You MUST first sign up for your State Exam(s) and pay online at www.floridaexam.com
MAKE SURE THAT YOU ENROLL TO TAKE BOTH THE BUSINESS AND TRADE EXAMS AT THE SAME TIME. IF NOT, YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL $80 TO TAKE THE SECOND EXAM.

The answers to the examination questions will be based on the editions listed below. Some of the questions will also be based on field experience and knowledge of trade practices. Editions earlier or later than those listed below can be brought to the examination but AT YOUR OWN RISK. However, ONLY ONE COPY of each reference will be allowed into the examination.
Photocopies will not be allowed unless the appropriate authorities (DBPR and the publishers) have given written authorization. Hand-written and typewritten notes are NOT allowed. Existing handwritten notes must be blackened out or whitened out completely, by the candidate, prohibiting legibility. Moveable tabs (e.g., Post-it® Flags) are NOT allowed. You will not be permitted to make any marks in your references during the examination.
To speak to a Pearson Vue customer service representative about an exam reservation, please call 888-204-6230
The Technical/Safety section will no longer be a paper and pencil examination. Starting November 2008, the Technical/Safety section will be offered as a computer based examination thorough the department's current vendor Pearson VUE. The examination fee for the Technical/Safety is .00 and is payable directly to the vendor by the candidate at the time the exam is scheduled. The technical/safety section is designed to measure how well a candidate has mastered the fundamentals of electrical contracting and to measure his or her ability to interpret and apply the appropriate sections of the National Electrical Code (N.E.C.) and other applicable references to practical problems. The questions have been designed so that a person who has the required minimum ability to use the N.E.C. and the necessary background knowledge of electrical contracting will find it easy to select the correct answer. A person who is not familiar with electrical contracting and cannot use the N.E.C. will find it hard to guess the correct answer for any question because they present the candidate with a choice of common misconceptions, common faults, incorrect practices, or plausible nonsense. Therefore, the candidate should read each question thoroughly and carefully and select the best answer to the question. Each question has only one correct answer, which will be graded as the correct answer to the question.
All examinations consist of multiple-choice questions.
In certain areas (e.g., Section 220-10(b)) the N.E.C. stipulates a standard procedure that should be followed in normal circumstances while also permitting alternate procedures or exceptions in other circumstances. If the question does not obviously call for the application of an alternate procedure or 4 exception, the candidate should apply the provision of the N.E.C. in accordance with the procedures stipulated for normal circumstances.
The Electrical Contractors Certification exam is offered in two parts: a Business section (50 scored test questions, 2 œ hours) and a Technical/Safety section (100 scored test questions, 5 1/2 hours). These two examination parts may include five or more additional pilot questions that will not be scored for or against you. Both parts are open-book exams.
The questions are based on the content outlines listed on the following pages which are separated for each examination. Candidates should use appropriate content outlines when studying the suggested references provided later in this booklet. It is suggested that each candidate become familiar with using the references, so that s/he can find the information necessary to answer the questions within a minimal amount of time. Candidates are strongly encouraged to bring the references for their specific specialty to the exam site to be used during the examination.
(This Part Required of All Certifications)
| Time limit: | 5 hours |
| Subjects | Question Amount |
| General Theory and Electrical Principles | 17 - 19 |
| Plan and Specification Reading and Interpretation | 18 - 20 |
| Wiring and Protection | 02 - 04 |
| Wiring Methods and Materials | 02 - 04 |
| Special Occupancies and Situations | 00 - 02 |
| OSHA, Safety, Procedures for Testing and Use of Tools and Equipment | 08 - 10 |
| Life Safety and Americans with Disabilities Act | 04 - 06 |
| Limited Energy/ Low Voltage | 06 - 08 |
| Central Station Facilities and Signaling | 06 - 08 |
| Premises Protective Signaling Systems | 06 - 08 |
| Initiating Devices | 12 - 14 |
| Burglar Alarms | 07 - 09 |
| Total Number of Questions | 100 |
*Exams scores are valid for three (3) years
RN20 - UL 681: Installation and Classification of Burglar and Holdup Alarm Systems, text and amendments. This text is available as a PDF file free of charge to exam eligible Alarm One, Alarm Two, and Unlimited candidates only. (See RN21 also). Please email your request for a single copy of UL 681 and UL 365 to ElectricalContractors.Reference@myfloridalicense.com Make one combined request for UL 681 and UL 365.
