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 Business Support
Contratista de obras 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, 2024 - Add To Cart
- Contractor’s Manual, 2021 - Add To Cart
- OSHA Code of Federal Regulations Title 29, Part 1926 - 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, 2018 - 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
- Energy Efficient Building Construction in Florida, 11th Ed., 2024 - Add To Cart
Florida
To become a Certified Building Contractor in Florida, you are required to:
- Pass the Business and Finance Examination and the Building Contractor Trade Examinations administered by Pearson Vue. The Building Contractor Trade Examination is a two-part exam:
1) Contract Administration and
2) Project Management. - Note: Exam candidates who have received a baccalaureate degree in building construction from an accredited 4-year college and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher are exempt from having to take the trade knowledge portion of the exam. You will only be required to register for Business and Finance.
- Attest to having obtained public liability and property damage insurance, meeting the minimum required amounts: $300,000 for public liability and $50,000 for property damage.
- Obtain workers compensation insurance or obtain an exemption from workers compensation insurance within 30 days of license issuance.
- Be at least 18 years of age and be of good moral character.
- Complete a criminal background check by submitting fingerprints through a Livescan Service Provider registered with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Fingerprints are electronically submitted to the FDLE and Federal Bureau of Investigation for screening, as mandated for all Construction Initial License, Initial Business, Additional Business, Transfer (Change of Status), and Endorsement applications.
- Provide proof of financial stability and responsibility by submitting a personal credit report and a credit report for the business you intend to qualify. Both reports must include a FICO-derived credit score from a recognized credit reporting agency, accompanied by a public records statement confirming that records have been reviewed at the local, state, and federal levels. Financial responsibility & stability can be demonstrated by a credit score of 660 or higher and no unsatisfied judgments or liens. Applicants with a FICO credit score below 660 must meet the financial stability requirement by completing an 14-hour financial responsibility course.
- Contact us for more detailed information or if you have personal credit concerns.
- Experience Required:
- Building contractor applicants must present evidence of experience in four or more of the following areas per project:
- Foundation/Slabs greater than 20,000 sq. ft. (habitable structures)
- Masonry walls
- Steel erection
- Column Erection
- Formwork for structural reinforced concrete
- Elevated slabs - A person will qualify for a certified license by meeting one of the following requirements:
- 4 years of experience in the trade with at least 1 year as a foreman OR
- A 4-year construction-related degree from an accredited college (equivalent to three years experience) and 1 year of proven experience applicable to the category for which you are applying (A construction-related degree” is a baccalaureate degree, in the appropriate field of engineering, architecture, or building construction); 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 worker, 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
- "Upgrade Method”. A certified residential contractor holding an active current license for a minimum of 3 yrs in the classification in which he or she is certified.
- MILITARY VETERANS: A veteran will qualify for a certified license by meeting one of the following:
- 3 years of military service and 1 year experience as a foreman applicable to the category for which you are applying.
- 2 years of military service, 1 year experience as a foreman, and 1 year experience as a worker or foreman applicable to the category for which you are applying.
- 1 year of military service, 1 year experience as a foreman, and 2 years experience as a worker or foreman applicable to the category for which you are applying.
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 Building Contractor 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.
- Reciprocity: General, Building, or Residential contractors licensed in a state that has entered into a reciprocity agreement with the Florida Construction Licensing Board can apply via reciprocity. A list of the states in which Florida has entered into an agreement with can be found here. All applicants for certification by reciprocity MUST pass the Florida Business and Finance exam and must attest that they have passed an exam covering the Florida Building Code. Additional requirements to qualify for reciprocity can be found on the CILB 32 Form application.
- Endorsement - Option A: Applicants for general, building, or residential contractor licenses who have passed the examination administered by the National Association of State Contractor Licensing Agencies (“NASCLA”) and Florida Business and Finance exam, and an exam covering the Florida Building Code can apply for endorsement. The NASCLA exam can be used in lieu of providing proof of passing another state’s licensing examination. However, all other provisions of §489.115 (3) must still be satisfied. If you have not previously taken an exam covering the Florida Building Code, you may wish to take an exam offered by an approved CE provider in lieu of taking the Florida trade exams.
- Endorsement - Option B: Applicants may qualify for endorsement if they hold a valid license issued by another state or U.S. territory where the licensing criteria were substantially equivalent to Florida’s current certification requirements.
- Endorsement - Option C: Applicants may qualify for endorsement they have held a valid, current license to practice contracting issued by another state or territory of the United States for at least 10 years before the date of the application provided that the license is currently active or was active within the last 2 years. The license type must be the same or similar as the license type being applied for.
- Additional requirements to qualify for endorsement can be found on the CILB 10 Form.
- Note: Division I and roofing endorsement/reciprocity applicants must complete a 2-hour course on the Florida Building Code which includes information on wind mitigation techniques. If you hold the license in the business name, you will need to submit documentation from your home state agency indicating you were the test taker and qualifier. Also, make sure to apply for a license at the same level as you currently hold and try to include documentation showing what scope of work is allowed with your current license.
- IMPORTANT: Endorsement is subject to approval by the Construction Industry Licensing Board and/or the Department. If the Board denies your application, your fee is nonrefundable. Please note that endorsement application requirements relying on a comparison of a state specific test are very stringent and rarely get approved by the Construction Industry Licensing Board. The Board has granted the Department limited authority to approve NASCLA endorsement applications, however, your application may still be referred to the Board for further review.
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.
- To schedule your exams, you must first contact Professional Testing Inc. (PTI) at 407-364-0562 or visit them online at: www.floridaexam.com to register. A $135.00 registration fee is payable to PTI at the time of registration.
- After your registration is processed (typically within 10-15 business days), you will receive instructions from Pearson VUE on how to schedule your exams and pay the associated examination administrative fees. The exam fees are $80.00 for the Business and Finance exam, $40.00 for the Contract Administration Trade exam, and $40.00 for the Project Management Trade exam. For assistance, contact Pearson VUE directly at 888-204-6230.
- Examinations are administered in a computer-based testing (CBT) format that you can take anytime at a Pearson VUE testing facility.
- A score of at least 70% is required to pass the exams.
- The exam is open book, multiple-choice, and timed.
- There are 3 parts to the exam:
- The Florida Building Contractor Contract Administration trade exam portion is a 4.5 hr exam consisting 50 equally weighted questions.
- Topics covered on the contract administration exam portion include pre-construction activities, project contracts, construction procedures and operations, obtaining licenses, permits, and approvals.
- The Florida Building Contractor Project Management trade exam portion is a 4.5 hr exam consisting of 50 equally weighted questions.
- Topics covered on the project management exam portion include reading plans and specifications, safety, construction methods, materials, tools, and equipment.
- The Florida Business and Finance exam is a 6.5 hr exam consisting of 120 equally weighted questions.
- 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.
- A candidate must pass all parts of the examinations required for licensure within 4 years of the first attempt. The 4 year examination period begins with your first scheduled examination date. You will have an unlimited number of exam attempts within the 4 year period. After 4 years, all previous test scores become invalid, and you will be required to take all parts of the examination again.
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.