Mississippi Painting Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Mississippi regulates painting through the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) under Miss. Code Ann. §31-3-14 (commercial) and §73-59 (residential). Commercial painting projects of $50,000 or more require a Mississippi Commercial Contractor License with a Painting and Coating classification. Residential projects over $50,000 require a Residential Builder or Residential Remodeler license. Below $50,000 no MSBOC license is required, but local business licensing and federal EPA Lead RRP still apply.

Federal requirement: EPA Lead RRP Rule

The federal EPA Lead RRP Rule applies in every state — including Mississippi — 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 Body Profile

Licensing for this trade is governed by Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC), the agency that issues and regulates the credential 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 threshold requirements are straightforward: age 21 or above, plus a valid Social Security Number. No Mississippi residency requirement.

Good moral character

MSBOC reviews criminal and license history.

Background investigation

Disclosure of prior license actions required.

Experience and Education Standards

Rather than a set number of years, the cited materials define eligibility through no minimum experience; qualifying party must pass the trade and Business and Law exams.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

MSBOC application with financial statement
PSI exam score reports
Certificate of insurance

The Exam Syllabus

Testing is handled by PSI Services LLC. The applicant has to pass each part listed here before the credential is granted:

Mississippi Business and Law Examination — 50 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 70%
Painting and Coating Trade Examination — 60 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $80 per PSI exam section plus $200 MSBOC application fee.

Retake policy: Retake each exam after re-registration; application valid 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

No statutory GL minimum; $1,000,000 / $2,000,000 is market standard.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation mandatory under Miss. Code Ann. §71-3-5 for any employer with five or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

MSBOC requires a financial statement showing minimum $10,000 net worth.

Schedule of Fees

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

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Mississippi State Board of Contractors — Commercial Painting (Over $50,000) / Residential Builder (Over $50,000) runs on a year renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $200. Annual renewal on anniversary date. Financial statement must be current.

Continuing education: No CE for commercial classification. Residential Builder requires 8 hours CE annually.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Mississippi Painting 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
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	—
	—
	—

Mississippi accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for commercial classifications.

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

The Application Roadmap

Determine classification and threshold. Commercial Painting classification at $50,000 or more; Residential Builder/Remodeler at $50,000 or more.
Prepare financial statement. $10,000 minimum net worth.
Register for PSI exams. Business and Law plus Painting and Coating trade exam (or NASCLA).
Submit MSBOC application. $200 application fee plus $200 license issuance.
Procure insurance and workers compensation. $1M/$2M GL standard; WC at five employees.
Complete EPA Lead-Safe Firm Certification. Required for pre-1978 housing.
Receive license and register locally. Jackson, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, and Tupelo have local business licensing.
Renew annually. MSBOC renewal on the anniversary date.

Recommended Study Materials

The list below collects the board's cited references and the materials applicants typically study from. CLR is not paid to recommend any of them.

NASCLA Contractor's Guide to Business, Law and Project Management (Mississippi edition) — NASCLA. Business and Law exam reference.
PDCA Painting and Decorating Craftsman's Manual — PDCA. Trade exam reference.
EPA Lead-Safe Work Practices Student Manual — US EPA. Required for RRP Renovator course.

Pre-Application Checklist

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

☐ MSBOC application with financial statement
☐ PSI Business and Law exam (or NASCLA)
☐ PSI Painting and Coating trade exam (or NASCLA)
☐ General liability insurance ($1M/$2M typical)
☐ Workers compensation (if five or more employees)
☐ EPA Lead-Safe Firm Certification
☐ Local business license (Jackson, Gulfport, etc.)
☐ EIN from the IRS

Where Applications Stall

These are the recurring mistakes that most often delay or reject a Mississippi Painting application, based on the official instructions cited here.

Splitting contracts to stay under $50,000

MSBOC treats related invoices as a single contract.

Ignoring the federal EPA Lead RRP rule

EPA RRP applies nationwide regardless of state license thresholds.

Misreading the five-employee WC threshold

Mississippi's unusual five-employee rule causes underinsured exposure at the fourth employee.

Gulf Coast salt-air coating failures

Coastal humidity accelerates coating failures; document manufacturer specifications in writing.

Overspray claims without GL coverage

$1M GL is the practical floor.

Other Mississippi Trade Licenses

Looking at a different trade? CLR also publishes these Mississippi licensing guides:

Common Questions

When does Mississippi require a state painting license?

Commercial painting projects of $50,000 or more require a MSBOC Commercial Contractor License with the Painting and Coating classification. Residential projects over $50,000 require a Residential Builder or Remodeler license.

Does Mississippi accept the NASCLA exam?

Yes. MSBOC accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for commercial classifications.

Is EPA Lead RRP required?

Yes. The federal RRP Rule applies in Mississippi for any pre-1978 housing.

When is workers compensation required?

Mississippi has a high five-employee threshold under Miss. Code Ann. §71-3-5 — unusual among states.

What is the minimum net worth?

$10,000 net worth shown on the financial statement submitted with the MSBOC application.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-10 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-08