Rhode Island Masonry Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Rhode Island does not license masonry as a trade. Anyone performing residential or commercial construction in Rhode Island must register with the Rhode Island Contractors Registration and Licensing Board (CRLB) under R.I.G.L. §5-65 et seq. Registration requires a five-hour pre-registration course on contractor law, payment of the $200 registration fee, proof of $500,000 minimum GL, and workers comp where applicable. CRLB also operates the Mechanics Lien Hotline and a contractor complaint process. This page documents the verified path including the five-hour course, OSHA silica enforcement, and TMS 402 / IBC Chapter 21 compliance.

The Licensing Authority

Rhode Island Contractors Registration and Licensing Board / Department of Labor and Training Professional Regulation (CRLB / DLT) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under R.I. General Laws Title 5 Chapter 65 (Contractors Registration); Title 5 Chapter 6 (Electricians); Title 5 Chapter 20 (Plumbers); Title 28 Chapter 27 (Pipefitters and Refrigeration). The Contractors Registration and Licensing Board (CRLB) registers residential contractors and licenses commercial roofers. The Department of Labor and Training (DLT) Division of Professional Regulation licenses electricians, plumbers, pipefitters, refrigeration technicians, and sheet metal workers — the trade licenses required for HVAC work in Rhode Island.

Official portal: https://www.crb.ri.gov/
Address: Contractors Registration and Licensing Board, 1511 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920
Phone: (401) 921-1500

Baseline Eligibility

The threshold requirements are straightforward: age 18 or above, plus a valid Social Security Number. No Rhode Island residency requirement; out-of-state entities must register with the RI Department of State Business Services Division.

Good moral character

CRLB reviews prior registration discipline. Outstanding contractor judgments bar registration.

Background investigation

Self-disclosure of criminal history on the registration application.

Experience and Education Requirements

The sources cited here stop short of naming a year requirement; the operative standard is No state experience requirement for CRLB registration. Insurance carriers and prime contractors require demonstrated journey-level masonry experience..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

CRLB-approved five-hour pre-registration course certificate
Optional: signed letters from prior masonry employers

The Licensing Examination

No written state trade examination is mandated for this credential in the cited materials. Instead, the operative process is: No exam required by RI CRLB

Examination fee: No exam fee — RI registration includes a five-hour course but no exam.

Financial Security and Insurance

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

CRLB requires $500,000 minimum GL on the registration. Most owners require $1,000,000+ per occurrence.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory under R.I.G.L. §28-29-7 for any Rhode Island employer with one or more employees. Masonry NCCI 5022 carries one of the highest manual rates in Rhode Island.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required.

Fee Schedule

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

License Renewal

The Rhode Island Contractor Registration — Contractors Registration and Licensing Board must be renewed every year. The fee to renew is presently $200. Rhode Island CRLB registration renews annually with five-hour CE requirement. Maintain GL and workers comp continuously.

Continuing education: Five hours of CRLB-approved CE annually.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Rhode Island Masonry License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

Rhode Island grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

Rhode Island has no reciprocity for masonry contractors. Out-of-state contractors must register with CRLB independently.

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

The Licensing Roadmap

Form a Rhode Island or foreign entity. Register your LLC or corporation with the RI Department of State Business Services Division and obtain an EIN.
Complete the CRLB five-hour pre-registration course. Take a CRLB-approved course covering contractor law, lien law, and consumer protection.
Bind GL and workers compensation. Bind GL ($500K CRLB minimum, $1M+ practical) and workers comp for any employees.
Submit CRLB Contractor Registration application. File the registration application with $200 fee, course certificate, and insurance certificates.
Receive RI registration number. CRLB issues the registration number; it must appear on every contract, ad, vehicle, and bid per R.I.G.L. §5-65-3.
Pull project permits at the AHJ. Local building officials issue permits per the Rhode Island State Building Code (SBC-1, based on IBC); each masonry project on a permitted structure requires a permit.
Implement OSHA silica program. Federal OSHA enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 in Rhode Island; written exposure control plan and Table 1 controls are mandatory.

Preparation Resources

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.

R.I.G.L. §5-65 Contractors Registration and Licensing Act — State of Rhode Island. Required reading for the five-hour pre-registration course.
TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures — The Masonry Society. Adopted by reference under IBC Chapter 21.
Rhode Island State Building Code (SBC-1, based on IBC) — RI State Building Code Standards Committee. Rhode Island adopts IBC including Chapter 21 masonry provisions.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Before submitting to CRLB / DLT, the applicant should have each of the following ready:

☐ RI Department of State Business Services Division entity registration
☐ EIN and RI Division of Taxation accounts
☐ CRLB five-hour pre-registration course certificate
☐ GL insurance certificate ($500K CRLB minimum)
☐ Workers compensation certificate
☐ CRLB Contractor Registration with $200 fee
☐ OSHA silica written exposure control plan

Common Application Pitfalls

The errors below are the ones that most frequently cost Rhode Island Masonry applicants time, drawn from the cited board guidance.

Registration number not displayed

R.I.G.L. §5-65-3 requires the CRLB registration number on every contract, ad, vehicle, and bid. Omission triggers CRLB civil penalties.

Coastal severe weather

Rhode Island coastal exposure (Newport, Narragansett, Westerly) requires enhanced anchored veneer tie spacing per TMS 402; coastal inspectors enforce strictly.

Severe freeze-thaw veneer failure

Rhode Island freeze-thaw cycles cause spalling; Providence and Warwick inspectors fail jobs without proper flashing and weeps.

CE not completed

CRLB registrants must complete five hours of CE annually; missing CE blocks renewal.

Silica plan absent

OSHA targets Providence and Warwick masonry sites; missing 29 CFR 1926.1153(g) plans draw immediate citations.

Other Rhode Island Trade Licenses

For a different Rhode Island credential, see these companion guides published by CLR:

Answers to Common Questions

Does Rhode Island license masonry as a trade?

No. RI CRLB registers all contractors but does not test or classify masonry separately.

What is the five-hour course?

A CRLB-approved pre-registration course on contractor law, lien law, and consumer protection. Required before registration.

What is the GL minimum?

Rhode Island CRLB requires $500,000 minimum GL on the registration. Most insurers offer $1M policies for similar premium.

What does it cost?

$200 annual registration fee plus the cost of the five-hour course (typically $50–$100) and insurance.

Does Rhode Island enforce OSHA silica?

Federal OSHA enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 in Rhode Island. Written exposure control plan is mandatory for masonry cutting, grinding, and mixing.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-08 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-06