General Contractor License Exam Preparation Course
Course Introduction:
Obtaining your General Contractor's license in the state of Florida allows you to kickstart your career in the construction of commercial or residential buildings of any height, including any accessory buildings and related sitework.
Our Full Service Course provides everything you need to get licensed. From in-person and online classes, a complete set of tabbed and highlighted books to pass your open-book exams, and expert guidance to navigate the licensing process.
License Requirements
To obtain your General Contractor license, you must meet the following requirements:
4 years as a worker or 1 year as a foreman
- Has a total of at least 4 years of active experience as a worker who has learned the trade by serving an apprenticeship as a skilled worker who is able to command the rate of a mechanic in the particular trade or as a foreman who is in charge of a group of workers and usually reports to a superintendent or a contractor or his or her equivalent, provided, however, that at least 1 year of active experience shall be as a foreman.
4-year degree in a construction-related field and 1 year of experience
- Has received a baccalaureate degree from an accredited 4-year college in the appropriate field of engineering, architecture, or building construction and has 1 year of proven experience in the category in which you seek to qualify. For the purpose of this exam, a minimum of 2,000 person-hours shall be used in determining full-time equivalency.
1 year as a foreman and 3 years of college credits
- Has a combination of no less than 1 year of experience as a foreman and not less than 3 years of credits for any accredited college-level courses. All junior college or community college-level courses shall be considered accredited college-level courses.
1 year as a worker, 1 year as a foreman, and 2 years of college credits
- Has a combination of no less than 1 year of experience as a skilled worker, 1 year of experience as a foreman, and no less than 2 years of credits for any accredited college-level courses. All junior college or community college-level courses shall be considered accredited college-level courses.
2 years as a worker, 1 year as a foreman, and 1 year of college credits
- Has a combination of no less than 2 years of experience as a skilled worker, 1 year of experience as a foreman, and no less than 1 year of credits for any accredited college-level courses. All junior college or community college-level courses shall be considered accredited college-level courses.
Is an active certified building contractor with 4 years of experience
- An active certified building contractor is eligible to take the general contractor examination if he or she possesses a minimum of 4 years of proven experience in the classification in which he or she is certified.
Is an active certified residential contractor with 4 years of experience
- An active certified residential contractor is eligible to take the general contractor examination if he or she possesses a minimum of 4 years of proven experience in the classification in which he or she is certified.
Additionally, if you served in the military, your experience may count toward the contractor license requirements, and fee waivers, reimbursements, or discounts may be available to you.
Licensing Steps
Application Process
Step 1. Register for one of our comprehensive exam preparation courses and select the exam-ready book purchase option. Please note: You are allowed to use the exam-ready books at the open-book Florida General Contractor State exam!
Step 2. Register for your Florida General Contractor State exam. Let us help you with your exam registration — call CEI at 800-423-7058. If you are confident about the required registration process and steps, you can register through Professional Testing Inc. at www.floridaexam.com.
Step 3. Prepare for and pass your exam!
Step 4. Mail your application with your passing exam scores to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. You will receive your license within approximately 60 days after submitting the completed application.
For detailed information, take a look at our Florida general contractor requirements blog.
For additional information about license or experience qualifications, feel free to book a start-up consultation here to make sure that you are signing up for the correct license based on your experience!
General Contractor License Exam Preparation
Course Details
Sarasota, FL
August 19–22, 2024 | October 21–24, 2024 | November 18–21, 2024
Orlando, FL
September 10–13, 2024 | October 8–11, 2024 | December 3–6, 2024
Fort Lauderdale, FL
September 23–26, 2024 | November 4–7, 2024 | December 16–19, 2024
General Contractor License Exam Preparation
Course Content:
CEI’s General Contractor License Exam Prep course provides everything you need to complete your exam successfully! Thousands of prospective general contractor students have benefited from this course and are now fully licensed Florida General Contractors succeeding in the field.
Our full-service Florida General Contractor license exam prep course is designed to be the only resource you’ll ever need to pass the Florida General Contractor license exam! You’ll walk into the exam room prepared, armed with every book highlighted and tabbed, the most commonly asked question types already mastered, and be on your way to your future career as a Florida General Contractor in no time.
