A: A CSL permits an individual to legally supervise persons engaged in construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, removal or demolition of certain limited types of buildings in the Commonwealth. See G.L. c. 143; 780 CMR R5.
There are three categories for this license:
1) Unrestricted License: A person who possesses an unrestricted construction supervisor's license may supervise individuals engaged in construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, removal or demolition of any of the following: a) a single or two-family dwelling (or accessory structure) of any size; b) any other use building as defined by 780 CMR (the State Building Code) up to 35,000 cubic feet of enclosed space; c) buildings used for farm purposes and retaining walls less than 10 feet in height at all points along the wall as measured from the base of the footing to the top of the wall.
2) Restricted License: A person who possesses a restricted construction supervisor's license may supervise individuals engaged in construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, removal or demolition of any single or two-family dwelling (or accessory structure) irrespective of its size.
3) Masonry Only License: A person who possesses a masonry only license may supervise individuals engaged in construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, removal or demolition of fireplaces, chimneys, required means of egress stairs of masonry construction, masonry retaining walls which retain four feet or more of unbalanced fill, and other masonry structures for which a building permit is required.
Q: How do I obtain a CSL?
A:
1. First, please read through the Candidate's Bulletin of Information regarding obtaining a CSL, available at http://www.mass.gov/dps. In general, you must have certain qualifications to become licensed as a construction supervisor. A candidate for license must document at least three years of experience in building construction or design in the field in which he or she wishes to obtain a license. The experience must be the equivalent of 3 years of full time employment.
2. Next, you must successfully complete an examination on the requirements of the building code.
Q: Where can I get an application for the construction supervisor exam, and where should I send it?
A: You may obtain an application at the following http://www.mass.gov/dps. You must mail your application to Thomson Prometric at the following address:
Thomson Prometric
ATTN: MA Construction Supervisors Program
1260 Energy Lane
St. Paul, MN 55108
Q: Thomson Prometric did not receive my application, what should I do?
A: You will have to send another application. You may want to consider sending your application via certified mail. This process will notify you when Thomson has received your application.
Q: Is there required coursework for the Construction Supervisor's License?
A: No. There are no course requirements. However, many candidates find it helpful to take exam preparation courses that are offered by varied private sector organizations. Since these are private organizations, the commonwealth cannot recommend or endorse one over another. Interested parties may search the web, local or state-wide phone directories and newspaper advertisements or may contact vocational and\or institutes of higher learning, municipal building official or home builder associations to find out where and when such courses may be offered.
Q: How can I obtain documentation indicating that I am a CSL holder in good standing?
A: You may make a public records request to the Department. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions for Public Records Requests.
Q: I am not from Massachusetts, but I would like to obtain/transfer a CSL. How can I find information to help me do this?
A: Massachusetts does not recognize other state licenses. If you wish to be licensed in Massachusetts, you must complete an application as described above to obtain a new license.
Q: The construction supervisor license appears to pertain only to single and two-family homes and other fairly small buildings and structures; does the Commonwealth require a license to supervise construction of larger projects?
A: Yes. The Board of Building Regulations and Standards does not issue a license for these larger projects, however, these projects are subject to construction supervision. Massachusetts General Laws chapter 112, section 60L establishes registration criterion for the practice of architecture in the Commonwealth. In G.L. c. 112, §60L, items 1(a) through 1(c) establish that a registered architect is not required to prepare plans for or to supervise construction of certain small projects. Essentially, this is the derivative for the construction supervisor's license. The construction supervisor's license is intended to fill the gap in supervision for the small projects that are not under the control of a registered professional. (Logically, the larger projects are under the control of registered professionals; either a registered architect or a registered professional engineer depending on the circumstances. To see more details relating to this questions, please review G.L. c. 112, §60L).
Please note that G.L. c. 112, §60L grants legal authority to another agency, not this Department. Please visit the Board of Registered Professionals website at www.state.ma.us/reg for more detailed information regarding the practices of architecture and engineering. Of course, a building owner may choose to employ the services of a registered professional even if not required by the law or by the code.
Q: How do I confirm that a Construction Supervisor License is valid?
A: You may confirm this by entering the required information at the following page: http://www.mass.gov/dps . If you are a homeowner planning to have work done, please see the Frequently Asked Questions for Homeowners.
Q: Are there other licenses required to perform construction work?
A: The construction supervisor license is the only license issued by the Commonwealth for this specific purpose. However, some municipalities have license requirements above and beyond those required by the state. You should always check with municipal authorities to determine if there are additional licensing requirements.
Q: Who is responsible for job safety on a construction site?
A: Construction site safety is truly a shared responsibility. There are numerous local, state and federal entities that regulate construction site safety. Among these are OSHA, DOS and DFS. For information, please visit the following websites: http://www.osha.gov/ ; http://www.mass.gov/dfs/index.shtm ; and http://www.mass.gov/dos/. The State Building Code defines some safety procedures for construction sites in Chapter 33 (titled "Site Work, Demolition and Construction"). However, these requirements pertain mainly to protecting members of the general public as they pass by a work site.