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Minnesota Contractor Business & Law — Requirements & Free Practice

US-MN · License preparation

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Licenses, application pathways and examination requirements

Each license and applicant pathway has its own requirements and exemptions. Choosing practice questions does not determine your eligibility.

Residential Building Contractor License

Business license for residential construction and remodeling. The designated qualifying person fulfills examination and education requirements.

Licensing authority: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry · Application information

Licensure after business structure change
Minnesota Qualifying Builder (QB) Exam
Application
Submit the prescribed signed application and applicable fees; disclose business ownership, qualifying person, physical business address, business and licensing history, criminal convictions, judgments, administrative actions, bankruptcy, and other requested background information under 326B.83 subdivisions 1-2.
Business Filing
Maintain the applicable active Secretary of State business/assumed-name filing and use the same legal business name on the application and insurance documents.
Education And Experience
DLI states no prerequisite education or experience is required to take this examination.
Exam Passing And Registration
The qualifying person must pass the applicable DLI prelicensing exam. A Q registration tracks continuing education and is not a separate business license.
Liability Insurance
Maintain commercial general liability insurance under 326B.86 subdivision 2: at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate bodily injury plus $25,000 property damage, or $300,000 combined per occurrence and aggregate. File a certificate from an authorized insurer.
New Business Entity
A change in the legal business structure requires a new-license application for the new entity; designate a qualified person who has fulfilled the exam requirement. A previous passing result remains a reference to the currently offered exam.
Nonresident Applicant
Nonresidents may be licensed under 326B.83 subdivision 6 on compliance with the Minnesota requirements. An out-of-jurisdiction license alone does not replace the Minnesota examination; the general-retailer exception and installer waiver have separate conditions.
Qualifying Person
Designate a qualifying person under 326B.805 subdivision 4. A managing employee must be regularly employed and actively engaged in the licensed business. The permitted position depends on the business structure; common qualifying persons for corporations/LLCs require at least 25 percent common ownership.
Recovery Fund
Pay the applicable license and Contractor Recovery Fund assessment for the business.
Workers Compensation
Provide evidence of workers' compensation insurance compliance, including an applicable exemption, and employment-insurance information.
New licensure after expiration exceeding two years
Minnesota Qualifying Builder (QB) Exam
Application
Submit the prescribed signed application and applicable fees; disclose business ownership, qualifying person, physical business address, business and licensing history, criminal convictions, judgments, administrative actions, bankruptcy, and other requested background information under 326B.83 subdivisions 1-2.
Business Filing
Maintain the applicable active Secretary of State business/assumed-name filing and use the same legal business name on the application and insurance documents.
Education And Experience
DLI states no prerequisite education or experience is required to take this examination.
Exam Passing And Registration
The qualifying person must pass the applicable DLI prelicensing exam. A Q registration tracks continuing education and is not a separate business license.
Expired License
More than two years after business-license expiration, apply for a new license under 326B.094 subdivision 2.
Liability Insurance
Maintain commercial general liability insurance under 326B.86 subdivision 2: at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate bodily injury plus $25,000 property damage, or $300,000 combined per occurrence and aggregate. File a certificate from an authorized insurer.
Nonresident Applicant
Nonresidents may be licensed under 326B.83 subdivision 6 on compliance with the Minnesota requirements. An out-of-jurisdiction license alone does not replace the Minnesota examination; the general-retailer exception and installer waiver have separate conditions.
Qualifying Person
Designate a qualifying person under 326B.805 subdivision 4. A managing employee must be regularly employed and actively engaged in the licensed business. The permitted position depends on the business structure; common qualifying persons for corporations/LLCs require at least 25 percent common ownership.
Qualifying Person Retest
DLI reinstatement instructions require the qualifying person to retake the license exam when the Q registration has been inactive for more than two years; a currently qualified person may supply prior passage.
Recovery Fund
Pay the applicable license and Contractor Recovery Fund assessment for the business.
Workers Compensation
Provide evidence of workers' compensation insurance compliance, including an applicable exemption, and employment-insurance information.
