Florida Contractor License FAQ: Top Questions for 2026

Licensefix School of Construction runs live Q&A sessions where Florida contractors ask the same handful of questions that never quite get a straight answer anywhere else. The recording, "Florida Contractor License Questions ANSWERED LIVE | 2026 Q&A", captures that format — real questions, real answers, no fluff. This Florida contractor license FAQ pulls the most common questions from that format and pairs each answer with the exact statute, rule, or DBPR document behind it, so you are not relying on secondhand information from a forum thread or a Facebook group.

If you are researching how to get a contractor license in Florida, bookmark this page. It covers license types, experience requirements, exam mechanics, retake rules, renewal costs, and what actually happens if you work without a license — the questions that come up in nearly every live Q&A, answered with citations.

Florida Contractor License FAQ: License Types and Eligibility

What is the difference between a CGC, CBC, and CRC?

• Certified General Contractor (CGC) — no height limit, authorized for any structure, residential or commercial.
• Certified Building Contractor (CBC) — commercial and residential work, but new construction is capped at three stories.
• Certified Residential Contractor (CRC) — limited to one-, two-, and three-family residences up to two habitable stories, with no commercial authorization.

Choosing the wrong classification early is one of the most expensive mistakes a new contractor makes, because it can mean turning away profitable commercial or multi-story work you are not legally licensed to perform.

What are the basic requirements to get licensed?

To become a licensed Residential, Building, or General Contractor in Florida, an applicant generally must be at least 18 years old, demonstrate good moral character, meet a credit score threshold (or complete a financial responsibility course if below it), pass the required state exams, and show construction experience in the relevant scope of work. A four-year college degree can substitute for up to three years of the experience requirement, and experience gained while licensed or while working under a licensed contractor in another state or country can also count.

Do I need the experience before I take the exam?

No. You do not need to complete your experience requirement before sitting for the exam — you have four years from passing your first exam section to document your experience and complete your application.

Exam Mechanics and Retakes

How many exams do I have to pass?

Division I contractors (General, Building, and Residential) must pass three exams: Business and Finance, Contract Administration, and Project Management. Division II specialty contractors (electrical, plumbing, roofing, HVAC, and other trades) must pass two exams: Business and Finance and a trade-specific General Trade Knowledge exam. Every category shares the same Business and Finance exam, which is why it is the single most-studied section across every license type.

If I fail one section, do I have to retake everything?

No. DBPR's own FAQ on this question states: "Rule 61G4-16.009, Florida Administrative Code, states, 'A candidate shall be required to retake only the tests on which he or she failed to achieve a passing score or failed to appear to take when scheduled.'" You are not required to retake sections you already passed.

Is there a time limit on completing all the exam sections?

Yes. You must complete every portion of the examination within four years of your first attempt. After four years, all previously passing scores expire, and you have to retake every section from scratch. The same four-year clock applies to submitting your full license application after your first exam attempt.

How is the exam actually administered?

All construction license exams except the Plumbing Contractor exam are computer-based tests (CBT). Once Professional Testing, Inc. (PTI) approves a candidate's eligibility, the candidate schedules, reschedules, or cancels their appointment directly through Pearson VUE, DBPR's contracted testing vendor.

License Renewal and Continuing Education

When does my license expire?

It depends on classification. Certified contractors (CGC, CBC, CRC, and other certified categories) renew every two years on August 31 of even-numbered years. Registered contractors (local-competency-card holders operating under a state registration) renew on August 31 of odd-numbered years.

What does renewal cost?

For an active certified license, the standard renewal fee is $205 (or $255 with a qualified business), rising to $230 (or $280) if submitted after the August 31 deadline. Inactive renewal runs $55 on time, or $80 late. Reactivating an inactive license back to active status costs $305 on time, or $330 late.

How many continuing education hours do I need?

Florida requires 14 classroom hours of continuing education per two-year renewal cycle for certified and registered contractors, including at least one hour on laws and rules and a portion covering workers' compensation, business practices, workplace safety, and, for applicable categories, wind-mitigation methodology.

What's New for Florida Contractors in 2026

Do I have to pay my subcontractors within a set number of days now?

Yes. Senate Bill 290, effective July 1, 2026, created s. 489.1295, F.S., which requires a licensed contractor to compensate a subcontractor or supplier — absent a bona fide dispute over the amount owed — within 45 days of receiving payment for that work, or according to the payment terms in the contract. Knowing or willful violations are subject to discipline under s. 489.129, F.S. This closes a gap that let a general contractor collect payment from a homeowner, never pass it downstream, and leave the subcontractor filing a lien against the homeowner's property instead of a license complaint against the contractor.

