Mississippi General Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Mississippi uses separate MSBOC licensing routes for commercial contractors and for residential builders or remodelers. A commercial certificate is generally required before bidding or contracting on commercial, industrial, or public work over $50,000, including the cost of equipment and installation. A Residential Builder license is generally required for new residential construction over $50,000, and a Residential Remodeler license for covered residential remodeling, additions, or roofing over $10,000. The Board also separately licenses residential electrical, mechanical, HVAC, and plumbing subcontractors regardless of project amount.

Regulatory Body

Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under Mississippi Code Title 31, Chapter 3 and Title 73, Chapter 59. MSBOC issues commercial Certificates of Responsibility and residential licenses, processes qualifying-party applications, administers contractor testing through PSI, and enforces the applicable state licensing laws.

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

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Applicants must provide a Social Security Number. MSBOC’s current commercial application requires a U.S. Social Security number for each qualifying party. Its published application materials do not state a general Mississippi-residency prerequisite; entities must supply the applicable Secretary of State and tax-registration information.

Good moral character

The commercial application asks the qualifying party about bid rigging, home-repair fraud, and prior contract-completion problems. Answer the current application completely and provide any requested explanation or records.

Background investigation

MSBOC’s commercial application requires disclosure questions about specified criminal and contracting history. The Board can request supporting information when reviewing an application.

Experience and Education

The cited source set does not publish a fixed year-based experience threshold for this credential. The controlling requirement is MSBOC’s current commercial materials require a qualifying party and documentation of actual work in the requested classification, including a project list and references. They do not publish one universal number of experience years for every commercial classification; the Board makes the final classification decision..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

• Completed project list for the requested classification
• Three references, including one bank reference, for a commercial application
• Proof that the qualifying party is employed by or connected to the applicant entity, such as a pay stub, W-2, or other Board-requested record
• Entity and tax-registration documents required by the current application, if applicable

Education substitution

Do not assume that schooling replaces the project, reference, or qualifying-party documentation. MSBOC’s current materials focus on the applicant’s documented work and classification request.

Exam Requirements

Testing provider or authority: PSI for the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. 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:

• Mississippi Law and Business Management examination — question count: confirm with the authority, timing: confirm with the authority, passing score: confirm in the current candidate bulletin
• Classification-specific trade examination, when required — question count: confirm with the authority, timing: confirm with the authority, passing score: confirm in the current candidate bulletin

Examination fee: PSI publishes the current examination fee and bulletin after MSBOC application approval; verify the classification-specific amount before scheduling.

Retake policy: MSBOC says a commercial application may remain active for 180 days while the applicant completes its requirements. Obtain current retake instructions from PSI and MSBOC for the particular examination.

Insurance and Bonds

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

For a commercial application, MSBOC requires at least $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate general liability coverage, with MSBOC shown as certificate holder and notified of cancellation. The Board’s residential materials do not publish that same dollar minimum; confirm the current residential application requirements for the chosen category.

Workers' compensation

A commercial applicant must provide workers’ compensation coverage when it has five or more employees. Mississippi workers’ compensation law and any owner or local permit requirement can add obligations.

Additional financial requirements

Commercial applicants submit a reviewed or audited financial statement prepared by a CPA within the prior 12 months; a compilation is not accepted. MSBOC’s current commercial application lists minimum net worth of $50,000 for a major classification and $20,000 for a specialty classification, and states that the commercial license is unlimited rather than a monetary-limit credential.

Fee Schedule

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 Mississippi general contractor.

Renewal and Continuing Education

The Mississippi Commercial Contractor / Residential Builder or Remodeler runs on a year renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $400. Commercial credentials renew annually. The stated $400 fee is for one classification; MSBOC’s current commercial materials list $100 for each additional classification.

Continuing education: MSBOC’s current commercial materials do not state a commercial continuing-education condition. Residential licenses issued on or after July 1, 2015 require each qualifying party to complete two credit hours each year under the residential rules.

Reciprocity

For this classification, Mississippi recognizes the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

MSBOC accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building in place of that trade examination; the Mississippi Law and Business examination still applies. MSBOC’s current reciprocity process can waive only qualifying trade examinations when the Board approves the application; all other application requirements remain in force. Confirm the current reciprocal board and classification with MSBOC before relying on a waiver.

