Florida Solar Contractor License

Florida has two solar categories under the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB). The solar contractor is a statutory Division II trade that covers photovoltaic (PV) systems as well as solar water and pool heating. The rooftop solar heating installation specialty is a much narrower, rule-based category limited to residential solar hot water and pool heaters.

Solar contractor: what the license covers

F.S. 489.105(3)(o) defines a solar contractor's services as "the installation, alteration, repair, maintenance, relocation, or replacement of solar panels for potable solar water heating systems, swimming pool solar heating systems, and photovoltaic systems and any appurtenances, apparatus, or equipment used in connection therewith," public or private, regardless of use.

The same paragraph adds that a contractor already certified or registered under Chapter 489 does not need a solar license, or a solar subcontractor, to provide these services if they are within that contractor's own scope.

Rooftop solar heating installation: what it covers

Rule 61G4-15.012 (formerly "residential solar heating specialty") limits the scope to sizing, installing, altering, repairing, maintaining, relocating or replacing residential domestic potable solar water heating systems for one-, two- or three-family residences not over two stories, and solar heaters for residential swimming pools. The contractor may tie into an existing pool pump but may not install or replace pool equipment, and must subcontract work that needs a local certificate of competency. The rule sets insurance at $100,000 public liability and $25,000 property damage.

Status caution. The current rule text is internally mixed. It sets out exam qualifications (amended May 2024) and DBPR still publishes a Rooftop Solar Heating exam, but paragraph (4)(a) also says no one not certified or registered as a residential solar water heating specialty contractor by July 1, 1994 "shall be certified or registered after July 1, 1994." Confirm with the CILB that it will accept a new application in this category before you pay for the exam.

Certified vs registered

A certified solar contractor may work statewide; a registered contractor only in jurisdictions where local competency was met (F.S. 489.105(8), (10)).

Eligibility

F.S. 489.111(2): age 18, good moral character, and one experience route (4 years as skilled worker or foreman with at least 1 year as foreman; a relevant degree plus 1 year; or a listed combination with college credit). Rule 61G4-15.012 uses the same 489.111(2)(c) routes for the rooftop specialty.

The exams

You take Business and Finance plus the trade exam for your category.

Solar trade exam outline

Rooftop solar heating outline

The 50-question outline has ten areas. The largest are installation practices (18.5%), solar thermal system design (15.5%), hydraulics and plumbing for solar thermal systems (12%), and operational maintenance and troubleshooting (12%).

Reference lists

Solar: Photovoltaic Systems; Photovoltaic System Design course manual; National Electrical Code Handbook; Solar Water and Pool Heating Manual; NRCA Roofing Manuals (membrane, metal panel/SPF, steep-slope); Florida Building Code: Plumbing and Residential (2023); Walker's Building Estimator's Reference Book; OSHA 29 CFR 1926.

Rooftop solar heating: Solar Water and Pool Heating Manual; NABCEP Solar Heating Resource Guide; NRCA Roofing Manuals and NRCA Waterproofing Manual; Florida Building Code: Mechanical, Plumbing and Residential (2023); Contractors Manual; OSHA 29 CFR 1926.

Exam volume

Pearson VUE exam performance reports show 35 graded solar trade attempts in 2025 (58 in 2024) and only 3 rooftop solar heating attempts in 2025.

Steps

1. Pick the category that matches your work (PV means the solar contractor license).
2. Register with Professional Testing, Inc. and schedule exams at Pearson VUE.
3. Pass Business and Finance and the trade exam at 70%.
4. Apply to the CILB with financial responsibility, insurance and fingerprints.

FAQ

Can an electrician install PV without a solar license? 489.105(3)(o) says a contractor licensed under Chapter 489 need not hold a solar license for work within its own scope. Electrical contractors are licensed under Part II of Chapter 489; check the scope of your license before relying on this.

Is PV half the exam? Yes. Photovoltaics is 50% of the solar trade outline.

Does the rooftop specialty cover PV? No. Rule 61G4-15.012 is limited to solar water heating and residential pool heating.

Next step

Both solar categories also require the Business and Finance exam. Start with our Florida Business and Finance Exam Prep.