FLORIDA GC: GENERAL CONTRACTOR LICENSE EXAM PREP | 2026/2027
CONSTRUCTION LAW & TRADE KNOWLEDGE VERIFIED ANSWERS AND
QUESTIONS - MOST RECENT EDITION
Q1: What is the minimum age requirement to obtain a Florida General
Contractor license?
ANSWER 18 years old. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the time
of application.
Q2: Which Florida statute governs the licensing of construction
contractors?
ANSWER Chapter 489, Florida Statutes — the 'Construction Industry Licensing
Law.'
Q3: What agency issues General Contractor licenses in Florida?
ANSWER The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
(DBPR) through the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB).
Q4: What are the two main types of General Contractor licenses in Florida?
ANSWER Certified (valid statewide) and Registered (valid only in the
jurisdiction where the contractor registered).
Q5: How many years of experience are required to qualify for a Florida
Certified General Contractor license?
ANSWER A minimum of 4 years of proven experience in construction, with at
least 1 year in a supervisory or contractor capacity.
Q6: What financial responsibility requirement must a General Contractor
applicant demonstrate?
ANSWER Applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility by credit report
review; they must have no unsatisfied judgments and an acceptable credit
history.
Q7: What is the passing score for the Florida Contractor Licensing exam?
ANSWER A score of 70% or higher on each exam section.
Q8: What two exam sections must a General Contractor candidate pass?
,ANSWER The Business and Finance exam and the Trade Knowledge exam.
Q9: Can a Florida-licensed contractor work in all Florida counties without
additional registration?
ANSWER A Certified contractor can work statewide. A Registered contractor
must register in each local jurisdiction.
Q10: What is a 'qualifying agent' in Florida construction law?
ANSWER A licensed contractor who is responsible for a company's
construction activities, pulling permits, and supervising work.
Q11: Can one person qualify multiple businesses simultaneously in
Florida?
ANSWER Yes, a licensee may qualify up to three businesses, but must have a
financial interest in each.
Q12: What is the license renewal period for Florida General Contractors?
ANSWER Every two years, with renewal in odd-numbered years for CGC
licenses.
Q13: How many continuing education hours must a General Contractor
complete per renewal cycle?
ANSWER 14 hours total: 1 hour of workplace safety, 1 hour of business
practices, and 1 hour of Florida Building Code, plus elective hours.
Q14: What happens if a contractor fails to renew their license on time?
ANSWER The license becomes delinquent. A contractor may reactivate within
2 years by paying fees and meeting CE requirements; after 2 years, the license
is void.
Q15: What is a Certificate of Competency?
ANSWER A local license issued by a county or municipality allowing
contractors to work within that jurisdiction.
Q16: What is the difference between 'inactive' and 'delinquent' status?
ANSWER Inactive: the contractor voluntarily placed the license on inactive
status. Delinquent: the license was not renewed by the due date.
Q17: Under Florida law, what is required before a contractor can do
business as a corporation?
ANSWER The contractor must register the business entity with DBPR and have
a qualifying agent on record.
, Q18: What is 'financial stability' as required by the CILB?
ANSWER No net worth below the required threshold and no unsatisfied
judgments or liens related to contracting activities.
Q19: Who investigates complaints against licensed contractors in Florida?
ANSWER The DBPR's Division of Regulation investigates complaints, and the
CILB holds disciplinary hearings.
Q20: What is a 'primary qualifying agent'?
ANSWER The individual primarily responsible for the business, who must have
at least a 20% financial interest in the company.
Q21: What exam is required to add a specialty to a GC license in Florida?
ANSWER Depending on the specialty, an additional trade examination may be
required; some specialties are automatically included with a CGC.
Q22: What does 'CGC' stand for?
ANSWER Certified General Contractor.
Q23: What does 'CRC' stand for?
ANSWER Certified Residential Contractor.
Q24: Can a General Contractor build single-family homes under their
license?
ANSWER Yes, a CGC license covers commercial and residential construction
including single-family homes.
Q25: What is the minimum required workers' compensation coverage in
Florida for a contractor with employees?
ANSWER Florida law requires workers' compensation coverage for all
employees. Contractors in construction with one or more employees must carry
it.
Q26: What is the general liability insurance minimum typically required by
local jurisdictions for contractors?
ANSWER While the state minimum under CILB is $300,000 for general liability,
many local jurisdictions require higher amounts.
Q27: Can an unlicensed person perform contracting work in Florida?
ANSWER No. Performing contracting work without a license is a first-degree
misdemeanor for the first offense and a third-degree felony for subsequent
offenses.
