In May 2024 the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) created four structural specialty certifications in rule 61G4-15.100: structural carpentry, structural masonry, structural pre-stressed and precast concrete, and structural steel. Each lets a trade contractor contract directly for one part of a building's structure without holding a Division I (general, building or residential) license.
The four scopes
| Category | Rule | Scope in brief |
|---|---|---|
| Structural carpentry | 61G4-15.100(1)(m) | Install any wood products or metal framing in a building structure, including rough framing, doors, windows (including metal) and structural trusses |
| Structural masonry | (1)(g) | Form, place, finish, install, repair and replace concrete or masonry: batching and mixing, laying block and brick, forms, reinforcing steel, placing and finishing concrete; all foundations, slabs, footers, curbs, walls, columns, beams, plus terrazzo and other finishes |
| Structural pre-stressed, precast concrete | (1)(h) | Erect structural precast units (decks, beams, girders, walls, columns, stairs), with welding and rigging, and precast guard rails and decorative panels above the ground floor, with minor field fabrication |
| Structural steel | (1)(i) | Install, repair, maintain and replace steel framework, columns, sheathing and beams, and fabricate metal buildings |
Rule 61G4-15.100(3) adds that nothing in the rule limits the scope other contractor classifications already have by law, so a general contractor, for example, keeps its full scope.
Exams
Each category takes Business and Finance plus its own trade exam. All are open book, given daily on computer at Pearson VUE, and need 70% to pass.
| Exam | Scored questions | Time | Passing score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business and Finance | 120 | 6.5 hours | 70% |
| Structural Carpentry | 50 | 2.5 hours | 70% |
| Structural Masonry | 50 | 2.5 hours | 70% |
| Structural Pre-stress and Precast | 55 | 2.75 hours | 70% |
| Structural Steel | 55 | 2.75 hours | 70% |
A note on structural carpentry. DBPR's Examinations at a Glance (updated June 2024) lists 50 questions. The structural carpentry content outline (dated May 2024) says 55. Check your authorization notice for the count you will see.
What each exam emphasizes
| Exam | Largest content areas |
|---|---|
| Carpentry | Structural carpentry 25.5%; structural trusses and floor systems 25.5%; metal framing 13% |
| Masonry | Formwork, reinforcing steel placement, concrete and masonry techniques, structural elements (16.25% each); materials science 13% |
| Pre-stress and precast | Erection 36%; design and planning, field fabrication, safety and project management (14.25% each) |
| Steel | Erection 33%; design and planning, fabrication, project management (17% each) |
Reference lists
- Carpentry: Wood Frame Construction Manual; BCSI truss handling guide; Design of Wood Frame Structures for Permanence; ASTM C754; Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction; Florida Building Code: Building, Residential, Existing Building and Accessibility (2023).
- Masonry: ACI 318; Concrete Masonry Handbook; Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures; Placing Reinforcing Bars; Formwork for Concrete; Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction; Florida Building Code: Building, Residential, Existing Building and Accessibility (2023).
- Pre-stress and precast: PCI Erectors Manual; ACI 318; Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures; Placing Reinforcing Bars; Formwork for Concrete; Florida Building Code: Building (2023).
- Steel: see the DBPR reference list index; we could not retrieve the steel list for this page.
All of the lists we reviewed also include the Contractors Manual and OSHA 29 CFR 1926.
Eligibility
Rule 61G4-15.100(2) uses the standard CILB certification requirements. Under F.S. 489.111(2) you must be 18, of good moral character, and meet one experience route (4 years as a skilled worker or foreman with at least 1 year as foreman, a relevant 4-year degree plus 1 year, or a listed combination with college credit).
Exam volume
These exams are new and rarely taken. Pearson VUE exam performance reports for 2025 show 13 graded structural masonry attempts, 11 structural steel, 3 structural carpentry and 3 pre-stress and precast.
Steps
- Pick the category that matches your structural trade.
- Register with Professional Testing, Inc.; schedule exams at Pearson VUE.
- Pass Business and Finance and the trade exam at 70%.
- Apply to the CILB for certification.
FAQ
Is a structural specialty a substitute for a building contractor license? No. Each covers one structural trade. A building contractor or general contractor can contract for a whole building.
Can a structural carpentry contractor install metal studs? The rule includes metal framing in the structure of a building. Non-load-bearing metal studs for drywall are also in the gypsum drywall scope.
Does structural masonry include terrazzo? Yes, the rule names terrazzo and other finishes.
Next step
All four categories require 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)
A general contractor in Florida subcontracts framing to a subcontractor that has no workers' compensation coverage. A framer employed by the sub is injured. Under F.S. 440.10, who is liable to secure compensation for that framer?
- AOnly the injured worker's own health insurer
- BThe general contractor
- CNo one, because the worker was not the GC's employee
- DThe property owner
Show answer
Answer: B. F.S. 440.10(1)(b) deems a contractor's and subcontractor's employees to be in one business and makes the contractor liable for compensation to subcontractors' employees unless the subcontractor has secured coverage. This is why GCs collect certificates of insurance or exemption.
Source: F.S. 440.10(1)(b)
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