Moving to Mississippi as a residential contractor: every state's rule

1. 1Law / code exam. Pass a law, rules, or code exam. Mississippi Law and Business Management exam through PSI: 50 questions, 2 hours, open book, 70% to pass. Required of every applicant for a Mississippi contractor license..
2. 2Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Mississippi Residential Builder exam through PSI: 80 questions, 3 hours, open book, 70% to pass, covering one- and two-family residential construction of not more than three stories..
3. 3Application fee. Pay the application fee ($50). Residential application fee, which is also the initial license fee and includes one classification; each additional classification costs $100. Payable by check or money order to the Mississippi State Board of Contractors and not refundable..
4. 4Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($120). PSI registration fee for the Law and Business Management exam, charged for every attempt and not refundable or transferable ($240 when both exams are registered together)..
5. 5Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($120). PSI registration fee for the Residential Builder exam, charged for every attempt and not refundable or transferable..
6. 6Insurance. Carry the required insurance. Certificate of general liability insurance showing current coverage, with the Mississippi State Board of Contractors listed as certificate holder so it is told of any cancellation, and the insured name matching the name on the application. The board sets no minimum amount for residential licenses. A workers' compensation certificate is also required if the business has five or more employees..
7. 7Business license. Obtain a business license. A corporation or LLC must be registered and in good standing with the Mississippi Secretary of State, and a company domiciled outside Mississippi must first qualify to do business in the state. The applicant also supplies a federal employer identification number or a Social Security number..
8. 8Background check. Complete a background check. The application asks whether the applicant or any officer, partner or qualifying party has had a license or application denied, suspended or revoked, has been disciplined by a licensing authority, has failed to complete a construction contract, or has been arrested, charged or convicted in connection with bid rigging or home repair fraud; each 'yes' needs a written explanation, and the board investigates each applicant's past record. False information ends the application and bars a new license for one year..
9. 9Other. Three reference letters, one of them from the applicant's bank or financial institution and the other two from people worked with or for on construction projects (required even if an exam was passed before); a list of at least three completed residential building jobs; and proof that the qualifying party is employed by the applicant, such as a check stub, W-2 or Secretary of State officer listing, unless the license is in the qualifying party's own name..

Published fees on this path total $290, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.