CONSTRUCTION LAW & TRADE KNOWLEDGE VERIFIED ANSWERS AND
QUESTIONS - MOST RECENT EDITION
Q1: What is the minimum age requirement to obtain a Florida General
Contractor license?
ANSWER 18 years old. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the time
of application.
Q2: Which Florida statute governs the licensing of construction
contractors?
ANSWER Chapter 489, Florida Statutes — the 'Construction Industry Licensing
Law.'
Q3: What agency issues General Contractor licenses in Florida?
ANSWER The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
(DBPR) through the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB).
Q4: What are the two main types of General Contractor licenses in Florida?
ANSWER Certified (valid statewide) and Registered (valid only in the
jurisdiction where the contractor registered).
Q5: How many years of experience are required to qualify for a Florida
Certified General Contractor license?
ANSWER A minimum of 4 years of proven experience in construction, with at
least 1 year in a supervisory or contractor capacity.
Q6: What financial responsibility requirement must a General Contractor
applicant demonstrate?
ANSWER Applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility by credit report
review; they must have no unsatisfied judgments and an acceptable credit
history.
Q7: What is the passing score for the Florida Contractor Licensing exam?
ANSWER A score of 70% or higher on each exam section.
Q8: What two exam sections must a General Contractor candidate pass?
,ANSWER The Business and Finance exam and the Trade Knowledge exam.
Q9: Can a Florida-licensed contractor work in all Florida counties without
additional registration?
ANSWER A Certified contractor can work statewide. A Registered contractor
must register in each local jurisdiction.
Q10: What is a 'qualifying agent' in Florida construction law?
ANSWER A licensed contractor who is responsible for a company's
construction activities, pulling permits, and supervising work.
Q11: Can one person qualify multiple businesses simultaneously in
Florida?
ANSWER Yes, a licensee may qualify up to three businesses, but must have a
financial interest in each.
Q12: What is the license renewal period for Florida General Contractors?
ANSWER Every two years, with renewal in odd-numbered years for CGC
licenses.
Q13: How many continuing education hours must a General Contractor
complete per renewal cycle?
ANSWER 14 hours total: 1 hour of workplace safety, 1 hour of business
practices, and 1 hour of Florida Building Code, plus elective hours.
Q14: What happens if a contractor fails to renew their license on time?
ANSWER The license becomes delinquent. A contractor may reactivate within
2 years by paying fees and meeting CE requirements; after 2 years, the license
is void.
Q15: What is a Certificate of Competency?
ANSWER A local license issued by a county or municipality allowing
contractors to work within that jurisdiction.
Q16: What is the difference between 'inactive' and 'delinquent' status?
ANSWER Inactive: the contractor voluntarily placed the license on inactive
status. Delinquent: the license was not renewed by the due date.
Q17: Under Florida law, what is required before a contractor can do
business as a corporation?
ANSWER The contractor must register the business entity with DBPR and have
a qualifying agent on record.
, Q18: What is 'financial stability' as required by the CILB?
ANSWER No net worth below the required threshold and no unsatisfied
judgments or liens related to contracting activities.
Q19: Who investigates complaints against licensed contractors in Florida?
ANSWER The DBPR's Division of Regulation investigates complaints, and the
CILB holds disciplinary hearings.
Q20: What is a 'primary qualifying agent'?
ANSWER The individual primarily responsible for the business, who must have
at least a 20% financial interest in the company.
Q21: What exam is required to add a specialty to a GC license in Florida?
ANSWER Depending on the specialty, an additional trade examination may be
required; some specialties are automatically included with a CGC.
Q22: What does 'CGC' stand for?
ANSWER Certified General Contractor.
Q23: What does 'CRC' stand for?
ANSWER Certified Residential Contractor.
Q24: Can a General Contractor build single-family homes under their
license?
ANSWER Yes, a CGC license covers commercial and residential construction
including single-family homes.
Q25: What is the minimum required workers' compensation coverage in
Florida for a contractor with employees?
ANSWER Florida law requires workers' compensation coverage for all
employees. Contractors in construction with one or more employees must carry
it.
Q26: What is the general liability insurance minimum typically required by
local jurisdictions for contractors?
ANSWER While the state minimum under CILB is $300,000 for general liability,
many local jurisdictions require higher amounts.
Q27: Can an unlicensed person perform contracting work in Florida?
ANSWER No. Performing contracting work without a license is a first-degree
misdemeanor for the first offense and a third-degree felony for subsequent
offenses.
