- A license is needed for residential remodeling or additions over $10,000 and residential roofing over $10,000. Subcontractors doing residential electrical, mechanical, HVAC or plumbing work on a home project must be licensed whatever the job size.
- You document your experience with detailed descriptions of projects you completed in the classification you want, plus at least three reference letters, one from your bank or financial institution.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- Every year. Each qualifying party on a residential license issued on or after July 1, 2015 needs 2 hours of continuing education.
Do you need a state license in Mississippi?
Mississippi licenses some handyman work at the state level and leaves the rest alone. Which side of that line a job falls on decides whether you need the state license.
A license is needed for residential remodeling or additions over $10,000 and residential roofing over $10,000. Subcontractors doing residential electrical, mechanical, HVAC or plumbing work on a home project must be licensed whatever the job size.
Mississippi license types for handyman work
Mississippi splits the work into 2 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Residential Remodeler | Remodeling, repair or improvement of residential structures up to 3 floors, needed when the job is over $10,000 |
| Residential Roofer | Residential roofing only, needed when the job is over $10,000 |
Steps to get licensed in Mississippi
- Without a license, keep residential remodeling and roofing jobs at $10,000 or less and stay out of licensed trades.
- When you are ready for bigger jobs, apply for the Residential Remodeler license with MSBOC.
- Gather project descriptions and three reference letters, one from your bank.
- Get general liability insurance with MSBOC listed for cancellation notice.
- Pay the $50 residential application fee and pass the PSI remodeler exam and the Law and Business Management exam.
- Renew every year with continuing education.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. You document your experience with detailed descriptions of projects you completed in the classification you want, plus at least three reference letters, one from your bank or financial institution.
The license to apply for. Residential Remodeler (for jobs over $10,000).
Mississippi handyman exams
Trade exam. Residential Remodeler trade exam, given by PSI, open book.
Business and law exam. Mississippi Law and Business Management exam, required for every applicant, given by PSI.
What it costs in Mississippi
The board lists one fee for this license. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Residential application fee (non-refundable) | $50 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Proof of general liability insurance is required for every license and renewal, with no set minimum for residential licenses. Send proof of workers comp if you have 5 or more employees.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year. Each qualifying party on a residential license issued on or after July 1, 2015 needs 2 hours of continuing education.
Reciprocity. Mississippi can waive the trade exam for qualified license holders from Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Tennessee, and still accepts passing exam scores from Louisiana. What is waived depends on the state and trade. Everyone still takes the Mississippi Law and Business Management exam.
Good to know in Mississippi
- Trade work like HVAC, plumbing, mechanical and electrical on homes needs its own residential license.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a handyman near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Mississippi State Board of Contractors and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how handyman businesses run on Koira.