Contractor License from Alabama to Mississippi: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) ↗
Yes — Mississippi has a reciprocity arrangement covering Alabama license holders. Apply to the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) under its reciprocity/endorsement track; typically you skip the national exam and complete state-specific requirements only.
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Verdict
Reciprocity agreement
Mississippi has a trade agreement covering Alabama — but read it at the trade-and-class level before celebrating. The agreement waives Mississippi's exam for the specific trade and class named in the table below; your other licenses may not be covered. What survives for every applicant: Mississippi's business and law exam, financial statement, bond, and registration. Confirm your exact trade and class against the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) listing.
What changes, Alabama → Mississippi
| Alabama (current) | Mississippi (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $220–$315 (Fees are per-board, not additive: General Contractors prime application $300; Electrical reciprocal license $315 (eff. 2/14/2026); HVAC reciprocity $220 (plus $20,000 bond); Home Builders and plumbing fees separate.) | Application/reciprocity fees are published in the MSBOC Schedule of Fees on the Forms page; not captured here to avoid an unverified figure. |
| Processing time | ~4 weeks (GC reciprocity applications must be on file 30 days before a quarterly board meeting, so timing depends on the meeting calendar; other boards do not publish a processing range.) | Board does not publish a fixed processing time; varies by application review cycle. |
| Licensing authority | Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors (plus separate Home Builders Licensure Board, Board of Electrical Contractors, HACR Board, and Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board) | Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Mississippi sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Mississippi's current requirements on the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the reciprocity application to the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Pass the Mississippi Business and Law examination (required of all applicants).
- Hold a current, active license in good standing in the reciprocal state.
- Have taken the qualifying trade examination in the reciprocal state.
- Meet the reciprocal state disciplinary-history clearance (1 to 5 years, varies by state).
- Submit the MSBOC Reciprocity Verification Form.
- Pay the fees (Application/reciprocity fees are published in the MSBOC Schedule of Fees on the Forms page; not captured here to avoid an unverified figure.) and allow Board does not publish a fixed processing time; varies by application review cycle..
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Mississippi accept a Alabama contractor license?
Yes — Mississippi has a reciprocity arrangement covering Alabama license holders. Apply to the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) under its reciprocity/endorsement track; typically you skip the national exam and complete state-specific requirements only.
What still applies even if reciprocity covers my trade?
Mississippi's business and law exam, financial statement, bond, and registration — reciprocity waives the trade exam only, not these.
What does the Alabama-to-Mississippi move cost and how long does it take?
Application/reciprocity fees are published in the MSBOC Schedule of Fees on the Forms page; not captured here to avoid an unverified figure.; processing Board does not publish a fixed processing time; varies by application review cycle..
Would the NASCLA exam help for this move?
If you do commercial general-building work, possibly — about 15 states accept the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building exam toward licensure. Check whether Mississippi is one on the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) site.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- MSBOC - Reciprocity ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- MSBOC - Classifications ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors — Reciprocity (AR, LA, MS, NC, TN; trade exam waived, business-law not waived; 30 days on file) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board — Does the Board reciprocate? (TN, SC, MS, LA, NC; 3 years; skills exam waived, business-law not) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors — Forms and Testing (reciprocal states MS, LA, TN, NC, VA, SC, TX + NASCLA; $315 fee eff. 2/14/2026) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Alabama HACR Board — How to Get Licensed (reciprocal states; $220 fee; $20,000 bond; letter of good standing) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board — Reciprocation (Mississippi master plumber eff. 1/1/2026; Louisiana LP gas) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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