Three Ways to Get a General Contractor's License in Florida Using Your Georgia General Contractor's License
There are three different ways you can use an existing Georgia general contractor’s license to obtain a license in Florida, depending on the type of license and how long you have been licensed.
Option 1 - Florida’s New 10 Year Rule (No Exam Required)
Thanks to a new statute passed in July 2020, Georgia contractors with a general contractor’s license can apply for a Florida general contractor’s license without having to take the exam! The new “10 year rule” applies to nearly every type of contractor license in Florida, including Residential, Builder, General, HVAC, Plumbing, Pool, Electrical, and Specialty contractors. Georgia general contractor license holders must meet the following requirements to obtain a Florida general contractor’s license:
Have been licensed in Georgia for 10 consecutive years in the same category that you will be applying for in Florida.
The existing license must be active or have been active within the last 2 years.
For Certified General, Building, Residential, and Roofing contractors, take a 2-hour DBPR-approved course on the Florida Building Code, including information on wind mitigation techniques.
Pay a filing fee to the Florida Division of Business and Professional Regulation
Obtain electronic fingerprints from an Florida Department of Law Enforcement-approved vendor
Submit a personal credit report (NOTE, if your credit score is below 660, you will need to take a 14-hour financial responsibility course)
If you plan to operate in Florida through a business entity, you must also submit a credit report for your business
Pass a background check.
Have commercial general liability insurance with limits ranging from $100,000 to $300,000, depending on license type.
Obtain workers’ compensation insurance or be exempt.
Option 2 - Have a Valid Georgia Contractor’s License and Have Passed an Exam Substantially Equivalent to Florida’s
This option is available for Georgia general contractors who want to be licensed in Florida but have not held a license for at least 10 years. It requires you to still meet the same credit, background, and insurance requirements set forth above, and to have taken an exam that is substantially equivalent to Florida’s licensing exams.
While it is very difficult to establish that an exam from another state’s exam is substantially equivalent to Florida’s, Florida has determined that the Georgia Pollutant Storage Contractor exam is substantially equivalent to Florida’s exam for the same license. While this alleviates the examination requirement, you still must be able to demonstrate sufficient work experience to support the award of the license (between 1 and 4 years depending on the license type and experience type). Florida has not made a determination as to whether the exam taken by other contractors in Georgia is substantially the same as the exam taken by Florida residential contractors.
Option 3 - Have a Valid Georgia Contractor’s License Obtained Through a Process Substantially Equivalent to Florida’s Licensing Criteria
This option is similar to option 2, however it assumes that you have not taken an exam. Grandfathering, or similar options typically would be encompassed by this option. It is very rare and difficult to obtain a license in Florida using this process, and most Georgia contractors will not qualify.
Interested in learning more about the application process and seeing if your existing contractor’s license can help you obtain a Florida contractor’s license, without having to take an exam? We can assist you with the entire application process to make sure that it goes smoothly and to answer any questions you may have. Many times we can do this for a flat fee. To learn more, please fill out the form below, or please contact me at jason.lambert@hwhlaw.com or (813) 227-8495.
Jason Lambert is a Florida Board Certified Construction Attorney and Partner in the Construction Industry Practice Group at Hill Ward Henderson, in Tampa, Florida. He is also the founder and chief contributor to the Hammer & Gavel construction law blog. Jason focuses his practice on representing contractors, subcontractors, and materials suppliers throughout the state of Florida. Before law school, Jason spent a decade working in the construction industry, primarily as a project manager and operations director for both new construction and remodeling. He can be reached at jason.lambert@hwhlaw.com or 813-227-8495.
