Electrical contractors in Florida are not licensed by the Construction Industry Licensing Board. They are licensed by a separate board, the Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board (ECLB), under Part II of Chapter 489, with its own rules in Chapter 61G6, F.A.C. The ECLB has its own exams too: a 50-question Business exam and a 100-question Technical/Safety exam, both requiring 75%, not the 70% used on construction exams. Electrical candidates do not take the CILB Business and Finance exam.
The electrical certifications
Rule 61G6-6.001 lists the ECLB certification exams. The 2026 Candidate Information Booklet (CIB) covers these eight:
| Certification | Scope (summary) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited electrical contractor (EC) | All electrical wiring, fixtures, apparatus and systems that generate, transmit, transform or use electrical energy, including plants and substations | F.S. 489.505 |
| Residential electrical contractor | 1 to 4 family residences up to 2 stories and their accessory structures; service limited to single phase, 400 amp single service | Rule 61G6-7.001(3) |
| Alarm system contractor I | All types of alarm systems for all purposes (fire and burglar) | F.S. 489.505(2)(a) |
| Alarm system contractor II | All alarm systems other than fire | F.S. 489.505(2)(b) |
| Limited energy systems specialty | Wiring and equipment not exceeding 98 volts RMS, including fiber optics; excludes alarm systems | Rule 61G6-7.001(4) |
| Sign specialty | Fabrication, foundations, erection, installation, service and wiring of electrical signs and outline lighting, up to the last disconnect; limited service for remote billboards (25 kW at 250 V max) | Rule 61G6-7.001(2) |
| Lighting maintenance specialty | Installation, repair, alteration or replacement of lighting fixtures on buildings, signs, billboards, roadways and parking lots, not beyond the last supply source or disconnect | Rule 61G6-7.001(1) |
| Utility line electrical contractor | Transmission and distribution circuits and substation construction for investor-owned, municipal and cooperative utilities, between point of origin and point of delivery | Rule 61G6-7.001(5) |
Rule 61G6-6.001 and Rule 61G6-7.001 also list a two-way radio communications enhancement systems specialty, which the 2026 CIB does not include in its exam tables. If that is your category, confirm its exam with DBPR.
Certified vs registered
F.S. 489.505 defines a "certificate" as "a geographically unlimited certificate of competency." A certified electrical contractor may work anywhere in Florida. A registered electrical contractor has met a local jurisdiction's competency requirements and "may contract only in the jurisdiction for which his or her registration is issued."
Eligibility
Under F.S. 489.511(1), anyone 18 or older may take the exam. To be certified you must be of good moral character, pass the exam, and meet one of these experience paths:
| Path | Requirement | Look-back window |
|---|---|---|
| a | 3 years of proven management experience in the trade, or education equivalent (no more than half may be education) | Within the last 6 years |
| b | 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 8 years |
| c | 6 years of comprehensive training, technical education or supervisory experience with an electrical or alarm contracting business, or 6 years of technical experience with the Armed Forces or a government entity | Within the last 12 years |
| d | Licensed 3 years as a professional engineer qualified in electrical engineering | Within the last 12 years |
| e | Any combination of a to c totaling 6 years |
Rule 61G6-5.003 adds a mix requirement under paths a to c:
- Unlimited electrical: at least 40% of the experience must be 3-phase service work.
- Alarm I: at least 40% in fire alarm systems.
- Alarm II: at least 40% in alarm systems other than fire.
An engineering degree may substitute for 1 year of experience on path a. Specialty applicants must show 6 years of comprehensive training, technical education or broad experience in the specialty (Rule 61G6-7.001).
You document experience with a list of representative contracts, or with an employer verification from a Florida certified electrical, alarm or specialty contractor, plus third-party statements and W-2s (Rule 61G6-5.003(3)). Alarm I applicants with a current NICET Level III or higher certification may submit that instead of a contract list.
Financial requirements and insurance
- Credit report on the applicant, from a recognized credit bureau and dated within 12 months, covering liens, judgments, suits and bankruptcy (Rule 61G6-5.003(2)).
- Business organizations must also provide a GAAP financial statement showing minimum net worth of $10,000 for unlimited electrical and alarm contractors or $5,000 for specialty contractors, plus a credit report on the business (Rule 61G6-5.004).
- Insurance (Rule 61G6-5.008): liability of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence, plus $500,000 property damage (both including completed operations and products), or an $800,000 combined single limit. Workers' compensation or a valid exemption is also required.
