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Construction Work Regulated?

Who Regulates Construction?

Requirements?

State Business & Law Exam
State General Contractor Exams
State Electrical Exams
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Construction Work Regulated?

Prequalification is required for highway and non-building related contracts over $50,000.

Construction of all 1 and 2 family dwellings and all buildings containing up to 35,000 cubic feet of enclosed space requires a Construction Superior License (CSL). Licensing requirements exist for asbestos, home renovation, painting and electrical work.

Residential home improvement requires a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration at the state level for work on existing 1 to 4 unit owner-occupied dwellings.

Who Regulates Construction?

Prequalification for contractors and horizontal construction contractors wishing to bid on contracts over $50,000 may obtain information from:

Massachusetts Highway Department Director of Prequalification
10 Park Plaza, Room 3620
Boston, MA 02116
(857) 368-8660/Fax (857) 368-0643
https://www.mhd.state.ma.us

Contractors may obtain information regarding electrical licensing from:

Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 727-993VFax (617) 727-9932
https://www.mass.gov/ocabr/licensee/dpl-boards/el

Contractors may obtain information regarding plumbers and gas fitters from:

Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Plumbers & Gas Fitters
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 727-9952/Fax (617) 727-6095
https://www.mass.gov/ocabr/licensee/dpl-boards/pl

Construction supervisors may obtain licensing information from:

Massachusetts Department of Public Safety Board of Building Regulations & Standards
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118
https://www.mass.gov/dps

Information on the registration of home improvement contractors is obtained from:

Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 973-8787
https://www.mass.gov/oca

Asbestos abatement, de-leading and lead-safe renovation contractor information may be obtained from:

Common Health of Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
Department of Labor Standards
19 Stanford Street, 2"d Floor
Boston, MA 02114-2502
(617) 626-6960
https://www.mass.gov/dols

Requirements?

Highway Prequalification:
Contract limits for contractors are based on the contractor's technical expertise and the company's bonding capacity.

There is no application fee required. Contractors must also prequalify for individual projects prior to bidding. Prequalification is valid for 1 year and there is no fee. The average processing time for applications is 2 weeks.

Electricians:
All exam applicants must meet work experience requirements and education requirements set by the board.

Class A, Master Electrician:
Applicants are required to have completed at least 1 year of experience as the holder of a Massachusetts Class B, Journeyman Electrician license and having been actively engaged in electrical work. Applicants must also furnish proof satisfactory to the Board of having successfully completed 150 hours of classroom instruction.

Class B, Journeyman Electrician:
Applicants are required to complete electrical work experience totaling a minimum of 8,000 clock hours over a period of no less than 4 years under direct supervision of a Class B (Journeyman) license holder. Class B
applicants are also required to show proof of having successfully completed 600 hours of classroom instruction and having obtained a high school diploma or the equivalent.

Class C, Systems Contractor:
Applicants must furnish proof of having completed at least 1 year of experience as the holder of a Massachusetts Class D (Systems Technician) license and having been actively engaged in or working at the business of systems work. Applicants are also required to have successfully completed 75 hours of classroom instruction.

Class D, Systems Technician:
Applicants are required to have completed a minimum of 4,000 hours over a period of no less than 2 years of systems work experience under direct supervision of a Class D (Systems Technician) license holder. Class D applicants are also required to have a high school diploma or equivalent and have completed 300 hours of education. All applicants' education requirements must be completed without substantial interruption.

Journeyman Plumber:
(248 CMR 11.02 (1) (b) 1.) Every applicant for a Journeyman Plumber's license shall have worked for not less than 8,500 clock hours as a licensed apprentice working under the direct supervision of a Massachusetts licensed Master Plumber or under the direct supervision of a Massachusetts licensed Journeyman Plumber who is in the employ of a Master Plumber in accordance with M.G.L. c. 142, § 3, before being eligible to take the examination. He or she must also have completed not less than 550 hours of plumbing theory.

Journeyman Gasfitter:
{248CMR11.02 (3) (b) 1.} Every applicant for a Journeyman Gasfitter's license shall have worked for not less than 5,100 clock hours as a licensed apprentice working under the direct supervision of a Massachusetts licensed Master Gasfitter, or Journeyman Gasfitter who is in the employ of a Master Gasfitter in accordance with M.G.L. c. 142, § 3, before being eligible to take the examination. He or she must also have completed not less than 330 hours gas fitting theory.

