- At least two years of experience in home improvement work, construction or related education.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Applicants who do not meet the financial solvency guidelines can buy a surety bond or use an indemnitor.
Do you need a state license in Maryland?
Maryland licenses some painting 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.
Steps to get licensed in Maryland
- Document two years of home improvement experience or related education.
- Pass the MHIC exam with PSI.
- Show financial solvency and $50,000 liability insurance.
- Register any trade name with the Department of Assessments and Taxation, then apply for the license.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. At least two years of experience in home improvement work, construction or related education.
The license to apply for. Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) contractor license.
Maryland painting contractor exams
Trade exam. The MHIC licensing exam, given by PSI, before you apply.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Maryland
We could not confirm the current fee schedule on an official page. Check with the board before you budget: Maryland Home Improvement Commission, Maryland Department of Labor.
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Proof of $50,000 liability insurance with the application.
Bond. Applicants who do not meet the financial solvency guidelines can buy a surety bond or use an indemnitor.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Maryland
- House painting, inside and out, including decorative painting, is home improvement.
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 painter 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 Maryland Home Improvement Commission, Maryland Department of Labor and the official pages below, checked October 9, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how painting companies run on Koira.