Our course covers everything—from mastering the complexities of business and finance to navigating the intricate construction laws and regulations that will define your career. You'll gain cutting-edge project management techniques that set you apart from the competition and hands-on technical skills that ensure you're ready for any challenge the exam presents.
The Florida General Contractor License Exam Prep course includes the following content:
- Business and Finance: Covering financial management, accounting principles, and business laws.
- Construction Laws and Regulations: State-specific laws, building codes, and safety standards.
- Project Management: Techniques for planning, executing, and closing construction projects.
- Technical Skills: Hands-on sessions on blueprint reading, estimating, and construction methods.
Course Learning Materials:
Books and Guides: 19 essential textbooks and accompanying study guides are included.
The General Contractor license exam is an open-book exam. Our books are professionally highlighted and tabbed to indicate the answers to common Florida General Contractor License exam questions. Book tabs will help you find the correct section of the books much more quickly when looking for the answer to an exam question and highlight detailed parts of the books from where questions are often asked.
Practice Exams: Mock exams to test retention and simulate the real test environment will prepare you for exam day.
Live Intensive, In-Person Classes: Led by fully licensed and experienced instructors, students receive 4 full-day live classes offered in multiple locations throughout Florida. These sessions cover test-taking tips, key strategies, and book review for a total of 32 hours of classroom training. This includes live class handouts with practice quiz questions.
Self-Paced Online Courses: Students receive access to online general contractor learning modules dedicated to each book to cover key concepts, interactive elements to reinforce key topics and refine test-taking strategy, and online quizzes and exams. The online Florida General Contractor learning modules are a perfect complement to your live, in-person classes.
Course Expertise:
Licensed Instructors: Your instructors are experienced professionals with industry knowledge. CEI instructors have helped thousands of students prepare for — and pass — their licensing exams.
Interactive Support Sessions: Receive support from your instructors through Q&A sessions, virtual office hours, webinar sessions, and personalized email assistance.
Course Format:
- Hands-On Learning: In-person classroom experience at one of our on-site locations, conveniently located throughout the state of Florida. Our classroom experiences make the Florida General Contractors license preparation come alive, helping the information stick with you for lasting retention.
- Interactive Lectures: Engaging and informative presentations from licensed instructors create space for dynamic discussions and hands-on activities that clarify complex construction and business management concepts, using real-world examples tailored to the Florida General Contractor's exam.
- Learn Key Strategies: Instructors share exam secrets and tricks to navigate books and keywords during your open-book exam. These test-taking strategies will boost your confidence and help you manage your time effectively during these timed exams.
- Practical Training: Learn practical exercises to apply learned concepts, such as practicing complicated math and accounting problems during class to ensure you have a firm grasp and real-world understanding of these concepts.
- Online Video Modules: Online video modules dedicated to each of the 19 books complement the in-person instruction by allowing you to review key concepts at your own pace. This helps reinforce what you’ve learned in class and ensures a deeper understanding of the material.
Course Assessment and Feedback:
- Regular Book Quizzes: These written practice quizzes will help you to test your skills of explaining specific topics, examples, and concepts. These quizzes will also help to ensure you are thoroughly familiar with where to locate all sections and answers for your open-book Florida General Contractors exams.
- Simulated Exam: Unlimited access to practice exams with a randomized bank of questions from all of the 19 books with each new attempt. These exams mimic the real exam environment, helping you become familiar with the format, manage your time effectively, and identify areas where you need further review of the material. This practice builds confidence and significantly increases your chances of passing the actual exam.
- IOH session: Students can work through problems they struggle with.
Course Final Review:
Comprehensive Review: Set yourself up for success on exam day with a final review and preparation tips. The review zeroes in on the most challenging topics that frequently appear on the Florida General Contractors license exam. It includes a rigorous walkthrough of the exam’s most complex questions, detailed solutions to previous exam problems, and targeted tips for mastering the time management necessary for success. At the conclusion of this, you’ll be fully prepared after mastering the nuances of the actual exam.
The road to success begins here. Get licensed and start building your legacy today!