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

General Contractor Licensing in Neighboring States

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

• Alabama General Contractor License Requirements — Alabama General Contractor License (prime or subcontractor)
• Arkansas General Contractor License Requirements — Arkansas Commercial Contractor / Residential Builder / Residential Remodeler
• Louisiana General Contractor License Requirements — Louisiana Commercial / Residential Contractor (LSLBC)
• Tennessee General Contractor License Requirements — Tennessee Contractor License — Building Classifications (TBLC)

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

1. Choose the correct state route. Use the commercial route for qualifying commercial work; use Residential Builder or Residential Remodeler for the covered residential work and threshold. Confirm the requested classification before applying.
2. Designate the qualifying party. Document the qualifying party’s role with the applicant and assemble the projects and references that support the requested classification.
3. Prepare the commercial financial and insurance records. Commercial applicants need the current CPA-reviewed or audited financial statement and the required $300,000/$600,000 liability certificate. Follow the separate residential application for a residential route.
4. File the MSBOC application. Submit the application, fee, references, qualifying-party records, entity documents, and other current checklist items.
5. Complete the required examinations. All MSBOC applications require the Law and Business examination. Complete the classification trade examination when required, or use an accepted NASCLA result only where MSBOC allows it.
6. Receive the credential and meet project requirements. After MSBOC approval, keep the credential current and obtain the permits or approvals required for the particular project and jurisdiction.

Application Checklist

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

• Correct MSBOC license route and classification
• Qualifying-party designation and evidence of the party’s connection to the applicant
• Completed-project list and three references, including one bank reference, for a commercial application
• CPA-reviewed or audited financial statement dated within 12 months for a commercial application
• Commercial general liability certificate showing at least $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate
• Workers’ compensation documentation when the commercial applicant has five or more employees
• Passed Law and Business examination and any required trade examination or accepted NASCLA result

Progress is saved in this browser, so you can return to this checklist while your application is in flight.

Common Filing Mistakes

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.

Using “$50,000 or more” instead of the Board’s “over $50,000” rule

MSBOC’s FAQ uses “over $50,000” for the general commercial threshold. Check the special statutory rule if fire-sprinkler work is involved.

Treating all specialty work as subject to a $5,000 threshold

The current MSBOC FAQ identifies the $5,000 public and $10,000 private exception specifically for fire-sprinkler work, not as a universal specialty-contractor threshold.

Submitting a compilation financial statement for commercial work

MSBOC’s commercial application requires a CPA-reviewed or audited statement; it expressly says a compilation is not accepted.

Omitting the commercial liability certificate

Commercial applicants need the stated $300,000-per-occurrence and $600,000-aggregate coverage, with MSBOC correctly listed as certificate holder.

Assuming the residential route covers electrical subcontracting

Residential electrical subcontractors need the specific state residential electrical license regardless of project amount.

Study and Reference 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.

• MSBOC testing information — Mississippi State Board of Contractors. Use this page to confirm which Law and Business and classification examinations are required and the current PSI process.
• MSBOC commercial contractor application — Mississippi State Board of Contractors. Current checklist for commercial qualifying party, financial statement, insurance, classification, fee, and application documents.
• Mississippi contractor licensing laws and residential rules — Mississippi State Board of Contractors. Primary state-law and rule source for the commercial and residential routes.

Other Mississippi Trade Licenses

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

When is a Mississippi commercial contractor license required?

MSBOC says commercial, industrial, or public work over $50,000 requires a commercial license, including the cost of equipment and installation. A special fire-sprinkler rule uses thresholds over $5,000 on public projects and over $10,000 on private projects.

What are the residential thresholds?

MSBOC says a Residential Builder license is required for covered new residential construction over $50,000. A Residential Remodeler license is required for covered remodeling, additions, or roofing over $10,000. Residential electrical, mechanical, HVAC, and plumbing subcontractors have a separate state-license rule regardless of amount.

Does Mississippi accept the NASCLA exam?

Yes, for the Commercial General Building classification. MSBOC’s testing information says NASCLA can replace that trade examination, but the Mississippi Law and Business examination remains required.

Does MSBOC set a commercial license monetary limit?

No. MSBOC’s current commercial application describes an unlimited commercial license. It instead requires the specified CPA financial statement and minimum net worth for the selected major or specialty classification.

How often does the Mississippi commercial contractor credential renew?

Commercial credentials are annual. MSBOC’s current fee schedule lists a $400 commercial renewal fee; check the current renewal notice and application materials for the documents due with the renewal.

Report a correction to this guide