Maryland Home Improvement (MHIC) Exam — Study Guide
Free, topic-by-topic study notes for the Maryland Home Improvement (MHIC) Exam exam. Read a chapter, then practice it.
Business Organization & Licensing
Every contractor operates through some form of business entity, and the form you choose affects your personal liability, your taxes, and how you raise money and add owners. This topic covers the main entity types and the general principles of operating a licensed contracting business. These fundamentals are broadly consistent nationwide; specific license classifications, fees, and renewal rules are set by each state.
Estimating & Bidding
An estimate that is too high loses the job; one that is too low loses money. This topic covers how contractors build accurate estimates, the difference between markup and margin, how to compute material quantities, and the common types of bids. The math principles here are universal.
Contracts & Contract Law
The contract defines the deal: what will be built, for how much, by when, and what happens if something goes wrong. This topic covers the elements of a valid contract, common clauses contractors must understand, and how contracts are changed and enforced. These principles come from general contract law and apply broadly across states.
Project Management & Scheduling
Delivering a project on time and on budget requires planning the sequence of work, tracking progress, and communicating clearly among the owner, designer, subs, and crew. This topic covers scheduling tools like CPM and Gantt charts, the concepts of critical path and float, and the documents that keep a project coordinated.
Financial Management & Accounting
Many contractors fail not from lack of work but from poor financial control — running out of cash while waiting to be paid. This topic covers the basic financial statements and ratios, cash-flow realities unique to construction, and job costing. The concepts and formulas here are universal business fundamentals.
Safety & OSHA
Construction is one of the most hazardous industries, and safety is both a legal duty and a business necessity. This topic covers the employer's core safety obligations, the hierarchy of controls, and key federal OSHA requirements that apply on construction sites nationwide, such as fall protection and excavation safety.
Employment & Labor Law
When a contractor hires workers, a web of federal employment and labor laws applies. This topic covers worker classification, wage and hour rules, workers' compensation, and hiring paperwork. The federal baselines here apply nationwide, though states may add stronger protections on top of them.
Building Codes & Permits
Building codes and the permit process exist to protect public health and safety by ensuring structures are built to accepted standards. This topic covers the purpose of codes, the permit and inspection process, and the difference between building codes and zoning. Most U.S. jurisdictions adopt model codes, so the framework is broadly consistent even though local amendments vary.
MHIC Licensing — Who Needs a Maryland Home Improvement License
Maryland does not issue a general commercial contractor license. Instead, the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) licenses the people who repair and remodel existing homes. This chapter covers the MHIC, what counts as 'home improvement,' the license categories, the qualifications, and the exam itself.
Maryland Home Improvement Law — Contracts, Unlicensed Work & the Guaranty Fund
The Maryland Home Improvement Law protects homeowners with strict written-contract rules, penalties for unlicensed work, and a state-run Guaranty Fund. This chapter covers what a home-improvement contract must contain (Bus. Reg. §8-501), the consequences of contracting without a license, and how the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund works.
Insurance, Financial Solvency & Renewal Requirements
Beyond passing the exam, an MHIC contractor must carry the required insurance, prove financial responsibility, and keep the license current. This chapter reviews the general-liability insurance requirement, the financial-solvency and bond options, and the two-year renewal cycle.
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