Contractor License Qualifications

Earning a contractor’s license is a crucial step for anyone looking to advance in the building trades. To qualify, candidates must meet specific criteria that often include a combination of professional experience, education, and examinations. Typically, applicants need a minimum of four years of journeyman-level experience or higher within the past 10 years. This experience can encompass supervising projects, managing construction, or performing hands-on trade work.

In some cases, educational qualifications can supplement work experience. A degree in fields like construction management or engineering may reduce the required years of field experience. Additionally, most states require passing a trade-specific exam to demonstrate knowledge and proficiency in safety standards, local regulations, and best practices. Meeting these qualifications not only opens doors to career advancement but also ensures that licensed professionals uphold industry standards and provide high-quality services.

Below are a list of qualifications by trade:

AC Contractors License in Florida

  • Be 18 years of age.
  • Pass all parts of the exam(s) (within four years of the first attempt).
    If an applicant has a Bachelor’s degree in building construction or a related field, as well as a 3.0 GPA or higher, the applicant is only required to take the business exam.
  • Pay the fee for the Application.
  • Complete the application form using the Online Services, or the Printable Application.
  • Be of good moral character.
  • Obtain worker’s compensation and general liability coverage.
  • Demonstrate financial responsibility by submitting a Credit Report :
    • 660 FICO credit score or higher (applicant must submit a bond or irrevocable letter of credit if below 660 – FICO derived).
    • If the FICO score is less than 660, the applicant must take a 14-hour financial responsibility course.
    • If applicable, provide proof of satisfaction of liens, judgments, and bankruptcy discharge.
  • Background check with Electronic Fingerprints.
  • Obtain public liability and property damage insurance.
    • Obtain workers’ compensation or exemption from workers’ compensation insurance within 30 days of issuance of their license.
  • Satisfy one of the experience requirements set forth by the CILB:
    • A combination of Experience and Education
      • One year of proven experience that applies to the category for which you are applying and a four-year construction-related degree from an accredited college (equivalent to 3 years. of experience), or
      • No less than three years of credits from accredited college-level courses, and One year of experience as a foreman, or
      • Two years of credits from accredited college-level courses, one year experience as a foreman, and One year experience as a worker, or
      • One year of experience as a foreman, one year of credits from accredited college-level courses, and two years of experience as a worker, or
      • Four years of experience as a foreman or worker of which at least one year must have been as a foreman.
      • The board expects the applicant to have experience in the following areas of the Class A Air Conditioning trade:
        • Heating Equipment
        • Air Conditioning Equipment
        • Sheet Metal Ductwork
        • Refrigeration Equipment
        • Systems in excess of 25 tons of cooling and 500,000 BTU heating capacity (1 year of experience)
    • Upgrade an Existing Class B license (must have held the license for a minimum of 1 year).
    • Military Service
      Note: As part of the application applicant must submit the Fee Waiver and Military Service Verification for licensure
  • One year of experience as a foreman applicable to the category for which you are applying, and three years of military service.
  • One year of experience as a worker or foreman applicable to the category for which you are applying, one year of experience as a foreman, and two years of military service.
  • Two years of experience as a worker or foreman applicable to the category for which you are applying, and one year of military service.

All construction examinations, except Plumbing Contractor, are administered in computer-based testing format. After a candidate has been approved by Professional Testing, Inc., they may schedule to sit for their examination(s) by contacting the department’s examination vendor, Pearson VUE. To locate a Pearson VUE Test Center near you, as well as to check that site’s availability, use this link to view the vendor website for more details: https://home.pearsonvue.com/fl/construction

Admission to the Examination
When registering at the test center, you will be required to have the following items:

Two forms of valid signature identification, one of which is government issued: driver’s license, state identification card, passport or military identification card. Student or employment I.D. cards and photo bearing credit cards are not acceptable as picture bearing identification. Candidates will not be admitted without showing proper identification. Your name and address must match what was submitted on your application.

Download the complete Candidate Information Booklet for the Construction Licensure Examinations.

To apply online: http://www.floridaexam.com/
To apply by phone: 407.264.0562