With over 17 years of experience preparing candidates for the contractor exams for the trade and Business, Law and Management, Contractor School Online (CSO) is your primary resource to help you pass your state contractor license exam! We offer online practice tests, study materials, books, CD-ROMs, crash courses and more depending on the state and trade.

To become a certified contractor you must pass a Business and Law exam in many states and, depending on the classification you need, you may need to pass a trade exam as well. If you are unsure what your classification requires, please use our Information Request Form.

Contractor School Online (CSO) will assist you with their professional consultants and provide study materials, also practice tests for the Business, Law, and Management and your trade if available. If purchases are made elsewhere make sure the correct author, title and year are appropriate for the trade.

CSO Business and Law Practice Test coincides with the required State Contractor’s Manual.

Please note: Inventory Pricing - Contractors State Bonding and Subjects may change without notice.

Residential Builder Online Practice Test ($85) Content Residential Builder Online Practice Test 3 Months Access, Available 24/7

Electrical Online Practice Test ($85) Content Electrical Online Practice Test 3 Months Access, Available 24/7

Low Voltage Online Practice Test ($85) Content Low Voltage Online Practice Test 3 Months Access, Available 24/7

Heating and Air Conditioning Online Practice Test ($85) Content Heating and Air Conditioning Online Practice Test 3 Months Access, Available 24/7

Carpentry and Building Construction Manual ($87.50) Content Provides students with quality construction skills. This comprehensive carpentry textbook focuses on residential construction that is also applicable for light commercial construction.

Michigan Residential Builders Law and Rules Pamphlet ($12) State will mail you the Law and Rules pamphlet upon registration, but if you wish to study before registering, purchase the pamphlet through Contractor School Online.

Contractor Trades, Examinations and Reference Materials

Residential Builder
One who contracts to build or is responsible for building a complete residential structure or combination residential and commercial structure, using many trades. One, who manufactures, assembles, constructs, deals in, or distributes a residential or combination residential and commercial structure which is pre-fabricated, precut, packaged, or shell housing. A licensed residential builder may also do maintenance and alteration work. 

Maintenance and Alteration Contractor
One who’s contracting activity is limited to specific trades or crafts such as carpentry and masonry. If you are applying for the Maintenance and Alteration Contractor examination, you must select the trade(s) in which you wish to be licensed. If you intend to engage in general remodeling or work in three or more trades, you may wish to register for the Residential Builder examination. If you are already licensed and are applying for an add-on trade(s) 

Salesperson
One who’s an employee or agent, other than a qualifying officer, of a licensed residential builder or maintenance and alteration contractor, who is compensated for selling the goods and services of a residential builder or maintenance and alteration contractor. 

1.    Current M & A Contractor requesting Add-on Trade(s)Current License.

2.    Business, Law and Management

3.    Basement Waterproofing

4.    Masonry

5.    Carpentry

6.    Painting & Decorating

7.    Concrete

8.    Roofing

9.    Excavation

10. Siding

11. Gutters

12. Screen & Storm Sash

13. House Wrecking

14. Swimming Pools

15. Insulation Work

16. Tile & Marble

Contractors working on residential or a combination of residential and commercial buildings must be licensed. Electricians, plumbers and HVAC contractors also have to be licensed.

1.    Residential Builder's License

2.    Maintenance and Alteration Contractor's License

3.    Electrician's Licenses

4.    Mechanical Contractor's License

5.    Boiler Contractor's License

6.    Department of Transportation (DOT)

7.    Out-of-State Corporations

State Department issues Residential Builder and Maintenance and Alteration Contractor's licenses. But before you can apply for a license, you must first pass an exam. You must complete 60 hours of approved pre-licensure education to obtain contractor license.

Residential Builder's License

This license will allow you to work in these trades below:

This license doesn't allow you do plumbing, electrical, or mechanical work. See below for information on those trades.

