qualifying party. Felony convictions and prior license revocations are reviewed individually.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application. MSBOC may request additional documentation.

Experience and Education Standards

The experience bar is 3 years of three or more years of practical experience in the classification applied for by the qualifying party (owner, officer, or full-time employee) is the standard MSBOC expectation, documented through prior projects and references, and it must be backed by verifiable records — typically payroll, tax, project, or supervisor documentation covering the claimed period.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

List of completed projects with owner contact information
W-2 statements, pay stubs, or 1099 records covering the qualifying period
Reference letters from prior general contractors, architects, or engineers
Trade school or college transcripts where applicable

Education substitution

Accredited construction-management coursework may supplement project experience but does not fully substitute for documented project history.

The Exam Syllabus

PSI Services LLC (under contract to MSBOC) administers the required examination. Each part below must be passed before the license will issue:

PSI Mississippi Business and Law / Management Survey for Contractors — 50 questions, 140 minutes, passing score 70%
PSI Mississippi trade examination for the chosen classification (or NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors) — 115 questions, 330 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $80 – $110 per PSI exam part paid on the day of testing.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be re-taken individually by paying a new exam fee. Each application remains valid for one year.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

There is no statewide surety bond tied to this credential in the cited record. Bonding can still surface at the project level — permit, license, or public-works bonds — so check before you bid.

General liability

MSBOC does not impose a state-level general liability minimum. Most public and commercial owners contractually require $1,000,000/$2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory in Mississippi for any business with five or more regular employees under Mississippi Code §71-3-5.

Additional financial requirements

Commercial Contractor: a CPA-prepared financial statement is required, and the license monetary limit is set by MSBOC based on working capital and net worth. Residential Builder/Remodeler: a financial statement showing solvency and the ability to perform the work is required at application.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$200
Examination	$190
Initial license	$200
Renewal (every year)	$200

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Mississippi Commercial Contractor / Residential Builder or Remodeler runs on a year renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $200. Mississippi contractor licenses renew annually. Updated financial statements may be required.

Continuing education: MSBOC does not currently mandate continuing education for the Commercial Contractor Certificate of Responsibility. Residential Builder/Remodeler licensees must complete the MSBOC-required continuing education hours each renewal cycle.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Mississippi General Contractor License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Reciprocity

For this classification, Mississippi recognizes the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Alabama	Trade exam waived for active Alabama general contractors	Bilateral MSBOC–Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors reciprocity. Business and law portion still required.
Arkansas	Trade exam waived	Bilateral MSBOC–Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board reciprocity.
Louisiana	Trade exam waived	Bilateral MSBOC–Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors reciprocity.
Tennessee	Trade exam waived	Bilateral MSBOC–Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors reciprocity.

Mississippi accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination in lieu of the PSI Mississippi trade exam for Commercial General Building Contractor classifications. The Mississippi Business and Law portion is still required.

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

The Application Roadmap

Choose the license type and classification. Commercial Contractor for projects $50,000+ or Residential Builder/Remodeler. Pick the classification matching the work (e.g., general building, highway, mechanical).
Document the qualifying party's experience. List completed projects, references, and the qualifying party's role in each.
Prepare the financial statement. Commercial Contractor requires a CPA-prepared statement. Residential Builder requires a solvency statement.
Submit the MSBOC application. File with the application fee, classification request, financial statement, and qualifying-party designation.
Pass the PSI examinations at 70%. Business and Law plus the trade portion (or NASCLA for Commercial General Building).
Receive the MSBOC certificate of responsibility or residential license. MSBOC issues the credential after exams and documentation are complete. Renew annually.

Pre-Application Checklist

Ahead of submission to MSBOC, confirm every item on this short list:

☐ MSBOC application with fee and qualifying-party designation
☐ CPA-prepared financial statement (Commercial Contractor)
☐ Project list and references documenting experience in the classification
☐ PSI Mississippi Business and Law exam pass certificate
☐ PSI Mississippi trade exam OR NASCLA Accredited Examination pass certificate
☐ Workers compensation coverage certificate for any business with five or more employees

Where Applications Stall

The following pitfalls summarize the issues most likely to delay, return, or derail a Mississippi General Contractor application based on the published board instructions and source materials cited on this page.

Misjudging the $50,000 threshold

The threshold is per project, not per year. Splitting a single project into smaller invoices to stay below $50,000 is treated as unlicensed contracting.

Skipping the CPA financial statement

Commercial Contractor applications require a CPA-prepared financial statement. Self-prepared balance sheets are rejected.

Confusing residential and commercial scope

The Commercial Contractor COR does not authorize residential building work, and the Residential Builder license does not authorize commercial work. Many contractors need both.

Assuming the state licenses individual trades

Mississippi has no statewide journeyman or master electrician, plumber, or HVAC license. Local municipalities set those rules.

Letting the annual renewal lapse

Mississippi licenses renew annually. A lapsed license blocks bidding on any project at or above the threshold.

Recommended Study Materials

These materials are drawn from the regulator's own citations and the references applicants commonly use to prepare. CLR receives no compensation for listing them.

NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — Mississippi edition — NASCLA. Standard reference for the Mississippi Business and Law portion.
International Building Code (Mississippi-adopted edition) — International Code Council. Primary technical reference for the trade portion.
Mississippi Code Title 31, Chapter 3 and Title 73, Chapter 59 — State of Mississippi. Licensing law for commercial and residential contractors.

Other Mississippi Trade Licenses

CLR maintains guides for additional Mississippi trades; the published ones are listed here:

Common Questions

When do I need a Mississippi contractor license?

Commercial, industrial, and public projects of $50,000 or more require a Commercial Contractor Certificate of Responsibility from MSBOC. New residential construction of $50,000 or more requires a Residential Builder license, and residential remodeling of $10,000 or more requires a Residential Remodeler license.

Does Mississippi accept the NASCLA exam?

Yes. MSBOC accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination in lieu of the PSI Mississippi trade exam for Commercial General Building Contractor classifications. The Mississippi Business and Law portion is still required.

What is a Certificate of Responsibility?

A Certificate of Responsibility (COR) is the credential MSBOC issues to commercial contractors. It assigns a monetary limit based on the financial statement and lists the approved classifications.

Does Mississippi license individual electricians, plumbers, or HVAC technicians at the state level?

No. Mississippi has no individual state license for journeyman or master electricians, plumbers, or HVAC technicians. Those trades are regulated at the municipal level. The MSBOC commercial classifications cover trades performing work above the $50,000 (or $5,000 hazardous/specialty) threshold as contractors.

How often does the Mississippi contractor license renew?

Annually. Renewal requires payment of the renewal fee and an updated financial statement for commercial contractors.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-04-30 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-29