Out-of-State Endorsement As A Florida Certified Contractor

Endorsement is a method of licensure for applicants who, in lieu of taking the State of Florida’s licensing examination, will comply with one of the options below:

• Have taken an examination of substantially equivalency to the corresponding Florida licensing examination, meet the experience requirements for Florida certification, and meet all other requirements for licensure; OR
• Holds a valid license to practice contracting issued by another state or United State territory, if the criteria for issuance of such license were substantially equivalent to Florida’s current certification criteria.

If applying through Endorsement based on Examination, you must present to the State an Official Score report and Examination Evaluation Questionnaire completed by the exam provider. The state will determine if the exam is “substantially equivalent” to Florida’s current certification criteria.

If applying using the NASCLA Endorsement, you do not have to provide exam results; the NASCLA exam is nationally recognized without burden of proof.

*Please note this option is only available to applicants applying for licensure as a Certified General Contractor, a Certified Building Contractor, or a Certified Residential Contractor.

If applying through Endorsement based on Experience, you may need to complete these board approved courses and submit verification of licensure from the State in which you are licensed which shows your current license status and that you have been licensed for at least 10 years and indicating if any disciplinary action has been taken against the license.

• That means you have held a valid, current license to practice contracting issued by another state or territory of the United States for at least 10 years before the date of the application, provided that the license is currently active or was active within the last 2 years.
• If applying to become a Certified General Contractor, Certified Building Contractor, Certified Residential Contractor, or Certified Roofing Contractor, you must also provide proof of completion of a board approved 2-hour course on the Florida Building Code which includes information on wind mitigation techniques.

If applying through Reciprocity, applicants must hold a valid, current, license to practice contracting issued by another state as long as that state has entered into a reciprocal agreement with the Board, and subject to the terms of that agreement. Please visit this link to view the list of states which have entered into a reciprocity agreement with Florida.

• Applicants applying through Endorsement must also pass the Florida Business and Finance exam and attest to having passed an examination covering the Florida Building Code.