You must pass a two-part exam to apply for this license – business, law and management and trade section. The business, law and management exam has 50 multiple choice questions and lasts 75 minutes. Here are the subjects on the business, law and management section and the number of questions on each subject:

The trade exam has 100 questions and you will have 150 minutes to complete the exam. Summary of the subjects on the trade section and the number of questions on each subject:

Obtain from the State of MI – State Recommends Reading References for Residential Builder's License Business, Law and Management Below :  

1.    Stille-Derossett-Hale Single State Construction Code

2.    Michigan Residential Code

3.    Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act 154 of 1974, as amended and Administrative Rules

4.    Worker's Disability Compensation Act and General Information Regarding Rights and Responsibilities under the Act

5.    Michigan Single Business Tax for Individuals, Partnerships, and Fiduciaries

6.    Circular E Employer's Tax Guide

7.    Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, Michigan Civil Rights Commission

Residential Builders Laws and Rules Relating to Residential Builders and Maintenance and Alteration Contractors

1. Construction Contracting

2. Guide to Accounting

3. Americans with Disabilities Act, U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division, Americans with       Disabilities, Disability Rights Section. (Contact State)

4. EPA Publication: The Lead-Based Paint Pre-Renovation Education Rule, Environmental Protection Agency, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20460

5. Home Solicitation Sales (Contact State)

6. Uniform Commercial Code, Formation and Read adjustments of Contracts (Contact State)

7. Employing Minors in Michigan, Wage & Hour Division (Contact State)

8. Minimum Wage Law of 1964, Wage & Hour Division (Contact State)

9. Payment of Wages and Fringe Benefits, Wage & Hour Division (Contact State)

10. U.S. Department of Justice, Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9,   Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250

Trade Exam

1. Stille-Derossett-Hale Single State Construction Code, Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth, Bureau of Construction Codes and Fire Safety, Office of Management Services, P.O. Box  30255, Lansing, MI 48909

2. Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act 154 of 1974, as amended, and Administrative Rules for All Industries, Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services, Safety Standards Division, P.O. Box 30643, Lansing, MI 48909

   1.    Pipe and Excavation

   2.    Carpentry and Building

   3.    Handling, Installing & Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses

   4.    Concrete Construction

   5.    Masonry

   6.    Roofing Construction and Estimating

   7.    Insulation Techniques and Estimating

   8.    Building Print Reading

Maintenance and Alteration Contractor's License

As the Residential Builder license, you must pass the business, law and Management section of the exam to apply for this license. However the Maintenance and Alteration Contractor license lets you work only in the trades you pass a trade exam in. You can be licensed in as many trades as you like but you must pass an exam for each one. Each trade exam has 25 to 50 multiple choice questions and lasts one and one hour. Here are the subjects on the trade exams and the number of questions on each:

This license does not allow you to do plumbing, electrical, or mechanical work. See below for information on those trades. After you pass all the required exams, the license is good for two years.

Electrician's Licenses

Electrical work in Michigan you need a license. Some communities license electrical contractors at the local level. To find out if your city or county licenses are at the local level, check cities or counties where your project will be.

Master and Journeyman Licenses

You'll have to pass an exam to get a license. To qualify for the master exam you need:

1. Six years of electrical work experience covering 12,000 hours

2. Two years of work experience as a licensed journeyman electrician

3. proof that you are 22 years of age or older

If you're licensed in another state which has licensing requirements about the same as Michigan, you can qualify to take the exam. Also if you don't fulfill these requirements you can still present evidence of your experience to the MI State and possibly get permission to take the exam.

The master exam covers knowledge required to plan and supervise electrical installation, read plans and drawings, and apply knowledge of relevant safety procedures and requirements. Here are the subjects on the exam:

State Electrician's license

The license costs $25 and it's good for one year, expiring on December 31 each year.

To qualify for the journeyman exam you must be 20 years old, have 8,000 hours of electrical work experience over at least four years working under a master electrician. If you're licensed in another state which has licensing requirements about the same as Michigan, you can qualify to take the exam.

The journeyman exam is on the same subjects as the master exam but it covers only entry level knowledge. It will cost you $25 to apply for the journeyman exam. The license costs $20 and it's good for one year, expiring on December 31 each year.

