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Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs · checked 2026-10-20
Michigan General contractor License Requirements
Residential builder and maintenance and alteration contractor licenses issued by LARA. Maintenance and Alteration Contractor: the source states no minimum time, plus an exam.
- 1RB · Residential Builder time not stated
- 2MA · Maintenance and Alteration Contractor time not stated
License levels in Michigan
The Michigan path has 2 steps on this page: Residential Builder and Maintenance and Alteration Contractor.
| Level | Experience | Classroom | Time from start | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RB Residential Builder | none stated | 60 h | time not stated | Yes (PSI) | Not printed |
| MA Maintenance and Alteration Contractor | none stated | 60 h | time not stated | Yes (PSI) | Not printed |
Residential Builder (RB)
60 hours of approved prelicensure education before the exam, with at least 6 hours in each of seven subjects (business management, estimating and job costing; design and building science; contracts, liability and risk; marketing and sales; project management and scheduling; the Michigan Residential Code; MIOSHA construction safety), then the PSI examination. Source: LARA, Prelicensure education requirements.
Maintenance and Alteration Contractor (MA)
The same 60 hours of prelicensure education, then the maintenance and alteration contractor examination through PSI. Source: LARA, Prelicensure education requirements.
Exam
2 of the 2 levels listed here require an exam: Residential Builder and Maintenance and Alteration Contractor. The source does not print a pass mark. Testing vendor named: PSI.
Fees
The Michigan source read prints no dollar amounts for this license. Exam fees are paid to PSI when the exam is scheduled; the LARA page prints no amounts.
Reciprocity
The Michigan sources read for this trade name no reciprocity agreement and no route for out-of-state licensees.
How Michigan compares
Michigan's source states no minimum time for the maintenance and alteration contractor, so it is not ranked against the other states on this site. The classroom requirement here peaks at 60 hours.
Same trade elsewhere: California · Florida · Pennsylvania · North Carolina · Connecticut. All states side by side: General contractor license requirements by state.
Other trades in Michigan
- Electrician: Master Electrician: 6 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- Plumber: Plumbing Contractor: 5 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- HVAC: Mechanical Contractor (per classification): 3 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
All covered trades on one page: Michigan trade licenses.
Background reading: From apprentice to master: how long each state takes · How trade license exams work.
Questions
Who issues the general contractor license in Michigan?
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes (Residential Builders). Residential builder and maintenance and alteration contractor licenses issued by LARA.
How long does it take to qualify for the Maintenance and Alteration Contractor in Michigan?
The source read (LARA, Prelicensure education requirements) states no minimum time for the Maintenance and Alteration Contractor. The same 60 hours of prelicensure education, then the maintenance and alteration contractor examination through PSI.
Does Michigan have general contractor license reciprocity?
The Michigan sources read name no reciprocity agreement for this trade.
Sources and last checked
| What | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes (Residential Builders) | 2026-10-20 |
| RB requirements | LARA, Prelicensure education requirements | 2026-10-20 |
| MA requirements | LARA, Prelicensure education requirements | 2026-10-20 |
| Law cited | LARA residential builder prelicensure page (statute not read) | 2026-10-20 |
This page summarises what the Michigan source said on 2026-10-20. It is general information, not legal advice; the board's own page and the statute are the authority and can change. Confirm with Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs before applying. The free official route is the board itself: its page, application forms and staff answer eligibility questions.