Browse Michigan Contractor Classifications
Exam prep for the Michigan LARA — Bureau of Construction Codes.
Michigan Maintenance and Alteration Contractor Exam Prep
Choose your access term:
Choose Plan & EnrollGetting your Michigan contractor license? Contractor Pathway offers an original, exam-focused study guide and four full-length practice exams for every Michigan classification that requires a state board exam — currently 6 courses across Electrical, Plumbing and Building / General Contractor. Choose your classification below and study with 30-, 60-, or 90-day access at $99, $129, and $169.
Who licenses contractors in Michigan
These are the Michigan classifications we build exam prep for, each licensed by its responsible board:
| Trade area | Licensing authority | Exam basis |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical | Michigan Electrical Administrative Board | National Electrical Code (NEC) |
| Plumbing | Michigan Plumbing Board | Adopted plumbing & fuel-gas codes |
| Building / General Contractor | Michigan Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs | Adopted building code (IBC / IRC) |
Always confirm the current code edition, experience requirements, fees, and passing score with the board and testing vendor before you schedule. Contractor Pathway is an independent exam-prep provider and is not affiliated with any Michigan board or testing vendor.
How to get licensed in Michigan
- Meet the experience requirement. Each classification requires documented on-the-job hours (and, for senior licenses, time as a licensed journeyman). A registered apprenticeship is a common path.
- Apply to the board for your trade, submit fees and proof of experience, and get approved to test.
- Pass the exam. Michigan trade exams are typically open book against the adopted code, with a passing score commonly around 70%. Speed at finding and applying the right code section is what separates passers from re-testers.
- Hold and renew the license on its cycle, including any continuing-education and code-update hours.
Choose your Michigan classification
Each course includes a comprehensive 5,000-plus-word study guide — worked calculations, code-section breakdowns, common exam traps, a glossary, and a 30/60/90-day study plan — plus four full-length practice exams matched to the topic weightings of the Michigan test.
Michigan contractor licensing — FAQ
Who licenses contractors in Michigan?
The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). The most common credentials are the Residential Builder license and the Maintenance & Alteration Contractor license.
What does Michigan require to get licensed?
A 60-hour LARA-approved pre-license education course (covering construction law, business practices, estimating, and building codes), followed by a PSI-proctored exam. The course must include at least six hours in several required subject areas.
Tell me about the Michigan builder exam.
The Residential Builder exam has two parts – Business and Law and Practice/Trade – totaling 160 questions. You must answer 116 of the 160 correctly to pass, and PSI proctors the exam.
What is covered on the Michigan exam?
Construction laws and business management on the law side, and codes, estimating, job costing, and building practices on the trade side. Our study guide is organized around those LARA topic areas.
How long should I study for the Michigan exam?
Most candidates do well on a 30-, 60-, or 90-day plan depending on experience, which is why we offer access at all three terms ($99 / $129 / $169). Each guide includes a day-by-day study plan.