Mississippi Low Voltage Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Mississippi regulates low-voltage work through the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) under Miss. Code §31-3-1 et seq. The MSBOC issues specialty contractor classifications for telecommunications and structured cabling, sound and intercom, fire alarm, and burglar alarm work. Any commercial contract exceeding $50,000 (or any residential contract exceeding $50,000) requires MSBOC licensure. The Mississippi State Fire Marshal additionally regulates fire alarm system installation under Miss. Code §45-11 and requires a separate Fire Alarm Inspector permit. Burglar alarm businesses statewide must register with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety as a Private Protection Business under Miss. Code §97-23-103.

Regulatory Oversight

Under Mississippi Code Title 31, Chapter 3 (Public Contracts) and Title 73, Chapter 59 (Residential Builders), Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) is the body that issues this license and enforces compliance with it. 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

Who May Apply

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

Good moral character

MSBOC conducts a fitness review on every applicant under Miss. Code §31-3-15.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure required. DPS Private Protection Business registration requires fingerprint-based MBI and FBI background screening.

Required Experience and Education

The applicant must document and verify at least three years of qualifying low-voltage installation experience for the MSBOC specialty classification, plus passing the trade and Mississippi business and law examinations. Keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records to support the claim, as the board can request proof for any period within its lookback window.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

MSBOC Experience Verification Form signed by each supervising contractor
W-2 statements, pay stubs, or 1099 records
NICET Fire Alarm Systems Level II / III certificate
Approved electrical or low-voltage apprenticeship completion certificate

Education substitution

Approved electrical or low-voltage apprenticeships and accredited two-year electronics programs substitute for portions of the experience requirement.

Examination Requirements

The licensing examination is delivered by PSI Services LLC under contract to MSBOC.. All of the following parts must be cleared prior to issuance:

PSI Mississippi Trade Examination (specialty specific — Communications / Sound / Fire Alarm / Burglar Alarm) — 80 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 70%
PSI Mississippi Business and Law examination — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $200 MSBOC application + $80 PSI Trade exam + $80 PSI Business and Law exam.

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

Insurance and Financial Requirements

The cited state source set does not require a contractor license surety bond for this credential. Contractors should still confirm project-specific bond, permit-bond, or public-works bond requirements before bidding.

General liability

MSBOC does not impose a state minimum general liability for specialty classifications. Most commercial owners contractually require $1,000,000 / $2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory for any Mississippi employer with five or more employees under Miss. Code §71-3.

Additional financial requirements

MSBOC requires a financial statement matching the requested monetary limit on the license. Specialty classifications typically require $5,000 minimum net worth.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$200
Examination	$160
Initial license	$200
Renewal (every year)	$200

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Mississippi State Board of Contractors Specialty Classification (Communications, Sound, Fire Alarm) and State Fire Marshal Permit comes due every year. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $200. MSBOC specialty classifications renew annually on the licensee's anniversary date.

Continuing education: MSBOC requires six hours of approved continuing education annually for the qualifying party.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Mississippi Low Voltage 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 Mississippi for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Louisiana	Trade exam waiver	MSBOC bilateral reciprocity with Louisiana LSLBC.
Tennessee	Trade exam waiver	MSBOC bilateral reciprocity with Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors.
Alabama	Trade exam waiver	MSBOC bilateral reciprocity with Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors.

MSBOC reciprocity covers the trade exam only; the Mississippi Business and Law exam is always required.

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

Application Process, Step by Step

Confirm specialty classification. Communications and structured cabling, Sound and intercom, Fire Alarm, or Burglar Alarm. Pick the classifications matching your scope.
Document three years of qualifying experience. Compile MSBOC Experience Verification Forms covering three years of supervised low-voltage installation work.
Submit the MSBOC specialty contractor application. File with the $200 fee, financial statement, and qualifying party designation.
Pass the PSI Trade and Business and Law examinations. Score 70% or better on each.
Apply for the State Fire Marshal Fire Alarm Inspector permit (if doing fire alarm). File the SFM application with the $100 fee and NICET Fire Alarm Level II evidence.
Apply for DPS Private Protection Business registration (if doing burglar alarm). File the DPS application with $250 fee, fingerprints, and qualifying agent designation.
File workers compensation. Submit Mississippi workers compensation certificate for any business with five or more employees.
Renew on the MSBOC annual cycle. MSBOC specialty classifications renew annually on the licensee's anniversary date.

Document Checklist

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

☐ Three years of qualifying low-voltage experience
☐ MSBOC specialty contractor application with $200 fee
☐ Financial statement (specialty minimum $5,000 net worth)
☐ PSI Trade exam pass at 70%+
☐ PSI Mississippi Business and Law exam pass at 70%+
☐ State Fire Marshal Fire Alarm Inspector permit (if doing fire alarm)
☐ DPS Private Protection Business registration (if doing burglar alarm)
☐ Workers compensation (if 5+ employees)

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.

Miss. Code §31-3-1 et seq. — State of Mississippi. MSBOC licensing statute.
NEC Articles 725, 760, 770, 800 — NFPA. Technical reference for the trade exam.
NFPA 72 — National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code — NFPA. Required reference for fire alarm work.

Frequent Application Errors

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

Working under the $50,000 threshold and ignoring local rules

MSBOC licensure is required only above $50,000, but many Mississippi cities require local business licenses regardless of contract value.

Skipping the State Fire Marshal permit

Fire alarm installation in Mississippi requires the SFM Fire Alarm Inspector permit in addition to the MSBOC specialty. Operating without it triggers SFM enforcement.

Missing DPS registration for burglar alarm

Burglar alarm businesses must register with the Mississippi DPS as a Private Protection Business. The MSBOC classification alone does not authorize monitored security.

Weak financial statement

MSBOC ties the monetary limit on the license to the financial statement. A weak statement caps the contract value the licensee can bid on.

Letting the license lapse

A lapsed MSBOC license voids contracts and exposes the contractor to a 25% late penalty and potential reapplication.

Other Mississippi Trade Licenses

Should the Low Voltage path not apply, these other Mississippi trade guides from CLR may help:

Questions Applicants Ask

When does Mississippi require an MSBOC specialty license?

Any commercial or residential contract exceeding $50,000 in Mississippi requires MSBOC licensure under Miss. Code §31-3-15. Below the $50,000 threshold no state license is required.

Who licenses fire alarm installation in Mississippi?

The Mississippi State Fire Marshal under Miss. Code §45-11. The Fire Alarm Inspector permit is required in addition to the MSBOC specialty classification for any commercial fire alarm installation.

Who licenses burglar alarm businesses?

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety under Miss. Code §97-23-103. Registration as a Private Protection Business is required for any business installing or monitoring burglar alarms.

How much experience does MSBOC require?

Three years of qualifying low-voltage installation experience plus passing the trade and Mississippi business and law examinations.

How often does the MSBOC license renew?

Annually on the licensee's anniversary date. Renewal requires the annual fee plus continuing education for the qualifying party.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-16 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-14