Florida General Contractor w/ Business and Finance

A General Contractor license allows building construction that is unlimited as to the type and size of the construction project.

$1,095.00

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Required Books 

The references listed below are permitted to be taken into the examination. These references may be tabbed (with permanent index tabs) and highlighted. They are available for purchase from our online contractor’s bookstore or by calling our office at 1-800-992-1910.

Add All Required Books to Cart ($1,614.00)

Additional Services

  • Please note that the Florida Business and Finance exam as well as the General exam is required to be passed to obtain your contractor’s license.
  • Minimum amounts required for General Liability insurance for General, Residential, and Building contractors are $300,000 for bodily injury and $50,000 for property damage. All contractors are required to carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance or Exemption Certificate.
  • All contractors must be at least 18 years of age and be of good moral character.
  • Beginning November 1, 2007, all applicants for initial licensure or changed of status will be required to have a criminal background check performed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Federal Bureau of Investigation. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT YOUR FINGERPRINTS HAVE BEEN SCANNED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S VENDOR, PROMISSOR/PEARSON VUE, PRIOR TO SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION.

  • If an applicant has a FICO credit score lower than 660, he/she will be requested to provide a licensing bond or letter of credit to obtain licensure. Please review the Department’s Financial Responsibility and Stability website for additional information on the Board’s requirements. The amount of the licensing bond or letter of credit is based on the type of license requested: $20,000 for Division I contractors and $10,000 for Division II contractors.  Please call us for more detailed information or if you have personal credit concerns.

  • Experience Required:
  • 4 years of experience in the trade with at least 1 year having been supervisory work OR
     
  • A 4-year degree from an accredited college and 1 year proven experience applicable to the category for which you are applying OR
     
  • 1 year as a foreman and not less than 3 years of credits from any accredited college level courses OR
     
  • 1 year as a workman, 1 year proven experience as a foreman, and 2 years of credits from any accredited college level courses OR
     
  • 2 years of experience as a workman, 1 year of experience as a foreman, and 1 year of credits from any accredited college level courses OR
     
  • Have an active Certified Florida contractor’s license (This option only applies to Certified Building, Residential, Air Conditioning, and Swimming Pool contractors as provided in Section 489.111 (2)(c)4-6, Florida Statutes).

  • Building officials are no longer allowed to vouch for Florida Contractors’ experience.  Only Florida State Certified Contractor, U.S. License Architects and U.S. Licensed Engineers 

      • *You can substitute up to 3 years of college credit for experience*

A General Contractor license allows building construction that is unlimited as to the type and size of the construction project.

To apply, contact State of Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation 1-850-487-1395.

If applying for initial licensure from May 1st of an Even numbered year through August 31st of an Odd numbered year the fee is $249.

If applying for initial licensure from September 1st of an Odd numbered year through April 30th of an Even numbered year the fee is $149.

 You must pay a fee of $56.25 to Promissor/Pearson VUE for the processing of your electronic fingerprints.

  • Candidates will receive an unofficial grade report on the day they pass the exam.

    However, test scores and license approval do not become official until ratified by the Contractors Licensing Board at their next meeting.

    Licenses are typically received within 14 days of the exam.

    • Important Contacts

    Commercial, residential & public works construction is regulated at the local/municipal level AND at the state level. A statewide-certified license is granted by the construction or electrical licensing boards for most categories of licensure.

    Applications for contractor licenses (other than electrical) are filed with:

    Department of Business & Professional Regulation
    The Construction Industry Licensing Board
    1940 North Monroe Street
    Tallahassee, FL 32399
    (850)487-1395
    http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/construction-
    Information on electrical licensing may be obtained from:

    Electrical Contractors Licensing Board
    Department of Business & Professional Regulation
    1940 North Monroe Street
    Tallahassee, Fl 32399
    (850)487-1395

    To schedule the Florida Electrical Business exam (CBT) you must contact Promissor/Pearson Vue at 1-888-204-6230.

    http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/electrical-co
    To register for the exam:

    Professional Testing Inc.
    PO Box 691226
    Orlando, FL 32869-1226
    phone: 407-264-0562
    fax: 407-264-2977

    To make a reservation to meet the fingerprinting requirement:

    Pearson VUE
    Customer Care: (888) 204-6230
    www.pearsonvue.com
    proftesting.com
    Florida General Construction - County License
    To Register for the exam:

    Prometric
    Canton Crossing
    1501 South Clinton Street
    Baltimore, MD 21224
    USA
    1-866-PROMETRIC (776-6387)
    1-443-455-8000
    www.prometric.com

    As of March 1, 2019, Florida is accepting the NASCLA exam. Scores from the NASCLA exam are now acceptable for the Residential, Building, or General Contractor classifications. Applicants using the NASCLA exam will still be required to pass the Florida Business and Finance exams and meet all other application requirements.

    As of this time Florida requires 14 hours of board approved continuing education each biennium prior to the renewal period for both certified and registered contractors.

    At least 1 hour must deal with workplace safety, 1 hour must be on the subject of worker’s compensation, 1 hour must cover the subject of business practices, 1hour must cover the subjects of laws and rules, 1 hour must cover wind mitigation methodologies, and 1 hour must cover the Florida Building Code advanced modules.

      All parts of the examination:
      Pay $135.00 examination development fee payable to PTI, $80.00 examination administration fee payable to DBPR, but mailed to PTI. An $80.00 examination administration fee payable to Pearson Vue (formerly Promissor), the CBT (Computer Based Testing) contracted vendor, is due at the time of scheduling.

    • A score of at least 70% is required to pass the exams.
    • The exam is 2 days, open book, multiple-choice, and timed.
    • There are 3 parts to the exam: There are 3 parts to the exam: the Business Finance portion is 6.5 hrs, the Contract Administration portion is 4.5 hrs, and the Project Management portion is 4.5 hrs.
    • Beginning August, 2018 examinations will be administered in a computer-based testing format that you can take anytime at a Pearson Vue testing facility near you.  Test locations are in Orlando, Tallahassee, and Miami.

    • You must complete all portions of the examination within 4 years of the first attempt. After four years, all previous test scores become invalid and you will be required to take all parts of the examination again. 

    • The Florida General Construction contract administration exam portion has 50 questions, weighted equally, and is held during the morning of the 2nd day.
    • The Florida General Construction project management exam portion also has 50 questions, weighted equally, and is held during the afternoon of the 2nd day.
    • The Florida Business and Finance exam is a 6.5 hr exam consisting of 125 equally weighted questions.
    • Applicants must submit an application and exam fee to become registered to take the exam. The testing company must receive completed applications and appropriate fees no later than 30 days prior to the next scheduled exam date.

    • Topics covered on the contract administration exam portion are pre-construction activities, project contracts, construction procedures and operations, obtaining licenses, permits, and approvals. Topics covered on the project management exam portion are reading plans and specifications, safety, construction methods, materials, tools, and equipment.

      Topics covered on the business and finance exam portion are establishing the contracting business, managing administrative duties, managing trade operations, conducting accounting functions, managing human resources, and complying with government regulations.

    • To schedule your exam you must contact Professional Testing, Inc (PTI) at 1-407-264-0562.

    American Contractors offers a 5 day seminar to prepare for the Florida General Construction license exam and includes preparation for the Business and Finance exam. Please contact us for additional information, 1-800-992-1910.

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