Exams required
All eight certifications take the same Business exam and a certification-specific Technical/Safety exam, both computer-based at Pearson VUE.
| Part | Scored questions | Time | To pass | Open book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business | 50 | 2.5 hours | 75% | Yes |
| Technical/Safety | 100 | 5 hours | 75% | Yes |
Each part may include five or more unscored pilot questions. The Business exam covers cash flow, estimating, contracts, insurance and bonding, contracting law, personnel, payroll and sales tax, and financial statements. Technical/Safety outlines differ by certification; the unlimited exam, for example, puts 19 to 21 questions on general theory and 14 to 16 on alarms and limited energy. See the electrical exam guide for every outline.
Retakes
You get three attempts at the Business exam; after three failures you reapply to DBPR. For Technical/Safety, you must reapply for a new authorization after each failure (CIB).
Exam volume
Pearson VUE exam performance reports for the Florida DBPR electrical exams show how hard the technical exams are:
| Exam | 2025 attempts | 2025 first-time pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Business (all certifications) | 1,338 | 63% |
| Unlimited Technical/Safety | 1,356 | 33% |
| Limited Energy Technical/Safety | 156 | 36% |
| Alarm I Technical/Safety | 127 | 34% |
| Residential Technical/Safety | 88 | 24% |
| Alarm II Technical/Safety | 48 | 39% |
References (titles only)
The ECLB reference list assigns books by certification. The Business exam uses the Florida Contractors Manual (a bound PDF of its index is allowed) and the materials collected in it: unemployment compensation handbook, workers' compensation law, construction lien law, Circular E, accounting, Chapter 489 Part II and 61G6, bonding, contracting, Fair Labor Standards Act guide and OSHA recordkeeping. Technical references include OSHA 29 CFR (1926, 1910, 1904), NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code), NFPA 72, NFPA 780, NFPA 101, the Fire Alarm Signaling Systems Handbook, UL 681 and UL 365, the National Electrical Safety Code, the Lineman's and Cableman's Handbook and the NTC Blue Book, among others. Several editions change on August 21, 2027, so check the current CIB.
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Business exam administration | $41.25 | DBPR CBT fee schedule (eff. 1/3/2023) |
| Technical/Safety exam administration | $82.50 | Same |
| Review of a failed exam | $35 | Same |
The DBPR application and licensing fees are separate; check the current ECLB application.
Step by step
- Choose your certification and confirm your experience fits one path, including the 40% 3-phase or alarm mix where required.
- Apply to DBPR (ECLB) with your experience documentation and credit report.
- After approval, schedule each part with Pearson VUE.
- Prepare references: original editions, bound; permanently attached tabs are allowed, removable tabs and notes are not.
- Pass both parts at 75%.
- Provide proof of insurance and, if you will contract through a company, qualify the business.
FAQ
What is the passing score for the Florida electrical exam?
75% on each part (Rule 61G6-6.001 and the CIB). That is 38 of 50 on Business and 75 of 100 on Technical/Safety.
How long does it take to get an electrical contractor license in Florida?
The shortest experience path is 3 years of management experience within the last 6 years (path a). Path b requires 4 years as a supervisor or contractor within the last 8 years.
Can I get a Florida electrical contractor license without being a journeyman?
Florida's ECLB certification is based on the experience paths in F.S. 489.511, not a state journeyman card. You still need documented supervisory, management or technical experience.
Do electricians take the Florida Business and Finance exam?
No. ECLB candidates take the ECLB Business exam (50 questions, 75%). It uses many of the same references as the CILB Business and Finance exam.
Is the Florida electrical exam open book?
Yes. Both parts are open book.
Can an alarm II contractor install fire alarms?
No. Alarm system contractor II covers all alarm systems other than fire.
Next step
If you are still deciding between electrical and construction licenses, start with the Florida contractor licensing overview. Our Florida electrical exam prep is in development; join the waitlist on this page to hear when it opens.
Sources
- F.S. 489.505 Definitions, Part II (2026)
- F.S. 489.511 Certification; application; examinations (2026)
- Rule 61G6-5.003 F.A.C., Requirements for Certification
- Rule 61G6-5.004 F.A.C., Requirement for Business Organizations
- Rule 61G6-5.008 F.A.C., Public Liability and Workers' Compensation Insurance
- Rule 61G6-6.001 F.A.C., Certification Examination Requirements
- Rule 61G6-7.001 F.A.C., Specialty Electrical Contractors
- DBPR Candidate Information Booklet, Electrical Contractors (Effective February 2026)
- DBPR CBT Examination Administration and Review Fees (eff. 1/3/2023)