General Contractor License Florida | Florida Contractors License

Overview

A general contractor license in Florida authorizes individuals or businesses to oversee, coordinate, and work on construction projects.

General contractors can undertake the construction of commercial and residential buildings and structures as well as make alterations, additions, and repairs.

Obtaining a general contractor license is a meticulous process overseen by the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB). To maintain their license, they must fulfill continuing education requirements and ensure that their license is renewed at specified intervals.

Historically there were two types of contractor license governing construction work in Florida; Registered License, which is valid in specific local jurisdictions, and a Certified License, which permits work throughout the state. However as of July 1, 2023, local contractor licensing in Florida has been almost entirely phased out, and licensing has been shifted to the state. The idea is that this is intended to reduce regulation and make it easier to do business.

This guide will cover everything you need to know about obtaining and maintaining a general contractor license in the state of Florida.

Florida General Contractors License Requirements

The state of Florida has many license options for contractors and the requirements will vary slightly by license type but there are some general requirements:

Be at least 18 years old.
Have a high school diploma or GED.
Have four years of experience in construction, or a combination of college and experience.
Pass a three-part state exam – Florida State Construction Examination.
Show proof of financial responsibility – submit a credit report (with a minimum FICO credit score of 660) and proof of financial responsibility (see here for the list of approved credit reporting agencies). You may purchase a surety bond if your credit score is lower.
Obtain liability and workers’ compensation insurance (you will be asked to provide your certificate of insurance)

Steps to Applying for a General Contractor’s License in Florida

Complete the application form: The application form includes questions about your personal information, education, experience, and financial qualifications.
Submit a credit report: You must submit a credit report from one of the three major credit bureaus. Your credit report must show that you have a credit score of at least 660.
Provide proof of financial responsibility: You must provide proof of financial responsibility in the form of a surety bond or a certificate of deposit. The amount of financial responsibility required depends on the type of general contractor license you are applying for.
Obtain liability and workers’ compensation insurance: You must obtain liability and workers’ compensation insurance before you can submit your application.
Pass the state exam: The state exam is a three-part exam that covers business management, construction law, and general construction knowledge. You must pass all three parts of the exam in order to obtain a license.

General Contractor License Types in Florida

With dozens of licenses on offer to general contractors in Florida, making the right application can be very confusing. That’s where we come in! Use our interactive quiz below and find the right one.

Here is a list of certified contractor licenses for general contractors in Florida and a brief explanation of each one:

(This list was last updated 4th October 2023)

Initial and Retake Examination Application (CILB 1) – for a new general contractor license in Florida, or to retake the state exam if you have previously failed it.
Certified General Contractor as an Individual – Active (CILB 5-A) – for a general contractor license as an individual. The license will be active, meaning that you can use it to perform general contracting work in Florida.
Certified General Contractor as an Individual – Inactive (CILB 5-A) – for a general contractor license as an individual, but the license will be inactive. This means that you cannot use it to perform general contracting work in Florida until you activate it.
Certified General Contractor who is Qualifying a Business (CILB 6-A) – This application is used to apply for a general contractor license as a business. You must be a certified general contractor as an individual in order to qualify a business for a general contractor license.
Certified General Contractor Qualifying an Additional Business as a Business (CILB 7-A) – This application is used to qualify an additional business for a general contractor license, if you are already a certified general contractor as an individual and you have qualified one or more other businesses for general contractor licenses.
Certified General Contractor Qualifying an Additional Business as an Individual (CILB 7-A) – This application is used to qualify an additional business for a general contractor license, if you are already a certified general contractor as an individual and you have not previously qualified any businesses for general contractor licenses.
Certified General Contractor Qualifying an Additional Business with Existing License as a Business (CILB 9) – This application is used to qualify an additional business for a general contractor license, if you are already a certified general contractor as an individual and you have an existing general contractor license for another business. The existing license must be in good standing.
Certified General Contractor Qualifying an Additional Business with Existing License as an Individual (CILB 9) – This application is used to qualify an additional business for a general contractor license, if you are already a certified general contractor as an individual and you have an existing general contractor license as an individual. The existing license must be in good standing.
Endorsement as Certified General Contractor (CILB 10) – apply for a general contractor license in Florida, if you are already a licensed general contractor in another state.
Reciprocity – Certified General Contractor (CILB 32) – apply for a general contractor license in Florida, if you are a licensed general contractor in another state and you have met certain reciprocity requirements.
Professional Licensure for Military Personnel/Veterans/Military Spouses (MVL 003) – apply for a general contractor license in Florida, if you are a military veteran, military spouse, or military personnel.
Certification of Registered Contractor (Grandfathering) as an Individual – Active (CILB 29) – apply for a general contractor license as an individual, if you were previously a registered contractor in Florida. Registered contractors were eliminated in July 2023, but existing registered contractors can apply for a grandfather license.
Certification of Registered Contractor (Grandfathering) as an Individual – Inactive (CILB 29) – This application is used to apply for a general contractor license as an individual, if you were previously a registered contractor in Florida, but the license is inactive. You can use this application to activate your grandfather license.
Certification of Registered Contractor (Grandfathering) Qualifying Business (CILB 30) – This application is used to apply for a general contractor license as a business, if you were previously a registered contractor in Florida. You must be a certified general contractor as an individual in order to qualify a business for a grandfather license.
Certification of Registered Contractor (Grandfathering) Qualify Additional Business Entity as Business (CILB 31) – This application is used to qualify an additional business for a general contractor license, if you are already a certified general contractor as an individual and you have qualified one or more other businesses for grandfather licenses.
Certification of Registered Contractor (Grandfathering) Qualify Additional Business Entity as Individual (CILB 31) – This application is used to qualify an additional business for a general contractor license, if you are already a certified general contractor as an individual and you have not previously qualified any businesses for grandfather licenses.

