1.1 Exam Facts & Format at a Glance
Key Takeaways
- Massachusetts does not issue a 'general contractor license' — the official credential is the Construction Supervisor License (CSL), regulated by the Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS).
- PSI administers the exam: 75 questions/4 hours (240 minutes) for the Unrestricted CSL, 60 questions/4 hours (240 minutes) for the Restricted (One- and Two-Family) CSL, and 30-50 questions/2-3 hours for Specialty CSL exams — all requiring a 70% passing score.
- The exam is open book — candidates must bring their own copies of the 2021 IBC, 2021 IRC, 780 CMR, 521 CMR, 225 CMR, 2021 IECC, and OSHA 1926.
- PSI may add 4-7 unscored experimental questions that look identical to scored questions on screen.
- Sitting for the exam costs $75 for Unrestricted/Restricted or $65 for Specialty (paid to PSI), plus a $23 application fee; the initial BBRS/DOL license fee of $150 is a separate payment made after passing.
The Construction Supervisor License (CSL) Exam: What You're Actually Taking
Why This Matters
If you searched for the "Massachusetts general contractor exam," you found this guide because that's the common name people use — but the test you are actually registering for is the Construction Supervisor License (CSL) exam. Massachusetts does not issue a document titled "general contractor license." Every fact in this chapter refers to the CSL, administered under the authority of the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS), which sits within the Division of Occupational Licensure inside the Office of Public Safety and Inspections. (Section 1.2 unpacks the naming issue in full detail — for now, just remember: CSL is the actual credential, and "general contractor" is colloquial shorthand for it.)
Who Delivers the Exam
BBRS does not proctor the exam itself. It contracts with PSI, a third-party testing vendor, to deliver the exam at test centers across Massachusetts. Candidates schedule through PSI's own candidate portal (test-takers.psiexams.com/macon) and pay a $75 exam fee for the Unrestricted or Restricted CSL exam (or $65 for a Specialty exam) directly to PSI, plus a separate $23 application fee — separate from any license application fee paid later to BBRS.
Exam Format: Two Different Tests
The number of questions and structure depend on which CSL category you're testing for (categories are covered fully in Section 1.3):
| Exam Type | Questions | Time Limit | Passing Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted CSL | 75 questions | 4 hours (240 minutes) | 70% |
| Restricted (One- and Two-Family) CSL | 60 questions | 4 hours (240 minutes) | 70% |
| Specialty CSL (varies by trade) | 30-50 questions | 2-3 hours (120-180 minutes) | 70% |
Exam Note: PSI may embed 4 to 7 additional unscored (experimental) questions into either exam alongside the scored questions. These pretest items are indistinguishable from scored questions on screen — you cannot identify or skip them, so treat every question on the exam as if it counts toward your score.
The Open-Book Format Is the Single Most Important Fact About This Exam
Unlike most professional licensing exams, the CSL exam is open book. You are expected to bring your own physical copies of the reference materials to the test center and use them during the exam. This changes what "studying" means for this test:
- The exam is not primarily a memorization test. It is a test of whether you can locate the correct code section, table, or requirement quickly enough to answer 75 questions in 4 hours (240 minutes) — roughly 3.2 minutes per question, and less once you subtract the time spent physically flipping pages.
- Candidates who show up without well-organized, tabbed reference books, or who have never practiced navigating them under time pressure, routinely run out of time even when they genuinely know the underlying material.
- Bringing the books is entirely your responsibility. PSI does not supply reference materials at the test center, and you cannot use a phone, tablet, or laptop as a substitute.
Reference Materials You Must Bring
| Reference | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| 2021 International Building Code (IBC) | Base commercial/general building code |
| 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) | Base code for 1- and 2-family dwellings |
| 780 CMR (10th edition, effective October 11, 2024) | Massachusetts's state amendments to the IBC/IRC |
| 521 CMR | Architectural Access Board regulations (accessibility) |
| 225 CMR | Massachusetts energy code |
| 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) | Base energy code referenced by 225 CMR |
| OSHA 1926 | Federal construction safety standards |
Key Point: 780 CMR is not a replacement for the IBC/IRC — it is an amendment layer on top of them. Many exam questions are written specifically to test whether you know when the Massachusetts amendment overrides the base IBC/IRC language, so you need both books side by side, not just one or the other.
What the Exam Tests
BBRS does not publish percentage weightings for each content area — treat any prep resource that claims specific official domain percentages with skepticism. The tested content domains are:
- Administrative Responsibilities
- Plan Reading and Estimating
- General Building Construction Knowledge
- Energy Efficiency
- Accessibility
- Sitework and Foundations
- Concrete and Masonry
- Moisture Intrusion/Protection
- Structural Framing (Steel and Wood)
- Roofing/Exterior Walls
- Associated Trades (including interior and exterior finishes, and windows & doors)
- Interior Environment (Mechanical and Ventilation)
- Fire Protection
- Safety (OSHA)
Fees at a Glance
| Fee | Amount | Paid To |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee | $75 (Unrestricted/Restricted) or $65 (Specialty) | PSI (exam day) |
| Application fee | $23 | PSI |
| Initial license application | $150 | BBRS |
| Each additional Specialty category | +$100 | BBRS |
| License renewal (every 2 years) | $100 | BBRS |
| Late renewal (up to 2-year grace period) | +$100 | BBRS |
Section 1.4 walks through how these fees fit into the full application timeline, start to finish. For now, the numbers to memorize are simple: $75 to sit for the Unrestricted or Restricted exam ($65 for Specialty), plus a $23 application fee, 70% to pass it, and open book the entire way.
How many questions are on the Unrestricted CSL exam administered by PSI?
Which organization actually delivers (proctors) the CSL exam at Massachusetts test centers?
What is the defining format feature of the CSL exam that most distinguishes it from typical licensing exams?
What passing score is required on the Unrestricted, Restricted, and Specialty CSL exams?