Michigan licenses electricians and plumbers through state rules, and the path from apprentice to journeyman is clearly defined. This guide collects the verified Michigan requirements for electricians and plumbers, plus the residential builder and maintenance & alteration contractor licenses, each with its official source.
Below, the guide works through each trade in turn. Inside each section the facts are grouped by topic: who issues the license, the license levels, experience, the exam, fees and renewal. Each one is quoted from an official Michigan page and linked. Where we haven't verified something, we say so and point you to the board.
A practical tip: write down which license you actually need before you compare fees or exams. Contractor licenses (for businesses that bid and contract work) and individual trade licenses (for the person doing the work) often have different requirements, and the scope label on each fact tells you which one it belongs to.
Check a Michigan license: we don't hold a bulk license file for Michigan, so use the board's own search, linked from Michigan licensing board website.
Verified facts at a glance
Chart sources (experience hours):
- Michigan electrician: 8,000 — Journeyman: 8,000 hours and 4 years as an electrical apprentice. (Individual worker license (MI Bureau of Construction Codes)) — source: mi_bcc_electrical.pdf, verified 2026-10-18
- Michigan plumber: 6,000 — Journey Plumber: at least 6,000 hours over at least 3 years as a registered plumbing apprentice. (Individual worker license (MI Bureau of Construction Codes)) — source: mi_bcc_plumbing.pdf, verified 2026-10-18
- Michigan plumber: 4,000 — Master Plumber: 4,000 hours as a journey plumber over at least 2 years immediately preceding application. (Individual worker license (MI Bureau of Construction Codes)) — source: mi_bcc_plumbing.pdf, verified 2026-10-18
Michigan contractor license
Here is what the official Michigan pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Michigan general contractor license requirements page.
License levels
- M&A contractors are licensed for specific trades listed on the license. (Contractor license (MI Residential Builder / Maintenance & Alteration)) — source: mi_bcc_ma_contractor_license_information.pdf, verified 2026-10-18
Education & training
- Residential Builder and M&A Contractor applicants must complete 60 hours of approved prelicensure education before the exam or application. (Contractor license (MI Residential Builder / Maintenance & Alteration)) — source: mi_bcc_prelicensure_education_requirements.pdf, verified 2026-10-18
- Of the 60 hours, the remaining 18 can come from other approved topics. (Contractor license (MI Residential Builder / Maintenance & Alteration)) — source: mi_bcc_prelicensure_education_requirements.pdf, verified 2026-10-18
Exam
- Residential Builder / M&A exams are conducted by PSI. (Contractor license (MI Residential Builder / Maintenance & Alteration)) — source: mi_bcc_prelicensure_education_requirements.pdf, verified 2026-10-18
We have not yet verified fees for Michigan from an official page; the board may not publish it online. Check Michigan licensing board website or our Michigan general contractor page.
We have not yet verified experience / hours for Michigan from an official page; the board may not publish it online. Check Michigan licensing board website or our Michigan general contractor page.
Michigan electrician license
Here is what the official Michigan pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Michigan electrician license requirements page.
Experience / hours
- Journeyman: 8,000 hours and 4 years as an electrical apprentice. (Individual worker license (MI Bureau of Construction Codes)) — source: mi_bcc_electrical.pdf, verified 2026-10-18
Exam
- No examination is required for the Electrical Contractor license. (Individual worker license (MI Bureau of Construction Codes)) — source: mi_bcc_electrical.pdf, verified 2026-10-18
Reciprocity & endorsement
- Michigan has no reciprocity with any other state or country. (Individual worker license (MI Bureau of Construction Codes)) — source: mi_bcc_electrical.pdf, verified 2026-10-18
Local (city/county) licensing
- The City of Detroit issues its own electrical licenses and registrations. (City-level rule (Detroit, MI)) — source: mi_bcc_electrical.pdf, verified 2026-10-18
Other notes
- Journeyman: at least 20 years old. (Individual worker license (MI Bureau of Construction Codes)) — source: mi_bcc_electrical.pdf, verified 2026-10-18
We have not yet verified fees for Michigan from an official page; the board may not publish it online. Check Michigan licensing board website or our Michigan electrician page.
Michigan plumber license
Here is what the official Michigan pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Michigan plumber license requirements page.
Experience / hours
- Journey Plumber: at least 6,000 hours over at least 3 years as a registered plumbing apprentice. (Individual worker license (MI Bureau of Construction Codes)) — source: mi_bcc_plumbing.pdf, verified 2026-10-18
- Master Plumber: 4,000 hours as a journey plumber over at least 2 years immediately preceding application. (Individual worker license (MI Bureau of Construction Codes)) — source: mi_bcc_plumbing.pdf, verified 2026-10-18
Exam
- Must pass both the written and hands-on practical portions on a single application. (Individual worker license (MI Bureau of Construction Codes)) — source: mi_bcc_plumbing.pdf, verified 2026-10-18
Other notes
- Journey and Master Plumber applicants must be at least 18. (Individual worker license (MI Bureau of Construction Codes)) — source: mi_bcc_plumbing.pdf, verified 2026-10-18
We have not yet verified fees for Michigan from an official page; the board may not publish it online. Check Michigan licensing board website or our Michigan plumber page.
Before you apply: a practical checklist
- Confirm which license you need. Is it a contractor (business) license, an individual trade license, or both? The scope label on each fact above tells you which one it describes.
- Collect proof of experience early. Boards usually want employer-signed records, and gathering them takes longer than people expect.
- Read the exam information on the official page before you book: provider, reference books allowed, and how retakes work.
- Budget for every fee, not just the application. Exam, license and renewal fees are often separate.
- Check local rules. Cities and counties can add their own registration or permit requirements.
- Keep your renewal date and any continuing education in your calendar once you're licensed.
Trades we haven't covered here yet
We have fewer than three verified facts for Michigan hvac, so we don't summarize them in this guide yet. The linked pages show what has been checked so far, or you can go to the board directly.
How to use this guide
- Every fact above links to the official page it came from, with the date we checked it. Rules change — confirm with the board before you apply or pay.
- To check whether a specific person or company holds a license, use our license lookup (TX, CA, WA, OR, NY and Québec RBQ data) or the board's own search.
- Moving between states or provinces? See the electrician reciprocity matrix and our Red Seal guide.
FAQ
What exam is required? (Michigan contractor license)
Residential Builder / M&A exams are conducted by PSI. (Contractor license (MI Residential Builder / Maintenance & Alteration)) — source: mi_bcc_prelicensure_education_requirements.pdf, verified 2026-10-18
What exam is required? (Michigan electrician license)
No examination is required for the Electrical Contractor license. (Individual worker license (MI Bureau of Construction Codes)) — source: mi_bcc_electrical.pdf, verified 2026-10-18
How much experience do I need? (Michigan electrician license)
Journeyman: 8,000 hours and 4 years as an electrical apprentice. (Individual worker license (MI Bureau of Construction Codes)) — source: mi_bcc_electrical.pdf, verified 2026-10-18
What exam is required? (Michigan plumber license)
Must pass both the written and hands-on practical portions on a single application. (Individual worker license (MI Bureau of Construction Codes)) — source: mi_bcc_plumbing.pdf, verified 2026-10-18
How much experience do I need? (Michigan plumber license)
Journey Plumber: at least 6,000 hours over at least 3 years as a registered plumbing apprentice. (Individual worker license (MI Bureau of Construction Codes)) — source: mi_bcc_plumbing.pdf, verified 2026-10-18