Here is the link to start your application.

General Contractor License Fees

Overall fees

License type	Total fees
Certified general contractor as an individual (CILB 5-A)	$664
Registered general contractor as an individual (CILB 29)	$664
Certified general contractor qualifying a business (CILB 6-A)	$664
Registered general contractor qualifying a business (CILB 30)	$664

Application Fees

License type	Application fee
Certified general contractor as an individual (CILB 5-A)	$409
Registered general contractor as an individual (CILB 29)	$409
Certified general contractor qualifying a business (CILB 6-A)	$409
Registered general contractor qualifying a business (CILB 30)	$409

Administration Fees

Fee type	Cost
Exam registration fee	$135
Exam site administration fee	$80

Exam Fees

Exam type	Cost
Business and finance exam	$120
Construction law exam	$120
General construction knowledge exam	$120

Renewal Fees

License type	Renewal fee
Certified general contractor as an individual (CILB 5-A)	$105 (active), $30 (inactive)
Registered general contractor as an individual (CILB 29)	$105 (active), $30 (inactive)
Certified general contractor qualifying a business (CILB 6-A)	$309 (active), $209 (inactive)
Registered general contractor qualifying a business (CILB 30)	$309 (active), $209 (inactive)

Reactivation Fees

License type	Reactivation fee
Certified general contractor as an individual (CILB 5-A)	$280
Registered general contractor as an individual (CILB 29)	$280
Certified general contractor qualifying a business (CILB 6-A)	$280
Registered general contractor qualifying a business (CILB 30)	$280

General Contractor Exam

To obtain a general contractor license in Florida, you must pass three exams:

Business and finance exam: This exam covers topics such as business management, accounting, and construction finance. It is a closed-book exam with 120 multiple-choice questions. You must score at least 70% to pass.
Construction law exam: This exam covers topics such as construction contracts, liens, and permits. It is a closed-book exam with 60 multiple-choice questions. You must score at least 70% to pass.
General construction knowledge exam: This exam covers topics such as building codes, construction materials, and methods. It is an open-book exam with 60 multiple-choice questions. You must score at least 70% to pass.

You can take the exams in any order you like. However, you must pass all three exams within two years of taking the first exam.

The exams are administered by Pearson VUE. You can schedule the exams online or by calling Pearson VUE at 1-800-431-9496.

General Contractor Insurance in Florida

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It is a requirement for your license application to have both liability and workers’ compensation insurance.

