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How to become a licensed general contractor in Florida. State-level licensing required. Experience: 4 years. Total initial fees: $349-$399. Verified 2026-03-22. Data verified 2026-03-22. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
General Contractor
Yes
License Required?
4 years
Experience Required
Yes
Bonding Required?
$349-$399
Total Initial Fees
2 years
Renewal Period
14 hrs
CE Hours
Description
Certified Residential Contractor (CRC) — covers construction of residential buildings up to 4 units.
Project Limit
License required for projects over $500
Additional Requirements
Description
Certified Building Contractor (CBC) — covers construction of commercial buildings up to 3 stories.
Project Limit
License required for projects over $500
Additional Requirements
Description
Certified General Contractor (CGC) — statewide license covering any type of construction. Registered GC license valid in specific local jurisdictions only. As of July 1, 2025, local licenses must substantially correspond to CILB types.
Project Limit
License required for projects over $500
Additional Requirements
Description
Specialty contractor license for Florida. Covers specialized trades and construction activities. Categories: Certified General Contractor, Certified Building Contractor, Certified Residential Contractor.
Additional Requirements
Experience & Documentation
Verified4
Years Required
Required
Documented Project History
Journeyman/Trade Experience
Minimum 4 years of documented experience in the construction trade
Alternative Pathways (Education Substitutions)
Exam Requirements
VerifiedRequired
Trade Exam
Required
Business & Law Exam
Exam Provider
Pearson VUE (Business & Finance) / Professional Testing Inc. (Project Management & Contract Administration)
Passing Score
70%
Open Book
Yes
Trade Exam Details
Division I (GC/Building/Residential) has 3 exam parts: (1) Business & Finance via Pearson VUE (computer-based, $80), (2) Project Management via Professional Testing Inc. (paper-and-pencil), (3) Contract Administration via PTI (paper-and-pencil). P&P exams held in Tallahassee, Orlando, Miami — Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec.
Business & Law Exam Details
Business and law examination covering contract law, lien law, and business management
Retake Policy
Retake fee: $78.75/part. 30-day wait between attempts. Unlimited attempts within 4 years of application approval.
Bonding Requirements
VerifiedSurety Bond Required
Conditional — ~$20,000 (full) or ~$10,000 (reduced after 14-hr financial responsibility course). Required only if FICO score < 660.
Surety Bond Amount
Surety bonds protect consumers by providing financial recourse if a contractor fails to complete a project or violates licensing regulations. Bond costs are typically 1-3% of the bond amount annually.
Insurance & Workers' Comp
VerifiedRequired
General Liability
Required
Workers' Compensation
Minimum Coverage
General liability insurance required per state regulations
Additional Insurance Requirements
Workers' Comp Threshold
Required for employers with 1 or more employees
Workers' Comp Details
Workers' compensation insurance required within 30 days of licensure. Required for all employers.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee $249 (May of even year through August of odd year) or $149 (September of odd year through April of even year). Prorated by cycle timing. | $249 |
Exam Fee $80 for Business & Finance (Pearson VUE). Project Management and Contract Administration exam fees per Professional Testing Inc. Retake: $78.75/part. | $80 |
Renewal Fee Biennial renewal, expires August 31 of even years | $267 |
Total Initial Fees Approximate total of application, exam, and license fees | $349-$399 |
Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified2 years
Renewal Period
14 hrs
CE Hours Required
CE Topics
Renewal Fee
$267
Biennial, expires August 31 of even years
Regulatory Board
Contractor licenses must be renewed on schedule. Many states require continuing education covering building codes, safety practices, business law, and energy efficiency standards.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedAccepts Out-of-State Credentials
ICC Certification Accepted
Reciprocity Type
Reciprocity available (since June 2021, CILB Form 32)
Transfer Details
Florida has reciprocity agreements with several states (since June 2021, CILB Form 32). Commonly cited states include LA, MS, NC, AL, AR, GA, SC, TN, but the exact current list varies by source. Additionally, 10-year endorsement available since July 2020 for contractors with 10+ year out-of-state license from any state.
General contractor license reciprocity varies significantly by state. Some states recognize ICC certifications, while others require passing the state exam regardless of prior credentials. Always verify current policies with the state licensing board.
Florida centralized its licensing system on July 1, 2025 (SB 1142). Requires FICO score ≥ 660 (unique among states). Uses two exam providers: Pearson VUE for Business & Finance and Professional Testing Inc. for Project Management and Contract Administration (paper-and-pencil only). Accepts NASCLA since 2019 and offers 10-year endorsement since 2020.
CRITICAL 2025 CHANGE: As of July 1, 2025 (SB 1142 / s. 489.117 F.S.), Florida centralized its licensing. Local governments may still issue licenses but only under standards that substantially correspond to CILB license types.
License types: CGC (Certified General Contractor, statewide), CBC (Certified Building Contractor), CRC (Certified Residential Contractor). Registered licenses valid in specific local jurisdictions only.
NASCLA exam accepted for trade knowledge portions since March 2019. Applicants must still pass Florida Business & Finance exam + Florida Building Code exam.
10-year endorsement: Available since July 2020 for contractors with 10+ year out-of-state license from any state.
FICO score ≥ 660 required. Below 660: must complete 14-hour financial responsibility course and/or post surety bond (~$20,000 full, ~$10,000 after course reduces by 50%).
Recovery Fund: $100,000 max Division I / $30,000 max Division II (contracts on/after July 1, 2024).
CE: 14 hours per biennial renewal. Renewal fee: $267. Expires August 31 of even years.
Licensing threshold: $500 (unchanged).
Lien Law Basics
Preliminary Notice: Required
Lien Deadline: 90 days after completion
Florida construction lien law: Preliminary notice is required to preserve lien rights. Lien filing deadline: 90 days after completion.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Florida.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#36 of 51
Salary
#48 of 51
Cost
#34 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (SOC 47-1011)
Entry Level
$58,700
25th percentile
Median
$71,040
-10% vs. national avg ($78,690)Experienced
$89,440
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
71,300 employed in this state
Note: BLS category "First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades" is broader than general contractors specifically. It includes supervisors across all construction specialties.
Source: BLS OEWS – First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
+5.5%
Average GrowthNew Jobs
+40,500
over 10 years
Annual Openings
55,200
per year (avg.)
729,900 currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Electrical Career Ladder+34% salary growth potential
You are here
Electrical Contractor
$71,040
Master electrician license + contractor license
Apprenticeship (4-5 years) + journeyman exam
$53,100
You are here
Electrical Contractor
Master electrician license + contractor license
$71,040
Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024 for this state. Career paths represent common advancement routes — actual progression may vary. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Estimated total: 216–230 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: Florida Contractor Licensing
4–12 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: Florida Contractor Licensing
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Official DBPR/CILB website — verified during GC audit
Accessed 2026-03-22
Florida requires state-level contractor licensing. 4 years of experience is required. All licensing is managed through the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board.
Requirements vary by state and local jurisdiction. Always verify current requirements with your state or local licensing authority.