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Construction Work Regulated?

Who Regulates Construction?

Requirements?

Reciprocal Agreements

State General Contractor Exams
National Exams
State General Contractor Exams National Exams

Construction Work Regulated?

Licensing Requirements: Home improvement and plumbing contractors are licensed at the state level. Most other construction activities are regulated through local registration requirements established by individual jurisdictions.

Highway Construction: Formal prequalification is generally not required for highway projects; however, contracts exceeding $100,000 typically require a bid bond. Depending on the project, payment and performance bonds may also be required. Some municipalities require contractor prequalification before bidding on local roadway projects.

Electrical Licensing: Master Electricians are licensed at the state level for work performed in the three counties that do not maintain their own electrical licensing programs.

Who Regulates Construction?

For information on highway work requirements contact:

Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration Office of Construction
7450 Traffic Drive
Hanover, MD 21076
(866) 926-8503
https://www.roads.maryland.gov

Specific requirements for any contract advertised by the State of Maryland can be viewed without cost by visiting http://emaryland.buyspeed.com to view documents as all State procurements are posted on the Maryland Marketplace.

Contractor application forms and licensing information for the various types of contractor licenses in the state may be obtained from the following sources:

Maryland Home Improvement Commission
100 S Charles Street, Tower 1, 3rd Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 230-6231 Fax (410) 962-8482
https://labor.maryland.gov/license/mhic/mhiclic.shtml

Maryland Board of Master Electricians
100 S Charles Street, Tower 1
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410)230-6231 Fax (410)244-0977
E-mail : [email protected]
https://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/elec

Maryland Board of Plumbers
100 S Charles Street, Tower 1
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 230-6231 Fax (410) 244-0977
E-mail: [email protected]
https://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/pl

Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors
100 S Charles Street, Tower 1
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 230-6231 Fax (410) 244-0977
E-mail: [email protected]
https://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/hvacr

Information regarding asbestos and lead-based paint requirements may be obtained from:

Maryland Department of the Environment
1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 725
Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 537-3000
https://mde.maryland.gov/Pages/index.aspx

Requirements?

Highway Construction: While formal prequalification is not required, contractors must demonstrate relevant experience, adequate equipment, required state licensing, and maintain liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate.

Home Improvement Contractors: Applicants must pass an open-book examination with a score of at least 70% and document a minimum of two years of construction, home improvement, or related vocational experience. Financial responsibility must also be demonstrated based on the size and scope of the business, and proof of at least $50,000 in liability insurance is required.

Licenses are typically issued within 30 days of receiving a complete application.

Guaranty Fund: Licensed contractors participate in a state Guaranty Fund that provides reimbursement to homeowners for qualifying losses resulting from incomplete or defective work. Contractors contribute to the fund when obtaining and renewing their licenses, and homeowner claims are subject to statutory limits.

License Type / Original Fee / Renewal Fee Every 2 Years / Exam Fee

Contractors / $270 / $275 / $63
Salespersons / $120 / $100 / $63

Home Improvement Contracts: There are no state-imposed financial limits on home improvement contracts.

Plumbers and Gas Fitters: Anyone performing plumbing or gas fitting work must be properly licensed. Apprentice applicants must be at least 16 years old, and examinations are required for Journeyman and Master Plumber licenses, as well as Journeyman and Master Natural Gas Fitter licenses.

Journeyman Plumber/Gas Fitter: Applicants must complete at least four years as a licensed apprentice, accumulate 7,500 hours of supervised experience, and complete required backflow prevention training.

Master Plumber/Gas Fitter: Applicants must hold a Journeyman license for at least two years and complete 3,700 hours of additional supervised experience.

Journeyman Natural Gas Fitter: Applicants may qualify through an approved apprenticeship and experience pathway or by holding an eligible local gas fitter license.

Master Natural Gas Fitter: Applicants may qualify through an approved local master license, documented experience and training, or certain HVACR licensing and experience combinations, along with passing the required examination.

