Requirements for a General Contractors License in Florida

Florida’s construction industry continues to expand across residential, commercial, and infrastructure sectors, increasing demand for licensed professionals statewide.

If you’re considering earning your general contractor license in Florida, this guide explains the license types, requirements, exams, experience qualifications, insurance, and application process so you can get licensed with confidence.

At a Glance

Florida offers Certified General Contractor (CGC) and Registered General Contractor (RGC) licenses.
A CGC can work statewide, while an RGC is limited to approved local jurisdictions.
Certified applicants generally must be at least 18, meet financial-responsibility standards, pass a background check, document qualifying experience, obtain insurance, and pass the required exams.
The standard experience requirement is four years, although qualifying education or military service may substitute for part of it.
Certified applicants typically take Business & Finance, Contract Administration, and Project Management exams.
General contractors must subcontract work that requires a separate specialty license, including electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, and certain pool work.

Certified vs. Registered General Contractor Licenses in Florida

Before applying, it is important to understand that Florida offers two types of general contractor licenses.

Certified General Contractor (CGC)

Can work anywhere in Florida
No commercial or residential project size, height, or dollar-value limits
Requires passing three separate state examinations unless an exemption applies
Issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and regulated by the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB)

A Certified General Contractor license is the most flexible and widely pursued option for contractors who want statewide authority.

Registered General Contractor (RGC)

Limited to specific local jurisdictions
Requires a local competency license for each county or municipality where the contractor works
Generally follows local examination and licensing requirements rather than the statewide trade exams
Does not provide statewide operating authority

If you plan to grow your business beyond one city or county, the Certified General Contractor license is typically the better choice.

Florida General Contractor License Requirements

To obtain a Certified General Contractor license, applicants must meet requirements established by the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board.

Applicants generally must:

Be at least 18 years old
Maintain a credit score of at least 660 or complete an approved 14-hour financial-responsibility course
Submit fingerprints and pass a background check
Attest to obtaining the required insurance
Demonstrate qualifying construction experience
Pass all required state examinations unless a qualifying exemption applies

Applicants should verify current forms, fees, and requirements with the Florida CILB before applying.

Florida General Contractor Exams

To earn a Certified General Contractor license in Florida, most applicants must pass three examinations.

Business & Finance Exam

120 questions
6.5 hours
Covers Florida construction law, accounting, estimating, contracts, and financial management

Contract Administration Exam

60 questions
4.5 hours
Covers contract documents, project administration, plan reading, and the Florida Building Code

Project Management Exam

60 questions
4.5 hours
Covers OSHA safety standards, construction methods, scheduling, and site supervision

Exams are offered throughout the year. Applicants must register with the state and obtain a candidate identification number before scheduling.

Florida General Contractor License Application Process

After completing the required examinations, applicants generally must:

Submit a completed license application
Provide verified construction-experience documentation
Submit fingerprints and the required credit information
Attest to obtaining required insurance coverage
Pay the applicable state application fees

A complete and accurate application can help prevent avoidable processing delays.

Experience Requirements for a Florida General Contractor License

Applicants must generally demonstrate four years of construction-related experience, which may include:

Supervisory or foreman-level work
Project management
Hands-on field construction

Up to three years of qualifying college credit or military service may substitute for part of the experience requirement. However, at least one year of proven field experience is generally required.

Advanced-Structure Experience

Applicants may also need to document experience across multiple structural categories and demonstrate supervision of a building four stories or higher. Qualifying categories can include:

Steel erection
Foundations or slabs exceeding 20,000 square feet
Precast concrete structures
Masonry walls
Elevated slabs
Structural reinforced-concrete formwork
Column erection

Insurance Requirements

The Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board generally requires minimum coverage that includes:

$300,000 in liability insurance
$50,000 in property-damage insurance
Workers’ compensation coverage when required

Additional policies may include builder’s risk, commercial auto, equipment coverage, and completed-operations insurance. Applicants should confirm current insurance requirements with the CILB and their insurance professional.

Trade Exam Exemption

Some applicants may qualify for an exemption from the Contract Administration and Project Management exams if they:

Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited program in building construction or another board-approved related field
Graduated from an accredited four-year institution
Maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher

The Business & Finance exam is still required even when a trade-exam exemption is granted.

What Can You Do With a Florida General Contractor License?

A Certified General Contractor license generally allows you to:

Build, renovate, and remodel residential and commercial structures
Work on projects without height, square-footage, or dollar-value limitations
Perform structural modifications
Conduct site work, including excavation and grading
Install wood shakes and shingles on buildings you construct when allowed by law
Construct certain water-distribution, storm-drainage, and sewer systems associated with your projects

This is one of Florida’s broadest contractor-license classifications.

Work a General Contractor Must Subcontract

A general contractor must subcontract work that requires a separate specialty license, including:

Air conditioning and mechanical work
Plumbing
Gas work
Electrical work
Roofing
Non-structural swimming-pool work

The exact scope of work can depend on the project and license classification, so contractors should confirm scope questions with the CILB.

Preparing to Pass the Florida General Contractor Exams

Florida contractor exams are open-book, but they are highly technical and time-intensive. Success requires:

Strong familiarity with the approved reference books
Effective time-management skills
Financial-calculation proficiency
The ability to navigate the Florida Building Code efficiently

Many applicants underestimate the difficulty of these exams. Structured Florida general contractor exam preparation can help candidates build confidence, improve reference-book navigation, and shorten the path to licensure.

Continue your preparation with Florida general contractor practice-test simulators.

Start Your General Contractor Career in Florida

Florida’s construction industry creates opportunities across residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects. Earning a Certified General Contractor license can position you for:

Higher earning potential
The ability to operate your own contracting business
Access to larger commercial projects
Statewide work authority

If you are ready to take the next step, professional Florida general contractor license training can help you prepare for the exams and navigate the licensing process with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a Certified and Registered General Contractor license in Florida?

A Certified General Contractor license provides statewide authority, while a Registered General Contractor license is limited to the local jurisdictions where the contractor has been approved.

How many years of experience are required for a Florida general contractor license?

Applicants generally need four years of qualifying construction experience. Approved education or military service may substitute for part of the requirement, but at least one year of field experience is typically required.

What exams are required for a Certified General Contractor license?

Most applicants must pass the Business & Finance, Contract Administration, and Project Management exams unless they qualify for a board-approved trade-exam exemption.

What credit score is required for a Florida contractor license?

Applicants generally need a credit score of at least 660. Applicants below that threshold may be able to satisfy the financial-responsibility requirement by completing an approved 14-hour course, subject to current board rules.

Can college education count toward the experience requirement?

Yes. Up to three years of qualifying college education may substitute for part of the four-year experience requirement. Military service may also qualify, but applicants generally still need at least one year of field experience.

Can a Florida general contractor perform electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or roofing work?

Not automatically. Work requiring a separate specialty license generally must be performed by an appropriately licensed electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, or other specialty contractor.

Are the Florida general contractor exams open-book?

Yes. The exams are open-book, but they are technical and time-limited. Candidates need to know their approved references and navigate them efficiently.

Where can I prepare for the Florida general contractor exams?

Gold Coast Schools offers Florida general contractor exam-preparation programs and practice-test simulators designed to support candidates preparing for licensure.

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