Did my continuing education requirements change in 2026?

Yes, slightly. General, Building, Residential, and Specialty Structure contractors must now complete one hour on Cementitious Cladding, Stucco, Plastering, and Lath application and repair methodologies (Rule 61G4-18.001(2)(h), F.A.C.) inside the existing 14-hour continuing education requirement — not on top of it. DBPR is phasing in enforcement: registered contractors need the hour starting with licenses expiring August 31, 2027, and certified contractors starting with licenses expiring August 31, 2028.

Florida Contractor License FAQ: Unlicensed Contracting Penalties

What is the penalty for contracting without a license in Florida?

Unlicensed contracting is a first-degree misdemeanor for a first offense (s. 489.127(2)(a), F.S.). DBPR can impose an administrative fine of up to $10,000 per instance under s. 489.13(3), F.S., plus investigative and legal costs, and local governments can separately assess civil penalties of up to $2,000 under s. 489.127(5)(c), F.S. A second violation after a prior finding of guilt escalates to a third-degree felony (s. 489.127(2)(b), F.S.), and offenses committed during a declared state of emergency also carry third-degree felony exposure (s. 489.127(2)(c), F.S.). DBPR has publicly reported enforcement sweeps — including a 2024 joint NASCLA Coordinated Enforcement Effort with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office after Hurricanes Helene and Milton that DBPR says "resulted in more than 50 arrests and saved homeowners from more than $250,000 in unlicensed activity scams."

What happens if a licensed contractor works outside their scope?

A licensed contractor caught working outside their job scope or geographic registration is also considered guilty of unlicensed contracting under Florida law. For a first offense, they receive a notice of noncompliance under s. 489.13(2), F.S., rather than an immediate fine, but subsequent violations are treated the same as unlicensed activity by a non-license holder.

Reciprocity, Out-of-State Experience, and County Rules

I'm licensed in another state — does Florida honor it?

Florida has reciprocity agreements with a limited number of states and recognizes NASCLA (National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies) certification for certain license categories, which can exempt qualifying contractors from portions of the Florida exam. Reciprocity is category-specific and state-specific, so a General Contractor license from one state does not automatically transfer the same way a Residential license from another might. Always verify your specific state and license type against DBPR's current reciprocity list before assuming an exemption applies.

Can I use experience I earned working for someone else, or in another country?

Yes, with documentation. Experience gained while you personally held a license, or while working directly under a licensed contractor — in Florida, another state, or another country — can generally be counted toward the four-year experience requirement, provided you can document the scope and duration of that work. This is one of the most common questions from contractors who immigrated to Florida with years of hands-on trade experience but no US-based license history yet.

What is the difference between a county competency card and a state license?

A county or local competency card only authorizes work within that specific county or municipality. SB 1142 (2024) extended the window for local specialty licensing through June 30, 2025 — it did not create the restriction itself. The restriction that took effect July 1, 2025, limiting local licensing to specialty categories that substantially match state CILB classifications, comes from s. 489.117(4), F.S. A state-issued certified license (CGC, CBC, CRC, and the certified trade categories) authorizes you to work anywhere in Florida, which is why most contractors planning to grow beyond a single county eventually pursue state certification rather than staying registered locally.

Can I qualify a business, or do I need to be an individual license holder first?

You must hold an individual certification or registration before you can qualify a business entity. Once licensed, you become that business's "qualifying agent," which carries legal responsibility for the entity's compliance — including a rule that a business operating more than 60 days without a designated qualifying agent is itself operating unlicensed.

Key Takeaways

• Florida has three main general-track license classifications — CGC (unlimited), CBC (three-story cap), and CRC (residential only) — and choosing the right one determines what work you can legally bid.
• Division I contractors take three exams (Business and Finance, Contract Administration, Project Management); Division II specialty contractors take two (Business and Finance plus trade knowledge).
• You only retake the exam sections you failed, but every section must be completed within four years of your first attempt or all scores expire.
• Certified contractors renew every two years on August 31 of even years; 14 hours of continuing education are required per cycle.
• Unlicensed contracting is a first-degree misdemeanor with fines up to $10,000 from DBPR, escalating to a third-degree felony on repeat or emergency-period violations.

Get Your Specific Questions Answered

General FAQs are a starting point, not a substitute for a study plan built around your specific license category, county, and timeline. License Fix runs live Q&A sessions and a WhatsApp study community where contractors get direct answers instead of guessing at forum posts. Start with the free Business and Finance intro course to see the full curriculum and get your questions in front of instructors who have helped 209+ contractors get licensed since 2022.

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