Florida Irrigation Specialty Contractor License

Florida's irrigation specialty license covers landscape and turf irrigation systems from the backflow device to the sprinkler head. It is a state certification under the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), with an 80-question trade exam and a short reference list.

Status and legal basis

Irrigation is a specialty category created by rule under F.S. 489.105(3)(q). The old rule 61G4-15.035 was repealed on May 5, 2024, and the scope moved into rule 61G4-15.100(1)(q). DBPR continues to offer the exam.

What the license covers

Under rule 61G4-15.100(1)(q), an irrigation specialty contractor may "install, maintain, repair, alter, extend, manage, monitor, audit, or, if not prohibited by law, design irrigation systems," including incidental excavation. The rule defines an irrigation system to include:

• piping, fittings, sprinklers and drip irrigation products
• valves, irrigation controllers, control wiring and rain sensors
• water pumps, water conservation devices and water harvesting systems
• irrigation main lines downstream of a utility potable water meter or utility alternative water supply line, and the dedicated backflow prevention device

Exclusions

The rule lists water pumps as part of an irrigation system but bars work on water wells or pumps under the Plumbing Code and F.S. 373.323(10). Read those together before you quote a job that involves a well.

Certification

Rule 61G4-15.100 is a certification rule; procedures and fees are the same as for other CILB certifications. A certified contractor may work anywhere in Florida.

Eligibility

F.S. 489.111(2): age 18, good moral character, and one experience route (4 years as a skilled worker or foreman with 1 year as foreman, a relevant degree plus 1 year, or a listed experience and college-credit combination).

The exams

Content outline

The DBPR outline is dated December 2012, so check it again before you test.

Reference list overview

The list is short:

• Irrigation (Irrigation Association textbook)
• Florida Building Code: Plumbing (2023)
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926

Exam volume

Pearson VUE exam performance reports show 75 graded irrigation attempts in 2025 (52 first attempts), with a 54% first-time pass rate state-wide.

Steps

1. Confirm your irrigation experience meets 489.111.
2. Register with Professional Testing, Inc.; schedule both exams with Pearson VUE.
3. Pass both at 70%.
4. Apply to the CILB.

FAQ

Can an irrigation contractor install the backflow preventer? The rule includes the dedicated backflow prevention device on the irrigation main downstream of the utility meter.

Does the license cover farm irrigation? No. Agricultural systems are excluded by the rule.

Is design included? Yes, "if not prohibited by law," along with auditing and monitoring.

Next step

Irrigation applicants also sit the 120-question Business and Finance exam. Our Florida Business and Finance Exam Prep covers it.