Building Contractor
Building Contractor
-
Business & Finance
Exam -
Trade License
Exam -
Application
Process -
Launch Your
Business
01
Passing your
Business & Finance
Exam
SUCCESS CHECKLIST
- Order Business & Finance Exam Study Books
- Register as Contractor Applicant on DBPR
- Attend Business & Finance Class
- Schedule Business & Finance Exam
- Schedule Tutoring Business & Finance Exam
02
Passing your
Trade License
Exam
SUCCESS CHECKLIST
- Open Corporation & EIN #
- Order Trade Exam Study Books
- Attend Trade Class
- Schedule Trade Exam
- Schedule Trade Tutoring or Cram Course
03
Passing your
Application
Process
SUCCESS CHECKLIST
- Schedule your Application Interview
- Obtain Credit Reports
- Fingerprints & Background Check
- Gather & Submit Appication Documents
- Obtain Insurance & Bond Quotes
04
You are Licensed!
Launch Your
Business
SUCCESS CHECKLIST
- Post-License Bussiness Support
Product Description
- AIA - A201 - General Conditions of the Contract for Construction, 2017
- AIA - A401 - Standard Form of Agreement between Contractor-Subcontractor, 2017
- AIA - A701 - Instructions to Bidders, 2018
- Builders Guide to Accounting - Add To Cart
- Florida Statutes Chapter 455, 2021 - Add To Cart
- Contractor’s Manual, 2021 - Add To Cart
- OSHA Code of Federal Regulations Title 29, Part 1926 July 2021 - Add To Cart
- Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction, 11th Edition - Add To Cart
- Building Component Safety Information: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraint & Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses - Add To Cart
- Florida Building Code - Building, 2023 - Add To Cart
- Florida Building Code - Accessibility, 2023 - Add To Cart
- Florida Building Code - Residential, 2023 - Add To Cart
- Florida Building Code - Existing Building, 2023 - Add To Cart
- Florida Building Code - Energy Conservation, 2023 - Add To Cart
- Application and Finishing of Gypsum Panel Products, 2020 - Add To Cart
- Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th Edition - Add To Cart
- Placing Reinforcing Bars, 10th edition - Add To Cart
- Walker's Building Estimator’s Reference Book, 33rd Edition - Add To Cart
Florida
To become a licensed contractor in Florida, you are required to:
- The Florida Business and Finance exam as well as the Building 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 obtain an 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 change 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, they will be required to provide a licensing bond or letter of credit to obtain licensure.
- 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.
- Additional information on financial responsibility requirements is available on the Department’s Financial Responsibility and Stability website.
- Contact 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 as a foreman or supervisor (some experience can be offset with construction-related college courses) OR
- A 4-year college degree from an accredited college and 1 year of 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 as a foreman, and 2 years of credits from any accredited college-level courses OR
- 2 years of experience as a workman, 1 year as a foreman, and 1 year of credits from any accredited college-level courses OR
- Have an active Certified Florida contractor’s license (this applies only 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 Contractors, U.S. Licensed Architects, and U.S. Licensed Engineers can verify experience.
- *You can substitute up to 3 years of college credit for experience*
A Building Contractor is a professional whose services are limited to constructing commercial buildings and single or multiple dwelling residential buildings that do not exceed three stories in height. This contractor is also permitted to construct accessory structures associated with these buildings, such as garages, guesthouses, garden sheds, or other outbuildings. Additionally, the Building Contractor license allows for remodeling, repair, or improvements to any building, provided these services do not impact the building’s structural elements.
Applications for the Florida Business and Finance License must be submitted to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. For application instructions and assistance, call 850-487-1395. The application process includes proof of financial stability, details of insurance coverage, and electronic fingerprinting, among other requirements.
Since March 1, 2019, Florida accepts the NASCLA Accredited Exam for Commercial General Building Contractors as a qualifying credential for Residential, Building, or General Contractor licenses. Applicants using the NASCLA exam still need to pass Florida’s Business and Finance exam and meet all other application requirements, including proof of experience, financial stability, and insurance. This change offers flexibility for contractors from other states while maintaining Florida's standards for licensing.
Florida requires all licensed contractors to complete 14 hours of continuing education during each biennial renewal period. This education must include 1 hour on workplace safety, 1 hour on workers' compensation, 1 hour on business practices, 1 hour on laws and rules, 1 hour on wind mitigation, and the remaining hours on general subjects.
- All parts of the examination require a $135.00 examination development fee payable to PTI, an $80.00 examination administration fee payable to DBPR (but mailed to PTI), and an $80.00 examination administration fee payable to Pearson Vue (formerly Promissor), the CBT (Computer Based Testing) contracted vendor, 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: 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 are administered in a computer-based testing format that you can take anytime at a Pearson Vue testing facility. 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 Building Construction contract administration exam portion has 50 questions, weighted equally, and is held during the morning of the 2nd day.
- The Florida Building 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 include pre-construction activities, project contracts, construction procedures and operations, obtaining licenses, permits, and approvals.
- Topics covered on the project management exam portion include reading plans and specifications, safety, construction methods, materials, tools, and equipment.
- Topics covered on the business and finance exam portion include establishing the contracting business, managing administrative duties, managing trade operations, conducting accounting functions, managing human resources, and complying with government regulations.
Training for the Florida Building Contractor exam is available through various providers, offering courses that cover both Building Contractor requirements and essential preparation for specific trade knowledge. These courses are designed to help applicants pass their exams on the first attempt by equipping them with the necessary knowledge and test-taking strategies.