General Contractor License in Florida

The GC license is the most sought-after license in Florida. The license allows you to do most sub-trades on your construction projects, You also have the exclusive ability to contract for any activity under 489 licensing laws. No other license will allow you to do that.

What can a General Contractor Do?

A general contractor’s license in Florida ALLOWS you to:

• Build, repair, and remodel any type of building, regardless of size or number of stories
• Construct or alter the structural components of a building or structure
• Remodel any type of commercial or residential property
• Perform clearing, grubbing, grading, excavation, and any site work for any construction project
• Install and perform warranty repairs of wood shingles, wood shakes, or shingle roofing on new buildings of your own construction. (check with local building officials to see if they’ll allow a tie-in to an existing roof?)
• Perform structural swimming pool work
• Construct main sanitary sewer collection systems, storm collection systems, and water distribution systems

A general contractor’s license does NOT allow you to perform the following work using your own employees, you must sub-contract the work to subs licensed in those trades:

• Electrical
• Plumbing
• Air Conditioning
• Roofing (except for shingles on your own buildings–ones you have pulled permits for)
• swimming pool (Non-structural) work
• Continuation of utility lines from the mains to the buildings

What are the Requirements to Become a General Contractor in Florida?

General Contractor Requisites

• Have experience in the trade
• Age: Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Examination: Must pass state certification examinations (Contract Administration, Project Management, and Business).
• Financial / Credit: If the credit score is below 660 (FICO derived) applicant must submit a bond or irrevocable letter of credit.
• Fingerprints: An applicant must have a background check as part of the licensing process. (If more than 6 months old must submit again.
• Insurance: Applicants are required to attest that they have obtained public liability and property damage insurance in the amounts determined by Board rule. Must have Workers Comp, of Election of Exemption.

Ways to prove your General Contractor’s Experience

• Work Experience and/or education
  • Candidates who have received a baccalaureate degree in building construction from an accredited 4-year college, or a related degree as approved by board rule, and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher are exempt from having to take the trade knowledge portion of the exam.
  • Four-year construction-related degree from an accredited college (equivalent to three years’ experience) and one year proved experience applicable to the category for which you are applying.
  • One year of experience as a foreman and not less than three years of credits from accredited college-level courses.
  • One year of experience as a worker, one-year experience as a foreman, and two years of credits from accredited college-level courses.
  • Two years’ experience as a worker, one year experience as a foreman, and one year of credits from accredited college-level courses.
  • Four years’ experience as a worker or foreman of which at least one year must have been as a foreman.
  • Be a certified residential or building contractor holding an active current license for a minimum of 4 years.
  • Florida is giving credit for Military Service.

  Areas of Construction which satisfy GC Experience Requirements

  • Must have at least one year of experience in the construction of buildings at least four stories in height
  • Applicants for the Certified General Contractor License must have experience in four or more of the experience areas listed below:
    • Foundation/Slabs greater than 20,000 s.f.
    • Masonry walls
    • Steel erection
    • Precast concrete structures
    • Column erection
    • Formwork for structural reinforced concrete
    • Elevated slabs
    • Widows / Doors

    General Contract Administration Exam

    • Part 1 of GC Trade Exam
    • Testing Method: Computer-Based Testing
    • Testing Provider: Pearson VUE (remember some have bad days, others have a bad life … Be Polite!)
    • Number of Questions: 65 (5 pilot questions that do not count for scoring)

    General Project Management Exam

    • Part 2 of GC Trade Exam
    • Testing Method: Computer-Based Testing
    • Testing Provider: Pearson VUE
    • Number of Questions: 65 (5 pilot questions that do not count for scoring)

    Business and Finance Exam

    • Testing Method: Computer-Based Testing
    • Testing Provider: Pearson VUE
    • Number of Questions: 125 (5 pilot questions that do not count for scoring)

    List of Books for the General Contractor Trade Exams

    The trade exams for General Contracting are Contract Administration and Project Management. The exact same list of books is used for both of them.

    Starting July 1st, 2021 the 2020 code books will be used for contractor Licensing. If you are now buying get 2020!

    • Florida Building Code – Building
      Florida Building Code 2020 edition is the primary source for building code compliance in Florida.
    • Florida Building Code – Accessibility
      The Florida Accessibility Code (Florida Building Code – Accessibility 2020) outlines the code requirements for compliance with the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) as it relates to the construction of public buildings and structures.
    • Florida Building Code – Residential
      The 2020 Residential Code is the primary resource for code compliance for single and multi-family dwelling construction
    • Florida Building Code – Existing Building
      The Florida Existing Building Code (2020 edition) is the primary code reference for the remodeling and restoration of existing buildings in FL.
    • Florida Building Code – Energy Conservation
      The 2020 edition of the Florida Energy Conservation Code is the current and primary source of code compliance for mechanical contractors and builders.
    • A201 General Conditions of the Contract
      The A201 is published by the AIA and establishes the general conditions of the contract for construction.
    • A401 Standard Form of Agreement
    • A701, Instructions for Bidders
    • CFR (OSHA) Tile 29 Part 1926
      Safety – only used on Technical Exam
    • Building Component Safety Information Handling, Installing, and Bracing Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses(BCSI)
    • Energy Efficient Building Construction in Florida
      The University of Florida covers all aspects of energy-efficient construction in Florida. (Let’s use it, Probably cost taxpayers a few million)
    • Florida Contractor’s Manual 2017 Edition
      The Florida Contractor’s Manual is used as one of the references for the Business and Finance exam as well.

    Business and Finance Books

    • Florida Contractor’s Manual 2017 Edition
      The Florida Contractor’s Manual is used as one of the references for the Business and Finance exam as well
    • Florida Statutes Chapter 455
      (Chapter 2 of Contractors Manual)
    • Builder’s Guide to Accounting
      Builder’s Guide to Accounting is used for the Business and Finance contractor exam in Florida.
    • AIA A201, A401, A701

    Starting January 1st, 2020, these books will NOT be allowed in the testing room but will be tested on.

    • Builder’s Guide to Accounting
    • Walker’s Building Estimator’s Reference Book
    • Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures
    • Placing Reinforcing Bars
    • Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction
    • Specifications for the Application and Finishing of Gypsum Panel Products, GA-216

    Please note that A201, A401, A701, Builder’s Guide to Accounting and Florida Contractors Manual are required for both the business and the trade exams.

    Florida Statutes 455 is the only book that is used exclusively on the Business and Finance Exam

    

    Richard “Dick” Elzey
    Dick@FloridaContractor.com
    

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