“The cost of liability insurance is increasing in Florida due to a number of factors, including the rising cost of medical care, the increasing frequency of severe weather events, and the increasing number of lawsuits being filed against businesses and individuals. These factors have led to an increase in the number and severity of claims being filed against insurance companies, which has driven up the cost of insurance premiums.” – David Altmaier, Florida Insurance Commissioner

Here are some common ways that general contractors reduce the cost of their insurance:

Implementing safety procedures and training: By having clear and concise safety procedures in place and providing training to employees on how to follow them, contractors can reduce the risk of accidents and injuries.
Maintaining a good safety record: Contractors with a good safety record will be more attractive to insurance companies and will likely receive lower premiums.
Obtaining a certificate of insurance: A certificate of insurance shows that a contractor has the required coverage and can provide protection to property owners and other stakeholders.
Bundling insurance policies: Contractors can often save money by bundling their liability insurance with other types of insurance, such as commercial property insurance or worker’s compensation insurance.
Shopping around for quotes: It is important for contractors to shop around and compare quotes from different insurance companies before choosing a policy. This will help them to find the best coverage at the most affordable price.

“By taking steps to reduce their risk of accidents and injuries, general contractors can make themselves more attractive to insurance companies and lower their premiums.” – Mark Friedlander, an insurance expert at the National Association of Independent Businesses

In addition to the tips above, general contractors can also reduce the cost of their liability insurance by:

Maintaining good credit: Contractors with good credit are generally considered to be less risky by insurance companies and will likely receive lower premiums.
Choosing a higher deductible: Contractors can choose a higher deductible on their liability insurance policy to lower their premiums. However, it is important to make sure that they can afford to pay the deductible in the event of a claim.
Shopping around: find the right coverage for your needs at the most affordable price by getting a number of quotes and comparing providers.

Businesses with employees are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance coverage through a commercial carrier, on a self-insured basis, or through the Florida Workers’ Compensation Insurance system.

Continuing Education Requirements

Florida State Business Licenses and Registration

Incorporating a general contractor business in Florida can help to protect your personal assets from the liabilities of your business. It can also give you more flexibility in managing your business and planning for your taxes.

To incorporate in Florida, you must file the Articles of Incorporation with the Florida Division of Corporations. The Articles of Incorporation must include the following information:

The name of the corporation
The purpose of the corporation
The number of shares of stock authorized
The name and address of the registered agent

You must also pay a filing fee to the Florida Division of Corporations.

Once the Articles of Incorporation are filed and the filing fee is paid, the corporation will be formed. You will then need to obtain a business license from the city or county in which the corporation will be located.

There are several different types of corporate entities available to a general contractor business in Florida, including:

C corporation: A C corporation is the most common type of corporate entity. It is a separate legal entity from its owners, and it has its own assets and liabilities. C corporations are taxed at the corporate level, and the owners are taxed on any dividends they receive from the corporation.
S corporation: An S corporation is a type of C corporation that has elected to be taxed as a pass-through entity. This means that the corporation’s income and losses are passed through to the owners, who are taxed on their individual tax returns. S corporations must meet certain requirements, such as having no more than 100 shareholders and only one class of stock.
Limited liability company (LLC): An LLC is a hybrid entity that combines the limited liability features of a corporation with the tax advantages of a pass-through entity. LLCs are taxed as pass-through entities by default, but they can elect to be taxed as corporations.
Professional association: A professional association is a type of corporation that is formed by licensed professionals, such as doctors, lawyers, and accountants. Professional associations are taxed as pass-through entities by default.

The type of corporate entity that is best for your general contractor business will depend on a number of factors, such as the size of your business, your ownership structure, and your tax goals. You should consult with an attorney or accountant to determine which type of corporate entity is right for you.

Here are some additional things to keep in mind when incorporating in Florida:

You must choose a unique name for your corporation. The Florida Division of Corporations will search its database to make sure that the name is available.
You must have a registered agent in Florida. This is a person or business that will receive legal documents on behalf of your corporation.
You must file an annual report with the Florida Division of Corporations. The annual report must include information about the corporation’s officers, directors, and shareholders.
You must pay Florida corporate income tax, if your corporation is taxable.

Florida Contractor License Lookup and Verification

To look up and verify an active license in Florida, visit the Florida DBPR License Search Tool.

See General Contractor Licensing Information in Nearby States

For More License and Career Guides

To find out how to become a General Contractor in another state, start here.

For information on other trades in Florida, click on a link below to learn more about the licensing requirements: