Michigan Builders License and Continuing Education Courses

ONLINE:

3 Hour Continuing Competency for Builders

21 Hour Continuing Education for Builders

60 Hour Builders Pre-License Course

Lead Paint (RRP) 4 Hour Refresher Course

Code Official Continuing Education

Salesperson Exam Prep

Builders License Exam Prep
(included with 60-Hour Course)

CLASSROOM:

60 Hour Michigan Builders Prelicensure

3 Hour Code-Law-Safety Continuing Education 

Lead Paint (RRP) 8 Hour Safety

OSHA 10 & 30 Hour Training

We offer the highest quality State-approved builders education in Michigan with a 98% pass rate on our builder’s exam prep courses.

Our Michigan Builder’s Continuing Competency Code-Law-Safety is highly informative and there are NO TESTS.

We are the only school that offers our courses in HD-Video and Printable Text. You get immediate access and can come and go as you please 24/7 from any computer or mobile device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is your school recognized by the State?

YES! Our Education Provider Number is: 364 Visit HERE to view the State websites listing of our courses and approval numbers.

How to get a Michigan Builders License?

There are three major steps to getting your Michigan Residential Builders or Maintenance and Alteration Contractor License:

Step 1 – Complete an approved 60-Hour Prelicense Course for builders.

Step 2 – Send your license application, Certificates of Completion and $195 fee to the State of Michigan for approval. This usually takes 2-4 weeks.

Step 3 – Register with PSI for the State Exam ($111) and pass it on your first try (Free exam prep courses are part of our packages). To schedule your Michigan Builders testing date:

Call PSI at (800) 733-9267, 24 hours a day and schedule using the Automated Registration System or speak with a representative between 7:30 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. ET.   Builders license exams are given at the following locations:

• Dearborn
• Gaylord
• Grand Rapids
• Lansing (Holt)
• Marquette
• Southfield

You will be told immediately after passing the exam if you passed.  PSI will notify the State of Michigan Licensing Division and they will send you your license and identification card.

There are two parts to the test:

Part 1: Business/Law, 50 questions, you have 75 minutes and must get 36 correct.
Part 2: Trades/Practices, 100 questions, you have 150 minutes and must get 73 correct.

NOTE: Our 60-Hour builders license Program covers both parts of the exam thoroughly and provides hundreds of sample questions as close to the real test as it gets. Our Michigan builders license course will provide you with the tools you need to pass the Michigan builders license exam.

What can I expect in your 60-Hour Pre-License Course?

Our Michigan builders license 60 hour program consists of eight separate courses:

1. Business of Building walks you through setting up your business, the rules that apply and prepares you for the Business/Law portion of the State exam.
   (6 hours Business management, estimating, and job costing; 3 hours Electives)
2. Marketing for Contractors teaches you how to bring in new customers year round.
   (6 hours Marketing and Sales; 1 hour Electives)
3. Project Management teaches you how to complete your projects on time and on budget.
   (6 hours Project Management and Scheduling; 1 hour Electives)
4. Contracts and Risk Management makes sure you understand the importance of contracts and insurance.
   (6 hours Contracts and Risk Management; 1 hour Electives)
5. Construction Safety reviews the OSHA Standards of the industry.
   (6 hours Construction safety standards promulgated under the Michigan occupational safety and health act, 1974 PA 154, MCL 408.1001 to 408.1094; 1 hour Electives)
6. Overview of Building Trades focuses on what you need to know to pass the Trades portion of the State exam.
   (9 hours Electives)
7. Building Green shows you how to save your customer’s money and boost your profit at the same time.
   (6 hours Design and Building Science; 1 hour Electives)
8. Residential Code Review walks you through the code book so you can use it as a tool.
   (6 hours of the Current Michigan Residential Code; 1 hour Electives)

Also included with the course:

• The best exam prep software available, with sample questions as close to the real test as it gets. You will receive an Exam Prep for the Business & Law and the IRB Trades Exam.
• Construction Math tutorial that teaches you the math formulas you will see on the State exam.
• All forms and applications you will need, along with step by step instructions of the licensing process.
• Certificates of Completion
• Instructor Support (click here for more information)
• Money Back Guarantee for our online 60-hour program, please see our refund policy.

