Residential Contractor

Florida Residential Contractor License

A Florida Residential Contractor (CRC) means a contractor whose services are limited to construction, remodeling, repair, or improvement of one-family, two-family, or three-family residences not exceeding two habitable stories above no more than one uninhabitable story and accessory use structures in connection therewith. If you are a contractor engaged in commercial construction (up to three stories) or remodeling, you must obtain a Florida Building Contractor’s License instead. If you wish to be unlimited in your scope of work (build everything from houses to high-rises), then a Florida General Contractor (CGC) license is a better match. As a Florida Residential Contractor, you can subcontract all major specialty trades (those not included in your scope of work like A/C, Electrical, and Plumbing) to work on your residential projects. If you do not wish to subcontract work which is included within the scope of your license, you are free to do said work in-house (i.e. framing, drywall, painting, tile, stucco, etc)

Licensing Requirements

Below are some of the requirements needed to become a licensed Residential Contractor in the State of Florida:

  • Age: Must be at least 18 years of age
  • Examination: Must take and pass the state certification examinations (Contract Administration, Project Management, and Business & Finance). Please note that the application process cannot be started until the exams are taken and passing scores are obtained.
  • Experience / Education: A person will qualify for a Certified Residential Contractor’s license by meeting one of the following requirements.
    • Effective July 1, 2020, exam 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. You will be required to affirm that you qualify for this exemption later in this application. You will only be required to register for the Business and Finance 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.

Military Veterans

  • A veteran will qualify for a certified license by meeting one of the following:
  • Three years of military service and one year experience as a foreman applicable to the category for which you are applying.
  • Two years of military service, one year experience as a foreman, and one year experience as a worker or foreman applicable to the category for which you are applying.
  • One year of military service, one year experience as a foreman, and two years experience as a worker or foreman applicable to the category for which you are applying.
  • Applicants for the Certified Residential Contractor License must have experience in four or more of the experience areas listed below:
    • Foundation/Slabs
    • Masonry walls
    • Structural Demolition
    • Trusses
    • Column erection
    • Formwork for structural reinforced concrete
    • Structural wood framing (excluding platform framing)

Financial / Credit

  • Financial / Credit: Applicants will need to provide proof of financial stability and responsibility by submitting personal credit reports. Credit reports must include a FICO derived credit score and indicate that local, state and federal records have been searched. Credit report containing a credit score (FICO derived) on the applicant from a nationally recognized credit reporting agency, which includes a public records statement that records have been checked at local, state, and federal levels. If the credit score is below 660 (FICO derived) applicant must submit a bond or irrevocable letter of credit. Note that Fifty percent (50%) of the bond or letter of credit requirement may be met by completion of a 14-hour financial responsibility course.
  • Fingerprints: An applicant must have a background check as part of the licensing process.
  • Insurance: Applicants are required to attest that they have obtained public liability and property damage insurance in the amounts determined by Board rule. Applicants are also required to obtain worker’s compensation insurance or obtain an exemption from worker’s compensation insurance within 30 days of issuance of their license. To download the different application forms related to the Residential Contractor’s License, you may visit the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board’s site.

Florida Residential Contractor Exams

Do not sign up to take your exams until you obtain your books and begin studying for them! Florida Residential Contractor exams are held every two months according to the official Florida Professional Testing schedule. A residential contractor in Florida must pass a Business, as well as a trade exam, but the trade exam is divided into two different tests, one in the morning, and another in the afternoon. These trade tests are known as the Contractor Administration and the Project Management tests respectively. Florida residential contractors must pass both sections of the trade exams as well as the business exam in order to satisfy the academic requirements for licensing.

Residential Contract Administration Exam

This test contains 45 questions, it is an open book and lasts 4 hours and 45 minutes (morning session). Some of the subjects included are: Pre-construction Activities, Project Contracts, Obtaining Licenses, Permits and Approvals, Construction Procedures and Operations

Residential Project Management Exam

This test contains 60 questions, it is an open book and lasts 4 hours and 45 minutes (afternoon session). Some of the subjects included are Construction Methods, Materials, Tools, and Equipment; Safety; Reading Plans and Specifications.

Business and Finance Exam

This is a separate test that lasts 6.5 hours and contains 120 questions. Some of the subjects included in this test are: Establishing the Contracting Business, Managing Administrative Duties, Managing Trade Operations, Conducting Accounting Functions, Managing Human Resources, and complying with Government Regulations.

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 codebooks 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.
Yep, Florida’s Construction Industry Licensing Board are douche bags

  • 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