Undiluted Liquefied Petroleum Gas Installer:
{248 CMR 11:02 (5) (b) 1.} Every applicant for an Undiluted Liquefied Petroleum Gas Installer's License shall have worked not less than 3,400 clock hours as over a period of no less than 2 years specifically in the discipline of Undiluted Liquefied Petroleum Gas Installations working under the supervision of a Commonwealth of Massachusetts licensed Undiluted Liquefied Petroleum Gas Fitting Installer licensed in accordance with M.G.L. c. 142, § 3. He or she must also have completed not less than 220 clock hours of undiluted liquefied petroleum gas educational theory.

Limited Undiluted Liquefied Petroleum Gas Installer:
{248 CMR 11:02 (6) (a) (b)} Every applicant for a limited undiluted liquefied petroleum gas installer's license shall furnish documentary proof satisfactory to the Board of having a minimum of 1,700 clock hours of work experience in construction and familiarity with construction sites including supervised observation of and experience with the installation, connecting and relocating of portable construction type undiluted liquefied petroleum gas cylinders and vessels associated with temporary construction equipment prior to being issued a license in accordance with M.G.L. c. 142, § 3.

Out of State or International Jurisdiction Licensee Equivalency and Waivers:
{248 CMR 11.02(7)(a), (b), (c) Applicants seeking a Massachusetts license who received their education or work experience in another state or country may submit to the Board a written request petitioning that such experience or education be considered for approval as being substantially equivalent to the experience and education requirements required in Massachusetts. Unless Massachusetts has a reciprocity agreement with the relevant jurisdiction, all applicants will be required to pass the relevant examination for the license being sought.

Home Improvement Contractors Registration:
Registrants must contribute to a Home Improvement Guaranty Fund. The initial contribution is $100 to $500, based on the number of employees. A further reassessment may be required if the administrator determines that the amount in the fund is insufficient to cover claims made against the fund. Fund limits are $10,000 per individua l claims or $75,000 per contractor. A registration fee of $100 is required upon registration or renewal of a registration. The fee is waived if the registrant holds a valid, current construction supervisor license. All agreements with homeowners (1 to 4 family structures) for work exceeding $1,000 must be in writing. All contractors must carry workers' compensation insurance.

Construction Supervisor License:
Applicants must take an examination (open book) in which they are tested on the latest edition of the commonwealth of Massachusetts State Building Code. A passing score of at least 70% is required on the examination. The examination fee is $100. Documentation of 3 years of experience must also be submitted. The initial 3 year application fee is $150 and the bienniaI renewal fee is $100. The average processing time on license applications is 30 days.

De-leading Contractor:
Except as allowed by 454 CMR 22.03(1)(a), through (c), persons, firms or other entities that engage in De leading Work must be licensed as De-leading Contractors with DLS. Owners and their agents who perform De leading
Work in or on the property of the Owner in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Director of Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) within the MA Department of Public Health (DPH), need not be licensed as De-leading Contractors, provided that said persons are trained pursuant to 105 CMR 460.175(E).Where the business or work includes only the conduct of Moderate-Risk De-leading Work, the entity carrying out the work may be licensed as a Lead-Safe Renovation Contractor pursuant to 454 CMR 22.04 in lieu of being licensed as a De-leading Contractor. Contractors who perform only Low-Risk De-leading Work in or on the property of the Owner in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Contractors of Lead-Safe Renovation Contractors, provided that said persons are trained pursuant to 105 CMR 460.175(D) and have received a certificate of instruction pursuant to 105 CMR 460.175(E).

Deleading Supervisor:
The Deleading Contractor shall ensure that a person who has been licensed as a Deleader-Supervisor pursuant to 454 CMR 22.05 is on site and in control of the work on every Class I Deleading Project. All persons who perform
the functions of supervisors on Moderate Risk Deleading Project shall be Licensed as Deleader-Supervisors pursuant to 454 CMR 22.05 or Certified as Lead-Safe RenovatorSupervisors pursuant to 454 CMR 22.06. Lead-Safe Renovator-Supervisors who carry out supervisory functions on Moderate Risk Deleading Projects shall receive
training in the subjects listed at 454 CMR 22.08(4)(e) and be in possession of a current certificate of training issued by a Licensed Training Provider which includes the designation, "Lead-Safe Renovator-Supervisor - Moderate Risk Deleading Options."

