Home / General contractor / Florida
Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board · checked 2026-10-20
Florida General contractor License Requirements
Statewide certification in three Division I categories: residential, building and general contractor. Certified General Contractor: 4 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- 1CRC · Certified Residential Contractor 4 years
- 2CBC · Certified Building Contractor 4 years
- 3CGC · Certified General Contractor 4 years
License levels in Florida
The Florida path has 3 steps on this page: Certified Residential Contractor, Certified Building Contractor and Certified General Contractor. The source states the time in years.
| Level | Experience | Classroom | Time from start | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRC Certified Residential Contractor | 4 years | — | 4 years | Yes | Not printed |
| CBC Certified Building Contractor | 4 years | — | 4 years | Yes | Not printed |
| CGC Certified General Contractor | 4 years | — | 4 years | Yes | Not printed |
Certified Residential Contractor (CRC)
At least 4 years of active experience, at least 1 as a foreman, or a college-credit combination; a 4-year degree in engineering, architecture or building construction plus 1 year in the category also qualifies. § 489.111(2)(c). Scope: one-, two- and three-family residences of up to two habitable stories above one uninhabitable story. Source: Fla. Stat. § 489.111.
Certified Building Contractor (CBC)
The same 4 years with 1 as a foreman, or the degree or college-credit routes. § 489.111(2)(c). Scope: commercial buildings and residential buildings not exceeding three stories. Source: Fla. Stat. § 489.105.
Certified General Contractor (CGC)
The same 4 years with 1 as a foreman; § 489.111(2)(c)4 also lets a certified building contractor upgrade after set years of experience. Scope: unlimited as to the type of work. Source: Fla. Stat. § 489.111.
Exam
3 of the 3 levels listed here require an exam: Certified Residential Contractor, Certified Building Contractor and Certified General Contractor. The source does not print a pass mark.
Fees
The Florida source read prints no dollar amounts for this license.
Reciprocity
The Florida sources read for this trade name no reciprocity agreement and no route for out-of-state licensees.
How Florida compares
Among the 3 states on this site that state a minimum time to the top general contractor credential, Florida ranks 3 of 3 from shortest (3 years) to longest (4 years). California sets the same 4 years.
Same trade elsewhere: California · Pennsylvania · North Carolina · Michigan · Connecticut. All states side by side: General contractor license requirements by state.
Other trades in Florida
- Electrician: Certified Electrical Contractor: 4 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- Plumber: Certified Plumbing Contractor: 4 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- HVAC: Class A Air-Conditioning Contractor: 4 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
All covered trades on one page: Florida trade licenses.
Background reading: From apprentice to master: how long each state takes · How trade license exams work.
Questions
Who issues the general contractor license in Florida?
Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (Department of Business and Professional Regulation). Statewide certification in three Division I categories: residential, building and general contractor.
How long does it take to qualify for the Certified General Contractor in Florida?
4 years by this site's count. The same 4 years with 1 as a foreman; § 489.111(2)(c)4 also lets a certified building contractor upgrade after set years of experience.
Does Florida have general contractor license reciprocity?
The Florida sources read name no reciprocity agreement for this trade.
Sources and last checked
| What | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (Department of Business and Professional Regulation) | 2026-10-20 |
| CRC requirements | Fla. Stat. § 489.111 | 2026-10-20 |
| CBC requirements | Fla. Stat. § 489.105 | 2026-10-20 |
| CGC requirements | Fla. Stat. § 489.111 | 2026-10-20 |
| Law cited | Fla. Stat. §§ 489.105(3)(a) to (c), 489.111 | 2026-10-20 |
This page summarises what the Florida source said on 2026-10-20. It is general information, not legal advice; the board's own page and the statute are the authority and can change. Confirm with Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board before applying. The free official route is the board itself: its page, application forms and staff answer eligibility questions.