RN21 - UL 365: Police Station Connected Burglar Alarm Units and Systems, text and amendments. This text is available as a PDF file free of charge to exam eligible Alarm One, Alarm Two, and Unlimited candidates only. Please email your request for a single copy of UL 681 and UL 365 to ElectricalContractors.Reference@myfloridalicense.com Make one combined request for UL 681 and UL 365.
A "certified contractor" is a statewide contractor licensed at the state level. Certified license numbers begin with the letter "C".
A "registered contractor" is a contractor who has a county license (or multiple) who then had to register that license with the state because it was a major trade. Registered contractors can only work in the county in which they have a competency card. Registered contractors are designated by an occupation code which begins with the letter "R".
The Construction Industry Licensing Board does not have a reciprocal agreement with any other state, but applicable out-of-state work history will work toward your experience requirements.
The Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board will allow reciprocation for the Unlimited License with North Carolina, California, and Georgia. *restrictions apply
Experience is valid no matter where it was done as long as it was done legally in that area at that time and projects meet the minimum requirements.
For Construction Licenses, no one needs to sign. The Board requests project details now that meet certain requirements.
For Electrical Licenses if you worked under a Florida License holder who is willing to sign, your application will not require project details for that time frame. If the individual won’t or can’t sign, then notarized letters and project details are able to be submitted in its place.
There are a number of variables that can come into this. It depends on the severity, number of incidences and how recent these incidences are. Call us to learn more.
No, we don't have direct access to your background records as they are only made available to the Construction Industry Licensing Board; however, there are sources for obtaining your background history. If the incident in question was in Florida, you can purchase a report from FDLE (approx. $25), or if it’s outside Florida, you can obtain a full FBI background report (approx. $50).
Construction licenses do not require a minimum net worth. Instead, the requirement is based on your credit. Applicants with a FICO or BEACON score lower than 660 will require a financial stability bond. In addition, an applicant must be free of unresolved liens/bankruptcies/judgments to be eligible for licensure.
Electrical licenses do require minimums:
The applicant must have a positive net worth, regardless of which license they apply. EC, EG, and EF licenses require a $10,000 net worth of the business entity if there is one. All Specialty Electric Licenses require $5,000 net worth of the business.
The Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board does not allow the license holder to alleviate financial responsibility unless they are a secondary qualifier.
The Construction Industry Licensing Board will allow for a license holder to alleviate their financial responsibility by designating a third party, but this does not alleviate the financial stability requirement of a public record search and bond if they do not meet a minimum score.
General Liability should be in place for the license to be issued.
Since Worker’s Compensation Exemptions are filed after the license is issued, the state gives you up to 30 days after the issuance to have Worker’s Comp in place.
Certified Contractors need to complete 14 hours board-approved continuing education every 2 years by August 31stof an even-numbered year.
Registered Contractors renew in odd-numbered years by August 31st.
If a new report that meets the state’s requirement of 660 or higher is available, you can submit that to the state and the bond will not need to be renewed.
No, the only time this information is provided to the board is in the course of submitting an application.
No, you must license the Fictitious Name separately from the owner.
No, you would have to apply to qualify the joint venture just like you would any other business
Yes, but the joint venture must obtain approval of the Construction Industry Licensing Board’s Executive Director prior to submitting the bid on a construction project. The joint venture must provide the Executive Director a copy of the written joint venture agreement and a statement of authority signed by an officer of each company giving the proposed qualifying agent full authority to conduct the contracting business of the joint venture.