Maryland Home Improvement Salesperson (MHIC)

Maryland Home Improvement Salesperson (MHIC) Exam: What You Need to Know in 2026

You've done the work. Now you need the license. The Maryland Home Improvement Salesperson (MHIC) exam stands between you and legally selling home improvement contracts in Maryland — and it's worth taking seriously. Pass it and you're licensed to work for any MHIC-registered contractor. Fail it and you wait 30 days to try again. This guide covers the exam format, what's tested, the books you need, and how to prep smart. Start with our free practice exam to see where you stand right now.

Exam Overview

The MHIC Salesperson exam has 35 scored questions and a 90-minute time limit. To pass, you need to answer at least 25 of those 35 questions correctly — that's 70%.

A small number of unscored experimental questions (typically 5 to 10) may appear alongside the scored items. You won't be able to tell which ones they are, but they don't count against your score or your time.

Here's the most important thing about this exam: it's open book. The only permitted references are the NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management - Maryland Home Improvement Commission, 7th Edition and the NASCLA Home Improvement Salesperson Reference Guide, Maryland, 6th Edition. A copy of Maryland Title 14, Subtitle 3 — Door-To-Door Sales Act is provided at the test site. Books can be highlighted, underlined, and tabbed with permanent tabs, but no writing in the margins and no loose papers attached. Books from other testing companies are not allowed.

PSI Services LLC administers the exam on behalf of the Maryland Home Improvement Commission. Register and schedule through the exam registration page.

Topics Covered on the MHIC Salesperson Exam

The exam covers two content areas. Spend your study time in proportion to how much each area is worth on the real exam.

Home Improvement Law — 25 of 35 Items

This is the bulk of the exam. Almost three-quarters of your score comes from here. Know it cold.

Key areas within this topic:

• Scope of the law — what counts as a "home improvement" and what's excluded
• Maryland Home Improvement Commission — its structure, authority, and how it operates
• Licensing requirements — what it takes to get a contractor or salesperson license, exemptions, and the application process
• Home Improvement Guaranty Fund — who can file a claim, eligibility rules, award limits, and how contractors can reimburse the fund
• Contract requirements — what must be in every home improvement contract and what protections consumers have

Door-to-Door Sales Act — 10 of 35 Items

This covers Maryland's specific rules for sales made at a buyer's home. Ten items may feel lighter, but you can't ignore it — that's more than a quarter of your score.

Key areas:

• What qualifies as a "door-to-door sale" under the statute
• Which transactions are exempt from the Act
• Cancellation rights — deadlines, the three-day rule, and the extended rights for buyers aged 65 and older
• What the Notice of Cancellation must contain and how it must be formatted
• What sellers must disclose and how they must identify themselves at first contact

Sample MHIC Practice Test Questions

Here are four sample questions that reflect the style and difficulty of the real exam. Work through them — but we're not going to hand you the answers. Use these to gauge your knowledge, then take the free practice exam to see how you do across a full set.

Question 1 — Door-to-Door Sales Act

A salesperson uses a fictitious cover story to gain entry to a prospective buyer's home and then solicits a sale. Under the Door-to-Door Sales Act, this conduct is classified as which of the following?

• A) An unfair or deceptive trade practice
• B) A civil breach of warranty
• C) A criminal felony under Title 14
• D) A licensing infraction only

Question 2 — Door-to-Door Sales Act

A transaction conducted and consummated entirely by telephone qualifies for an exemption from the Door-to-Door Sales Act only if which additional condition is met?

• A) The seller mails a Notice of Cancellation within 24 hours
• B) The buyer provides a written waiver of cancellation rights
• C) No other contact occurs between buyer and seller before delivery or performance
• D) The purchase price is under $100

Question 3 — Home Improvement Law

A Guaranty Fund claim must be brought within what time period after the claimant discovered or should have discovered the loss?

• A) 4 years
• B) 3 years
• C) 1 year
• D) 2 years

Question 4 — Home Improvement Law

What is the passing score required on the Maryland home improvement licensing examination for both contractor and salesperson applicants?

• A) 75%
• B) 80%
• C) 65%
• D) 70%

Know the answers? Take the free practice exam and find out.

What Types of Questions to Expect

Our MHIC salesperson exam prep covers 198 practice questions across both exam topics. Here's what each area actually tests.

Home Improvement Law — 154 practice questions

Expect scenario-based questions that put you in real situations: a contractor skips a required contract element — is it a violation? A homeowner files a Guaranty Fund claim two years after the job — is it valid? You'll need to know which types of work fall inside or outside the law's definition of "home improvement," how the Commission is structured and what authority it holds, and the specific rules around salesperson registration. Knowing the page and tab in your reference book matters as much as knowing the concept.

