How to Get a Contractor License in Florida

Florida licenses construction contractors at the state level through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Most building trades fall under the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB). Electrical contractors have their own board. This guide walks through the license types, the exams each one requires, the eligibility rules in the statute, and the order of steps from application to license.

Licensing rules and fees change. Before you apply, check the current statute and the DBPR website.

Certified vs. registered contractors

Florida Statutes section 489.105 defines two kinds of license:

In the statute's words, a certified contractor "shall be allowed to contract in any jurisdiction in the state without being required to fulfill the competency requirements of that jurisdiction." A registered contractor "may contract only in such jurisdictions" where the local competency requirement was met. If you want to work statewide, you want certification, and that means the state exams.

Division I, Division II, and electrical

Section 489.105 splits CILB contractors into two divisions:

• Division I: general contractor, building contractor, and residential contractor.
• Division II: the specialty trades, such as roofing, sheet metal, air-conditioning (Class A, B, C), mechanical, plumbing, pool and spa, and others listed in the statute.

Electrical contractors are not part of the CILB divisions. Part II of Chapter 489 creates the Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board (ECLB) (F.S. 489.507), which runs its own licensing and exams. This guide covers the CILB path.

Which exams you take

According to the DBPR Candidate Information Booklet and "Examinations at a Glance":

Every CILB candidate takes the Business and Finance (B&F) exam, and all three Division I license types take the same B&F exam. A candidate who qualifies for the building-construction degree exemption still has to take and pass B&F. For format, scoring and topics, see our guide to the Florida Business and Finance Exam.

Eligibility basics

Age, character and experience (F.S. 489.111)

To sit for the certification exam, the statute says you must be 18 years of age, be of good moral character, and meet one of several experience or education paths. The main ones:

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited 4-year college in the appropriate field of engineering, architecture, or building construction, plus 1 year of proven experience in the category.
2. At least 4 years of active experience as a skilled worker (apprenticeship level able to command a mechanic's rate) or as a foreman, with at least 1 year as a foreman.
3. A combination of college credits and experience, for example 1 year as a foreman plus 3 years of accredited college-level credits. All junior or community college courses count as accredited college-level courses.

The statute uses 2,000 person-hours as one year of full-time experience. It also lets an active certified residential contractor move up to building (3 years of experience) or general (4 years), and an active building contractor move up to general (4 years), after passing the higher exam.

Financial responsibility and credit (Rule 61G4-15.006)

The CILB rule requires a current consumer credit report that shows no unsatisfied judgments or liens against the applicant or the business you will qualify. For financial stability, you need a FICO-derived credit score of 660 or higher. An applicant who cannot show a 660 score can meet the stability requirement by completing a 14-hour financial responsibility course approved by the Board.

Insurance and fingerprints (F.S. 489.115)

Before a certificate is issued or renewed, the applicant files an affidavit that it has workers' compensation insurance as required by Chapter 440, public liability insurance, and property damage insurance in the amounts the Board sets. An initial applicant must also submit a full set of fingerprints, which go to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI for a criminal history check, at the applicant's cost.

Step by step: from exam application to license

1. Apply to sit for the exam with Professional Testing, Inc. (PTI). Register online at floridaexam.com. PTI is DBPR's exam vendor; the 2026 application pack says PTI does not take registrations over the phone.
2. Wait for approval. DBPR says you can schedule within 72 hours after PTI approves your application.
3. Schedule with Pearson VUE. Book online at home.pearsonvue.com/fl/construction or by phone at 1-888-204-6230. You pay the exam administration fee when you schedule.
4. Prepare your references. The exams are open book. Only approved, bound reference books are allowed.
5. Take and pass each exam. The passing score is 70%, and scores are not rounded. You get your result report at the test center right after you finish.
6. Apply for licensure with DBPR. After you pass, submit the certification application to DBPR with proof of experience, credit report, insurance affidavit and fingerprints.
7. Register locally. Counties and cities have their own registration, permitting and local business tax rules, and they differ by jurisdiction. Before pulling your first permit, check with the county or city building department where you will work.

Exam fees

On these figures, a Division I candidate's first-attempt exam fees total $295 ($135 + $80 + $40 + $40), and a Division II candidate's total $295 ($135 + $80 + $80). DBPR states that exam fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Licensure fees charged by DBPR after you pass are separate.

The 4-year exam window

Under Rule 61G4-16.009, as stated in the PTI application pack, you must pass all parts of the exam within four years of your first scheduled exam date. You have unlimited attempts within that period, and you only retake the parts you failed. To retake, you reapply with PTI and pay the fees again. The CILB FAQ says you must wait 21 days between attempts.

FAQ

Do I need the state exam to work as a contractor in Florida?

For statewide work in a CILB category, yes. A certified license requires the state exams. A registered license relies on local competency and only covers those jurisdictions.

Does every license type take the Business and Finance exam?

Every CILB candidate, Division I and Division II, takes B&F. Electrical candidates are licensed by the ECLB, which has its own exam requirements.

How old do I need to be?

F.S. 489.111 says 18.

What credit score does the CILB require?

Rule 61G4-15.006 sets 660 (FICO-derived). Below that, a Board-approved 14-hour financial responsibility course meets the stability requirement. The credit report must also show no unsatisfied judgments or liens.

How long do I have to pass all the exams?

Four years from your first scheduled exam date, with unlimited attempts in that period.

Is the exam open book?

Yes. DBPR states that all construction examinations are open book. Only original, bound editions on the approved reference list are allowed, with no handwritten notes and no removable tabs.

Start with Business and Finance

Business and Finance is the one exam every CILB candidate has to pass, and it is the longest. Our Florida Business and Finance Exam Prep gives you 90 days of original practice questions organized by the official content areas, with explanations that cite the statute or reference behind each answer. Topic guides: percentage of completion, construction lien law, retainage, and payroll tax.