How to pass the Massachusetts Unrestricted Construction Supervisor License exam

Massachusetts has no state general contractor license. Its exam-based license is the Construction Supervisor License (CSL). Here’s who needs one, how the Unrestricted CSL exam works and how to study for it, checked against the state’s own documents.

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At a glance

LicenseConstruction Supervisor License (CSL), issued by the Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) through the Office of Public Safety and Inspections, Division of Occupational Licensure. The license is held by a person, not a company.

Who needs itThe person who directly supervises work regulated by the building code (780 CMR), including people who supervise themselves. The Unrestricted CSL covers buildings of any use with less than 35,000 cubic feet of enclosed space, one- and two-family homes of any size, agricultural buildings, and retaining walls under 10 feet.

Bigger buildingsBuildings of 35,000 cubic feet or more fall under construction control (780 CMR 107.6). A registered design professional, an architect or engineer, controls the construction, and no CSL is required for the project.

The exam75 scored questions, 240 minutes, open book. You need 53 correct (70%) to pass. Results are given right after the exam.

Who runs itPSI. You apply online with your experience documents, PSI approves you, then you pay and schedule. PSI has Massachusetts sites in Auburn, Charlestown (Boston), Fall River, Lawrence and West Springfield.

Not the same as HICHome Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration is a separate program run by the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. It covers residential work for owners of existing owner-occupied homes with one to four units. Some contractors need both.

The exams

Exam	Questions	Time	To pass	Books allowed
Unrestricted Construction Supervisor Covers buildings under 35,000 cubic feet of any use, plus one- and two-family homes of any size.	75	240 minutes	53 correct (70%)	Yes
Restricted Construction Supervisor (one- and two-family only) For comparison only. This license is limited to one- and two-family homes and their accessory buildings.	60	240 minutes	42 correct (70%)	Yes

Question counts, times and cut scores are from the PSI Candidate Handbook (February 2026), posted by the state. The Unrestricted exam covers Massachusetts administrative responsibilities under 780 CMR (5 questions), plan reading and estimating (6), general building construction knowledge (8), energy efficiency (5), accessibility (3), sitework and foundations (5), concrete and masonry (7), moisture intrusion and protection (4), structural framing in steel and wood (6), roofing and exterior walls (6), associated trades (8), interior environment (3), fire protection (3) and OSHA safety (6). PSI may add 4 to 7 unscored experimental questions, which don’t count against your time.

Before you apply

Age: you must be 18 at the time of the exam.
Experience: at least three years of experience in building construction or design. The handbook counts this as 36 months of full-time work (40 hours a week) within the past ten years. It doesn’t need to be continuous.
Education credit: a three- or four-year vocational building program or any bachelor’s, master’s or PhD degree counts as one year. A degree in architecture, engineering or a related science or technology field counts as two years. Education can never count for more than two years.
Proof: W-2, Schedule C or 1099 tax forms covering three years of full-time work, or a letter of attestation from someone like an engineer, architect, employer, military supervisor or licensed contractor. Union membership alone does not count as experience.
Notarized statement: your application includes a notarized signature saying you read the handbook, the information is true, and you have filed all state tax returns and paid state taxes.
The rule most people miss: every building permit application must list the name, signature, license number and license category of the CSL who will supervise the work. If that person stops supervising, work must stop until a new license holder is put on the building department’s records.

Step by step

Confirm you need the Unrestricted CSLIf your work is on buildings under 35,000 cubic feet that aren’t one- or two-family homes, the Restricted (one- and two-family) license is not enough. Check the job with the local building official too, since towns can add their own rules.
Gather your experience proofCollect tax forms or a letter of attestation for three years of full-time work, plus a diploma or degree if you use education as credit.
Apply with PSICreate an account at PSI, choose the Unrestricted Construction Supervisor exam, and upload your documents. The application fee is $23. Review can take up to two weeks. Your approved application stays on file for two years.
Pay and scheduleAfter PSI emails your approval, pay the $75 exam fee and pick a test site. To cancel or reschedule without losing your fee, PSI must hear from you at least two days before the exam.
Pass the examYou need 53 of 75 (70%). If you fail, you get a diagnostic report and may retest as many times as you need. Retesting may be possible within two business days, depending on space.
Apply for your licenseFollow the application instructions on your passing score report, and apply within one year of passing. Processing takes about 30 days.

