15 free questions from the Maryland Home Improvement Commission contractor exam, with the law behind every answer.
55 questions on the real exam
39 correct to pass (about 70%)
150 minutes, open book
Given by PSI Services
Score: 0 / 0
1.A homeowner hires a company to build a new wooden deck on the land beside her house. Under the Maryland Home Improvement Law, this work is:
Answer: A. The definition of home improvement expressly includes construction on land adjacent to the building of a "driveway, fall-out shelter, fence, garage, landscaping, deck, pier, porch, or swimming pool".Source: Md. Code, Bus. Reg. § 8-101(g)(2)(i)
2.Under the Maryland Door-to-Door Sales Act, a "door-to-door sale" must have a purchase price of at least:
Answer: B. A door-to-door sale is a sale of consumer goods or services "with a purchase price of $25 or more" where the seller personally solicits and the buyer agrees away from the seller's place of business.Source: Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-301(d)
3.Under Maryland's Wage and Hour Law, overtime must be paid at a rate of at least:
Answer: A. Each employer "shall pay an overtime wage of at least 1.5 times the usual hourly wage".Source: Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 3-415(a)
4.Under OSHA's construction fall protection rule, employees on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge must be protected from falling when the surface is at least how high above a lower level?
Answer: D. Employees on a surface with an unprotected side or edge "which is 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above a lower level shall be protected from falling" by guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems.Source: 29 CFR § 1926.501(b)(1)
5.A room measures 14 feet by 18 feet. How many square feet of flooring are needed to cover it, before waste?
Answer: B. Area = length x width = 14 x 18 = 252 square feet.Source: Arithmetic (no legal rule; calculation shown in explanation)
6.Which of the following is NOT a "home improvement" under Bus. Reg. § 8-101?
Answer: B. The statute lists exclusions, beginning with "construction of a new home". Roof replacement, fences, and work on individual condo units are all within the definition.Source: Md. Code, Bus. Reg. § 8-101(g)(3)(i)
7.A homeowner calls a contractor and invites the salesperson to her home, where she signs a contract. Is this a door-to-door sale under the Act?
Answer: C. The definition includes personal solicitation, "including a solicitation in response to or following an invitation by the buyer", when the agreement is made away from the seller's place of business.Source: Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-301(d)(1)
8.For a typical construction employee in Maryland, overtime is computed on each hour worked over:
Answer: B. Overtime is computed "on the basis of each hour over 40 hours that an employee works during 1 workweek."Source: Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 3-420(a)
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9.Under OSHA's scaffold rules, each employee on a scaffold must be protected from falling when the scaffold is more than how high above a lower level?
Answer: A. "Each employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet (3.1 m) above a lower level shall be protected from falling to that lower level."Source: 29 CFR § 1926.451(g)(1)
10.A slab is 20 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 4 inches thick. About how many cubic yards of concrete are needed (before waste)?
Answer: C. 4 inches = 0.333 ft. Volume = 20 x 12 x 0.333 = 80 cubic feet. One cubic yard = 3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft = 27 cubic feet, so 80 / 27 = about 2.96 cubic yards.Source: Arithmetic (no legal rule; calculation shown in explanation)
11.Renovation work on an apartment building is excluded from the Home Improvement Law when the building contains:
Answer: C. Home improvement does not include "work done on apartment buildings that contain four or more single-family units".Source: Md. Code, Bus. Reg. § 8-101(g)(3)(v)
12.For the Door-to-Door Sales Act, which day is NOT a "business day"?
Answer: D. A business day is any calendar day "except Sunday" or the listed holidays (New Year's Day, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day). Saturdays count.Source: Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-301(b)
13.Under the Maryland Wage Payment and Collection Law, an employer must pay a non-exempt employee at least:
Answer: C. Each employer shall "pay each employee at least once in every 2 weeks or twice in each month."Source: Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 3-502(a)(1)
14.The top edge of a guardrail system must be:
Answer: B. Top rails "shall be 42 inches (1.1 m) plus or minus 3 inches (8 cm) above the walking/working level."Source: 29 CFR § 1926.502(b)(1)
15.A job needs 400 square feet of tile. You add a 10% waste factor. How many square feet should you order?
Answer: D. 400 x 1.10 = 440 square feet.Source: Arithmetic (no legal rule; calculation shown in explanation)
Full MHIC Exam Prep: study guide + 200 practice questions
Every answer quotes the Maryland law it comes from, so you can find it fast. Instant PDF, $24.
StateExamPrepCo makes independent study aids. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the State of Maryland, the MHIC, PSI Services, or the Secretary of State, and not legal advice. Laws change; check official sources. Made with AI assistance and checked question by question against the cited law.