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How to pass the Mississippi commercial contractor exam

A $50,000 license threshold, a required Law and Business Management exam, and a choice of trade exams for Building Construction. Here’s how the Mississippi Certificate of Responsibility works and how to study for it, checked against the board’s, the Legislature’s and PSI’s own documents.

At a glance

The exams

Question counts, times and passing scores are from PSI’s Mississippi contractor candidate bulletin (updated 4/23/2026). PSI may add up to ten unscored experimental questions to the Mississippi exams, and that time counts against you. PSI charges $120 for one exam portion and $240 for two. Fees aren’t refundable or transferable, but PSI holds unused fees for one year if you cancel at least 2 days ahead.

Before you apply

• Application and fee: $400 for a commercial application with one classification, plus $100 for each added classification. Applications not completed within 180 days are destroyed.
• Financial statement: a reviewed or audited statement, prepared and signed by a CPA within the last 12 months. A compilation isn’t accepted. Major classifications like Building Construction need a net worth of at least $50,000; all others need $20,000.
• General liability insurance: at least $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate, with MSBOC listed as certificate holder. The insured name must match the license name exactly.
• Workers’ comp: a certificate of workers’ compensation coverage if you have 5 or more employees.
• References and experience: three reference letters (one from your bank) and at least 3 completed jobs in each classification you request.
• Tax numbers and registration: a Mississippi sales tax or use tax number, a state or federal income tax ID, and (for corporations, LLCs and LLPs) good standing with the Mississippi Secretary of State. You also need proof the qualifying party works for you, like a check stub or W-2.

Step by step

1. Pick your classificationBuilding Construction is a major classification that also covers the specialty classes listed under it. Decide which classes you need before you apply.
2. Send the application to MSBOCInclude the $400 fee, CPA financial statement, insurance certificates, reference letters, job list and tax numbers. MSBOC sends you the PSI candidate bulletin.
3. Wait for PSI’s emailMSBOC tells PSI you’re eligible and PSI emails a confirmation. You can’t schedule until you get it.
4. Schedule and pass your examsPay and schedule at test-takers.psiexams.com/mscontlb or call (855) 557-0619. You have 6 months, with unlimited retakes. Choose the Mississippi Building Construction exam or NASCLA for your trade exam.
5. Board reviewOnce your application is complete with passing scores, MSBOC submits it to the board weekly on Fridays, and approved licenses are issued the following Wednesday.
6. Renew every yearThe certificate is good for one year. You can renew up to 180 days after it expires; after that you must file a new application.

The reference books

Law and Business Management (50 questions): Estimating and Bidding 7; Contracts 6; Licensing 5; Financial Management 5; Tax Laws 5; Labor Laws 5; Project Management 5; Environmental and Safety 5; Risk Management 4; Business Organization 2; Lien Law 1. The reference is the NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Mississippi (6th edition).

Building Construction (80 questions): General Code, Plan Reading and Estimating 15; Concrete 12; Metals 10; Safety 8; Carpentry 7; Thermal and Moisture Protection 7; Site Work 6; Masonry 6; Doors and Windows 3; Finishes 3; Mississippi One Call 3. References include the 2021 International Building Code, OSHA 29 CFR 1926, SJI Technical Digest No. 9 (4th ed., 2025), Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, Modern Masonry, Placing Reinforcing Bars and Mississippi’s excavation law near underground utilities.

Mississippi or NASCLA? The NASCLA exam is longer (115 questions, 330 minutes) and uses a bigger book list, but other states accept it. The Mississippi exam is shorter and includes state One Call questions. PSI says to compare both before you choose.

What you can bring: your own copies of the listed books, highlighted, underlined and tabbed with permanent tabs only. No writing in them, no loose or attached papers, and Post-it notes must come out. If references conflict, the bulletin says a code, law or regulation wins, and a state law wins over a national one.

A 6-week study plan

On test day

• Arrive at least 30 minutes early with one valid, unexpired government ID showing your photo and signature. Your registered name must match it exactly.
• Bring your own copy of every listed reference, with permanent tabs only. Pull any Post-it notes and loose papers before you go.
• Calculators must be silent, battery-operated, non-programmable, non-printing and without an alphabet keyboard.
• Leave the jacket in the car. Open sweaters, vests, jackets and coats aren’t allowed in the testing room, and phones and smart watches go in storage.
• You need 70% to pass. Answer what you know first, then look up the rest.
• Your score shows on screen right away. If you don’t pass, you get a report on your weak areas and can retest within your 6-month window.

Quick answers