A Chicago masonry license is a City of Chicago credential, not a state one. It comes in three cards: B for brick, C for concrete, and A for both. You earn each by passing a City exam through Continental Testing, then filing with the Department of Buildings. Anyone doing masonry work on Chicago buildings needs the right card.
Who Needs a Masonry License in Chicago?
The City of Chicago requires a mason contractor license to work in stone, concrete, brick, terra-cotta, tile, and similar materials on the above-ground and below-ground portions of buildings and structures in the city. If you are contracting masonry work and pulling permits in Chicago, you need the license.
The A, B, and C Cards
Chicago issues three masonry designations. Which one you need depends on whether you do brick work, concrete work, or both.
Want the full breakdown of each card and which to choose? See our A, B, and C card guide.
The Exam
Each card has its own City of Chicago exam, administered by Continental Testing. Each exam is 3 hours, costs $95, and requires a 70% score to pass. It covers masonry and concrete materials and installation, tools, surveying and estimating, reinforcing and installing steel, formwork, OSHA safety and quality control, and business math.
Step-by-Step: How to Get Licensed
- Choose your card. Brick (B), concrete (C), or both (A).
- Prepare for the exam. A focused prep course is the fastest path to a first-try pass.
- Pass the City exam. Sit the B and/or C exam through Continental Testing and clear 70%.
- File with the Department of Buildings. Submit your passing-score letter and license fee to the City to receive your card.
- Start bidding masonry work. With your card, you can contract masonry work and pull permits in Chicago.
How We Get You Licensed the First Time
We have run in-person Chicago masonry exam prep since 2012:
- We tell you what to study. Our 2-day course teaches to the test, so you focus on what is actually asked, not a stack of code books.
- We guide you through the process. We walk you through the Continental Testing registration and the City filing so you know each step.
- The full ecosystem. Masonry sits alongside our roofing, public adjuster, Xactimate, and claims training, all in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Chicago masonry license a city or state license?
It is a City of Chicago license, issued by the Department of Buildings, not a state license.
What is the difference between the A, B, and C cards?
B is the brick card, C is the concrete card, and A covers both, earned by passing both exams. Choose based on the work you do.
How hard is the masonry exam?
Each exam is 3 hours and requires 70% to pass. Many contractors fail without prep, usually on the estimating, code, and business sections. Focused prep is what gets most people through.
Do I need a license for sidewalk work?
Generally, masonry work limited to ground-level sidewalks and paving does not require the license, but structural and building masonry does.
Can you help me pass?
Yes. Our 2-day prep course teaches to the test. Call (773) 635-0099 or register for a class.
The Bottom Line
To do masonry on Chicago buildings you need a City masonry license: a B card for brick, a C card for concrete, or an A card for both. Each is a City exam through Continental Testing at 70% to pass, and the fastest route is focused, in-person prep. That is what we have done since 2012.
Next: the A, B, and C card guide, the exam, or the cost.
Get Your Chicago Masonry License
In-person Chicago masonry exam prep since 2012. We tell you what to study so you pass the first time.