The structural aluminum or screen enclosure specialty is the license for pool cages, screen rooms, aluminum panel roofs and mobile home roof-overs. It was created in rule 61G4-15.100, effective May 5, 2024, and tested with a 50-question trade exam.
What the license covers
Rule 61G4-15.100(1)(a) allows "any work involving":
- aluminum screened porches, screened enclosures and pool enclosures
- pre-formed panel-post and beam roofs
- mobile home panel roof-overs
- residential glass and window door enclosures and vinyl panel window enclosures
- single-story self-contained aluminum utility storage structures not exceeding 720 square feet
Incidental work allowed by the rule includes wood framing for walls of uninhabitable storage structures, raised wood decks for enclosures, wood repair incidental to glass windows and doors, siding, soffit, fascia and gutters, and masonry limited to foundations, slabs and block knee walls.
Limits
- No work that "alters the structural integrity of the building," including roof trusses, lintels, load-bearing walls and foundations.
- Work of other trades must be subcontracted to a licensed contractor in that field.
How it compares to specialty structure
The older specialty structure license (rule 61G4-15.015) covers all of the above plus sunrooms, fences, guardrails and handrails, unlimited windstorm protective devices (other than impact glazing), and certified window and door assemblies in Group R buildings up to three stories or 30 feet.
| Structural aluminum/screen | Specialty structure | |
|---|---|---|
| Trade exam | 50 questions, 2.5 hours | 80 questions, 5 hours |
| Window/door assemblies in Group R | Not listed | Yes |
| Shutters and windstorm devices | Not listed | Yes |
| Pool cages, screen rooms, panel roofs | Yes | Yes |
If you only build enclosures and roofs, the shorter exam may suit you. If you also sell shutters or replacement windows, compare scopes first.
Certification
Rule 61G4-15.100 provides for statewide certification; procedures and fees are the same as for other CILB certifications.
Eligibility
F.S. 489.111(2): 18 years old, 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% |
| Structural Aluminum or Screen Enclosure trade knowledge | 50 | 2.5 hours | 70% |
Content outline (May 2026)
| Area | Topic | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fundamentals | 10% |
| 2 | Design and engineering principles (including wind codes) | 15% |
| 3 | Plan reading and estimating | 7% |
| 4 | Construction and installation techniques | 20% |
| 5 | Materials, tools and equipment | 10% |
| 6 | Project management and subcontracting | 5% |
| 7 | Building codes, permits and regulations | 15% |
| 8 | Electrical systems integration | 3% |
| 9 | Maintenance, repair and replacement | 10% |
| 10 | Trade-specific safety | 5% |
Reference list overview
- Guide to Aluminum Construction in High Wind Areas
- Florida Building Code: Building, Residential and Existing Building (2023)
- AIA A201 General Conditions of the Contract for Construction
- Vinyl Siding Installation Manual; Residential Windows; Formwork for Concrete; Wiring Simplified
- Walker's estimator, Contractors Manual, OSHA 29 CFR 1926
Exam volume
Pearson VUE exam performance reports show 29 graded attempts in 2025 (25 first attempts), up from 5 in 2024.
Steps
- Document aluminum and screen enclosure experience.
- Register with Professional Testing, Inc.; schedule both exams at Pearson VUE.
- Pass both at 70%.
- Apply to the CILB.
FAQ
Can I pour the slab for a screen room? Yes. Foundations, slabs and block knee walls incidental to the aluminum work are in scope.
Can I attach a pool cage to the house's roof trusses? Work that alters roof trusses or other structural members is excluded. Engineering and permitting will decide the attachment method.
Is there a size limit on sheds? 720 square feet, single story, self-contained aluminum.
Next step
You also need the Business and Finance exam. Prepare 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)
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