Mississippi Contractor License Exam — All Questions
422 questions
Which state body regulates commercial contractors in Mississippi?
- a.Each county board of supervisors, with no statewide board
- b.The Mississippi Department of Revenue
- c.The Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC)✓
- d.The Mississippi Secretary of State
Commercial contractors are regulated by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) under Miss. Code Title 31, Chapter 3. The board issues the Certificate of Responsibility that authorizes covered commercial contracting.Miss. Code Title 31, Ch. 3
A Mississippi commercial Certificate of Responsibility is required for public or private commercial projects costing at least:
- a.$25,000
- b.$10,000
- c.$100,000
- d.$50,000✓
A commercial Certificate of Responsibility is required for public or private commercial work of $50,000 or more under Miss. Code Title 31, Chapter 3. The same $50,000 trigger applies whether the project is public or private.Miss. Code §31-3-1 et seq.
How does the MSBOC structure the commercial contractor license by dollar limit?
- a.Into Class A, B, C, and D monetary tiers
- b.Into Restricted and Unrestricted caps
- c.Into Groups I through V by net worth
- d.As a single unlimited commercial license, with no A/B/C/D monetary tiers✓
Mississippi issues a single, unlimited commercial license and does not use A/B/C/D monetary tiers. Once qualified, a commercial contractor is authorized for covered work without a tiered per-project cap on the license itself; the key line is the $50,000 Certificate-of-Responsibility trigger.Miss. Code Title 31, Ch. 3 (single unlimited license)
What is the Mississippi 'Certificate of Responsibility'?
- a.A homeowner's affidavit of occupancy
- b.A building permit issued by the city
- c.The credential the MSBOC issues that authorizes a qualified contractor to perform covered commercial work✓
- d.A tax clearance from the Department of Revenue
The Certificate of Responsibility is the MSBOC credential authorizing a qualified contractor (through its qualifying individual) to bid and perform covered commercial work of $50,000 or more. It is central to Mississippi's commercial licensing scheme.Miss. Code Title 31, Ch. 3 (Certificate of Responsibility)
Under Mississippi's residential law, which pairing of thresholds is correct?
- a.Builder above $100,000; remodeler above $25,000
- b.Residential builder above $50,000; residential remodeler above $10,000✓
- c.Builder above $10,000; remodeler above $50,000
- d.Both builder and remodeler above $75,000
Under Miss. Code Title 73, Chapter 59, a residential builder license is required for work above $50,000 and a residential remodeler license for work above $10,000. The remodeler floor is the lower of the two.Miss. Code Title 73, Ch. 59 (residential)
For Mississippi's commercial building or electrical scope, which exam satisfies the trade/technical portion?
- a.The Mississippi residential remodeler exam
- b.The Alabama swimming-pool exam
- c.The NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building Contractor examination✓
- d.No trade exam is offered in Mississippi
For the commercial building or electrical scope, Mississippi accepts the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building Contractor examination for the trade portion. The separate Mississippi Business and Law examination is still required.NASCLA Accredited Examination
Which statutes govern Mississippi commercial and residential contractor licensing, respectively?
- a.There is no governing statute
- b.Title 40 for both
- c.Title 31, Chapter 3 (commercial) and Title 73, Chapter 59 (residential)✓
- d.Title 12 (commercial) and Title 20 (residential)
Commercial contractor licensing is governed by Miss. Code Title 31, Chapter 3, and residential builder/remodeler licensing by Title 73, Chapter 59. Knowing which chapter applies helps a contractor find the right rule.Miss. Code Title 31, Ch. 3 / Title 73, Ch. 59
Fire-protection work in Mississippi is licensed at which thresholds?
- a.Fire-protection work is never licensed
- b.$50,000 for all fire-protection work
- c.$5,000 for public projects and $10,000 for private projects✓
- d.$100,000 public and $50,000 private
Fire-protection work is licensed at $5,000 for public projects and $10,000 for private projects, lower than the general $50,000 commercial trigger. The public-works figure is the lower of the two.Miss. Code Title 31, Ch. 3 (fire protection)
A contractor plans a $60,000 private commercial renovation in Mississippi and assumes the Certificate of Responsibility applies only to public projects. What is correct?
- a.The $50,000 trigger applies to public and private work alike, so a Certificate of Responsibility is required✓
- b.The certificate is only for public projects, so none is needed
- c.No certificate is needed below $100,000
- d.Only a residential remodeler license is needed
The $50,000 Certificate-of-Responsibility trigger applies to both public and private commercial work. A $60,000 private commercial renovation exceeds the threshold, so a Certificate of Responsibility is required.Miss. Code §31-3-1 (public or private)
Under Mississippi law, when must a contractor hold a Certificate of Responsibility relative to bidding covered commercial work?
- a.A certificate is never needed to bid
- b.Before bidding; the certificate number is required on the bid and a bid without it can be rejected✓
- c.Only at the final inspection
- d.Only after the contract is signed
A contractor must hold a current Certificate of Responsibility to bid covered commercial work of $50,000 or more, and the certificate number is required on the bid. A bid submitted without a valid certificate can be rejected.Miss. Code Title 31, Ch. 3 (bidding)
A contractor licensed in another state asks which Mississippi commercial 'class' (A, B, C, or D) allows a $2,000,000 single project. What is the correct response?
- a.Class D is the unlimited tier
- b.Class A is required for projects over $1,000,000
- c.Mississippi does not use A/B/C/D tiers; it issues a single unlimited commercial license, so a qualified contractor may perform the covered project✓
- d.Class B covers projects up to $2,000,000
Mississippi does not divide the commercial license into A/B/C/D tiers. It issues a single unlimited commercial license, so a qualified contractor holding a Certificate of Responsibility is not limited by a per-project tier cap. The tiered-class framing comes from other states.Miss. Code Title 31, Ch. 3 (single unlimited license)
An unlicensed contractor performs a covered $200,000 commercial job in Mississippi and then sues the owner for the unpaid balance. What is the likely result?
