Sen Lin, PrepPass Founder · Verified against Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) — Maryland Department of Labor · How we review
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Maryland Home Improvement (MHIC) Exam Cram Sheet (2026)
The highest-yield points on the Maryland Home Improvement (MHIC)exam, grouped by the exam's real content areas. Print it, review the ones you keep missing, then drill them with free practice questions.
55questions
120 mintime limit
39 of 55 (70%)to pass
11content areas
Business Organization & Licensing
10% of the exam- Sole Proprietorship and Partnership
- Corporation and LLC — Limited Liability
- Licensing and Operating Principles
Estimating & Bidding
14% of the exam- Building an Estimate: Direct and Indirect Costs
- Markup vs. Margin — Don't Confuse Them
- Quantity Math and Unit Conversions
- Types of Bids and Contracts
Contracts & Contract Law
14% of the exam- Elements of a Valid Contract
- Key Clauses: Scope, Price, Schedule, and Damages
- Changes: Change Orders
- Breach, Remedies, and Payment Security
Project Management & Scheduling
12% of the exam- The Critical Path Method (CPM)
- Float, Slack, and Resource Leveling
- Gantt Charts and Progress Tracking
- Coordination Documents: Submittals and RFIs
Financial Management & Accounting
12% of the exam- Financial Statements and Key Ratios
- Cash Flow and Retainage
- Cash vs. Accrual and Revenue Recognition
- Job Costing and Overhead Recovery
Safety & OSHA
14% of the exam- The Employer's Duty and OSHA Basics
- The Hierarchy of Controls
- Fall Protection — the 6-Foot Rule
- Excavations, PPE, and Hazard Communication
Employment & Labor Law
12% of the exam- Employee vs. Independent Contractor
- Wage and Hour Law (FLSA)
- Workers' Compensation
- Hiring Paperwork and Anti-Discrimination
Building Codes & Permits
12% of the exam- Purpose and Source of Building Codes
- Permits and the Inspection Process
- Certificate of Occupancy
- Codes vs. Zoning
MHIC Licensing — Who Needs a Maryland Home Improvement License
40% of the exam- The MHIC and the Maryland Home Improvement Law (Bus. Reg. Title 8)
- License categories: contractor and salesperson
- Qualifications and the MHIC exam
Maryland Home Improvement Law — Contracts, Unlicensed Work & the Guaranty Fund
35% of the exam- Every home-improvement contract must be in writing (Bus. Reg. §8-501)
- Unlicensed home improvement is illegal and unprotected
- The Home Improvement Guaranty Fund (Bus. Reg. Subtitle 4)
Insurance, Financial Solvency & Renewal Requirements
25% of the exam- General liability insurance (Bus. Reg. §8-302.1)
- Financial solvency, surety bonds, and indemnitors
- License term, renewal, and reference material
Now prove you know them
Reading the outline is not the same as recalling it under exam pressure. Drill 102+ free Maryland Home Improvement (MHIC) practice questions to find your weak areas, then sit a full timed mock — no signup, no paywall.
Study aid, not a substitute for the official material — always confirm the current rule with Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) — Maryland Department of Labor. Last verified: August 2026.