[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":96},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-question-maryland-contractor-simulator-mike-unlicensed-electrical":3},{"site":4,"simulation":15,"topic":23,"question":26,"siblings":53,"prev":94,"next":95},{"name":5,"tagline":6,"title":7,"description":8,"guideTitle":9,"guideDescription":10,"ogImage":11,"disclaimer":12,"practicePitch":13,"citationsTitle":14},"Free MHIC Training","Maryland home improvement exam prep","Free MHIC Exam Prep: Maryland Home Improvement Contractor Practice","Free, narrated MHIC exam prep: 147 real Maryland contractor scenarios, every choice explained, with the law cited where it applies.","MHIC Exam Study Guide","Every scenario in the free Maryland Contractor Simulator, written out as a practice question: the situation, your options, how each choice plays out, and the Maryland law where it applies.","/og/free-mhic-training.png","Free MHIC Training is free study material for the Maryland home improvement contractor exam. It is not affiliated with the Maryland Home Improvement Commission and is not legal advice.","The free Maryland Contractor Simulator puts you in situations like these across a 40-day contracting career, narrated, with your license on the line. No account needed.","Law and codes cited",{"slug":16,"title":17,"subtitle":18,"description":19,"maxTurns":20,"characterCount":21,"scenarioCount":22},"maryland-contractor-simulator","Maryland Contractor Simulator","Learn the law by living it.","You just got your MHIC license application approved and you're starting your home improvement business in Maryland. Navigate real contractor scenarios — contracts, permits, clients, subcontractors, and inspectors. Every choice teaches you the law through consequence, not memorization. Master all five exam areas to pass.",40,20,147,{"slug":24,"title":25},"subcontractors-employees","Subcontractors, Liens & Workers",{"slug":27,"title":28,"description":29,"takeaway":30,"situation":31,"speaker":34,"speakerDescription":35,"speakerAvatar":36,"audioUrl":37,"choices":38,"citations":52},"mike-unlicensed-electrical","What if your electrician's license expired mid-job?","Everything done after the expiration date is unlicensed work. Stop, and have a licensed electrician inspect all of it before proceeding; your MHIC license…","Everything done after the expiration date is unlicensed work. Stop, and have a licensed electrician inspect all of it before proceeding; your MHIC license does not cover electrical work.",[32,33],"You hired Mike Delgado for electrical work on a basement finish. Midway through the job, you discover Mike's electrical license expired three months ago. He didn't tell you.","The rough-in is halfway done.","Mike Delgado","An electrician who sometimes cuts corners but charges less.","/media/characters/sub_mike.png","/media/voices/mike_unlicensed_electrical.mp3",[39,44,49],{"text":40,"verdict":41,"label":42,"explanation":43},"Stop Mike's work immediately. Hire a currently licensed electrician to inspect and complete the work. Report Mike's lapsed license to the appropriate licensing board","best","Correct","As the prime contractor, you're responsible for ensuring subcontractors are properly licensed. Electrical work in Maryland requires a separate license from the State Board of Master Electricians. Allowing unlicensed electrical work exposes you to code violations, inspection failures, and liability. All of Mike's work must be inspected by a licensed electrician before proceeding. Yes, it costs more. Fire code doesn't negotiate.",{"text":45,"verdict":46,"label":47,"explanation":48},"Let Mike finish — his license was valid when he started and the work is good","wrong","Wrong","An expired license means unlicensed work from the expiration date forward. 'The work is good' doesn't matter if it was performed by an unlicensed individual. The building inspector will check the electrician's license during inspection. If it's expired, the inspection fails and the work must be redone by a licensed electrician anyway. You pay twice.",{"text":50,"verdict":46,"label":47,"explanation":51},"Have Mike work under your MHIC license — you're the prime contractor so it's covered","Your MHIC license does NOT cover specialized trades. MHIC contractors must use separately licensed professionals for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work. Your MHIC license authorizes general home improvement work, not specialized trade work. Attempting to cover an unlicensed electrician under your general contractor license is a violation of both MHIC regulations and electrical licensing law.",[],[54,57,60,63,66,67,70,73,76,79,82,85,88,91],{"slug":55,"title":56,"topic":24},"subcontractor-payment","Must you pay subcontractors when the homeowner pays late?",{"slug":58,"title":59,"topic":24},"tony-files-lien","What happens when an unpaid subcontractor files a mechanics lien?",{"slug":61,"title":62,"topic":24},"lien-rights-education","Can a subcontractor put a lien on a house the owner paid in full?",{"slug":64,"title":65,"topic":24},"client-wants-to-pay-sub-directly","Should a homeowner pay your subcontractor directly?",{"slug":27,"title":28,"topic":24},{"slug":68,"title":69,"topic":24},"subcontractor-not-licensed","Can you hire a plumber who is still getting licensed?",{"slug":71,"title":72,"topic":24},"homeowner-does-own-electrical","Can a homeowner do their own electrical work on your job?",{"slug":74,"title":75,"topic":24},"multiple-subs-coordination","Who coordinates subcontractors working in the same space?",{"slug":77,"title":78,"topic":24},"subcontractor-damages-property","Who is liable when a subcontractor damages the home?",{"slug":80,"title":81,"topic":24},"cousin-ray-no-show","How do you handle a subcontractor who stops showing up?",{"slug":83,"title":84,"topic":24},"worker-classification","Are your regular workers employees or 1099 contractors?",{"slug":86,"title":87,"topic":24},"workers-comp-claim","What must you do when an employee is hurt on the job?",{"slug":89,"title":90,"topic":24},"worker-injury-no-comp","What happens when an off-the-books worker is injured?",{"slug":92,"title":93,"topic":24},"hiring-day-laborers","What are the risks of hiring day laborers for cash?",{"slug":64,"title":65,"topic":24},{"slug":68,"title":69,"topic":24},1792184485334]