Do I have to buy the Residential Code Book to get licensed?

The State of Michigan requires all licensed builders and contractors to own a current copy of the Michigan Residential Code Book. You are required to sign a portion of the license application and any renewal forms confirming that you own the current code book.  

Click HERE to purchase a Michigan Residential Code Book 2015 

Is the Michigan Residential Builders or Maintenance and Alteration exam an open book exam?

No, the exam is closed book. You are only allowed to take silent, battery-operated calculators into the exam. They cannot have a keyboard on them or the ability to convert measurements from inches to feet to yards. We suggest that you take two calculators in case there is a malfunction with one.

What can I expect with the State Exam?

The State exam is made up of two main parts:

• Part 1 Business and Law Exam – There are 50 questions on the exam and you must answer at least 36 questions correctly in order to pass. The minimum passing score is 72%. You are allowed 75 minutes to complete the exam.
• Part 2 – Trades Exam – The Trades Exam is different for the Individual Residential Builder and the Maintenance & Alteration licensing:
  • Residential Builder Trades Exam – There are 100 questions on the Residential Builder exam and you must answer at least 73 questions correctly in order to pass. The minimum passing score is 73%. You are allowed 150 minutes to complete the exam.
  • Maintenance & Alteration Trades Exam – A separate trade exam is required for each trade you wish to be licensed in. Each trade exam ranges from 25 to 50 questions. Please click on the  link below for the PSI candidate information bulletin.

A candidate information bulletin is included with our 60-Hour course which outlines the topics covered on the exam.  If you are taking an exam for an individual trade, please call us or email us and we will send you the outline for that trade.  You can also find this information at www.psiexams.com.

What is the difference between a “Residential Builder” license and a “Residential Maintenance & Alteration Contractor” license?

The Residential Builder may build a new home from the ground up or may do any kind of repairs. The builder may contract for the whole job but will have to subcontract for plumbing, electrical, and mechanical (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) work.

The Residential Maintenance & Alteration (M&A) Contractor is licensed to perform only specific trades and services and may accept contracts only in the services for which they are licensed (whether or not the building is new construction or remodeling).

The M&A trades and their equivalent letter codes are:

Carpentry (A)
Concrete (B)
Excavation (D)
Insulation Work (G)
Masonry (I)
Painting & Decorating (J)
Siding (K)
Roofing (M)
Screen & Storm Sash (N)
Gutters (O)
Tile & Marble (P)
House Wrecking (R)
Swimming Pools (S)
Basement Waterproofing (T)
Each of these trades must be performed by a licensee.

Each Residential Builder receives a wall license and a pocket card showing that he or she is properly licensed. For the Residential Maintenance & Alteration Contractor, the pocket card contains only a letter code representing the trade or trades in which that contractor is licensed.

Do I have to take the 60 Hour Prelicense Course if I’m only going to be working in one trade?

Yes, even the M&A Contractors have to complete the whole 60 hours of builders prelicensure education before applying for the license or registering for the exam. Even if you are only painting or building swimming pools. There are no exceptions.

Where do I take my exam once my license application has been approved?

PSI Examinations Services has testing centers in Dearborn, Holt, Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Marquette and Southfield. You can test out of State at any of the PSI centers, but you would have to submit the Out-Of-State form and make special arrangements. You can get the form from their website at www.psiexams.com.

Can I use my Michigan Builders License to work in other States?

The Michigan Builders License is not reciprocal with other States.

Can I get licensed in Michigan if my company is in another State?

The Michigan Builders License is not reciprocal with other States.  Out of State Companies that want to become licensed in Michigan must include this form with the application:  Michigan Application C “CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS” form  http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-35299_61343_36737—,00.html

Do I need to take the 60-hour prelicensure course if I held a license in the past?