The reference books

The exam is open book. You must bring your own copies of the references. The Unrestricted list is: the International Building Code 2021, the Massachusetts amendments to the building code base volume (780 CMR, Tenth Edition), the International Residential Code 2021, the Massachusetts amendments to the residential code (780 CMR, Tenth Edition), the International Energy Conservation Code 2021, the Massachusetts Residential and Commercial Stretch Codes (225 CMR), the Architectural Access Board rules (521 CMR) and OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 (or PSI’s selections of it).

PSI’s handbook says any edition of the listed references is allowed in the test center. The exam is written to the Tenth Edition of the state building code, which became the only code in effect on June 30, 2025.

Tabs and markings: you may highlight, underline, annotate and index your books before the exam. Use permanent tabs only. Post-it notes must be removed before the exam starts. You may not write in the books during the exam, and loose or attached papers are taken away.

Know where things are: 240 minutes for 75 questions gives you about three minutes per question. That only helps if you can find a code section fast. Spend most of your prep time learning the books, not memorizing them.

A 6-week study plan

Week 1Apply with PSI and gather your experience proof. Buy or download the references. Read the table of contents of each book and the 780 CMR Chapter 1 amendments.

Week 2Administration and licensing: 780 CMR Chapter 1 and 110.R5. Know permits, construction control, CSL duties and on-site presence. Then plan reading and estimating.

Week 3Sitework, foundations, concrete and masonry, and structural framing in steel and wood. Tab the IBC and IRC chapters you use most.

Week 4Roofing and exterior walls, moisture protection, associated trades, interior environment and fire protection.

Week 5Energy (IECC and the Stretch Codes), accessibility (521 CMR) and OSHA Part 1926. Practice finding answers in each book against the clock.

Week 6Timed practice: 75 questions in 240 minutes. Fix the tabs where you were slow. Schedule your exam.

On test day

Arrive at least 30 minutes early. If you arrive late, you may be turned away and lose your fee.
Bring one valid, unexpired government ID with your photo and signature. The name must match your PSI registration.
Bring your own reference books, with permanent tabs only. No loose papers.
PSI gives you scratch paper, a pencil and an online calculator. A silent, battery-powered, non-programmable calculator without a paper tape or alphabet keys is also allowed.
Phones, smart watches, bags, coats, hats and food go in storage. Proctors may check pockets, sleeves and eyeglass frames.
A tutorial of up to 15 minutes runs before the exam and doesn’t count against your time. Your result is given right after you finish.

Quick answers

Is a CSL the same as a general contractor license?

No. Massachusetts licenses the person who supervises the work, not the company. A CSL holder must be named on the building permit and is responsible for the work being done to code.

Do I need a CSL for a large commercial building?

Not for buildings of 35,000 cubic feet or more. Those are under construction control, and a registered design professional controls the construction. The state says a CSL is not required because the design professional is the licensed person for the project.

Do I need HIC registration too?

If you do residential work for owners of existing owner-occupied homes with one to four units, yes. HIC registration is separate from the CSL and is handled by the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.

Does Massachusetts accept my license from another state?

No. The state says Massachusetts does not recognize out-of-state contractor licenses.

How long does the license last?

A new CSL expires three years from the date it is issued. Renewals are for two years. The renewal fee is $100.

Do I need continuing education?

Yes. The Unrestricted CSL needs 12 hours every two-year cycle, with at least four hours of code review and one hour each of workplace safety, business practices and workers’ comp, and energy. Lead safe practices (one hour) is required in the first renewal cycle only. Up to six hours may be online.

What if my license expires?

You may not supervise work with an expired license. You can renew within one year, or within two years by paying an extra $100. After two years, you must pass the exam again and apply for a new license.

Official sources

Rules, fees and exam details change. Always confirm with the board before you apply. Last checked October 2026.

ContractorDock is not affiliated with the licensing board or the testing company. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Get the printable study plan

The 6-week plan, a book-tabbing checklist and a test-day checklist for the Massachusetts CSL exam, all in one free PDF.

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