General retailer examination exemption
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Applicant Class
A general retailer whose primary business is not residential building contracting, remodeling, roofing or manufactured home installation.
Other Jurisdiction Examination
Must have completed another state's license examination meeting or exceeding Minnesota's examination requirements. That other state's examination is applicant evidence, not a Minnesota examination leaf.
Remaining Requirements
Submit the application, disclosures, applicable business filings, fees, insurance and any bond; comply with other applicable licensing requirements.
Statutory Exemption
326B.83 subdivision 4 exempts this class from subdivision 3 and 326B.0981, 326B.099, 326B.821 and 326B.825.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial licensure by examination
Minnesota Qualifying Builder (QB) Exam
Application
Submit the prescribed signed application and applicable fees; disclose business ownership, qualifying person, physical business address, business and licensing history, criminal convictions, judgments, administrative actions, bankruptcy, and other requested background information under 326B.83 subdivisions 1-2.
Business Filing
Maintain the applicable active Secretary of State business/assumed-name filing and use the same legal business name on the application and insurance documents.
Education And Experience
DLI states no prerequisite education or experience is required to take this examination.
Exam Passing And Registration
The qualifying person must pass the applicable DLI prelicensing exam. A Q registration tracks continuing education and is not a separate business license.
Liability Insurance
Maintain commercial general liability insurance under 326B.86 subdivision 2: at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate bodily injury plus $25,000 property damage, or $300,000 combined per occurrence and aggregate. File a certificate from an authorized insurer.
Nonresident Applicant
Nonresidents may be licensed under 326B.83 subdivision 6 on compliance with the Minnesota requirements. An out-of-jurisdiction license alone does not replace the Minnesota examination; the general-retailer exception and installer waiver have separate conditions.
Qualifying Person
Designate a qualifying person under 326B.805 subdivision 4. A managing employee must be regularly employed and actively engaged in the licensed business. The permitted position depends on the business structure; common qualifying persons for corporations/LLCs require at least 25 percent common ownership.
Recovery Fund
Pay the applicable license and Contractor Recovery Fund assessment for the business.
Workers Compensation
Provide evidence of workers' compensation insurance compliance, including an applicable exemption, and employment-insurance information.
Expired license renewal within two years
Minnesota Qualifying Builder (QB) Exam
Business And Insurance
Maintain the active business filing, required liability and workers' compensation compliance, designated-qualifying-person form, disclosures and applicable renewal fee; maintain any required bond.
Continuing Education
Qualifying person must complete 14 hours of approved continuing education per two-year period. DLI requires at least one hour concerning energy and at least one hour concerning business management.
Exam History
The required designation form attests: This is to verify that I am the designated qualifying person for the contractor named above pursuant to M.S. § 326B.805 and, as such, I have fulfilled the examination requirements; and shall fulfill the continuing education requirements on behalf of the licensed contractor; and shall notify the department 15 days in advance of resigning as the qualifying person with said contractor or immediately upon termination by the contractor.
Existing License
Renew an existing business license with a designated qualifying person who has fulfilled the applicable examination requirements; a currently offered exam already passed remains referenced. This route does not generally require a new sitting.
Expired License
Apply no later than two years after expiration under 326B.094 subdivision 2; pay outstanding applicable renewal fees and the late fee. Work is prohibited while the license is expired.
License Period
Two-year business license renewal period.
Reinstatement after revocation under another chapter
Minnesota Qualifying Builder (QB) Exam
Application Deadline
Apply within two years after the effective date of revocation and pay the $50 reinstatement fee and any applicable renewal fee.
Examination Exception
Meet applicable licensing requirements; unless the revocation order requires it, no examination retake is necessary and a previously paid license fee is not repaid. The specified Minnesota exam is retained as the identified examination that the order may require.
Revocation Authority
The licence was revoked under a chapter other than Chapter 326B.
Continued licensure after qualifying person replacement
Minnesota Qualifying Builder (QB) Exam
Qualifying Person Departure
Notify DLI within 15 business days of departure/disqualification and obtain a new qualifying person within 120 days under 326B.825; failure results in automatic license termination.
Replacement Requirements
