In order to perform electrical or alarm-related work in the State of Florida, contractors must obtain a license from the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation. Licenses are issued by the Department’s Electrical Contractor Licensing Board. The Board meets regularly to determine who is eligible to hold a license.
As part of the licensing process, contractors are required to meet all the Board requirements for work experience, demonstrate financial responsibility and pass a qualifying exam.
License Types, Classifications and Specialties for Electrical Contractors in Florida
The Electrical Contractor Licensing Board offers two different license types to contractors:
- Certified Contractor License – allows contractors to work on electrical projects anywhere within the state. Part of the licensing process involves passing the state licensing exam.
- Registered Contractor License – limits contractors to working within a specific county or municipality. Part of the licensing process involves passing a local qualifying exam and obtaining a certificate of competency from the county or municipality in which the contractor chooses to conduct business.
*It is possible for a contractor to hold both a Certified and Registered license; however, each license type must be within a different classification. Contractors must also register in each county in which they plan to conduct business under their Registered license.
Once the contractor has determined the license type the wish to apply for, they must then choose from a number of license classifications and specialties. The Board offers the following classifications to Electrical and Alarm Contractors:
Certified License Classifications and Specialties:
- Certified Electrical Contractor (EC)*
- Certified Alarm System Contractor I (EF)
- Certified Alarm Contractor II (EG)
- Certified Electrical Specialty Contractor (ES) w/ specialties in:
- Residential Electrical Specialty
- Utility Line Specialty
- Lighting Maintenance Specialty
- Sign Specialty
- Limited Energy Specialty
*Please note that an EC license allows contractors to perform all types of electrical and alarm work.
Registered License Classifications and Specialties:
- Registered Electrical Contractor (ER)
- Registered Alarm Contractor I (EY)
- Registered Alarm Contractor II (EZ)
- Registered Electrical Specialty Contractor (ET) w/ specialties in:
- Residential Electrical Specialty
- Utility Line Specialty
- Lighting Maintenance Specialty
- Sign Specialty
- Limited Energy Specialty
For a description of each license classification and the scope of work each classification is allowed to perform, please visit:
Definition of Occupation and Class Codes
Process to Obtain an Electrical Contractor License in Florida
- Contractors must be at least 18 years of age
- Contractors must apply to take the qualifying examination and pay the fee to Pearson VUE if applying for a Certified license; or apply for the exam through the local county/municipality if applying for a Registered license
- Contractors must pass the 2-part examination if applying for a Certified license; or obtain a local certificate of competency if applying for a Registered license
- Contractors must prove a number of years of work experience in the classification or specialty for which they are applying
- Contractors must prove financial responsibility
- Contractors must hold the proper forms of insurance, including general liability and workers compensation
- Contractors must complete the initial application for a Certified or Registered license and submit it to the Board along with all the required documents and fees
- Upon renewal all contractors must complete 14 hours of continuing education courses
Applying to Take the Examination
Prior to completing the application for licensure, all contractors must take and pass an examination. In order to qualify to take the exam, contractors must be at least 18 years old.
If applying for a Certified License, contractors must complete the application for examination and submit it to the Department of Business & Professional Regulation, along with the required fee.
For a copy of the examination application, click the link below and follow the links for the license type/ classification that the contractor wishes to apply for:
Department of Business and Professional Regulation- Application Center
Contractors may also obtain a copy of the examination application by calling the Department’s Customer Contact Center at:
850-487-1395
The exam application fee is $327.50. Make checks payable to “Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.”
Mail the completed exam application along with the required fee to the following address:
Department of Business and Professional Regulation
1940 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783
Once the exam application is accepted, the contractor will receive information about scheduling their exam.
There is an additional fee of $67.50, which is paid to the testing vendor at the time the contractor schedules their test.
If the contractor is applying for a Registered License, an exam is also required, related to the contractor’s license classification or specialty. All registered contractors are required to pass an exam, even if it is not required by the county or municipality in which they plan to work.
Registered contractors are also required to obtain a certificate of competency from their county or municipality.
For more information about local examinations and certificates of competency, please call the Customer Contact Center at:
850-487-1395
The State Examination for Certified Contractors
The Department holds a contract with Pearson VUE to administer the state examination for Certified Contractor applicants.
Certified Contractors are required to pass a 2-part examination, covering:
- Business of Electrical Contracting
- Technical aspects of Electrical Contracting and Safety
Both potions of this computer-based test are open-book.
Once the Department processes the contractor’s exam application, they may schedule their test with Pearson VUE. Choose one of the following methods to schedule the exam:
- Call Pearson VUE, Monday through Friday from 8am to 11pm, Saturday from 8am to 5pm, or Sunday from 10am to 4pm at:
1-888-204-6230
- Schedule online, 24-hours a day, 7-days a week using Pearson VUE’s secure system:
Pearson VUE
The cost to schedule the exam is $67.50 for both portions of the exam, or:
- $22.50 for Business portion
- $45 for Technical/Safety portion
The Pearson VUE Candidate Information Bulletin contains all the information needed to prepare for the exam, including a break-down of all the information covered on each portion of the test, as well as lists of suggested references and study materials.
For a copy of the Candidate Information Bulletin, visit the link below:
Candidate Information Bulletin
Certified contractors have 3 attempts to pass both portions of the exam. If the contractor does not pass on the third attempt, additional fees, applications and continuing education apply.
