Maryland requires a state exam for this license, and passvana has a practice track for it: Maryland Home Improvement Contractor Exam. Here is what the exam looks like, from the official candidate bulletin and the state's own rules.
Maryland Home Improvement Contractor Exam
- The exam: The Contractor examination of the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (Department of Labor), given by PSI Services LLC. Every applicant for a home improvement contractor license takes it; salespersons take a separate shorter exam. (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (10/10/2025), Examination Content Outlines)
- Questions: 55 items. (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (10/10/2025), Examination Content Outlines)
- Passing score: 39 correct, which is at least 70%. (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (10/10/2025), Examination Content Outlines; COMAR 09.08.01.16C)
- Time: 150 minutes. (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (10/10/2025), Examination Content Outlines)
- Open book: Yes. Only listed references are allowed in the room; they may be highlighted, underlined or indexed but must be otherwise unmarked, with no loose or attached papers. Tabs must be permanent plastic or adhesive; Post-It flags are not acceptable, and removable tabs must be taken off before the exam. (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (10/10/2025), Examination Materials)
- Fee: $63 for examination registration. Fees are not refundable or transferable and are valid for one year from the date of payment. (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (10/10/2025), Scheduling Procedures)
- Retakes: After a failure, 30 days before you may retest; each later retest requires a 60-day wait. (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (10/10/2025), Scheduling Procedures)
How to pass on your first try
- Learn the deadlines and dollar figures exactly. Lien notice deadlines, licensing thresholds and contract rules are tested as numbers, and a near miss is a wrong answer.
- Check whether your exam is open book. The format above says. If it is, tab your approved references so you can find a rule quickly instead of reading for it.
- Practice any math the outline lists. Estimating, payroll and financial questions give you the figures and expect a worked answer.
- Take full timed mock exams before test day, so the length and pace of the real exam hold no surprises.
Free practice questions
The track page has free sample questions and a topic breakdown matched to the official outline: Maryland Home Improvement Contractor Exam. The Resources tab also has quick-reference tables built from checked facts; see what is in the Maryland Home Improvement Contractor Key Facts Digest.