Propane Gas Fitter Certification: Applicants must complete an approved propane gas training program, hold a qualifying local gas fitter license, or demonstrate equivalent qualifications recognized by the licensing board.

Fees are as follows:

License Type / License Fee / Exam Fee / Application Fee

Apprentices / $15 / N/A / N/A
Journeyman Plumber/Gas Fitter / $35 / $65 / N/A
Journeyman Natural/Gas Fitter / $35 / $65 / $25
Master Plumber/Gas Fitter / $70 / $65 / N/A
Master Natural/Gas Fitter / $70 / $65 / $50
Propane Gas Fitter's Certificate / $35 / N/A / $25

A license is used state wide except for 2 areas (Baltimore County and the area serviced by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission), where a separate license is required. State licensed plumbers and propane gas fitters who are "insured to contract" must maintain coverage of at least $400,000 per occurrence.

Plumbing and Gas Fitting: Maryland plumbing and propane gas fitting licenses are generally valid statewide, except in Baltimore County and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) service area, where separate licensing requirements apply. Contractors who are authorized to contract directly with customers must maintain at least $400,000 in liability insurance coverage per occurrence.

Electricians: A Maryland state electrical license is required to perform electrical work anywhere in the state. Local jurisdictions no longer issue electrical licenses, although some may require registration.

Master Electrician: Applicants must have at least seven years of supervised electrical experience and pass a state licensing examination. Up to three years of the experience requirement may be satisfied through approved electrical education or training.

Journeyperson Electrician: Applicants must have at least four years of supervised electrical experience and pass a state licensing examination. Individuals who complete a Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council (MATC) approved apprenticeship program may qualify through that pathway.

Electrical licenses are generally issued for two-year terms. Applicants should consult the Board's website for current licensing fees and renewal information.

License Type / Application Fee / Renewal Fee

Master Electrician / $20 / $25
Master Electrician Inactive / $20 / $50
Inactive Master Inspector / N/A / N/A
Qualified Agent / $20 / $25

HVACR Licensing: All HVACR license applicants must pass the required examination with a minimum score of 70%.

Contractors holding Master, Master Restricted, or Limited HVACR licenses and authorized to enter into service or installation contracts must maintain liability insurance with at least $300,000 in general liability coverage and $100,000 in property damage coverage, for a combined minimum of $400,000.

Master HVACR License: Applicants must hold a Journeyman or higher-level HVACR license and document at least three years of active HVACR experience under the supervision of a licensed Master HVACR contractor, including a minimum of 1,875 hours worked during the year immediately preceding application.

Master Restricted HVACR License: Applicants must document at least three years of HVACR experience under a licensed Master HVACR contractor. Additional proof of experience may be required for applicants who do not currently hold an HVACR license.

Limited HVACR License: Applicants must have at least two years of HVACR experience under the supervision of a licensed Master HVACR contractor. Proof of experience may be required for applicants who do not currently hold an HVACR license.

Journeyman HVACR License: Applicants must hold an apprentice license, complete at least three years of apprenticeship training, and document a minimum of 1,875 hours of supervised HVACR experience.

Type of License / Application and Renewal Fee
Apprentice / $10
Journeyman (including Journeyman Restricted) / $20
Inspector / N/A
Limited / $75

*Master Restricted (each category) / $25 (max $75*)

Master / $75
Inactive Master License / $25
Inactive Master Restricted / $25
Inactive Limited Contractor / $25

*Master Restricted licenses are issued in 1 and up to 4 combinations of areas of expertise in HVACR work (heating, forced air, heating-hydronic, ventilation, air. conditioning and refrigeration). The assessment per category is capped once an individual licensee qualifies in 3 areas of HVACR expertise.

Reciprocal Agreements

Maryland maintains reciprocity agreements for Master Electrician licenses with Delaware, Virginia, and West Virginia. Plumbing licenses are reciprocal with Delaware, while HVACR licenses have reciprocity agreements with Delaware and Virginia.
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