Door-to-Door Sales Act — 44 practice questions

These questions test the statute's definitions, exemptions, and procedural rules. You'll see questions about whether a specific transaction qualifies as a door-to-door sale, what disclosures a seller must make at first contact, when and how a buyer can cancel, and what the Notice of Cancellation must say. The age-based extension for buyers 65 and older comes up — know the rule and the deadline.

Study Materials

For MHIC salesperson exam prep, two resources are essential.

NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — Maryland Home Improvement Commission, 7th Edition

This is your primary reference — the one you bring to the test center. It's written specifically for the Maryland exam and covers the Home Improvement Law content in full. Buy it, tab it, and get to know where everything lives. The open-book format rewards speed; if you have to hunt for every answer, the clock will beat you.

Maryland Title 14, Subtitle 3 — Door-To-Door Sales Act

The test site provides this at your seat, but read it before exam day. Knowing the statute's structure — definitions, exemptions, cancellation rules — makes you faster during the exam. It's not long. Read it twice.

Also pick up the NASCLA Home Improvement Salesperson Reference Guide, Maryland, 6th Edition. It's the second permitted reference and covers Salesperson-specific content that the NASCLA Contractors Guide may not address in full detail.

Check the state licensing website and the official exam bulletin for any updates to permitted materials before your exam date.

Study Tips for the MHIC Salesperson Exam

Give yourself three to six weeks of focused prep. Here's how to use that time.

Build your tabs first. Since the exam is open book, your job is to find answers fast — not memorize everything. Tab your NASCLA guide by major topic: salesperson registration rules, required contract elements, prohibited acts, Guaranty Fund procedures, Door-to-Door Sales Act cancellation rules. Know exactly where to go.

Weight your study time by exam weight. Home Improvement Law is 25 of 35 questions. That's where most of your points come from. The Door-to-Door Sales Act is 10 questions — still worth your time, but don't let it crowd out the bigger section.

Set your practice bar at 80%, not 70%. The real cut score is 25 of 35 (70%), but if you're consistently hitting 80% or higher on practice, you have a margin on test day. Run three clean passes at that level before you schedule.

Manage the clock on test day. Go through all 35 questions once. Answer what you know, flag what you don't. Then come back. Don't burn five minutes on one question when there are easy points waiting later. Our full practice exam mirrors the real format — same question count, same time limit — so you can practice this approach before it counts.

If anxiety hits mid-exam, stop. Take a few slow breaths. Then move on. It works.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the MHIC Salesperson exam cost?
The registration fee is $63. It's non-refundable and non-transferable, and it's valid for one year from the date of payment. If you need to retake the exam, you pay $63 again each time.

How many questions are on the exam and how long do I have?
The Salesperson exam has 35 scored items and a 90-minute time limit. A small number of unscored experimental questions (5 to 10) may also appear; the time you spend on those does not count against your exam clock.

What is the passing score?
You need to answer at least 25 of 35 questions correctly (70%). Exam results are valid for two years.

What topics are tested?
Two areas: Home Improvement Law (25 items) and the Door-to-Door Sales Act (10 items). Note that the Contractor exam adds Labor Laws, Safety Regulations, and Estimating — the Salesperson exam does not include those.

Is it open book? What can I bring?
Yes, open book. Permitted references: the NASCLA Contractors Guide (7th Ed.) and the NASCLA Home Improvement Salesperson Reference Guide (6th Ed.). The Door-to-Door Sales Act is provided at the test site. Books may be tabbed, highlighted, and underlined — no writing in them, no loose papers. Books from other testing companies are not allowed.

How do I register?
Apply online at test-takers.psiexams.com/mdhi and upload your required documentation. Paper, fax, and email applications are no longer accepted. Allow about a week for processing. Once approved, you'll get an email with instructions to pay and schedule — available online 24/7 or by phone at (855) 898-0715.

What's the retake policy if I fail?
After a failed attempt, you wait 30 days before you can retake. After that, each subsequent retake requires a 60-day wait. Pay the $63 fee again each time.

Can I reschedule or cancel my appointment?
Yes — without losing your fee — if PSI receives your cancellation at least 2 days before your scheduled exam date. Miss that window and the fee is forfeited.

What ID do I need?
One valid, non-expired, photo ID: a state driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, or U.S. military ID. The name must match exactly what you registered under.

Who administers the exam?
PSI Services LLC, on behalf of the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (Department of Labor). Licensing questions: call the Commission at (410) 230-6231. Exam questions: call PSI at (855) 898-0715.

Ready to Get Licensed?

The MHIC Salesperson exam is 35 questions, 90 minutes, open book. It's passable with solid prep — but you need to put in the work. Get your NASCLA Contractors Guide, tab it thoroughly, read the Door-to-Door Sales Act before test day, and practice finding answers fast.

Start now with our free practice exam — 10 questions, no account needed, no cost. See where your gaps are, then move to the full practice exam to drill every topic at real-exam depth. You've got this.