Minnesota Contractor License Exam Guide (2026)

How Minnesota licenses contractors

The Minnesota DLI licenses Residential Building Contractors, Remodelers, and Roofers. PSI (test-takers.psiexams.com/mndli) administers the Residential Building Contractor exam; the exam is waived for those with a qualifying individual holding certain ICC credentials.

Minnesota exams include frost-protected shallow foundations, 70 psf roof loads, ice-dam ventilation, radon mitigation, and vapor barrier placement to prevent mold during freeze–thaw cycles.

Official source: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry

Minnesota contractor license types

All companies must designate a qualified individual who passes the exam or holds an approved credential, maintain $1 million general liability insurance and $15,000 surety bond, and register for workers' compensation.

What's on the Minnesota contractor exam

PSI operates centers in Brooklyn Park, Eagan, Duluth, Rochester, and remote proctoring.

What Minnesota exam questions emphasize

• Energy code calculations (MN amendment to IECC) and vapor barrier placement
• Radon mitigation rough-in requirements
• Frost depth footings (42–60 inches) and helical pile options
• Business law: contracts, liens (Minn. Stat. 514), payroll, taxes, OSHA

Exam-day logistics

• Bring two IDs and your DLI Authorization to Test; arrive 30 minutes early
• Open-book exam allows the PSI Reference Manual and Minnesota Residential Code—tab sections ahead of time
• Scores print at the site and upload to DLI’s e-Services portal within 48 hours

Trade-specific exam guides

If you're licensing in a single trade rather than the Minnesota 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.

Minnesota 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.

• Minnesota Residential Code (based on 2015 IRC with amendments)
• Minnesota Energy Code (based on 2018 IECC)
• PSI Minnesota Residential Building Contractor Reference Manual
• Minnesota Statutes Chapter 326B (Licensing) and Chapter 514 (Liens)
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926

Fees & timeline for the Minnesota contractor license

• $128 company license fee + $100 course provider surcharge
• $10,000 surety bond filed with DLI
• $68 exam fee payable to PSI
• Continuing education (14 hours/year) costs vary by provider
• Workers— comp and general liability insurance premiums

Use the All States hub to compare costs, then reference DLI’s fee schedule for final amounts.

Minnesota Business & Law focus

The PSI exam is roughly 50% business/law (contracts, liens, safety, insurance) and 50% field knowledge (code, energy, building science).

• Know Minnesota contractor licensing statutes (Minn. Stat. 326B.805-.885)
• Memorize lien notice deadlines and pre-lien requirements
• Understand DLI audit procedures, payroll records, and unemployment insurance
• Practice estimating, markup, scheduling, and cash-flow calculations

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

A focused 4-week study plan for the Minnesota exam

Because minnesota exams include frost-protected shallow foundations, 70 psf roof loads, ice-dam ventilation, radon mitigation, and vapor barrier placement to prevent mold during freeze–thaw cycles, this four-week outline targets what Minnesota 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: Energy code calculations (MN amendment to IECC) and vapor barrier placement.
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: Radon mitigation rough-in requirements.
3. Week 3 — Business & Law. The PSI exam is roughly 50% business/law (contracts, liens, safety, insurance) and 50% field knowledge (code, energy, building science). Layer in scenario-based questions on contracts, lien notice, payroll, and insurance.
4. Week 4 — Full simulations. PSI operates centers in Brooklyn Park, Eagan, Duluth, Rochester, and remote proctoring. Run two full-length timed simulations. Review every miss with a one-sentence rule statement.