- a.The contractor generally cannot sue to enforce the covered contract because it lacked the required license✓
- b.The owner must pay triple damages
- c.The contractor recovers the full contract price automatically
- d.The court awards the contractor a new license
A contractor who performs covered work without the required license or Certificate of Responsibility generally cannot sue to enforce the contract in Mississippi. This bar, plus civil penalties, makes proper licensure a precondition to collecting.Miss. Code Title 31, Ch. 3
On a Mississippi public commercial bid over $50,000, what license-related item must appear on the bid?
- a.The contractor's Certificate of Responsibility number✓
- b.The architect's Social Security number
- c.Only the contractor's logo
- d.Nothing related to licensing
Mississippi requires the Certificate of Responsibility number to appear on a covered commercial bid. A bid over the $50,000 threshold submitted without a valid certificate number can be rejected as non-responsive.Miss. Code Title 31, Ch. 3 (bid requirements)
A contractor performs a $15,000 remodel of an existing Mississippi home. Which residential credential does this implicate?
- a.No credential, because all residential work is exempt
- b.A commercial Certificate of Responsibility, because $15,000 is commercial
- c.A residential remodeler license, because remodeling above $10,000 requires it✓
- d.A fire-protection license
Under Title 73, Chapter 59, a residential remodeler license is required for remodeling work above $10,000. A $15,000 home remodel exceeds that floor, so the remodeler license applies (the residential builder license threshold, by contrast, is above $50,000).Miss. Code Title 73, Ch. 59 (remodeler)
Apart from being unable to enforce a covered contract, what does an unlicensed Mississippi commercial contractor risk?
- a.Civil penalties for contracting without the required Certificate of Responsibility✓
- b.A guaranteed contract award
- c.Automatic issuance of a license
- d.Nothing; there is no penalty
Unlicensed commercial contracting exposes the violator to civil penalties under Miss. Code Title 31, Chapter 3, in addition to the inability to sue to enforce the covered contract. The combination is a strong incentive to license before bidding.Miss. Code Title 31, Ch. 3 (penalties)
A builder contracts to construct a new Mississippi home for $220,000. Which residential credential is required?
- a.Only a residential remodeler license
- b.A residential builder license, because new residential work above $50,000 requires it✓
- c.No credential, because new homes are exempt
- d.A commercial unlimited license is the only option
Under Title 73, Chapter 59, a residential builder license is required for residential work above $50,000. A $220,000 new home far exceeds that threshold, so the residential builder license applies.Miss. Code Title 73, Ch. 59 (residential builder)
For a Mississippi contracting company, who holds the Certificate of Responsibility?
- a.The company's bank
- b.A qualifying individual who passed the exams and is responsible for the company's covered contracting✓
- c.No one; companies are automatically certified on registration
- d.Every field employee individually
The Certificate of Responsibility is held by a qualifying individual who has passed the required examinations and is responsible for the company's covered commercial contracting. The company contracts under that individual's certificate.Miss. Code Title 31, Ch. 3 (qualifying individual)
What net worth does Mississippi generally require for a major classification versus a specialty classification?
- a.About $50,000 for a major classification and about $20,000 for a specialty classification✓
- b.$10,000 for both
- c.No net worth is required
- d.$150,000 major / $75,000 specialty
Mississippi generally requires about $50,000 net worth for a major classification and about $20,000 for a specialty classification. The applicant documents this on an acceptable CPA financial statement.MSBOC financial-responsibility rules
What kind of financial statement does the MSBOC require to document net worth?
- a.A compilation-level statement more than two years old
- b.Any handwritten estimate by the owner
- c.A CPA-reviewed or audited statement dated within the prior 12 months; a compilation is not accepted✓
- d.A bank deposit slip
The MSBOC requires a financial statement that is reviewed or audited by a CPA and dated within the prior 12 months. A compilation-level statement is not accepted because it does not provide the assurance the board requires.MSBOC financial-statement rule
A candidate passes the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building exam and wants a Mississippi commercial license. What else is required on the exam side?
- a.Nothing; NASCLA alone licenses the contractor
- b.Passing the Mississippi bar examination
- c.Retaking NASCLA every year
- d.Also passing the Mississippi Business and Law examination✓
NASCLA covers only the trade/technical portion for the building or electrical scope. To be licensed by the MSBOC, the candidate must also pass the separate Mississippi Business and Law examination and meet the financial requirements.NASCLA + MSBOC Business and Law requirement
The Mississippi Business and Law examination administered by PSI is best described as:
- a.A closed-book oral interview before the board
- b.A take-home essay graded by a county clerk
- c.A hands-on field skills test only
- d.An open-book, multiple-choice exam covering Mississippi licensing law and business-management topics✓
The Mississippi Business and Law exam is an open-book, multiple-choice test administered by PSI, covering Mississippi licensing law along with estimating, contracts, finance, labor, tax, project management, risk, and safety. Open-book format rewards fast reference navigation.MSBOC / PSI examination format
Why must a Mississippi company keep a qualifying individual who holds the Certificate of Responsibility?
- a.Because the certificate replaces the need to pass any exam
- b.Because each field worker must be individually certified
- c.Because the company contracts under that individual's certificate, which authorizes its covered commercial work✓
- d.Because the certificate is only decorative
A Mississippi company performs covered commercial work under the Certificate of Responsibility held by its qualifying individual. If that person leaves, the company must have another qualified certificate holder to keep contracting on covered work.Miss. Code Title 31, Ch. 3 (Certificate of Responsibility)