If you are applying for a license or re-licensure as a residential builder or residential maintenance and alteration (M&A) contractor, you may be exempt from the requirement of successfully completing prelicensure courses if all of the following conditions are met:

(a) Your application is submitted between September 16, 2014, and March 16, 2016, and

(b) You held an individual license as a residential builder or residential maintenance and alteration (M&A) contractor or held a license as a qualifying officer of a licensed residential builder or residential maintenance and alteration (M&A) contractor, at any time within the 9-year period preceding your application.

NOTE: The information above regarding the waiver of the prelicensure course–if you were actively licensed in the past nine years–is effective until March 2016. The waiver is part of a temporary amendment that expires March 16, 2016.

To be sure, we recommend you call the Builders Unit within the State of Michigan at (517) 373-8376 and ask them to verify whether you need to take the 60-hour program.

Do I need to take the Lead Paint RRP Class?

If you are renovating homes or child-occupied facilities that were built before 1978, you must take an eight-hour certification course and become certified as a Lead Paint Renovator.

When is a license required for a Residential Builder or Maintenance & Alteration Contractor?

In general, a person who contracts with a property owner to do residential construction or remodeling on a project whose total value is $600 or more, including material and labor, is required to be licensed as either a Residential Builder or a Maintenance & Alteration Contractor.

Activities Requiring a Licensed Individual

New Construction/Remodeling of homes, apartment buildings, condominiums, townhouses, etc.
Carpentry
Concrete 
Excavation
Insulation Work
Masonry
Painting & Decorating
Siding
Roofing
Screen & Storm Sash
Gutters
Tile & Marble
House Wrecking
Swimming Pools
Replacement windows/doors /garage doors
Laying wood floors
Basement Waterproofing

ACTIVITY LICENSE – NOT REQUIRED

Drywall
Fences
Awnings
Sewer and septic, water lines, sprinklers
Pavers without mortar
Asphalt paving
House moving
Carpeting and vinyl floors (not wood)
Plaster and Lath

The Occupational Code lists several exemptions from the licensing law. Some of the more common exemptions are:

An owner of property, with reference to a structure on the property for the owner’s own use and occupancy.

An owner of rental property, with reference to the maintenance and alteration of that rental property.

A subcontractor to a licensed builder, that is, a person other than a salesperson who engages solely in the business of performing work and services under contract with a Residential Builder or a Residential Maintenance & Alteration Contractor licensed under this article.

A person working on 1 undertaking or project by 1 or more contracts, the aggregate contract price for which labor, material, and any other item is less than $600.00. A license is required if the construction work is only a part of a larger or major operation (whether undertaken by the same or a different Residential Builder or Residential Maintenance & Alteration Contractor), or in which a division of the operation is made in contracts of amounts less than $600.00 to evade this act.

For the full text of the exemptions, you may wish to visit the Builders website at www.michigan.gov/builders and review Article 24 of the Occupational Code.

As a licensed Residential Builder or M&A contractor, how much electrical or plumbing can I do?

By the letter of the law, a residential builder’s license does not allow you to do any electrical, plumbing or mechanical work. Please contact the state of Michigan for further information.

Do I need a license to “flip houses”?

MCL 339.2401(b) requires that a person who “engages in purchase, substantial rehabilitation or improvement, and resale of a residential structure, engaging in that activity on the same structure more than twice in 1 calendar year” have a residential builder or M&A contractor license unless the work is for the person’s own use and occupancy, they contract/hire a licensee to perform all the work, or they have a licensed employee who does the work.

What is required for an unlicensed owner-builder to sell their property?

An unlicensed property owner who acts as his/her own general contractor is required to reside in the home upon completion and issuance of the occupancy permit. An owner-builder shall not sell or transfer ownership for at least 365 days after living (full or part-time) in the residential structure. If the owner-builder is unable to reside in the home due to unforeseen circumstances, the home may be sold (this exception can only be used once per year). For more information see
the Owner Built Residence Transfer Act, Public Act 6 of 2008.

Who needs to take the OSHA 10-Hour and 30-Hour Class?

All employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. These courses train individuals within companies to identify potential hazards at their work sites and ways to correct them, improving the occupational safety and health for all within the company. All companies need to have a designated, qualified employee to implement this training.

