Michigan Contractor License Exam Guide (2026)

How Michigan licenses contractors

Michigan LARA licenses Residential Builders and Maintenance & Alteration (M&A) Contractors statewide. PSI (test-takers.psiexams.com/micon) administers the Business & Law plus trade exams.

Upper Peninsula jobs see 200 psf snow loads, Detroit basements sit below high groundwater, and Lake Michigan salt spray attacks steel. Exams include frost depth insulation, sump/basement waterproofing, Michigan Energy Code, and OSHA winter safety.

Official source: Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Michigan contractor license types

All Residential Builder and M&A applicants must complete 60 hours of approved pre-license education and submit credit reports before testing.

What's on the Michigan contractor exam

PSI test centers operate in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Marquette, and remote proctoring.

What Michigan exam questions emphasize

• Michigan Residential Code 2015 (frost, energy, structural, decks)
• Soil drainage, sump/discharge, and radon mitigation for high water tables
• Lien law (Part 5 of the Construction Lien Act) and escrow rules
• Business operations: accounting, contracts, marketing, and OSHA 1926

Exam-day logistics

• Bring your 60-hour education certificate and Authorization to Test
• Open-book exam allows the PSI study guide and Michigan Residential Code—tab them ahead of time
• Scores print immediately; license issuance follows fingerprint/background review

Trade-specific exam guides

If you're licensing in a single trade rather than the Michigan general contractor classification, the dedicated trade hub will get you to the right code book and exam structure faster.

• General contractor exam guide — IBC/IRC, NASCLA acceptance, and Business & Law.
• Electrical contractor exam guide — NEC (NFPA 70) calculations and grounding/bonding.
• Plumbing contractor exam guide — IPC/UPC drainage sizing, venting, and backflow.
• HVAC contractor exam guide — IMC ventilation, refrigerant management, and load calcs.

Michigan code books & approved references (2026)

Always confirm the exact editions and tab rules in your candidate bulletin before exam day. Editions can change between license cycles.

• Michigan Residential Code 2015 (based on IRC)
• Michigan Energy Code 2015
• PSI Michigan Residential Builder & M&A Reference Manual
• Construction Lien Act (MCL 570.1101)
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926
• AIA contracts referenced in Business & Law module

Fees & timeline for the Michigan contractor license

• Application fee $195 plus $185 license fee
• PSI exam fee $117 per module
• 60-hour education course costs vary ($300–$500)
• Renewals every 3 years with 21 hours CE (first renewal) or 3 hours (subsequent)
• Insurance: general liability recommended; workers' comp required for employees

Compare multi-state costs via the All States hub; check LARA fee tables before filing.

Michigan Business & Law focus

Michigan’s Business & Law exam is 50 questions and covers liens, finance, estimating, contracts, and safety. It’s open book but time-limited.

• Tab the Michigan Residential Builders & M&A Study Guide (PSI manual)
• Know Construction Lien Act notice timelines and sworn statements
• Understand Michigan tax registration, payroll, and worker classification rules
• Prepare for cash-flow, markup, and break-even calculations

Practice with our national Business & Law exam hub for cross-state baseline rules.

A focused 4-week study plan for the Michigan exam

Because upper Peninsula jobs see 200 psf snow loads, Detroit basements sit below high groundwater, and Lake Michigan salt spray attacks steel, this four-week outline targets what Michigan field inspectors and your licensing board exam items actually test—not generic national prep.

1. Week 1 — Map the exam. Pull your current candidate bulletin, list every reference, and confirm the modules you have to pass. Start a one-page error log. Spend extra time on: Michigan Residential Code 2015 (frost, energy, structural, decks).
2. Week 2 — Code book navigation. Drill open-book lookups (or memorisation drills if your module is closed-book) until you can find any answer in under 60 seconds. Anchor practice around: Soil drainage, sump/discharge, and radon mitigation for high water tables.
3. Week 3 — Business & Law. Michigan’s Business & Law exam is 50 questions and covers liens, finance, estimating, contracts, and safety. It’s open book but time-limited. Layer in scenario-based questions on contracts, lien notice, payroll, and insurance.
4. Week 4 — Full simulations. PSI test centers operate in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Marquette, and remote proctoring. Run two full-length timed simulations. Review every miss with a one-sentence rule statement.