The Business and Finance (B&F) exam is the one test every Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) candidate takes, whether you are going for a general, building or residential license or a Division II specialty. It does not test how to build. It tests how to run a contracting business: accounting, payroll, contracts, lien law, insurance, and state and federal rules. Here is what DBPR says about the format and how to prepare for it.
Exam details can change. Check the current DBPR documents before you test.
The format at a glance
| Item | B&F exam |
|---|---|
| Scored questions | 120 (60 for Swimming Pool/Spa Servicing candidates) |
| Time | 6.5 hours, one session |
| Question type | Multiple choice, four options, all equally weighted |
| Delivery | Computer-based, offered daily at Pearson VUE test centers |
| Books | Open book, approved references only |
| Passing score | 70%, not rounded |
| Fees | $135 to Professional Testing, Inc. plus $80 to Pearson VUE |
The exam may include unscored pilot questions. DBPR's FAQ says the 6 hours 30 minutes includes time for pilot items. The on-screen tutorial does not count against your exam time.
Passing score: 84 out of 120
The CIB states that the minimum passing score is 70% and that scores on the construction exams "are NOT rounded to the nearest percent." The math:
- 84 / 120 = 0.7000 = 70.00%, a pass
- 83 / 120 = 0.6917 = 69.17%, a fail
So you need 84 correct answers. You can miss 36.
Content areas and weights
DBPR's Examination Content Information (ECI) divides the exam into six areas. The ECI publishes percentages, not question counts, and says each area's share "may vary by as much as plus or minus three (3) percent." The counts below are our arithmetic (weight x 120, rounded).
| Area | Title | Weight | About this many questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Establishing the Contracting Business | 11% | 13 |
| B | Managing Administrative Duties | 26% | 31 |
| C | Managing Trade Operations | 10% | 12 |
| D | Conducting Accounting Functions | 32% | 38 |
| E | Managing Human Resources | 6% | 7 |
| F | Complying with Government Regulations | 15% | 18 |
Rounded counts add to 119, not 120, and the ±3% tolerance means any area can run a few questions higher or lower on your exam. Treat them as a guide to where your study time goes. Areas B and D together are about 58% of the exam.
What each area covers, in short:
- A: business structures, licensing requirements, business plans, insurance and bonding, lease vs. buy.
- B: estimating and bidding, contracts, pay requests and draws, scheduling, subcontractor management.
- C: job-site operations, materials and equipment, safety and quality.
- D: accounting records, accounts receivable and payable, cash flow, financial statements and ratios, job costing, payroll, tax forms. See our guides to percentage of completion and payroll tax.
- E: hiring, employee records, wage and hour rules, workers' compensation.
- F: federal and state regulation, including Chapter 489, Chapter 455, construction lien law, retainage and OSHA recordkeeping.
Approved references
The B&F reference list in force for 2026 and 2027 names six references:
| Ref | Title |
|---|---|
| R1 | Florida Statutes Chapter 455 (a bound PDF printout is allowed) |
| R37 | Builder's Guide to Accounting (Craftsman, 2001) |
| R50 | Contractors Manual (includes Circular E) |
| R5 | AIA A201, General Conditions of the Contract for Construction (2017) |
| R6 | AIA A401, Contractor-Subcontractor Agreement (2017) |
| R7 | AIA A701, Instructions to Bidders (2018) |
Editions change on dates printed on the list. The 2027 list moves to the 2026 edition of Chapter 455 beginning March 1, 2027, and the Contractors Manual edition changed during 2026. Check the current list before you buy.
Rules for your books
From the reference list and the CIB:
- Books must be original editions and must stay bound. Only R1 may be a printed PDF, and it must be in a binder or spiral, not stapled.
- Highlighting and underlining are allowed.
- Handwritten or typed notes are not allowed. Existing notes must be blacked out or removed.
- Permanent tabs with only normal chapter or page headings are allowed. Removable tabs and Post-it flags are not.
- You may not mark the books during the exam. One copy of each reference only.
What to bring on test day
- Two forms of signature ID, one of them government issued with a photo. Your name must match your registration.
- Your approved reference books.
- A silent, hand-held, battery-operated, nonprinting calculator without an alphabetic keypad.
- Arrive 30 minutes early. Personal items go in a locker. Drinks in spill-proof containers are allowed; food is not allowed in the exam room.
To cancel or reschedule without penalty, Pearson VUE says you must do it two full calendar days before the appointment.
Score report, review and retakes
You receive an official photo-bearing score report at the test center as soon as you finish.