REGISTER NOW for Classroom Course

Who needs to be licensed as a Michigan Salesperson?

If you are working for a licensed Residential Builder or Maintenance and Alteration (M&A) Contractor, and collecting money or signing contracts, you must pass a 50 question State exam and obtain a Salesperson’s license.

START NOW Online

Is the NASCLA Accredited Commercial Contractor license accepted in Michigan?

No

Can I pay for my course with a check or money order?

YES! To send payments using a cashiers check or money order
please click here to print a: MAIL ORDER FORM

Please be sure to fill in all the information correctly as it will be used to create your order and Certificates (if applicable).

Does Michigan require continuing education for license renewals?

Yes. If you have been licensed more than 6 years (or two license cycles), you only need a three-hour Code-Law-Safety course once every 3-year licensing cycle. The renewal date is May 31st, every three years depending on when you were licensed.

If you have been licensed less than 6 years, you are required to complete 21 hours of continuing competency the first three years of your licensing cycle, and another 21 hours during the second three-year cycle.

Can I take my continuing competency online?

Yes, you can complete your education online as long as the courses fulfill the requirements outlined by the State of Michigan.  All of our continuing competency courses fulfill the requirements outlined by the State.

What happens after I complete my continuing education?

You are required to renew your license every 3 years. The next renewal deadline is May 31, 2017.

You must renew your license(s) by using LARA’s online renewal system with a debit or credit card containing a MasterCard, Visa, or Discover logo or by electronic check (e-check). Do not send cash, check or money order. Payments received by mail or in person will no longer be accepted and will be returned without the renewal being processed. View full copy of the new Michigan renewal procedure HERE

How do I show the State of Michigan that I completed my continuing competency?

When you have completed your required continuing education course(s) you will be provided a certificate of completion. This certificate may be given to you by an instructor at the end of your classroom session, or you may print your certificate when you complete your online course(s). In the past, the state would audit 17% of the builders in Michigan.  If you are audited, you will then need to send a copy of the certificate to the state.

Can I complete my Michigan Code Official Continued Education online?

Yes, the State of Michigan has approved six of our online courses to fulfill Code Official requirements.

START NOW Online

Do you report my code official continued education completion to the state of Michigan?

Yes

What topics/ subjects do your courses cover?

Please click the image for a chart of what topics/ subjects each course is approved for.

Who do I contact at the State level for questions regarding my continued education?

Please contact the Bureau of Construction Codes:

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Bureau of Construction Codes
Website: http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,1607,7-154-10575—,00.html

Building Division
Charlie Curtis
Phone: 517-241-7053

Links for more information

http://www.hud.gov/offices/lead/training/LBPguide.pdf  – Lead Paint Brochure

This is the link to the State of Michigan where you can find these items:

• 2009 Michigan Building/Residential Code Rules

• 2009 Michigan Rehabilitation Code Rules

• 2009 Michigan Uniform Energy Code Rules – Residential

• 2009 Michigan Uniform Energy Code Rules – Commercial

www.candidate.psiexams.com  – This is the company you need to contact to schedule your exam for the Michigan Residential Builders or Maintenance and Alterations Contractor exam.

http://michiganworks.org/agencies/find/ – If you feel you may qualify for the No Worker Left Behind Program, this link will allow you to find the Michigan WORKS! office near you.

http://www.craftsman-book.com – Get a 15% discount on everything offered at this link when you enter your instructor’s last name in small letters as a promo code. If you have not yet taken one of our programs, enter francis as a promo code.

http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/dms/results.asp?docowner=BCSC&doccat=Builders&Search=Searchl – This is the link to all of the forms, applications and publications for Michigan Residential Builders.

https://www2.dleg.state.mi.us/colaLicVerify/ – This is the link where you can verify that a builder or a company is licensed.

www.michigan.gov/builders – This is the State of Michigan Builders Unit Web Page

Interpretations of Article 1 through 6, Article 24, Lien Laws (PDF, rev. 2013)