Do you need a license to be a carpenter in Michigan?
No. Michigan doesn't license carpenters as a trade. Contractors need a license from Michigan LARA Bureau of Construction Codes. Carpentry work falls under M&A carpentry trade category.
State license · By ChiselJobs Team · Updated
In short
Michigan does not license carpenters as a separate trade, but residential contracting needs a state license from LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes. A Residential Builder license covers building homes, while a Maintenance and Alteration Contractor license covers narrower trade work, with carpentry as one of its categories. Applicants complete a pre-licensure course and pass a state exam, and licenses renew every three years. There is no state license for commercial general contracting. Residential work follows the Michigan Residential Code, based on the 2015 IRC, and commercial work the Michigan Building Code, based on the 2021 IBC. Apprenticeships register through the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship.
Key facts
| Carpenter license | No |
| Licensing level | State |
| General contractor license | No (commercial) |
| Residential contractor license | Residential Builder |
| Home improvement registration | Maintenance & Alteration Contractor |
| Carpentry classification | M&A carpentry trade category |
| Exam | State exam |
| Experience | Pre-licensure course required (hours not published) |
| Renewal | 3 years |
| Local license | No (state license covers) |
| Board | Michigan LARA Bureau of Construction Codes |
Exam
| Exam provider | PSI (for LARA) |
| Bulletin date | 2016-06-01 |
Bond and insurance
- Source: michigan.gov · checked November 6, 2026
Apprenticeship
| Registering agency | U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship (no state agency) |
Programs register through the Office of Apprenticeship; use the Partner Finder for local sponsors.
- Source: apprenticeship.gov · checked November 6, 2026
Building code
| Code in force | IRC 2015; IBC 2021 (as Michigan Residential and Building Codes) |
2015 Michigan Residential Code effective Feb 8, 2016; 2021 Michigan Building Code effective April 9, 2025.
- Source: michigan.gov · checked November 5, 2026