De-leader Worker:
All person who perform as workers on Class I De-leading Projects shall be licensed as De-leader-Workers pursuant to the procedures set forth at 454 CMR 22.05 . As set forth at 454 CM R 22.03(2)(c), all persons who carry out the
functions of workers on Moderate Risk De-leading projects shall be Licensed as De-leader-Workers or De-leader-Supervisors pursuant to 454 CNR 22.05 or Certified as Lead-Safe Renovator-Supervisors pursuant to 454 CMR 22.06.

Lead-Safe Renovator Contractor:
Companies or other entities that for a fee perform, or offer to perform, Renovation Work (as defined in 454 CMR 22.02) must be licensed as Lead-Safe Renovation Contractors or De-leading Contractors pursuant to 454 CMR 22.04, or where eligible, be in possession of a Contractor Licensing Waiver, as outlined below. A Lead-Safe Renovation Contractor may also carry out Moderate Risk De-leading Work where an employee or Responsible Person of said Contractor who has been licensed as a De-leader-Supervisor or Certified as a Lead-Safe Renovator Supervisor (Moderate Risk De-leading Option) is used to supervise the work.

Asbestos Contractor:
No person, firm, corporation or other entity shall enter into, engage in or work at the business of Asbestos Abatement unless such person, firm, corporation or other entity has been duly licensed in accordance with 453 CMR 6.05. For purposes of 453 CMR 6.00, the phrase "engage in the business of Asbestos Abatement" includes, but is not limited to, advertising Asbestos Abatement services, and/or submitting bids for projects where the majority of the contract-value is represented by Asbestos Work. and/or submitting bids for projects where the majority of the contract-value is represented by Asbestos Work.

Asbestos Workers and Asbestos Supervisors:
All persons who perform the functions of Asbestos Workers and Asbestos Supervisors at work sites where Asbestos
Response Actions are carried out shall be certified pursuant to the applicable sections of 453 CMR 6.06.

Asbestos Inspector:
Certification as an Asbestos Inspector authorizes the consultant to review building records, perform visual inspections, collect samples, prepare written inventories and conduct other forms of investigation necessary to determine and document the presence and condition of known or suspect ACM in facilities. Certified Asbestos Inspectors shall apply current concepts and state-of-the-art knowledge to evaluate the conditions and accessibility of ACM and shall otherwise conduct their activities according to procedures described in current EPA guidance documents or applicable federal laws or rules and regulations.

Asbestos Management Planner:
Certification as an Asbestos Management Planner authorizes the consultant to utilize information developed from facility inspections to assess potential hazards of ACM, to develop O&M plans, and to select and recommend asbestos hazard control and abatement actions Asbestos Project Designer: Certification as an Asbestos Project Designer authorizes the consultant to design Asbestos Response Actions through preparation of job specifications, bidding documents, architectural drawings and schematic representations of material locations. Except as mandated by AHERA for Asbestos Response Actions conducted in school facilities, the preparation of asbestos project designs in not required by 453 CMR 6.00. Where asbestos project designs are prepared, such preparation shall only be performed by persons certified as Asbestos Project Designers pursuant to 453 CMR 6.07.

Asbestos Project Monitor:
Certification as an Asbestos Project Monitor authorizes the consultant to function as the on-site representative of the facility owner or other persons, interpret project specifications or asbestos management plans and monitor and evaluate contractor or employee compliance with applicable rules, regulations, or specifications, including collection of the air samples at asbestos project sites. Certification as an Asbestos Project Monitor or in any other Asbestos Consultant discipline is not required for persons collecting only (asbestos) personal air monitoring samples.

Other:
Public works contracts with an estimated value of over $5,000 require a bid bond of 5%. A certificate of eligibility from the Commissioner of Labor and Industries is required for contracts in excess of $25,000.

RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS
Massachusetts currently has electrical reciprocity agreements with New Hampshire for both Master and Journeymen licenses.