Mississippi General Contractor License Requirements

Official classification: Commercial General Contractor (Certificate of Responsibility – Building Construction) / Residential Builder or Remodeler · Issued by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC).

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In Mississippi, general contractors must hold the Commercial General Contractor (Certificate of Responsibility – Building Construction) / Residential Builder or Remodeler, issued by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC), and no state surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.

How to become a licensed general contractor in Mississippi

Follow these steps to earn your Commercial General Contractor (Certificate of Responsibility – Building Construction) / Residential Builder or Remodeler. Every figure is verified against the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC); full detail for each step is further down the page.

1. Build the required experience. No fixed number of years is set by statute; the board weighs the applicant's experience and ability (Miss. Code 31-3-13 for commercial; 73-59-5 for residential), and the qualifying party must be regularly employed by the license holder.
2. Pass the Law & Business Management Exam and Building Construction Trade Exam (NASCLA Commercial General Building accepted) / Residential Builder or Remodeler Exam exams. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
3. Check the insurance rules. Liability: Commercial: $300,000 per occurrence / $600,000 aggregate general liability. Residential: general liability required (no minimum amount set). Property damage: Included in the general liability policy. Workers' compensation: Required under Mississippi law for employers with 5+ employees (Miss. Code 71-3-5).
4. Clear the background check. The board reviews each applicant's record — character, prior-contract performance, and compliance with state law; prior out-of-state license revocations must be disclosed for residential (Miss. Code 31-3-13; 73-59-5).
5. Meet the credit / financial requirement. Commercial: a CPA-reviewed financial statement from the past 12 months showing net worth of at least $50,000 for the Building Construction major classification or $20,000 for a specialty. Residential: none specified.
6. Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) — $400 (commercial); $50 (residential builder or remodeler) application fee, plus a Included in the application fee. For commercial applicants the statutes levy a $200 special privilege license tax (Miss. Code 31-3-17) and a $200 Construction Education Fund fee (31-3-14); the Board's fee schedule lists a $400 commercial application fee. Residential builders are exempt from the $200 education fee; instead $25 of the residential builder fee goes to the Construction Education Fund (Miss. Code 73-59-3). license fee. Processing time: About a week once complete: fully completed applications (with passing exam scores) go to the Board for review weekly on Fridays, and approved licenses are issued the following Wednesday.
7. Keep the license active. Renewal: Annual (1 year). Continuing education: Commercial: none. Residential: 2 hours per year for licenses issued on or after July 1, 2015.

For the general path in every state, see the General Contractor guide →

Mississippi general contractor license lookup

To confirm a general contractor is properly licensed in Mississippi — or to check the status of your own license — search the issuing agency's official license database. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

License types

• Commercial General Contractor (Building Construction) — Commercial and larger residential buildings, additions, and renovations on contracts of $50,000 or more.
• Residential Builder — New residential construction over $50,000; may also build or renovate commercial structures up to 7,500 sq ft without a separate commercial license (Miss. Code 73-59-19).
• Residential Remodeler — Remodeling, repair, or improvement of existing residential buildings when the cost exceeds $10,000.

Requirements at a glance

What a Mississippi general contractor license costs

Exams

Renewing a Mississippi general contractor license

The Commercial General Contractor (Certificate of Responsibility – Building Construction) / Residential Builder or Remodeler renews on a fixed cycle set by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC). Finish the continuing-education requirement before you file — boards generally will not process a renewal without it. Late and lapsed renewals are handled differently by every board, so check the renewal page linked below before the deadline passes.

Local / municipal notes

A commercial Certificate of Responsibility is required for projects of $50,000+. A Residential Builder license is required for new residential construction over $50,000; a Residential Remodeler license for residential improvements over $10,000. Below those thresholds no MSBOC license is required (local permits may still apply). A licensed Residential Builder may build or renovate commercial structures up to 7,500 sq ft without a separate commercial license (Miss. Code 73-59-19).

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

test-takers.psiexams.com/api/content/bulletin/149
msboc.us/general-info/testing
msboc.us/classifications
msboc.us/contractors/licenses
msboc.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/COMMERCIAL-LAWS-AND-RULES-REVISED-2022.pdf
msboc.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/RESIDENTIAL-LAWS-AND-RULES-REVISED-2022.pdf
msboc.us/contractors/reciprocity

Other Mississippi contractor licenses

General Contractor licensing in other states