Fire Alarm Specialty and Fire Alarm Contractor Licenses

To be eligible for the exam, you must be 20 years of age and certified by NICET as an associate of engineering technician, level II or equivalent as determined by the MI State. Exam subjects are the same as the master and journeyman exams.

Sign Specialist License

You must be 18 years of age, show completion of a sign specialist training course and have 4,000 hours of related experience. Exam subjects are the same as the master and journeyman exams.

Electrical Contractor License

To qualify you must hold a master electrician's license or have at least one master electrician in your employ. The master electrician will be charge of and responsible for code compliance of all installations of electrical wiring and equipment.

Contractor licenses are issued in 3-year cycles. Electrical and fire alarm contractor licenses will cost $200 if the license is issued for three years, $134 in the second year of licensing, and $67 in the third year. The Sign specialty contractor license will cost $120 if the license is issued for three years, $80 in the second year of licensing, and $40 in the third year.

Mechanical Contractor's License

To do mechanical work in Michigan you need a mechanical contractor's license. MI State issues contractor licenses in these classifications:

Hydronic heating, cooling, process piping
HVAC equipment
Ductwork
Refrigeration
Limited heating service
Unlimited heating service
Limited refrigeration, air conditioning service
Unlimited refrigeration, air conditioning service
Specialty

There are six types of specialty licenses : solar, solid fuel, LP tank and pipe, underground tank and pipe, gas piping, and gas piping and venting.

You will have to pass an exam to get a license. You need at least three years of experience or MI State approved equivalent in one or more of these classifications to qualify to take the exam. If you have MI State approved education you can apply up to one year of that education to the three-year work experience requirement.

The exams are based on the provisions of the state mechanical code, related laws, instructions, rules, general theories and practices.

If you wish to take any of the unlimited service exams, you must first pass the limited service exam for that trade.

All of the exams use the Mechanical Code as a reference.

Mechanical contractor's license

Candidate may take as many trade exams at one time as you want for that fee. A license will cost you $75.00 the license is good for one year, but all expire December 31 each year.

If you can prove you have a valid license in a state with qualifications at least equal to Michigan's (and your home state extends reciprocal licenses to Michigan mechanical contractors), you may be eligible for a Michigan State license without taking the exam. You'll still need to pay the fee.

