How to Get a Contractor License in Florida

Florida has two kinds of contractor licenses (§489.105):

• Certified: lets you work anywhere in Florida. You qualify through the state, including the state exam.
• Registered: lets you work only in the local areas where you’ve met that area’s competency requirements, then registered with the state.

Most contractors who plan to grow choose certified, since it isn’t tied to one county or city.

• Age and character: you must be at least 18 and of good moral character.
• Experience: generally four years of experience, or a mix of college and experience, with at least one year as a foreman. The state counts a year as 2,000 hours. General contractors also need experience across several areas, including at least one year on a building four stories or taller.
• The exam: certified applicants generally must pass the state certification exam for their category.
• Financial responsibility: a credit report for you (and for your business, if you’re qualifying one). The state looks for a FICO-based score of 660 or higher; below that, you take a board-approved 14-hour financial responsibility course. Unsatisfied liens or judgments can hold up an application.
• Insurance: proof of liability insurance, plus workers’ compensation coverage or a valid exemption. For general and building contractors, the listed minimums are $300,000 in public liability and $50,000 in property damage.
• Fees: application and licensing fees, which change over time.

If you’ll work under a company name, the business needs a licensed qualifier, usually you, and the business is qualified under that license. The state asks for business credit information as part of that. Plan the business setup, like forming your entity, before you apply, so the license and the business line up.

• Put your license number on every bid, contract and ad. Florida requires it (§489.119), and owners look it up.
• Keep your insurance current. A lapse can affect your license and the jobs you can take.
• Complete continuing education and renew on time. A license that lapses into delinquent status can’t be used to contract.
• Make your license easy to verify. Many owners use the state lookup before they call anyone back.

A new license is the start, not the finish. Referrals, a solid Google Business Profile, and relationships with building owners do most of the work early on. Our guide to getting leads without paying per lead covers the free options, and writing a quote that wins helps you close them.