• 78 questions

Mississippi Business and Law Practice Test

Mississippi contractor law only: each answer shows the Code section or board rule it was written from.

How many members does the State Board of Contractors have?

Pick an answer, then press Check answer. Then you see Correct or Not quite, with the reason. Keys: A to D pick, Enter checks.

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Exam mode: 50 questions, 120 minutes, 35 right to pass (70%).

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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. Bank checked October 15, 2026.

What the candidate bulletin says about the exam

Questions
50
To pass
35 of 50 right (70%)
Time limit
120 minutes
Fee
$120
Format
Open book, on a computer at a test center. One to ten unscored experimental questions may be added, and they count against the time.
Who takes it
Every applicant for a commercial certificate of responsibility or a residential license. Most classifications also need a trade examination.
Content outline
Licensing 5 questions; estimating and bidding 7; lien law 1; financial management 5; tax laws 5; labor laws 5; project management 5; contracts 6; business organ
Reciprocity
A license from a reciprocating state can waive a trade examination only, never this one, by the board's own page.
On this page
Questions on the law only. Estimating, project management, financial management and the other reference-book subjects are not asked.

Checked October 15, 2026 against the PSI candidate information bulletin for State of Mississippi contractor examinations, updated 4/23/2026. Rules change, so confirm with the agency itself before your test.

The board's guide to testing

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All 78 questions

Certificates of responsibility 15

  • A contract is awarded to a contractor that had no current certificate of responsibility when it bid. What is the contract? Miss. Code 31-3-15, in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • The board enters no order on an application. After how many days from filing does the applicant gain the right of appeal? Miss. Code 31-3-13(i), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • Commercial work falls outside the certificate of responsibility law when the contract is less than what amount? Miss. Code 31-3-1(a), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • For how long must a person have been engaged in the contracting business before appointment to the board? Miss. Code 31-3-3, in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • For how many separate entities may one person be the qualifying party without special permission from the board? Miss. Code 31-3-13(a), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
Show all 78 questions (73 more)

Certificates of responsibility, continued

  • How many members does the State Board of Contractors have? Miss. Code 31-3-3, in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • How many members of the board make a quorum? Miss. Code 31-3-5, in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • How much notice of a hearing must a certificate holder get before the board revokes or suspends the certificate? Miss. Code 31-3-13(f), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • In which months does the board hold its four regular meetings? Miss. Code 31-3-7, in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • On a public project, a contract for fire protection system work is outside the law only when it is less than: Miss. Code 31-3-1(g), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • What does Mississippi law call the license of a commercial contractor? Miss. Code 31-3-1, in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • What is the special privilege license tax on a contractor who applies for a certificate of responsibility? Miss. Code 31-3-17, in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • When does an original certificate of responsibility expire? Miss. Code 31-3-13(a), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • Where in a contract must a certificate holder put the written disclosure of whether it carries general liability insurance? Miss. Code 31-3-13, in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • Which numbers must an applicant give the board before a certificate of responsibility is issued? Miss. Code 31-3-13(a), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)

The board's rules for commercial contractors 15

  • A certificate has been expired for at least 180 days. What must the holder do to be certified again? 30 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 802, R. 1.1(2)(m), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • A certificate is withdrawn because the application held false information. How long before the applicant may be issued a certificate? 30 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 802, R. 1.1(5), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • A joint venture holds no certificate of its own. Who must hold certificates of responsibility before it bids? 30 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 802, R. 1.2(8), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • A qualifying party leaves the certificate holder. Within what time must another party qualify? 30 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 802, R. 1.1(2)(l), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • A sole proprietor that holds a certificate becomes a limited liability company. What does the rule require? 30 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 802, R. 1.1(2)(n), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • Besides the construction management specialty, which classification lets a contractor work as a construction manager? 30 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 802, R. 1.1(4), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • What amount accompanies an application for a certificate of responsibility with one classification? 30 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 802, R. 1.1(2)(g), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • What financial statement must an applicant for a new certificate file? 30 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 802, R. 1.1(2)(i), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • What general liability coverage must an applicant's certificate of insurance show? 30 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 802, R. 1.1(2)(j), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • What grade passes the examination required for a certificate of responsibility? 30 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 802, R. 1.1(9), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • What is the fee for each additional classification a contractor seeks? 30 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 802, R. 1.1(7), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • What must a certificate holder on inactive status still do each year? 30 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 802, R. 1.1(12), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • What net worth must an applicant for a major classification show? 30 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 802, R. 1.1(2)(i), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • What net worth must an applicant for a specialty classification show? 30 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 802, R. 1.1(2)(i), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • When must an awarding entity let the holder of a certificate in one classification bid on a project in its entirety? 30 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 802, R. 1.2(3), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)

