Transfer Your Contractor License to Massachusetts: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
No — Massachusetts has no general contractor reciprocity or endorsement path: general contractors apply to the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards as new applicants. The Construction Supervisor License (CSL, general building) and Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration offer no reciprocity — the Massachusetts CSL exam is required. The Board of State Examiners of Electricians has a single reciprocity agreement (New Hampshire only), which accepts NH exam-obtained journeyman and master licenses without re-examination. Its electrical licenses are separate and do have reciprocity, with states including New Hampshire — select your trade in the checker.
Moving to Massachusetts from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
Full re-application required
The honest framing for a general contractor moving to Massachusetts: budget for a new application, not a transfer. Massachusetts recognizes no other state's general contractor license, by agreement or by endorsement, so pull the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards's current requirements early, book its exams, and line up any required education, bond and insurance before you need to bid. Trade licenses are a separate question with their own terms: read them one trade at a time and check yours in the checker.
Electrical NH-only reciprocity and fees fully verified from the official mass.gov pages (retrieved via Internet Archive snapshot dated Jan 2026, because mass.gov blocks automated access). The general-contractor-equivalent CSL and the HIC registration have NO reciprocity (MA exam required) per established board practice; the live CSL page was not reachable and is flagged. No contractor compact.
Massachusetts requirements at a glance
| Exam | The Construction Supervisor License (CSL, general building) and Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration offer no reciprocity — the Massachusetts CSL exam is required. The Board of State Examiners of Electricians has a single reciprocity agreement (New Hampshire only), which accepts NH exam-obtained journeyman and master licenses without re-examination. |
|---|---|
| Additional requirements |
|
| Fees | $208–$310 (Electrician reciprocity fee (237 CMR 15.02, non-refundable): Journeyman $208, Master $310.) |
| Processing time | Not stated by the board |
Step by step
- Review Massachusetts's initial-licensure requirements for general contractors on the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards website: there is no reciprocity or endorsement path for an out-of-state general contractor license.
- Expect to meet Massachusetts's education/experience requirements and pass its exams as a new applicant — prior out-of-state licensure can count toward experience.
- Submit the standard (new applicant) application to the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards with the fees it sets for general contractors.
- Electrical licensing in Massachusetts runs separately, on its own terms: use the checker with your trade selected.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Massachusetts:
Nearby states
Contractor license transfer into the states bordering Massachusetts:
Massachusetts for other professions
- Nursing in Massachusetts
- Cosmetology / Barber in Massachusetts
- Real Estate in Massachusetts
- Teaching in Massachusetts
- CPA / Accounting in Massachusetts
- Electrician in Massachusetts
- Plumber in Massachusetts
- Engineering in Massachusetts
- Pharmacy in Massachusetts
- Physical Therapy in Massachusetts
- Psychology in Massachusetts
- Counseling in Massachusetts
- Social Work in Massachusetts
- Occupational Therapy in Massachusetts
Frequently asked questions
Does my contractor license transfer to Massachusetts?
No — Massachusetts has no general contractor reciprocity or endorsement path: general contractors apply to the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards as new applicants. The Construction Supervisor License (CSL, general building) and Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration offer no reciprocity — the Massachusetts CSL exam is required. The Board of State Examiners of Electricians has a single reciprocity agreement (New Hampshire only), which accepts NH exam-obtained journeyman and master licenses without re-examination. Its electrical licenses are separate and do have reciprocity, with states including New Hampshire — select your trade in the checker.
Which states does Massachusetts have electrical contractor reciprocity with?
New Hampshire (verified 2026-07-21 against the Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians (Division of Occupational Licensure)). 237 CMR 15.00 — Board agreement with New Hampshire ONLY; journeyman and master licenses accepted only if obtained by exam in NH.
Does reciprocity waive all of Massachusetts's requirements?
No. Massachusetts has no general contractor reciprocity, so a general contractor completes every requirement as a new applicant; any trade agreement it has waives that trade's exam only, not the business/law exam, bond, or insurance.
What does a Massachusetts contractor license cost and how long does it take?
The figures on file for Massachusetts may cover its trade licenses rather than a general contractor application, so confirm the general contractor fee with the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards: $208–$310 (Electrician reciprocity fee (237 CMR 15.02, non-refundable): Journeyman $208, Master $310.) Processing time: Not stated by the board.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- MA Board of State Examiners of Electricians — Apply for reciprocity (out-of-state) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- MA Board of State Examiners of Electricians — Licensing ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]