Maryland License Classes

A contractor is a person, other than an employee of an owner, who performs or offers or agrees to perform a home improvement for an owner. §8-301(a) requires a contractor licence whenever a person acts as a contractor in the State. Home improvement is the addition to or alteration, conversion, improvement, modernization, remodeling, repair or replacement of a building (or part) used or designed as a residence, a structure adjacent to it, or an improvement to adjacent land — including work on individual condominium units — but NOT new-home construction, apartment buildings with four or more single-family units, or the commonly owned areas of condominiums.

A salesperson is a person who sells a home improvement — to negotiate or offer to negotiate a home improvement contract with an owner, or to seek to get a home improvement contract from an owner. §8-301(b) requires a salesperson licence or contractor licence whenever a person sells a home improvement in the State. A salesperson may be licensed to represent up to two licensed contractors.

All builders who build homes in Maryland must be registered with the Home Builder Registration Unit of the Office of the Attorney General. Construction of a new home is expressly excluded from the definition of 'home improvement' (§8-101(g)(3)(i)) and is NOT covered by an MHIC licence.

A licensed master electrician is a master electrician who is licensed by the State Board to provide electrical services — provide any service in the electrical trade, including installing, repairing, maintaining, erecting or altering electrical equipment, wiring, fixture, appliance, apparatus, raceway, conduit or system. 'Master electrician' means an individual who has the experience, knowledge and skill to provide electrical services in all aspects of the electrical trade.

A licensed journeyperson electrician provides or assists in providing electrical services while under the direction or control of a licensed master electrician and in training to become a master electrician.

A licensed apprentice electrician assists in providing electrical services while under the direction or control of a licensed master electrician and in training to become a journeyperson electrician. §6-605(b) requires at least one licensed master or journeyperson electrician at each job site.

A master natural gas fitter is licensed by the Board to provide natural gas services. The Board issues natural-gas fitter licences to qualified individuals who are non-plumbers. Pathway: a current master gas fitter licence from Baltimore County or WSSC, OR ≥ 4 years' experience plus an approved training program, OR an HVACR master/master-restricted licence with ≥ 2 years' gas-fitting experience as a journey gas fitter plus an exam.

A master plumber provides plumbing services AND natural gas services; 'master plumber' includes a master plumber gas fitter. 'Provide plumbing services' means to install, maintain, extend, alter or remove piping, a plumbing fixture, plumbing appliance, plumbing appurtenance or other plumbing apparatus within or adjacent to a building, structure or property in connection with a public or private disposal system, venting system or water supply system, and includes installing, repairing, servicing and replacing gas piping and gas utilization equipment.

A journey plumber provides plumbing services while under the direction and control of a master plumber or a holder of a limited master plumber licence. Pathway: held an apprentice licence ≥ 4 years, ≥ 7,500 hours of training under a master plumber, 32 hours of backflow-prevention device testing training, and a written exam.

An apprentice plumber assists a master plumber or a holder of a limited master plumber licence in providing plumbing services while under their direction and control and in training to become a journey plumber. An applicant must be at least 16 years old.

A limited licence is a licence issued by the Board as limited by §12-310 to provide plumbing services as a master plumber (a limited master plumber licence) or as a journey plumber (a limited journey plumber licence).

A journeyman natural gas fitter provides natural gas services while under the direction and control of a master natural gas fitter. Pathway: a current journey gas fitter licence from Baltimore County or WSSC, OR 3,750 working hours as an apprentice natural gas fitter over at least two years under a licensed master gas fitter or master plumber (with an approved training course and exam).

A certified propane gas fitter has been certified by the Board to provide propane gas services. Pathway: a current National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) certified training program for Distribution Systems Operations, OR a county/municipal gas fitter licence from a licensing program in existence before July 1, 1995, OR equivalent qualifications demonstrated to the Board. The propane gas fitter certificate applies throughout the entire State.

A master licence is a licence issued by the Board to provide heating, ventilation, air-conditioning or refrigeration services — to install, maintain, alter, remodel or repair heating systems, cooling systems, refrigeration systems, ventilation systems or hydronic systems. Pathway: ≥ 3 years of active experience as a journeyman under an HVACR master, ≥ 1,875 hours in the year before applying, master exam ≥ 70%, and a current journeyman-or-higher licence.

A master restricted licence authorises providing HVACR services in only one of the following areas: heating – forced air systems; heating – hydronic systems; ventilation; air-conditioning; or refrigeration.

A limited licence is issued exclusively to maintain or repair one or more of heating systems, cooling systems, refrigeration systems, ventilation systems or hydronic systems. Pathway: ≥ 2 years as a journeyman, ≥ 1,000 hours in the year before applying, limited-contractor exam ≥ 70%, and a current journeyman-or-higher licence.

A journeyman licence authorises providing HVACR services while under the direction and control of a licensed contractor. Pathway: ≥ 4 years as a licensed apprentice with ≥ 6,000 hours of training under a licensed HVACR contractor, journeyman exam ≥ 70%, and a current apprentice licence.

A licensed apprentice assists in providing HVACR services under the direction and control of a licensed contractor and in training to become a journeyman. Apprentices must be licensed, supervised and under the control of a licensed master or journey who is present on the jobsite, and may not perform any HVACR work alone or contract to perform such services.