Bids, penalties and appeals 9

  • A nonresident firm counts as a resident contractor for bid preference when it is qualified to do business in Mississippi and has kept a permanent full-time office there for how long before the bid? Miss. Code 31-3-21(3), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • To which agency does a public agency report the amount of each contract it awards? Miss. Code 31-3-21(3), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • What bond does a contractor give to appeal an order of the board? Miss. Code 31-3-23, in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • What is the criminal penalty for knowingly and willfully bidding without a required certificate of responsibility? Miss. Code 31-3-21(1), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • What is the largest civil penalty the board may order for a violation of the certificate of responsibility law? Miss. Code 31-3-21(4), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • What must a nonresident contractor attach to its bid on a public project? Miss. Code 31-3-21(3), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • What must an agency awarding a public contract of $50,000 or more do with a bid from a contractor that has no certificate of responsibility? 30 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 802, R. 1.2(1), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • What must appear on the outside of the envelope of a bid over $50,000? Miss. Code 31-3-21(2), in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • Where does a contractor appeal an order of the board, and how soon? Miss. Code 31-3-23, in the Commercial Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)

Residential builders and remodelers 16

  • A licensed residential builder may take a commercial job without another license if the job does not exceed: Miss. Code 73-59-19, in the Residential Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • A permit applicant who would be a residential builder shows neither a license nor an exemption. What must the building official do? Miss. Code 73-59-17, in the Residential Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • A person acts as their own general contractor on their own residence. Building more than how many single residences within one year raises a presumption of intent to sell? Miss. Code 73-59-15(2), in the Residential Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • A remodeler needs a license when the total cost of improvements to an existing residence exceeds what amount? Miss. Code 73-59-1(c), in the Residential Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • A residential builder needs a license when the total cost of building a residence exceeds what amount? Miss. Code 73-59-1(b), in the Residential Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • A residential builder with no license at the time of the work is not paid. What may it recover? Miss. Code 73-59-9(2), in the Residential Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • A residential license expires. Within what time may it still be renewed by paying the fee and a ten percent penalty? Miss. Code 73-59-3(5), in the Residential Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • After a residential disciplinary hearing closes, how soon must the board give its decision? Miss. Code 73-59-13(4), in the Residential Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • For how long does an emergency residential license stay in force, before any extension? Miss. Code 73-59-7, in the Residential Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • How large must the lettering of the license number be on the sign at a permitted residential job site? 30 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 803, R. 1.2, in the Residential Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • How much notice of a disciplinary hearing must an accused residential builder be given? Miss. Code 73-59-13(2), in the Residential Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • The residential builder definition covers a residence of not more than how many floors? Miss. Code 73-59-1(b), in the Residential Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • What fine does the law set for undertaking residential construction without a required license? Miss. Code 73-59-9(1), in the Residential Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • What is the initial fee for a residential license? Miss. Code 73-59-3(4), in the Residential Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • What is the most continuing education the board may require of a residential builder in a year? Miss. Code 73-59-11(g), in the Residential Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)
  • Which residential subcontractor must be licensed no matter the dollar amount of the job? Miss. Code 73-59-3(1)(d), in the Residential Laws and Rules the State Board of Contractors publishes (revised 2022)