Recommended Reading for the Mechanical Trade Exams

1.    Hydronic heating, cooling, process piping

2.    Michigan Mechanical Code and Michigan Residential Code

3.    Installation/Design of Residential Heating Systems

HVAC equipment

1. Michigan Mechanical Code and Michigan Residential Code

2. Standard HVAC Systems - Testing, Adjusting and Balancing

3. ACCA Manual D, Duct Design for Residential Winter and Summer Air Conditioning Equipment Selection

4. Manual J - Load Calculation for Residential Winter and Summer Air Conditioning

5. Standard HVAC Systems - Testing, Adjusting and Balancing

6. HVAC Duct Construction Standards-Metal and Flexible

7. Fibrous Duct Construction Standards

8. Fuel Gas Code

Ductwork

1. Michigan Mechanical Code and Michigan Residential Code

2. Manual D- Duct Design for Residential Winter and Summer Air Conditioning and Equipment Selection

3. Manual J, Air Conditioning Standard HVAC Systems - Testing, Adjusting and Balancing

4. HVAC Duct Construction Standards-Metal and Flexible

Refrigeration

1. Michigan Mechanical Code and Michigan Residential Code

2. Safety Code for Mechanical Refrigeration, American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

3. Michigan Mechanical Code and Michigan Residential Code

4. Safety Code for Mechanical Refrigeration

Limited heating service

1. Michigan Mechanical Code and Michigan Residential Code

Unlimited heating service

1. Michigan Mechanical Code and Michigan Residential Code

2. Limited refrigeration and air conditioning service

3. Michigan Mechanical Code and Michigan Residential Code

Unlimited refrigeration and air conditioning service

1. Michigan Mechanical Code and Michigan Residential Code

Fire suppression

1. Michigan Mechanical Code and Michigan Residential Code

2. NFPA 13 - Installation of Sprinkler Systems Solid fuel:

3. Michigan Mechanical Code and Michigan Residential Code

4. NFPA 211- Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents and Solid Fuel Burning Appliances

Solar

1. Michigan Mechanical Code and Michigan Residential Code

Gas piping

1. Michigan Mechanical Code and Michigan Residential Code

2. Fuel Gas Code

L.P. Tank & Pipe

1. Michigan Mechanical Code and Michigan Residential Code

2. LP Gas Code

Underground Tank & Pipe

1. Michigan Mechanical Code and Michigan Residential Code

2. Fire Code

Additional helpful references

1. Construction Lien Recovery Fund Consumer Guide, 517-241-9241

2. Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act (MIOSHA), 517-322-1845

Plumber's Licenses

To do plumbing work in Michigan you need a master or journeyman license.  You will have to pass an exam to get a license. To qualify for the master exam you need two years of work experience as a Michigan licensed journeyman plumber. You must have completed the experience just before you apply for the exam. If you got your experience in another state or in some other way, you can appear before the MI State and present your case to take the exam.

The written part of the exam is on the general theory and practice of plumbing and Michigan plumbing laws and regulations. The practical part of the exam will test your ability to do various mechanical tasks connected with the plumbing trade.

To qualify for the journeyman exam you must have at least three year’s experience as an apprentice plumber working under a master plumber. If you have Board-approved education you can use it for up to one year of the three year’s experience requirement. If you got your experience in another state or in some other way, you can appear before the MI State and present your case to take the exam.

The exam will consist of oral, written, and tests and will cover the theory of plumbing and knowledge of the state plumbing code, rules, and regulations.

Elevator Contractor License

To do elevator contracting work in Michigan you need a license.

The Division issues the following licenses

Class A - Unlimited
Class B - Maintenance and repair
Class C - Special types of elevators

To qualify for the contractor exam you must have at least 5 year’s experience as an elevator constructor or journeyperson. To qualify for the journeyman exam you need 3 years of continuous experience in the type of elevator work that you wish to be licensed in. A degree in electrical or mechanical engineering may be substituted for 1 year of experience.

Boiler Installer's License

To do boiler installation or repair contracting work in Michigan you need a license. You will have to pass an exam to get a license. To qualify for the installer or repair contractor’s exam you must have at least 5 years experience in all phases of boiler installation or repair.

Boiler Installer's License classifications

1. Class 1B - installs low-pressure boilers that don't exceed a firing rate of 1,000,00 Btu per hour

2. Class 2B - installs low-pressure boilers of any capacity or firing rate

3. Class 3B - installs power boilers that have a capacity of not more than 5,000 pounds of steam per hour

4. Class 4B - installs boilers that have a capacity of not more than 300,000 pounds of steam per hour

5. Class 5B - installs boilers of any capacity or firing rate, except for nuclear heat source boilers

6. Class 6B - installs boilers that utilize a nuclear heat source or their parts, appurtenance’s, or system components

Boiler Repair Contractor's License classifications

Class I - repairs boilers by means other than welding, riveting, or other fabrication process
Class II - repairs low pressure boilers, hot water supply boilers, and fire tube boilers of any pressure and performs work covered by class I license
Class III - repairs water tube boilers designed for a maximum allowable working pressure of not more than 700 psi and boilers covered by a class II license
Class IV - repairs or field-erects boilers of any pressure, except for boilers that have a nuclear heat source
Class V - repairs and field-erects boilers that have a nuclear heat source or their parts, appurtenances, or system components

Mechanical contractor's license

If you pass the exam the Division will issue you a license.

Department of Transportation (DOT)

You have to be prequalified to bid on Michigan Department of Transportation projects. To get an application, contact:

Some of the details the Department will ask you about are your organization, personnel, financial condition, equipment, and experience. You'll be asked what type of work you want to be qualified for. Here are the types of work the Department uses:

Your prequalification rating is good for 15-1/2 months after the end of the fiscal year your prequalification application is based on.

Out-of-State Corporations
An out-of-state corporation needs to register with the Corporation Division to do business in the state. For information, contact: