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State files updated Oct 27, 2026
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Massachusetts contractor registrationRequirements, cost, exam

Massachusetts requires contractors to register with the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. You must register as a Home Improvement Contractor before you bid on or do any residential contracting work on an existing, owner-occupied home with…1

Massachusetts · general contractor

State registration required

Experience
HIC registration has no experience requirement.2
Exam
The HIC registration has no exam.1
Bond
Massachusetts does not require a surety bond to register as a Home Improvement Contractor or to hold a Construction Supervisor License.1
Insurance
Neither the HIC registration nor the CSL exam eligibility requires you to show general liability insurance.1
Fees
HIC registration costs $150 plus a required payment to the Guaranty Fund of $100 (fewer than four employees), $200 (four to ten), $300 (11 to 30) or…1
Renewal
An HIC registration is valid for two years.1

Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation

How do you get a Massachusetts contractor registration?

  1. Check that you need to register

    You must register as a Home Improvement Contractor before you bid on or do any residential contracting work on an existing, owner-occupied home with…1

  2. Meet the experience rule

    HIC registration has no experience requirement.2

  3. Apply to the board

    HIC registration costs $150 plus a required payment to the Guaranty Fund of $100 (fewer than four employees), $200 (four to ten), $300 (11 to 30) or…1

    Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation site
  4. Pass the exam$65–$75

    The HIC registration has no exam.1

    What's on the exam
  5. File the bond and insurance

    Massachusetts does not require a surety bond to register as a Home Improvement Contractor or to hold a Construction Supervisor License. Neither the HIC registration nor the CSL exam eligibility requires you to show general liability insurance.1

    Massachusetts bond and insurance rules
  6. Get the registration, then renew

    An HIC registration is valid for two years.1

    Renewal and CE

Electrical, plumbing and HVAC licenses in Massachusetts

Which license class do you need in Massachusetts?

Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration, held as an individual, proprietorship, partnership or corporation.1

Do you need workers' comp?

State law requires every employer to provide workers' compensation coverage for its employees, either through insurance or by being licensed as a self-insurer.3

Massachusetts insurance and bonds

Sources

  1. Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation: who needs a license (mass.gov, 2026-10-27)
  2. Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation: experience (mass.gov, 2026-10-27)
  3. Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation: workers' comp (malegislature.gov, 2026-10-27)
  4. Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation: Section1 (malegislature.gov, 2026-10-27)
  5. Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation: Section10 (malegislature.gov, 2026-10-27)
  6. Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation: Section11 (malegislature.gov, 2026-10-27)
  7. Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation: Section2 (malegislature.gov, 2026-10-27)
  8. Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation: Section9 (malegislature.gov, 2026-10-27)
  9. Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation: Download (mass.gov, 2026-10-27)
  10. Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation: Download (mass.gov, 2026-10-27)
  11. Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation: Renew your construction supervisor license csl (mass.gov, 2026-10-27)
  12. Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation: Continuing education for construction supervisors (mass.gov, 2026-10-27)
  13. Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation: 201 CMR 1800 home improvement contractor registration and enforcement of home (mass.gov, 2026-10-27)
  14. Board of State Examiners of Electricians (mass.gov, 2026-10-27)
  15. Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters (mass.gov, 2026-10-27)
  16. Sheet metal / HVAC licensing (DPL) (mass.gov, 2026-10-27)