No Reciprocity With Virginia

Why Virginia Licenses Don't Transfer to Maryland

Virginia and Maryland do not have reciprocal licensing agreements. Here's why:

• Different Licensing Authorities: Virginia is regulated by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), while Maryland is regulated by the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) and the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL).
• Different Exam Standards: Virginia uses its own exam developed by DPOR, while Maryland uses the PSI national exam. The content, format, and testing standards are not equivalent.
• Different Experience Requirements: Virginia and Maryland have different minimum experience requirements. Your Virginia experience may count toward Maryland, but it doesn't automatically certify you as licensed.
• Different Insurance Requirements: Maryland requires $500,000 in liability insurance coverage, with specific bonding and guaranty fund requirements. Virginia requires no general liability insurance at all for any class or specialty.
• Different Regulatory Frameworks: Each state's contractor license laws, scopes of work, and disciplinary processes are unique. Reciprocity would require both states to agree these standards are equivalent—they don't.

Virginia vs. Maryland at a Glance

Aspect	Virginia	Maryland
Licensing Authority	DPOR (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation)	MHIC (Maryland Home Improvement Commission)
Main Licenses	Class A, Class B, Class C General Contractor; HIC; CIC; RBC; H/H; Tradesman	MHIC (all trades); Master Electrician; Master HVAC/R; Master Plumber
Exam Provider	PSI (Virginia-specific exam)	PSI (national standardized exam)
Insurance Required	None required by the Board for any class or specialty	$500,000 (MHIC); additional bonding required
Reciprocity	No reciprocal agreements with Maryland	No reciprocal agreements with Virginia
License Sequence	Pre-license course → Business/Law exam (Class A/B) → DPOR application → Specialty exam	PSI documentation → Exam approval → Pass exam → Commission application

What You Must Do Instead

If you hold a Virginia contractor license and want to operate in Maryland, you have two options:

Option 1: Obtain a Maryland MHIC License

This is the most common path for contractors wanting to operate across both states. The MHIC license covers home improvement work in Maryland and is required for residential contracting.

1. Receive Exam Approval Submit documentation and the $63 exam fee to PSI proving you have at least 2+ years of documented home improvement or construction experience. PSI reviews your documentation and approves you to sit for the exam.
2. Complete Our MHIC License Exam Prep Course Take our live, in-person ONLY, instructor-led exam preparation course. This is where we prepare you to pass the PSI exam.
3. Pass the PSI Exam Take the Maryland MHIC exam through PSI. Your Virginia experience counts toward qualifying experience, but you still must pass the Maryland exam.
4. Submit Your Application to the Commission Complete the Maryland MHIC application with required documentation (business structure, financial records, background check). If all is in place, after the MHIC review, you receive your license.

Option 2: Obtain a Maryland Specialty License

If you specialize in a single trade (electrical, HVAC/R, or plumbing), you can apply for a Maryland Master-level license in that trade instead of the general MHIC. Please note that we do not provide training of any sort for the specialty trades electrical, plumbing or HVAC/R.

Key Takeaways

• Virginia and Maryland licenses are completely separate—there is no reciprocity.
• Your Virginia license is only valid in Virginia and cannot be used to perform work in Maryland.
• You must apply, qualify, and pass the Maryland exam to obtain a Maryland MHIC or specialty license.
• Your Virginia experience can count toward qualification, but you still must pass the Maryland PSI exam.
• The Maryland MHIC license is required to perform home improvement work in Maryland, regardless of your Virginia credentials.