Construction liens 10

  • A contractor willfully refuses an owner's written request for a list of all subcontractors and materialmen. What does the lien law provide? Miss. Code 85-7-407, Mississippi Code, public copy dated 2020-07-08 (Public.Resource.Org)
  • A lien has been paid in full, and its holder ignores a written demand to cancel it for fifteen days. What is the least the holder owes an injured person for each day after that? Miss. Code 85-7-421, Mississippi Code, public copy dated 2020-07-08 (Public.Resource.Org)
  • A supplier has no contract with the prime contractor. Within what time must it give the contractor written notice to keep its lien right? Miss. Code 85-7-407, Mississippi Code, public copy dated 2020-07-08 (Public.Resource.Org)
  • After filing a claim of lien, how long does the claimant have to begin a payment action before the lien is unenforceable? Miss. Code 85-7-421, Mississippi Code, public copy dated 2020-07-08 (Public.Resource.Org)
  • How soon after a claim of lien is filed must the claimant send a copy to the owner? Miss. Code 85-7-405, Mississippi Code, public copy dated 2020-07-08 (Public.Resource.Org)
  • On single-family residential construction, how long before filing a lien must a subcontractor not in privity with the owner give the owner a pre-lien notice? Miss. Code 85-7-409, Mississippi Code, public copy dated 2020-07-08 (Public.Resource.Org)
  • What takes the place of subcontractors' and suppliers' liens on a job? Miss. Code 85-7-431, Mississippi Code, public copy dated 2020-07-08 (Public.Resource.Org)
  • Where is a claim of construction lien filed? Miss. Code 85-7-405, Mississippi Code, public copy dated 2020-07-08 (Public.Resource.Org)
  • Which contractor has no lien under the construction lien law? Miss. Code 85-7-403, Mississippi Code, public copy dated 2020-07-08 (Public.Resource.Org)
  • Within what time after the claimant's last work or materials must the claim of lien be filed? Miss. Code 85-7-405, Mississippi Code, public copy dated 2020-07-08 (Public.Resource.Org)

Payment and bonds 8

  • A contractor receives a payment from the owner. Within what time must it pay its subcontractors and suppliers their shares to avoid a penalty? Miss. Code 87-7-5, Mississippi Code, public copy dated 2020-07-08 (Public.Resource.Org)
  • On a private construction contract, a progress payment begins to bear interest if it is not paid within how many calendar days of the date due? Miss. Code 87-7-3, Mississippi Code, public copy dated 2020-07-08 (Public.Resource.Org)
  • On a public construction contract, a progress payment begins to bear interest if it is not paid within how many calendar days of the date due? Miss. Code 31-5-25, Mississippi Code, public copy dated 2020-07-08 (Public.Resource.Org)
  • The private-project rule on paying subcontractors within fifteen days does not apply to contracts to build: Miss. Code 87-7-5, Mississippi Code, public copy dated 2020-07-08 (Public.Resource.Org)
  • What interest does a late progress payment to a contractor bear? Miss. Code 87-7-3, Mississippi Code, public copy dated 2020-07-08 (Public.Resource.Org)
  • What must the amount of the performance bond on a public works contract be? Miss. Code 31-5-51, Mississippi Code, public copy dated 2020-07-08 (Public.Resource.Org)
  • What penalty does a contractor owe a subcontractor it pays late without reasonable cause? Miss. Code 87-7-5, Mississippi Code, public copy dated 2020-07-08 (Public.Resource.Org)
  • Within what time must suit on a public works payment bond be started? Miss. Code 31-5-53, Mississippi Code, public copy dated 2020-07-08 (Public.Resource.Org)

