Are you Eligible?

To qualify for a Certified Residential, Building, General, or Roofing Contractor license in Florida through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), you must meet specific experience, education, financial, and character requirements.

1. Age Requirement

• You must be at least 18 years old.

2. Work Experience or Education

Florida DBPR offers two routes to meet the experience requirement:

Option A: Experience Only

• 4 years of verifiable construction experience in the field related to the license you're applying for (Residential, Building, General, or Roofing).

• At least 1 year must be supervisory experience.

• Experience must be within the last 10 years.

Option B: Education + Experience

• Up to 3 years of college credit from an accredited school in a relevant field (e.g., construction management, architecture, engineering) can be substituted for experience on a 1:1 basis.

  • Example: 3 years of relevant education + 1 year of experience = 4-year requirement fulfilled.

• Must still include at least 1 year of supervisory experience.

You will need to provide detailed job descriptions, project types, and dates worked — along with signed affidavits from licensed contractors or employers.

3. Financial Responsibility & Credit

To prove financial stability and responsibility, you must:

• Submit a credit report with public records check (must include FICO score)

  • A credit score of 660 or higher is required

  • If lower, you may still qualify by:

    • Posting a license bond (around $10,000–$20,000)

    • Taking a 14-hour financial responsibility course

• Show proof of net worth, assets, or working capital depending on your business structure

4. Insurance Requirements

To activate your license, you’ll need:

• General liability insurance

  • Minimum:

    • $300,000 bodily injury

    • $50,000 property damage

• Workers' compensation insurance if you have employees

5. Good Moral Character

• Submit fingerprints for a state and federal background check

• Disclose any criminal convictions, bankruptcies, liens, or disciplinary actions

• Some offenses do not automatically disqualify you, but DBPR will evaluate each on a case-by-case basis

Sign up for our in-person course and we will get you licensed or your money back