Requirements, license levels, and the issuing authority, sourced from Florida's official board.
No statewide journeyman license; certified contractors work statewide, registered contractors only where locally licensed. Governed by Ch. 489 Part II F.S. and Ch. 61G6 F.A.C.
| Requirements | EXPERIENCE. Section 489.511, Florida Statutes, sets five alternative routes for certification as an electrical or alarm system contractor: (a) at least three years of proven management experience in the trade, or the educational equivalent, or a combination, of which no more than half may be educational equivalent; (b) at least four years of experience as a supervisor or contractor in the trade, or equivalent military service in electrical or alarm work; (c) at least six years of comprehensive training, technical education or supervisory experience associated with an electrical or alarm system contracting business, or the governmental or military equivalent; (d) three years licensed as a professional engineer qualified by education, training or experience to practise electrical engineering; or (e) any combination of the first three routes totalling six years. Good moral character is also required. Registered (rather than certified) contractors instead hold a local certificate of competency and register it with the ECLB. APPLICATION AND FEES, from DBPR form ECLB 1, Application for Initial Certification by Examination (eff. June 2022, incorporated by Rule 61-35.012): Initial Certification by Examination, active status, $296.00; inactive status, $51.00, payable to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The application requires W-2 forms for each year of claimed experience, a credit report on the applicant from a nationally recognised agency including a public records statement checked at local, state and federal levels, school transcripts if education is used toward the experience requirement, proof of satisfaction of any liens, judgments and discharge of bankruptcy, and, for a business applicant, a credit report on the business. An Alarm Contractor I applicant may optionally submit a NICET Level III or higher certificate. Insurance, under Rule 61G6-5.008 F.A.C.: public liability of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence plus $500,000 property damage, or a combined single limit policy of $800,000; plus workers' compensation or an appropriate exemption under section 440.05 F.S., obtained within 30 days after the license issues if not already held. Business net worth minimums: $10,000 for Certified Electrical, Certified Alarm I and Certified Alarm II contractors, and $5,000 for Certified Specialty contractors. EXAMINATION. Pearson VUE delivers the Electrical Contractors' certification examination by computer, in two parts, both OPEN BOOK: a Business section of 50 scored questions in 2.5 hours, required of every certification, and a Technical/Safety section of 100 scored questions in 5 hours. Each part may carry five or more unscored pilot questions. The minimum percentage score needed to pass is 75 percent on the Business section and 75 percent on the Technical/Safety section - note this is higher than the 70 percent used on the construction-industry (CILB) examinations. All questions are multiple choice and equally weighted, and the parts may be sat separately by appointment once the department approves the candidate. Business section content: maintaining cash flow 3-5 questions, estimating and bidding a job 5-7, interpretation of contracts and agreements 4-6, purchasing control 0-2, contract scheduling 3-5, obtaining insurance and bonding 4-6, complying with contracting laws and rules 5-7, personnel management 3-5, complying with payroll and sales tax laws 6-8, interpretation of financial statements and reports 4-6, management accounting 2-4. Unlimited Electrical Contractor Technical/Safety content: general theory and electrical principles 19-21, plan and specification reading and interpretation 7-9, wiring and protection 13-15, wiring methods and materials 11-13, special occupancies and situations 13-15, OSHA, safety, procedures for testing and use of tools and equipment 8-10, life safety and the Americans with Disabilities Act 4-6, electrical signs, outline lighting and structural considerations 2-4, alarms and limited energy 14-16. Separate 100-question Technical/Safety papers exist for the Residential Electrical Contractor and the other certification categories. The examination fee is paid to Pearson VUE and is not published on the DBPR examination-information pages checked on 2026-09-07. |
| Reciprocity | Endorsement pathway available (ECLB2 endorsement application). |
| Renewal | Every 2 years; licenses expire August 31 of even-numbered years. Full electrical/alarm contractors: 14 hours CE per biennium. Specialty contractors: 4 hours CE (including 1 hr each workers' comp, workplace safety, business practices, and Florida laws/rules). |
| Notes | No statewide journeyman license; certified contractors work statewide, registered contractors only where locally licensed. Governed by Ch. 489 Part II F.S. and Ch. 61G6 F.A.C. |
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Sources: www2.myfloridalicense.com, www2.myfloridalicense.com, www2.myfloridalicense.com, www.leg.state.fl.us. Always confirm current requirements with the issuing authority.
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