Be A Licensed Contractor In Florida

You need to be licensed to work as a contractor in Florida.

If you would like to work as a contractor in Florida, you need to be licensed by the Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR). Some counties require contractors only to be registered, however, these contractors may solely practice locally, while certified contractors are allowed to do business throughout Florida. Which license you require is also determined by the category of work you wish to perform. While builders are usually licensed as general contractors, building contractors, or residential contractors (Division I certification), you may choose a specialty such as plumbing, solar or roofing instead (Division II).

Instructions

1. Make sure you meet all the requirements before applying for the contractor examination. To be eligible to take the exam you need to be at least 18 years old, of good moral character and you must document at least four years of construction-related experience. This means you must meet one of the following criteria: hold a four-year construction-related degree (such as building science or construction engineering) from an accredited college along with one year of related work experience; have one year of proven experience as a foreman along with at least three years of credits from an accredited college; have one year of proven work experience as a foreman along with one year experience as a workman and at least two years of credits from an accredited college; have one year of proven work experience as a foreman along with two years experience as a workman and at least one year of credits from an accredited college; have at least four years of proven experience as a foreman or workman with at least one year experience as a foreman; hold an active registered or certified license as a Florida contractor.

2. Download the application form for the General Contractor Examination (see Resources) at the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).

3. Ask your former employers to fill in the experience-related section of the application paperwork with a notary public present. The employer's signature on the affidavit needs to be notarized.

4. Complete the application form. Make sure to answer all questions accurately.

5. Gather the paperwork needed to support the finances-related claims in your application, such as bank statements, stock, bonds, real estate or cash value of life insurance policies. The financial data you provide must show that you meet the net value requirements.

6. Get a credit report from one of the three nationally recognized credit reporting agencies. This report must state that local, state and federal data has been checked.

7. Sign up for your exam by contacting Professional Testing Inc. You can register online (see Resources) or by calling 407-264-0562. Pay for the exam by credit card or electronic check. As of May 2010 the exam and application processing fees sum up to a total of $215, according to the Florida DBPR.

8. Arrange for an appointment with Pearson VUE to get fingerprinted (see Resources). Allow five to seven days after registering for your exam, before the DBPR sends your authorization to Pearson VUE. The state of Florida requires fingerprinting for a criminal background check that is performed on all applicants for contractor certification. Bring two forms of identification. One of which must contain a photo and a signature (such as your driver's license or passport). As of May 2010 the fingerprinting fee is $57.25. Your fingerprints will expire 180 days after they are received by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, so plan your fingerprinting appointment according to your license application schedule.

9. Study in preparation for the exam. Even though you already have at least four years of construction-related experience of some kind, you may not be familiar with all aspects of the topics covered in the exam. You will get tested on a broad array on topics, ranging from Florida construction codes and building standards, lien and labor laws, safety regulations, project management, environmental issues to Florida taxes. Take a prep class as offered by many schools across the state if you are unsure about your level of expertise.

10. Show up 15 minutes early on examination day. Bring your completed application form along with all the supporting paperwork, your Social Security number, your exam admission slip and a picture ID to the testing location. Construction industry licensure exams are held six times a year.

11. Take the two-day exam. The exam is computer-based, multiple-choice and open book, but only books on the Construction Industry Licensing Board-approved reference list may be used during the exam. You need to pass all sections of the exam for state certification with a score of at least 70 percent. You will receive your score immediately after finishing your exam.

12. Get workers' compensation coverage, or file for an exemption with the Division of Workers' Compensation.

13. Buy general liability insurance. Under Florida law your insurance must cover a minimum of $300,000 for bodily injury and a minimum of $50,000 for property damage for Division I contractors. Insurance coverage for Division II contractors needs to meet minimums of $100,000 for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage.

14. Submit your application package including the completed and signed application form, proof of sufficient insurance and workers' compensation coverage, credit report, your recent financial data, and a check covering the license fee to the Florida DBPR after passing your exam.

Department of Business & Professional Regulation

Construction Industry Licensing Board

1940 N Monroe St

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1039

Depending on the date of your application and the date of your exam, the license cost varies from $149 to $409 (as of May 2010).

Prairie homes

Friday, February 1, 2013