Scope

General Contractor means a contractor whose services are unlimited as to the type of work which he or she may do, who may contract for any activity requiring licensure under this part, and who may perform any work requiring licensure under this part, except as otherwise expressly provided in s. 489.113.

 

What are the Requirements to Become a General Contractor in Florida?

Here is what you need to get your GC license in Florida:

General Contractor Requisites

Have experience in the trade

Age: Must be at least 18 years of age.

Examination: Must take and pass the state certification examinations (Contract Administration, Project Management, and Business). Please note that the application process cannot be started until the exams are taken and passing scores are obtained.

Financial / Credit: Applicants will need to provide proof of financial stability and responsibility by submitting personal credit reports. Credit reports must include a FICO derived credit score and indicate that local, state and federal records have been searched. Credit report containing a credit score (FICO derived) on applicant from a nationally recognized credit reporting agency, which includes a public records statement that records have been checked at local, state, and federal levels. If credit score is below 660 (FICO derived) applicant must submit a bond or irrevocable letter of credit. Note that Fifty percent (50%) of the bond or letter of credit requirement may be met by completion of a 14-hour financial responsibility course.

Fingerprints: An applicant must have a background check as part of the licensing process.

Insurance: Applicants are required to attest that they have obtained public liability and property damage insurance in the amounts determined by Board rule. Applicants are also required to obtain workers compensation insurance or obtain an exemption from worker’s compensation insurance within 30 days of issuance of their license.

 

Ways to prove your General Contractor's Experience

• Work Experience and/or education
• Four-year construction-related degree from an accredited college (equivalent to three years’ experience) and one year proven experience applicable to the category for which you are applying.
• One year experience as a foreman and not less than three years of credits from accredited college-level courses.
• One year experience as a worker, one-year experience as a foreman, and two years of credits from accredited college-level courses.
• Two years’ experience as a worker, one year experience as a foreman, and one year of credits from accredited college-level courses.
• Four years’ experience as a worker or foreman of which at least one year must have been as a foreman.
• Be a certified residential or building contractor holding an active current license for a minimum of 4 years.

• Military service
• Three years of military service and one year experience as a foreman applicable to the category for which you are applying.
• Two years of military service, one year experience as a foreman, and one year experience as a worker or foreman applicable to the category for which you are applying.
• One year of military service, one year experience as a foreman, and two years experience as a worker or foreman applicable to the category for which you are applying.

 

Areas of Construction which satisfy GC Experience Requirements

Must have at least one year of experience in the new construction of habitable structures at least four stories in height.

Applicants for the Certified General Contractor License must have experience in four or more of the experience areas listed below:

• Foundation/Slabs greater than 20,000 sqft.
• Masonry walls
• Steel erection
• Column erection
• Formwork for structural reinforced concrete
• Elevated slabs

 

Examination Outline

All Florida General Contractor candidates are required to pass the Business and Finance Examination and the Building Contractor Trade Examinations administered by Pearson Vue. The General Contractor Trade Examination is a two part exam: 1) Contract Administration and 2) Project Management.

 

Contract Administration

The Contract Administration portion of the examination will be administered daily in Computer Based Testing (CBT) format. The examination will consist of 60 equally weighted questions (plus 5 pilot questions) covering the management and operation activities of a construction company. You will have 4.5 hours to complete the exam and must score a 70% in order to pass.

You should be prepared to respond to examination questions on any of the content areas listed in the below links:

General Contractors Contract Administration Examination Content Information

 

Project Management

The Project Management portion of the examination will be administered daily in Computer Based Testing (CBT) format. The examination will consist of 60 equally weighted questions (plus 5 pilot questions) covering managing, controlling, and conducting a specific project. You will have 4.5 hours to complete the exam and must score a 70% in order to pass.

You should be prepared to respond to examination questions on any of the content areas listed in the below links:

General Contractors Project Management Examination Content Information

 

To speak to a Pearson Vue customer service representative about an exam reservation, please call 888-204-6230

 

Approved References

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.

1. A201 General Conditions of the Contract for Construction, 2017
2. A401 Standard Form of Agreement between Contractor-Subcontractor, 2017
3. A701 Instructions to Bidders, 2018
4. Code of Federal Regulations, (OSHA) 29 Part 1926
5. Contractors Manual, 2017
6. Energy Efficient Building Construction in Florida, 10th Ed., 2020
7. Building Component Safety Information: BCSI-ED2-D “Guide to Good Practices for Handling, Installing and Bracing of Metal Connected Wood Trusses”, 2018
8. Florida Building Code - Building, 2020
9. Florida Building Code - Accessibility, 2020
10. Florida Building Code - Residential, 2020
11. Florida Building Code – Existing Building, 2020
12. Florida Building Code – Energy Conservation, 2020

The following books are NOT allowed into the examination center:

13. Builder's Guide to Accounting, Michael C. Thomsett, Copyright 2001
14. Building Estimator’s Reference Book, Walker’s, 31st Edition, 2017
15. Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, Steven H. Kosmatka, Beatrix Kerkhoff and William C. Panarese, 16th Edition, 2016
16. Placing Reinforcing Bars, 9th or 10th Edition
17. Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction, Ronald C. Smith and Cameron K. Andres, 10th Edition, 2019
18. Application and Finishing of Gypsum Panel Products, GA-216, 2018 Edition.

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.