The specialty structure license is Florida's catch-all for aluminum and allied-material work on homes: screen rooms, pool enclosures, sunrooms, roof-overs, siding and gutters, shutters, and window and door replacement in residential buildings. It has its own rule, 61G4-15.015, which was not folded into the 2024 consolidated specialty rule.
What the license covers
Rule 61G4-15.015(2)(a) limits the specialty structure contractor to fabrication, assembly, erection, installation, replacement, repair, servicing and design work (where not prohibited by law) "in the aluminum, metal, canvas, vinyl and fiberglass screening, doors and windows, hurricane protection devices and allied construction materials."
Under (2)(b) the scope includes and is limited to:
- fabric coverings on metal substructures; screened porches, screened enclosures and pool enclosures
- preformed panel-post and beam roofs; manufactured housing roof-overs
- vinyl or acrylic panel window enclosures, sunrooms, residential glass window and door enclosures
- guardrails, handrails, aluminum and vinyl fences
- single-story self-contained aluminum utility storage structures up to 720 square feet
- siding, soffit, fascia and gutters
- windstorm protective devices (unlimited, except impact-resistant glazing)
- certified window and door assemblies (AAMA 101/I.S.2 or Miami-Dade TAS 201, 202, 203) in Group R occupancy buildings up to three stories or 30 feet
Incidental wood work and incidental masonry and concrete (foundations, slabs and block knee walls) are included. The contractor may not do work that "alters the structural integrity of the building," including roof trusses, lintels, load-bearing walls and foundations, and must subcontract other trades.
Specialty structure vs structural aluminum/screen enclosure
The 2024 rule created a separate structural aluminum or screen enclosure specialty with a similar but narrower scope.
| Specialty structure | Structural aluminum/screen enclosure | |
|---|---|---|
| Rule | 61G4-15.015 | 61G4-15.100(1)(a) |
| Screen and pool enclosures, panel roofs, roof-overs | Yes | Yes |
| Sunrooms, fences, guardrails, handrails | Yes | Not listed |
| Window and door assemblies in Group R | Yes, up to 3 stories / 30 ft | Residential glass and window door enclosures only |
| Windstorm protective devices | Yes, unlimited (not impact glazing) | Not listed |
| Trade exam | 80 questions, 5 hours | 50 questions, 2.5 hours |
Certification
The rule provides for certification using the same procedures and fees as other CILB contractors (61G4-15.015(3)). Certified contractors may work statewide.
Eligibility
F.S. 489.111(2): age 18, good moral character, and an experience route (4 years as a skilled worker or foreman with 1 year as foreman, a relevant degree plus 1 year, or a listed combination with college credit).
The exams
| Exam | Scored questions | Time | Passing score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business and Finance | 120 | 6.5 hours | 70% |
| Specialty Structure trade knowledge | 80 | 5 hours | 70% |
Content outline
| Area | Topic | Share |
|---|---|---|
| A | Foundations | 7.5% |
| B | Wall sections | 15% |
| C | Roof sections | 15% |
| D | Insulation | 7.5% |
| E | Windows | 15% |
| F | Post and beam structures | 15% |
| G | Roofovers | 15% |
| H | Siding, soffit, fascias, gutters and downspouts | 10% |
Reference list overview
- Guide to Aluminum Construction in High Wind Areas
- Vinyl Siding Installation Manual
- Concrete Masonry Handbook; Concrete Finishers Guide
- Design of Wood Frame Structures for Permanence
- Florida Building Code: Building and Residential (2023)
- Walker's Building Estimator's Reference Book; OSHA 29 CFR 1926
Exam volume
Pearson VUE exam performance reports show 82 graded specialty structure attempts in 2025 (61 first attempts, 54% first-time pass rate state-wide), down from 110 in 2024.
Steps
- Document experience in aluminum and allied construction.
- Register with Professional Testing, Inc.; schedule both exams at Pearson VUE.
- Pass both at 70%.
- Apply to the CILB.
FAQ
Can a specialty structure contractor replace windows in a condo tower? On their own contract, only up to three stories or 30 feet in Group R. The rule allows Division I contractors to subcontract certified window and door assembly work in Group R buildings of any height to a specialty structure contractor.
Can I cut a new opening in a load-bearing wall? No. Work that alters structural integrity, including lintels and load-bearing walls, is excluded.
Is there a size cap on storage sheds? Single-story self-contained aluminum utility storage structures are capped at 720 square feet.
Next step
Specialty structure applicants also take the Business and Finance exam. Start with our Florida Business and Finance Exam Prep.
Practice questions
A certified roofing contractor forms an LLC and wants to contract under the LLC's name. What must she do?
- ANothing; her individual certificate automatically covers any entity she owns
- BHave the LLC take the state exam in its own name
- CApply for certification as the qualifying agent of the LLC
- DRegister the LLC only with the local building department
Show answer
Answer: C. Under F.S. 489.119(2), an applicant who will contract as a business organization (partnership, corporation, business trust, or other legal entity) must apply to be the qualifying agent of that organization. An individual certificate does not carry over to an entity automatically.
Source: F.S. 489.119(2)
These are from our bank of 466 original questions. Get the full Florida Business & Finance prep.
Sources
- Rule 61G4-15.015 Certification of Specialty Structure Contractors
- Rule 61G4-15.100 Certified Specialty Contractors
- F.S. 489.111 Licensure by examination (2025)
- DBPR CILB Examinations at a Glance
- DBPR Specialty Structure Examination Content Information
- DBPR Specialty Structure CBT Reference List (even year)