Florida Building Contractor License: Scope, Experience and Exams

The certified building contractor (CBC) license sits between the residential and general contractor licenses. It covers most commercial work a mid-size builder does, up to three stories, and any remodel that leaves the structure alone. Its experience rules are the same commercial rules a GC faces, without the four-story requirement. That makes it the license many commercial superintendents and project managers qualify for first.

What a building contractor may do

F.S. 489.105(3)(b) defines a building contractor as one whose services are limited to:

• "construction of commercial buildings and single-dwelling or multiple-dwelling residential buildings, which do not exceed three stories in height, and accessory use structures in connection therewith," or
• "remodeling, repair, or improvement of any size building if the services do not affect the structural members of the building."

So a CBC can build a new three-story office or apartment building, and can renovate the interior of a 20-story tower as long as no structural members are affected. A new four-story building, or structural work on a building taller than three stories, requires a general contractor license.

The same trade rules apply as for any Division I contractor (F.S. 489.113(3)): electrical, mechanical, plumbing, roofing, sheet metal, pool and air-conditioning work must be subcontracted unless you hold that trade license. A BC may do site work (clearing, grubbing, grading, excavation) only on the lot where its building sits, while a GC may do site work on any project.

Certified vs registered

A certified building contractor may work in any Florida jurisdiction (F.S. 489.105(8)). A registered building contractor has met a local jurisdiction's competency requirements and may contract only there (F.S. 489.105(10)). The state exams described below lead to certification.

Eligibility and the commercial experience rule

You must be 18 or older, of good moral character, and meet one experience path in F.S. 489.111(2)(c): a degree in civil engineering, building construction or architecture plus 1 year; 4 years as a skilled worker or foreman with at least 1 year as foreman; or a combination of college credit and experience. A year is 2,000 person-hours.

Rule 61G4-15.001(2)(a) defines BC experience the same way as GC experience. It must be commercial construction, not accessory structures like sheds, garages, barns or carports, and must include four or more of:

1. Foundations or slabs larger than 20,000 square feet
2. Masonry walls
3. Steel erection
4. Elevated slabs
5. Column erection
6. Formwork for structural reinforced concrete

Unlike the GC, a BC applicant does not need a year on a four-story building. Residential framing experience on single-family homes does not meet this definition; that experience fits the residential contractor license.

Upgrade paths

• An active certified residential contractor with 3 years of proven experience in that classification can become a certified building contractor after passing the BC exams (F.S. 489.111(2)(c)4.a).
• An active certified building contractor with 4 years of proven experience in that classification can become a certified general contractor after passing the GC exams (F.S. 489.111(2)(c)4.c), without the separate four-story requirement.

If you already hold a contractor license, PTI's instructions say you will not retake Business and Finance (unless your current license is pool/spa servicing).

Financial, insurance and background requirements

• Credit report with no unsatisfied judgments or liens, and a FICO-derived score of 660 or higher or a Board-approved 14-hour financial responsibility course (Rule 61G4-15.006).
• Affidavit of workers' compensation, public liability and property damage insurance (F.S. 489.115(5)). Minimum for a building contractor: $300,000 liability, $50,000 property damage (Rule 61G4-15.003).
• Fingerprints for state and federal background checks (F.S. 489.115(9)).
• 14 hours of continuing education each renewal cycle after licensure (F.S. 489.115(4)(b)).

Exams required

The BC exams are shorter than the GC exams (50 questions instead of 60) but get the same 4.5 hours, and they draw from the same GC/BC/RC reference list. Content weights are close to the GC outline. For example, Construction Methods, Materials, Tools and Equipment is 64% of BC Project Management. See the building contractor exam guide for the full breakdown.

Exam volume

Pearson VUE exam performance reports for the Florida DBPR construction exams:

That is about a quarter of the GC volume, so fewer prep products target the BC exams specifically, even though the references are the same.

Reference books (titles only)

The 2026 GC/BC/RC list: AIA A201, A401 and A701; OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926; Contractors Manual; Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction; Energy Efficient Building Construction in Florida; BCSI truss bracing guide; and the Florida Building Code volumes for Building, Accessibility, Residential, Existing Building and Energy Conservation. Check DBPR's current list for editions before buying.

Fees

Step by step

1. Document four of the six commercial experience areas and your foreman year.
2. Register with PTI online and pay $135.
3. Schedule each exam with Pearson VUE (available within 72 hours of PTI approval).
4. Assemble bound, original references; permanent tabs only.
5. Pass all three exams within four years of your first scheduled exam, with 21 days between attempts.
6. Apply to DBPR with your credit report, insurance affidavit, fingerprints and experience proof.

FAQ

What is the difference between a building contractor and a general contractor in Florida?

Height and structure. A BC can build new buildings up to three stories and remodel any size building if the structural members are not affected. A GC has no limit. The GC also needs one year of experience on a building of four or more stories.

Can a building contractor build a single-family home?

Yes. The BC definition includes single-dwelling residential buildings up to three stories.

Can I use residential experience for a building contractor license?

Not on its own. Rule 61G4-15.001 requires commercial construction experience in four of six areas. A certified residential contractor can upgrade to BC after 3 years of proven experience in that license.

How long does it take to become a certified building contractor?

At least 4 years of qualifying experience on the standard path, or a degree plus 1 year. After PTI approves you, exams can be booked within days, but each retake requires a 21-day wait.

How many questions do I need right on the BC exams?

35 of 50 on each BC part and 84 of 120 on Business and Finance. Scores are not rounded.

Prepare for Business and Finance first

Business and Finance is the longest of your three exams and the same one GC and RC candidates take. Our Florida Business and Finance Exam Prep gives you 90 days of original practice questions with worked explanations. See also percentage of completion and construction lien law.