Course Introduction:

This course is carefully crafted and taught by expert and experienced licensed industry professionals and is designed to help you not only pass your Florida General Contractor license exam but also enter your new role as a General Contractor with confidence. 

License Requirements

Obtaining a General Contractor License in Florida

CEI takes the guesswork out of applying and preparing for your General Contractor License exam. Our step-by-step guide outlines all the information needed, including eligibility requirements, exam structure, and the application process. 

License Scope

A licensed general contractor can perform structural construction without height restrictions on all types of buildings, including residential, condominium, apartment, commercial, industrial, and agricultural buildings.

This license offers the most flexibility in terms of the scope of work that can be undertaken. General contractors can take on any sort of building work from the ground up to be as broad as site and structural work, or as limited as a bathroom remodel.   General contractors are responsible for liaising with architects, subcontractors, and clients, ensuring that all facets of a project come together seamlessly. A Florida General Contractor license gives you a plethora of flexibility and exciting opportunities in the construction industry. 

State Regulations

Florida’s general contractor license requires you to:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Complete the contractor application form and pay the necessary application fee.
• Pass the state certification exam.
• Complete a background check via Livescan Service Provider registered with FDLE
• Submit credit reports for yourself and business entities, including FICO-derived credit score. You must have a credit score of 660 or higher.  If you do not have a credit score of 660 or higher, you can complete an approved 14-hour financial responsibility course.
• Obtain public liability, property damage, and workers' compensation insurance or exemptions.

Method of Qualification

In order to obtain your General Contractor License, you must meet one of the following criteria:

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 exams!

Step 2. Register for your Florida General Contractor State exams. 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 60-90 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,  book a start-up consultation here to make sure that you are signing up for the correct license based on your experience!

Course Day & Times

This is a self-paced course, so you can study at times that are best for your busy schedule. The online general contractor course gives you 24/7 access for one full year from the purchase date. This allows you ample time to prepare for your Florida General Contractors license exams and successfully pass them. 

Course Content

Our Florida online 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.  

The Online Package for the Florida General Contractor license exam prep is designed to be the only resource you’ll ever need to pass the Florida General Contractor license exams! 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.  What sets this course apart is its entirely self-paced format, offering you the ultimate flexibility to prepare for the Florida General Contractor license exams on your terms, all from the comfort of your home. From your date of registration, you have one year to access these course materials and prepare for your exam. 

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. 

Our Online Package for 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: All approved essential textbooks and accompanying study guides are included. The General Contractor license exams are open-book exams.  Our Online Package provides you with a digital guide to self-highlight your books and pre-printed tabs you can insert that will allow you to quickly find the necessary information during your open-book exams.  These highlights and tabs provide quick reference points to commonly asked questions on the Florida General Contractor License exam questions. 

Practice Exams: Mock exams to test retention and simulate the real test environment will prepare you for exam day. 

Self-Paced Online Course: 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 available for 1 year from your registration date and include everything you need to know to confidently pass the Florida General Contractors exams. 

Instructor Expertise:

Expert Instructors: Your instructors are fully licensed experts and experienced professionals with industry knowledge. CEI instructors have helped thousands of students prepare for and pass their licensing exams. 

Course Format:

• Online Video Modules: Online video modules dedicated to each of the approved books allow you to review key concepts at your own pace. This helps reinforce what you've read in the books and ensures a deeper understanding of the material.
• Hands-On Training: We’ll bring learned concepts to life with interactive exercises that allow you to directly apply the concepts you're learning in our online classes. This hands-on approach ensures you’ve mastered the knowledge and can actively apply it to successfully pass your Florida General Contractor exams. 
• Learn Key Strategies: Our Online Package learning modules 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. 

Course Assessment and Feedback:

• Regular Book Quizzes: These written practice quizzes will help you to test your skills in 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 approved 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 exams.

Course Final Review:

• Comprehensive Review: Set yourself up for success on exam day with a final review and preparation tips. The Online Package course 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 to master the nuances of the actual exams. 

The road to success begins here. Get licensed and start building your legacy today!