[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":73},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-question-maryland-contractor-simulator-commercial-vs-residential":3},{"site":4,"simulation":15,"topic":23,"question":26,"siblings":48,"prev":71,"next":72},{"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},"who-needs-a-license","Who Needs an MHIC License",{"slug":27,"title":28,"description":29,"takeaway":30,"situation":31,"speaker":34,"speakerDescription":34,"speakerAvatar":34,"audioUrl":35,"choices":36,"citations":47},"commercial-vs-residential","Does an MHIC license cover commercial renovation work?","No. MHIC licensing applies to residential property only. Commercial work may need a general contractor license or trade licenses instead, and taking it…","No. MHIC licensing applies to residential property only. Commercial work may need a general contractor license or trade licenses instead, and taking it under your MHIC license misrepresents your credentials.",[32,33],"A dentist wants you to renovate the waiting room in his dental office — new flooring, paint, reception desk. He found you through your MHIC listing.","\"You do renovations, right? Same thing.\"",null,"/media/voices/commercial_vs_residential.mp3",[37,42],{"text":38,"verdict":39,"label":40,"explanation":41},"Explain that your MHIC license covers residential home improvement only. A dental office is commercial property — different licensing may apply depending on the scope, and you'd need to check local requirements","best","Correct","MHIC licensing under Maryland Business Regulation Title 8 applies to residential property only. Commercial renovations are outside your MHIC scope. Some commercial work may not require a specific license (cosmetic only), while other work requires general contractor licensing or trade-specific licenses. Know your scope. Taking commercial work under your MHIC license misrepresents your credentials.",{"text":43,"verdict":44,"label":45,"explanation":46},"Take the job — a renovation is a renovation regardless of the building type","wrong","Wrong","Your MHIC license authorizes residential home improvement work. Using it to market or perform commercial work misrepresents your licensing. While you might be capable of the work, the legal framework is different. Commercial projects may have different permitting, insurance, and liability requirements. Stay in your lane or get the appropriate credentials.",[],[49,52,55,58,59,62,65,68],{"slug":50,"title":51,"topic":24},"what-is-home-improvement","What counts as home improvement under Maryland law?",{"slug":53,"title":54,"topic":24},"unlicensed-handyman-question","Does a handyman need an MHIC license in Maryland?",{"slug":56,"title":57,"topic":24},"rental-property-exception","Can a landlord renovate their own rentals without an MHIC license?",{"slug":27,"title":28,"topic":24},{"slug":60,"title":61,"topic":24},"pool-vs-home-improvement","Does an MHIC license cover building an in-ground pool?",{"slug":63,"title":64,"topic":24},"television-antenna","Is installing a TV antenna home improvement in Maryland?",{"slug":66,"title":67,"topic":24},"unlicensed-competitor","How do you explain the risk of an unlicensed contractor to a homeowner?",{"slug":69,"title":70,"topic":24},"storm-chaser-competition","Do out-of-state storm chasers need a Maryland MHIC license?",{"slug":56,"title":57,"topic":24},{"slug":60,"title":61,"topic":24},1792184484118]