Contractor's tax and workers' compensation 5

  • An employer is subject to the Workers' Compensation Law when it has at least how many workers regularly in the same business? Miss. Code 71-3-5, Mississippi Code, public copy dated 2020-07-08 (Public.Resource.Org)
  • The contractor's tax applies when the compensation received exceeds what amount? Miss. Code 27-65-21(1)(a)(i), as amended by House Bill 1764 of 2024 (Mississippi Legislature)
  • On whom is the contractor's tax levied? Miss. Code 27-65-21(1)(a), as amended by House Bill 1764 of 2024 (Mississippi Legislature)
  • What is the rate of Mississippi's contractor's tax on the total contract price? Miss. Code 27-65-21(1)(a)(i), as amended by House Bill 1764 of 2024 (Mississippi Legislature)
  • Which contract price is excluded from the contractor's tax? Miss. Code 27-65-21(1)(b), as amended by House Bill 1764 of 2024 (Mississippi Legislature)

How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written from the two law books the Mississippi State Board of Contractors publishes at https://www.msboc.us/public-works-building-officials/laws/ (both revised 2022): the Commercial Laws and Rules (Miss. Code 31-3-1 to 31-3-23 and Part 802 of the board's rules; https://www.msboc.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/COMMERCIAL-LAWS-AND-RULES-REVISED-2022.pdf) and the Residential Laws and Rules (Miss. Code 73-59-1 to 73-59-21 and Part 803; https://www.msboc.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/RESIDENTIAL-LAWS-AND-RULES-REVISED-2022-WEBSITE-VERSION.pdf). Lien, payment, bond and workers' compensation sections (85-7-403 to 85-7-431, 87-7-3, 87-7-5, 31-5-25, 31-5-51, 31-5-53, 71-3-5) were read in a public copy, not on a state site: Release 78 of the Mississippi Code, dated 2020-07-08, posted by Public.Resource.Org on the Internet Archive. The Legislature's index of bills by code section (https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/) shows no act amending any of them, or the board's sections, in the sessions since those texts. Section 27-65-21 was read in House Bill 1764 of 2024. All read on 2026-10-15. The examination outline is the PSI candidate information bulletin for State of Mississippi contractor examinations, updated 4/23/2026 (https://test-takers.psiexams.com/api/content/bulletin/175). Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site. The statutes and rules are public law of the State of Mississippi. No question is taken from the state examination or from any study guide.

How it works

This unofficial Mississippi business and law practice test asks 78 questions on state law: certificates of responsibility, residential licenses, liens, bids and payment. Estimating and accounting are not asked. Not affiliated with the Mississippi State Board of Contractors.

Read the full guide

Who takes the exam

Every applicant for a commercial certificate of responsibility or a residential license. The board calls it the Law and Business Management exam, so this Mississippi contractors license practice test covers the one exam all applicants share. Trade exams are separate.

What this page covers

Seven subjects from public law: certificates of responsibility, the board's commercial rules, bids and appeals, residential builders and remodelers, construction liens, payment and bonds, and the contractor's tax with workers' compensation.

  • Fifty thousand dollars answers several questions: the commercial threshold, the residential builder threshold, the bid envelope rule and a major classification's net worth.
  • Lien clocks: 30 days for a notice to the contractor, 90 days to file, 180 days to start a payment action.

Questions and answers

How many questions are on the Mississippi Law and Business Management exam?

Fifty questions in two hours, open book, with 70 percent to pass, by the PSI candidate bulletin updated April 23, 2026. A few unscored experimental questions may be added.

Is this Mississippi contractors license practice test the real exam?

No. It is free, unofficial practice written from the Mississippi Code and the board's rules. The Mississippi State Board of Contractors and PSI, its test vendor, did not write or review it, and no examination question appears here.

Is there a free Mississippi business law exam study guide?

The law itself is free: the board posts its commercial and residential laws and rules, and each answer here links the text it cites. The exam's reference book is sold, and this page does not use it.

Does reciprocity waive the MS business and law exam?

No. The board says reciprocity with another state waives a trade exam only. Every applicant still takes the Mississippi Law and Business Management exam.

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