Contractors must pass both portions of the exam with a minimum score of 75%. Scores are issued same-day at the completion of the test. A copy of the score report will be issued before the contractor leaves the testing center.
Exam scores are good for 2 years from the date the contractor passes the exam.
For more information about the State Examination for Certified Contractors, please contact Pearson VUE at:
1-888-204-6230
Preparing to Submit an Application
Once the contractor passes the state exam, or receives a local certificate of competency they will be asked complete an initial application for a Certified or Registered Electrical/ Alarm Contractor License.
For a copy of the initial license application, click the link below and follow the links for the specific license type and classification/ specialty for which the contractor is applying:
Department of Business and Professional Regulation- Application Center
As part of the initial application process, all contractors are required to prove work experience in the classification for which they are applying, as well as financial responsibility for themselves and any business they wish to qualify.
All contractors must meet one of the following work experience requirements:
- Hold a license as an electrical professional engineer for at least 3 years within the past 12 years
- Have 3 years of management experience in their classification/specialty within the past 6 years
- Have 4 years of experience as a foreman, supervisor or contractor within their classification/specialty within the past 8 years
- Have 6 years of comprehensive training, technical education or broad experience in an electrical contracting business within the past 12 years
- Have 6 years of technical experience doing electrical work with the Armed Forces or a government entity within the past 12 years
*The Board also accepts a combination of these work experiences as long as the combination is equal to 6 years of experience.
Some Certified license classifications also include the following requirements for work experiences:
- Certified Electrical Contractor (EC) applicant work experiences must include at least 40% of work in 3-phase services
- Certified Alarm System Contractor I (EF) applicant work experiences must include at least 40% of work in fire alarm systems
- Certified Alarm Contractor II (EG) applicant work experiences must include at least 40% of work in alarm systems other than fire alarms
Along with the application, all contractors are required to submit proof of their work experiences, including:
- W2s
- Employment Verification Forms- signed by an employer/former employer
- Job Lists- providing information for at least 5 projects for each year of experience the contractor is claiming
*If the contractor was self-employed or working out-of-state, they must submit 3 notarized letters of reference from a licensed contractor or building official who is familiar with their experience.
All contractors are also required to prove financial responsibility for themselves and any business which they plan to qualify. Qualifying a business simply means that the contractor plans to manage and supervise all business activities. When qualifying a business, the contractor assumes responsibility for all financial aspects and transactions of the business.
To prove financial responsibility, contractors must:
- Show a positive net worth for themselves/their business
- Be free from collections
- Be free from liens
- Be free from delinquent accounts
This is proven by completing the financial statement portion of the application and submitting personal and/or business credit reports. All businesses must also submit a Certificate of Status from the Department of State Division of Corporations.
*All credit reports must be checked at the county, state and federal levels.
All contractors must hold the proper forms of insurance, including general liability insurance in the following amounts:
- $300,000 per occurrence with $500,000 for property damage and $100,000 per person
OR
- Combined single limit policy in the amount of $800,000
If the contractor also plans to employ workers they must hold worker’s compensation insurance.
For questions or help filling out the application, call the Customer Contact Center at:
850-487-1395
Submitting an Application
The application/ license fee is:
- Certified License- $300
- Registered License- $155
*If adding a county or municipality to a registered license, the cost is $25.
All application and license fees are non-refundable. Make all checks payable to “Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.”
Mail the completed application along with all the required documents and fees to:
Department of Business and Professional Regulation
1940 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783
Once the Board approves the application; the contractor will receive their license in the mail, authorizing them to work or bid on electrical projects.
Contractors are required to print their license number on all:
- Contracts
- Proposals
- Vehicles
- Advertisements
- Promotional Materials
How Long is a Florida Electrical Contractor License Valid?
Certified and Registered Electrical Contractor licenses expire every other year. Licenses expire on August 31st of the even-numbered year. The Board mails out renewal notices prior to expiration.
The cost to renew a license is:
- $300 for Certified Licenses
- $125 for Registered Licenses
In order to renew a license, all contractors are required to complete 14 hours of continuing education. Continuing education credits must be completed prior to renewal.
The Board requires that continuing education hours be broken down as follows:
- 7 hours Technical
- 1 hour Workers Compensation
- 1 hour Workplace Safety
- 1 hour Business Practices
- 2 hours False Alarm Prevention (if the contractor performs alarm-related work)
- 1-2 hours General ( 2 hours if false-alarm prevention is not required)
- 1 hour Florida Building Code Advanced Module Course
- 1 hours Laws and Rules
*Some continuing education courses may be completed online or as a home-study course.
For more information about continuing education and renewal information, please visit:
Electrical Contractor Licensing Board- Continuing Education
OR
Call the Customer Contact Center at:
850-487-1395
Table of Fees
| Fee | What is it For? | When is it Due? |
| $327.50 | Examination Application Fee for Certified License Applicant | Upon submitting the application for examination |
| $67.50 | Cost to take both portions of the computer-based exam through Pearson VUE for Certified License Applicants | Upon scheduling the examination |
| $300 | Application/ License Fee for Certified License Applicants | Upon submitting the initial license application |
| $155 | Application/License Fee for Registered License Applicants | Upon submitting the initial license application |
| $25 | Cost to add an additional county or municipality to a Registered License | Upon submitting the initial license application |
| $300 | Renewal Fee for a Certified License | Upon submitting the renewal application |
| $125 | Renewal Fee for a Registered License | Upon submitting the renewal application |