If you fail, you can request a review of the questions you missed within 21 days of the exam, through Pearson VUE. The review fee is $35.
To retake, you reapply with Professional Testing, Inc. and pay $135 again, plus $80 to Pearson VUE. The CILB FAQ says you must wait 21 days between attempts. You must pass all parts of your license exam within four years of your first scheduled exam date, with unlimited attempts in that window. You only retake the parts you failed.
How to use an open-book exam well
Open book does not mean easy. 120 questions in 390 minutes is about 3 minutes and 15 seconds per question, and looking things up is slow.
- Know the math cold. Payroll taxes, percentage of completion, retainage, ratios and depreciation should take seconds, not book searches.
- Learn where things live. Know which reference covers each topic so you go to the right book first.
- Highlight before test day. You cannot mark books in the room, so do your highlighting while you study.
- Use permanent index tabs. Tab the chapters you use most with permanent tabs that carry only chapter or section headings.
- Answer what you know first. Mark lookup questions for review and come back. The test screen shows answered, unanswered and marked questions.
FAQ
How many questions are on the Florida B&F exam?
120 scored questions (60 for pool/spa servicing candidates), plus possible unscored pilot items.
How long is the exam?
6.5 hours in one session.
What score do I need to pass?
70%, which is 84 of 120. Scores are not rounded, so 83 fails.
Can I bring my own notes?
No. Only approved, bound references with highlighting or underlining. No notes and no removable tabs.
When are results available?
Immediately. You get a printed score report before you leave the test center.
Do I need to retake B&F if I add another license category later?
The CIB says candidates applying in an additional category may be exempt from retaking B&F. Confirm with DBPR for your situation.
Prepare with practice questions
Our Florida Business and Finance Exam Prep is built around the six DBPR content areas. You get 90 days of access to original practice questions with step-by-step explanations, each tied to the statute or reference that supports the answer. New to licensing? Start with how to get a contractor license in Florida.
Practice questions
A contractor uses the cost-to-cost percentage-of-completion method on a $1,200,000 contract with estimated total costs of $960,000. Costs incurred to date are $360,000. How much contract revenue has been earned to date?
- A$360,000
- B$288,000
- C$450,000
- D$90,000
Show answer
Answer: C. Percent complete = $360,000 / $960,000 = 37.5%. Revenue earned = 37.5% x $1,200,000 = $450,000. Using costs incurred alone ($360,000) ignores the profit margin built into the contract.
Source: 26 U.S.C. 460(b)(1)(A) (cost-to-cost measure)
A Florida subcontractor not in privity with the owner must serve its Notice to Owner:
- AWithin 90 days after final furnishing
- BWithin 10 days after signing the subcontract
- CBefore commencing or within 45 days after commencing to furnish labor, services, or materials
- DOnly after the contractor fails to pay
Show answer
Answer: C. F.S. 713.06 requires the notice before, or not later than 45 days after, commencing to furnish (and before the owner's final payment to the contractor). The 90-day figure is the claim-of-lien recording deadline.
Source: F.S. 713.06(2)(a)
Form 941 (Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return) for the first quarter is generally due by:
- AMarch 31
- BApril 15
- CJanuary 31
- DApril 30
Show answer
Answer: D. Pub 15's calendar lists quarterly Form 941 due dates of April 30, July 31, October 31, and January 31. April 15 is the individual income tax deadline.
Source: IRS Pub 15, Calendar
On a Florida public contract, a local government withholds retainage of 5% under F.S. 218.735(8). A progress payment request is for $64,000 of work. The amount withheld as retainage is at most:
- A$3,200
- B$6,400
- C$640
- D$4,800
Show answer
Answer: A. The statute limits retainage to no more than 5% of each progress payment: $64,000 x 0.05 = $3,200. $6,400 reflects the 10% rate used on many private contracts and under older public-contract rules.
Source: F.S. 218.735(8)(a)
These are from our bank of 466 original questions. Get the full Florida Business & Finance prep.
Sources
- DBPR B&F Examination Content Information (Rev. Oct 2009)
- DBPR Examinations at a Glance (Updated June 2024)
- DBPR Candidate Information Booklet, Construction (Effective July 2024)
- B&F CBT Reference List, valid 2026
- B&F CBT Reference List, valid 2027
- PTI Examination Registration Instructions and Application 2026
- DBPR CBT Examination Administration and Review Fees (eff. 1/3/2023)
- DBPR CILB FAQ, Examination Scheduling and Fees (2012)
- Pearson VUE: Florida DBPR Construction