Alarm contractors in Florida are licensed by the Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board (ECLB), not the Construction Industry Licensing Board. That means a different statute (Part II of Chapter 489), different exams, a 75% passing score instead of 70%, and no CILB Business and Finance exam. There are two certified levels: Alarm System Contractor I and Alarm System Contractor II.
Alarm I vs Alarm II
F.S. 489.505(1) defines an alarm system as "any electrical device, signaling device, or combination of electrical devices used to signal or detect a burglary, fire, robbery, or medical emergency."
| Alarm System Contractor I | Alarm System Contractor II | |
|---|---|---|
| Statute | 489.505(2)(a) | 489.505(2)(b) |
| Scope | "All types of alarm systems for all purposes" | All types of alarm systems "other than fire" |
| Fire alarm work | Yes | No |
| Experience rule | At least 40% of work experience in commercial-type fire alarm systems (489.511(1)(d)) | No fire alarm percentage |
| Technical exam | 100 questions, 5 hours | 100 questions, 5 hours |
Scope limits for certified alarm contractors
F.S. 489.505(7) limits certification to alarm circuits originating in the alarm control panel and equipment governed by the applicable NEC articles (722, 725, 760, 770, 800 and 810) and NFPA 72. It also includes wiring and equipment up to 98 volts (RMS) for data, proprietary video, central vacuum, surveillance cameras and electric locks, while noting that this part does not create a mandatory licensing requirement.
Certified vs registered
A certificate under Part II is "geographically unlimited" (489.505(4)). The statute also defines registered alarm system contractor I and II (489.505(21)-(22)) and a registered residential alarm system contractor limited to burglar alarms in single-family, quadruplex and mobile home residential occupancies (489.505(23)); registrants may contract only in the jurisdictions for which their registration is issued.
Eligibility
F.S. 489.511(1): you must be at least 18, of good moral character, pass the exam, and meet one of these:
- within the last 6 years, 3 years of proven management experience in the trade (up to half may be education equivalent)
- within the last 8 years, 4 years as a supervisor or contractor in the trade, or 4 years as a supervisor in electrical or alarm work with the U.S. Armed Forces
- within the last 12 years, 6 years of comprehensive training, technical education or supervisory experience with an electrical or alarm contracting business (or comparable military or government experience)
- within the last 12 years, 3 years licensed as a professional engineer qualified in electrical engineering
- any combination of the first three totaling 6 years
The exams
All ECLB candidates take a Business exam and a Technical/Safety exam. Both are open book, computer-based at Pearson VUE, and require 75% to pass.
| Exam | Scored questions | Time | Passing score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Business (shared by all ECLB categories) | 50 | 2.5 hours | 75% |
| Alarm I or Alarm II Technical/Safety | 100 | 5 hours | 75% |
Technical outline: where Alarm I and II differ
| Subject | Alarm I | Alarm II |
|---|---|---|
| General theory and electrical principles | 17 to 19 | 14 to 16 |
| Plan and specification reading | 18 to 20 | 18 to 20 |
| Initiating devices | 12 to 14 | 7 to 9 |
| Burglar alarms | 7 to 9 | 12 to 14 |
| Central station facilities and signaling | 6 to 8 | 6 to 8 |
| Premises protective signaling systems | 6 to 8 | 7 to 9 |
| Limited energy / low voltage | 6 to 8 | 6 to 8 |
| OSHA, safety and testing | 8 to 10 | 8 to 10 |
| Life safety and ADA | 4 to 6 | 4 to 6 |
| Wiring, methods, special occupancies | 4 to 10 combined | 6 to 12 combined |
Alarm I leans toward initiating devices (the fire side); Alarm II puts more weight on burglar alarms.
Reference list overview
The ECLB publishes one reference list for all eight electrical certifications, with a column showing which titles apply to each. Alarm-related titles on the list include NFPA 72 (National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code), the Fire Alarm Signaling Systems Handbook, NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code), UL 681 and UL 365, Telecommunication Wiring and the NTC Blue Book Low Voltage Systems, alongside NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code), OSHA 29 CFR and the ADA guidelines. Check the columns for Alarm I or Alarm II on the current list, since several editions change on August 21, 2027.
The Business exam draws on the Florida Contractors Manual chapters covering lien law, workers' compensation, Circular E, accounting, bonding and Chapter 489 Part II.
Exam volume
Pearson VUE exam performance reports show 127 graded Alarm I technical attempts in 2025 (58 first attempts, 34% first-time pass rate state-wide) and 48 Alarm II attempts (23 first attempts, 39%). The shared Electrical Business exam had a 63% first-time pass rate. The technical exams are where most alarm candidates struggle.
Steps
- Choose Alarm I (includes fire) or Alarm II (no fire).
- Document experience under 489.511; for Alarm I, show the 40% commercial fire alarm share.
- Apply to DBPR and, once approved, schedule both exams with Pearson VUE.
- Pass each part with 75%.
- Complete the certification application with the ECLB.
FAQ
Do alarm contractors take the CILB Business and Finance exam? No. ECLB candidates take the 50-question Electrical Business exam instead.
Can an Alarm II contractor install smoke detectors on a fire panel? No. Alarm II covers all alarm systems other than fire.
Is the passing score really 75%? Yes. The ECLB candidate booklet sets 75% for both the Business and Technical/Safety sections.
Next step
See the Florida electrical license page for how the ECLB categories fit together, and the Florida electrical exam page for exam logistics.