Submit a qualifying-person designation/change packet and required disclosures. The new qualifying person must fulfill the examination requirements and the applicable education requirements; prior passage may satisfy the examination requirement.
License renewal
Minnesota Qualifying Builder (QB) Exam
Business And Insurance
Maintain the active business filing, required liability and workers' compensation compliance, designated-qualifying-person form, disclosures and applicable renewal fee; maintain any required bond.
Continuing Education
Qualifying person must complete 14 hours of approved continuing education per two-year period. DLI requires at least one hour concerning energy and at least one hour concerning business management.
Exam History
The required designation form attests: This is to verify that I am the designated qualifying person for the contractor named above pursuant to M.S. § 326B.805 and, as such, I have fulfilled the examination requirements; and shall fulfill the continuing education requirements on behalf of the licensed contractor; and shall notify the department 15 days in advance of resigning as the qualifying person with said contractor or immediately upon termination by the contractor.
Existing License
Renew an existing business license with a designated qualifying person who has fulfilled the applicable examination requirements; a currently offered exam already passed remains referenced. This route does not generally require a new sitting.
License Period
Two-year business license renewal period.
Reinstatement after chapter 326b revocation
Minnesota Qualifying Builder (QB) Exam
Initial Requirements
Meet all initial-license requirements, including the application, examination and license fees. Minnesota licensure without examination based on reciprocity is unavailable for this reinstatement.
Revoked License
For a Chapter 326B revocation where initial licensing requires a commissioner-administered exam, 326B.096 subdivision 1(a) requires retaking it and achieving a passing score.
Voluntary licensure for single skill specialty contractor
Minnesota Qualifying Builder (QB) Exam
Applicant Class
A specialty contractor providing one special skill may obtain a residential building contractor or residential remodeler license under 326B.805 subdivision 2. Fulfill the exam requirement of the license chosen.
Application
Submit the prescribed signed application and applicable fees; disclose business ownership, qualifying person, physical business address, business and licensing history, criminal convictions, judgments, administrative actions, bankruptcy, and other requested background information under 326B.83 subdivisions 1-2.
Business Filing
Maintain the applicable active Secretary of State business/assumed-name filing and use the same legal business name on the application and insurance documents.
Education And Experience
DLI states no prerequisite education or experience is required to take this examination.
Exam Passing And Registration
The qualifying person must pass the applicable DLI prelicensing exam. A Q registration tracks continuing education and is not a separate business license.
Liability Insurance
Maintain commercial general liability insurance under 326B.86 subdivision 2: at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate bodily injury plus $25,000 property damage, or $300,000 combined per occurrence and aggregate. File a certificate from an authorized insurer.
Nonresident Applicant
Nonresidents may be licensed under 326B.83 subdivision 6 on compliance with the Minnesota requirements. An out-of-jurisdiction license alone does not replace the Minnesota examination; the general-retailer exception and installer waiver have separate conditions.
Qualifying Person
Designate a qualifying person under 326B.805 subdivision 4. A managing employee must be regularly employed and actively engaged in the licensed business. The permitted position depends on the business structure; common qualifying persons for corporations/LLCs require at least 25 percent common ownership.
Recovery Fund
Pay the applicable license and Contractor Recovery Fund assessment for the business.
Workers Compensation
Provide evidence of workers' compensation insurance compliance, including an applicable exemption, and employment-insurance information.
Reinstatement after suspension
Minnesota Qualifying Builder (QB) Exam
Application Deadline
Apply within two years after completion of the suspension period and pay the $50 reinstatement application fee and applicable renewal fee.
Examination Exception
Meet applicable licensing requirements; unless the suspension order requires it, no examination retake is necessary and a previously paid license fee is not repaid. The identified examination remains a leaf because the order may require it.
Reinstatement after voluntary termination
Minnesota Qualifying Builder (QB) Exam
Applicant Class
A licensee that is not an individual and voluntarily terminated its Chapter 326B license.
Application Deadline
Apply before the date the license would have expired absent termination and pay the $25 reinstatement application fee and applicable renewal fee.
Examination History
Meet all applicable licensing requirements, including the qualifying person's fulfillment of the identified examination requirement; a previously paid license fee need not be repaid.

