To get a Florida contractor license you must be at least 18, show four years of experience or an equivalent education mix, pass the state exams administered by Professional Testing (trade portion plus Business & Finance), prove financial responsibility, and apply to the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB). Most candidates spend 4–8 weeks preparing and $1,000–$1,500 in total fees.
What are the requirements for a Florida contractor license?
- Be 18 or older with a Social Security number
- Four years of proven experience, or a combination of college credits and experience
- Pass the state exams administered by Professional Testing (trade + Business & Finance)
- Demonstrate financial stability — credit report with a minimum FICO, or a bond
- Fingerprinting and background check
- Application to the CILB with fee (around $249)
Certified licenses let you work statewide; registered licenses are limited to specific local jurisdictions. Most candidates aiming to grow a business pursue the certified route.
What is the Florida contractor exam format?
The certified General Contractor route involves three parts: Contract Administration, Project Management, and Business & Finance. The exams are open-book — approved references may be tabbed and highlighted — and time pressure, not difficulty of concepts, is what fails most candidates. Training fast lookup with realistic practice questions is the single highest-yield preparation method.
Try our free Florida practice test to see the question style, and read the dedicated guide to the Business and Finance exam — the portion that fails the most experienced builders.
How much does the whole process cost?
Plan for roughly $1,000–$1,500 end-to-end: exam fees (~$135 per attempt, per part), application fee (~$249), fingerprinting, reference books, and study materials. A failed attempt costs you both the re-sit fee and weeks of lost earning time — which is why candidates treat first-time passing as the cheapest option.
Practice for the Florida exam
Our packs are written against the current CILB candidate information bulletin and the official reference list. Every question includes an explained answer and a reference pointer, so you learn where to find each rule fast — the exact skill the open-book format tests.
- PRACTICE QUESTIONS
- 350
- EXAM
- FL-GC / Professional Testing
- FORMAT
- INSTANT PDF DOWNLOAD
- UPDATED
- 2026 BULLETIN
- PRACTICE QUESTIONS
- 50
- EXAM
- FL-GC / Professional Testing
- FORMAT
- INSTANT PDF DOWNLOAD
- UPDATED
- 2026 BULLETIN
Frequently asked questions
How hard is the Florida contractor exam?
First-attempt pass rates are commonly reported below 50%. The exam is open-book, but candidates fail because they cannot locate answers fast enough — which is why timed practice questions matter more than re-reading the references.
How much does it cost to get a contractor license in Florida?
Budget roughly $1,000–$1,500 in total: exam fees of about $135 per attempt, an application fee around $249, fingerprinting, plus the cost of reference books and study materials. Always verify current fees on the DBPR website before applying.
Is the Florida contractor exam open book?
Yes. The trade and business/finance portions allow approved reference books, which may be tabbed and highlighted. The skill being tested is fast retrieval under time pressure, not memorisation.
How long should I study for the Florida contractor exam?
Most successful candidates spend 4–8 weeks preparing. If your exam is sooner, focused drilling on practice questions with explained answers is the highest-yield use of remaining time.
Can a felon get a contractor license in Florida?
Often yes. Florida reviews criminal history case-by-case, considering the nature of the offence, time elapsed, and evidence of rehabilitation. A conviction is not an automatic bar, but full disclosure on the application is essential.
Sources: Florida DBPR / CILB candidate information bulletin. Fees and rules change — verify current figures at myfloridalicense.com before applying. The License Desk is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with the DBPR, CILB or Professional Testing.