The direct cost of a Chicago masonry license starts with the $95 exam fee per card, plus the City of Chicago license fee you pay after you pass. If you go for the A card, you sit both the brick and concrete exams, so plan for two exam fees.
What Drives the Cost
- Exam fee: $95 per card exam, paid to Continental Testing.
- City license fee: paid to the City of Chicago after you pass, when you file for your card.
- The A card costs more to test, because it requires passing both the B and C exams.
- Prep: a course is optional but is what most people credit with passing the first time and avoiding repeat exam fees.
Cost by Card
| Card | Exams | Exam fees |
|---|---|---|
| B (Brick) | 1 exam | $95 |
| C (Concrete) | 1 exam | $95 |
| A (Both) | 2 exams | $190 |
Exam fees verified 2026. The City license fee is paid separately to the Chicago Department of Revenue when you file your passing score. Confirm the current City fee before you file.
The Hidden Cost: Retaking the Exam
The line item that hurts most is not on the fee schedule. It is the $95 you pay again every time you retake a card exam, plus the weeks you spend not yet licensed and unable to bid the work. Two or three attempts quietly multiply your real cost. Passing the first time is the cheapest route, and that is exactly what prep is for.
How We Keep Your Cost Down
- We teach to the test so you pass the first time and avoid repeat exam fees.
- We prep you for both exams if you are going for the A card, on one focused track.
- We guide you through the filing so nothing stalls your license.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Chicago masonry exam?
$95 per card exam. The A card requires two exams, so plan for $190 in exam fees.
Is there a City license fee too?
Yes. After you pass, you pay the City of Chicago license fee to the Department of Revenue when you file your passing score. Confirm the current amount before filing.
Does the A card cost more?
On the exam side, yes, because it requires passing both the brick and concrete exams ($190 in exam fees rather than $95).
Can you help me pass the first time?
Yes, that is the whole point of our prep course. Call (773) 635-0099 or register for a class.
The Bottom Line
Plan on $95 per card exam ($190 for the A card), plus the City license fee after you pass. The biggest variable in your total cost is how many times you sit the exam, so first-try prep is the cheapest path. That is exactly what our course is built to do.
Next: the full license guide, the A, B, and C cards, or the exam.
The Cheapest License Is the One You Pass the First Time
In-person Chicago masonry prep since 2012. We tell you what to study.