Minnesota Qualifying Builder (QB) Exam

Provider
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
Format
Multiple choice
Exam questions
110
Time limit
5.5 hours
Passing score
70 percent correct
Practice scope

The authority has not published an examination outline; the practice questions follow the scope of the existing question bank.

  • Plans and Specifications
    • Basic Plan Information
  • Energy
    • Interior Air Barrier
    • Wind Wash Barrier
    • Vapor Retarder
    • Insulation
    • Fenestration Openings
    • Mechanical and Passive Ventilation
  • Building Planning and Life Safety
    • Means of Egress
    • Stairways
    • Smoke Alarms
    • Required Exit Door
    • Wall Between House and Garage
    • Safety Glazing
    • Natural Light and Ventilation
    • Minimum Ceiling Heights
    • Replacement Windows
  • Sitework
    • Soils
    • Surveys
    • Excavation and Gopher State One Call
    • Filling and Soil Correction
    • Erosion Control
    • Backfill
    • Frost Protection
  • Footings and Foundations
    • Concrete Admixtures
    • Concrete Specification
    • Concrete Air Entrainment
    • Concrete Curing
    • Foundation Wall Design
    • Vertical Reinforcement and Anchors
    • Minimum Size Footings
    • Dampproofing and Waterproofing
    • Slab-on-grade
  • Carpentry
    • Protection Against Decay
    • Engineered Floor Systems
    • Conventional Floor Systems
    • Wall Framing
    • Engineered Roof Framing
    • Conventional Roof Framing
    • Stairs
    • Decks and Balconies
    • Chimneys and Chases
    • Structural Load Path
    • Wood Foundations
  • Roofing
    • Underlayment and Ice Barrier
    • Rolled Roofing
    • Asphalt Shingles
    • Wood Shingles and Shakes
    • Flashing
    • Roof Ventilation
  • Exterior Finishes
    • House Wraps
    • Flashing
    • Vertical Siding
    • Wood Siding
    • Aluminum and Vinyl Siding
    • Hardboard Siding
    • Wood Shakes and Shingles
    • Stucco
    • Brick Veneer
  • Foam Plastic
    • Flame Spread
    • Thermal Protection
  • Interior Finishes
    • Drywall
  • Associated Trades
    • Electrical
    • Plumbing
    • Energy
  • Safety
    • Lead
  • Fraudulent, Deceptive, or Dishonest Practices
    • License and Advertising Misrepresentation
    • Contract Misrepresentation
    • Permits and Inspections
    • Diversion of Funds
  • Residential Insurance Claims
    • Deductibles and Inducements
    • Estimates and Policy Advice
    • Post-loss Assignment and Cancellation
  • Construction Worker Classification
    • Written Contract
    • Entity, Invoices, and Payment
    • Control, Expenses, and Profit or Loss
    • Misclassification Penalties
  • Construction Contractor Registration
    • Registration Requirement
    • Registration Exemptions
  • CCLD Enforcement
    • Administrative Orders
    • Penalties and Correction
    • Subpoenas and Investigations
  • Licensing and Regulation
    • Definition and Scope
    • License Exemptions
    • Qualifying Person
    • Application and Disclosure
    • Examination Content
    • Grounds for Sanctions
    • Liability Insurance
    • License Number and Advertising
  • Statutory Warranties
    • One-, Two-, and Ten-year Periods
    • Notice and Inspection
    • Repair Offer
    • Exclusions and Modification
  • Assumed Names
    • Filing and Publication
    • Renewal and Amendment
  • Mechanic's Liens and Payment
    • Contractor Pre-lien Notice
    • Subcontractor Notice
    • Lien Statement
    • Attachment and Priority
    • Enforcement Deadline
Examination sources