When looking for a contractor’s license, there are three main contractor licenses you can choose. The easiest to go with would be a Residential Contractor license, mainly because there are fewer questions on the exam. However, it has the same process as General and Building, and the experience is still the same for all three.
Florida Residential Contractor License
- Build and remodel houses, no commercial construction
- Residential Contract Administration Exam
- This test contains 45 questions. It is an open book and lasts 4 hours and 45 minutes (morning session)
- Residential Project Management Exam
- This test contains 60 questions, is an open book, and lasts 4 hours and 45 minutes. (afternoon session)
Florida Building Contractor License
- Up to three stories (new construction), unlimited remodelling
- Part 1 of Trade Exam
- This is an open-book test with 50 questions which lasts 4 hours and 45 minutes (morning session).
- Part 2 of Trade Exam
- This is an open book test with 50 questions which also lasts 4 hours and 45 minutes (afternoon session)
Florida General Contractor License
- Unlimited height and scope of work can sub-out all mechanical and electrical trades
- General Contract Administration Exam Part 1 of GC Trade Exam
- Testing Method: Computer-Based Testing
- Testing Provider: Pearson VUE©
- Number of Questions: 60
- General Project Management Exam
- Part 2 of GC Trade Exam Testing Method: Computer-Based Testing
- Testing Provider: Pearson VUE© Number of Questions: 60
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 263,000 job openings within the construction industry in June 2018. BLS projects faster-than-average employment growth in the industry through 2026, with the median annual wage of $45,820 in 2017 surpassing the $37,690 median wage for all industries.
In some U.S. states, you may need direct work experience in order to get a license, while in others, you don’t need any to become a general contractor. You should verify this by checking your state’s local requirements. That being said, you can always take Stratford Career Institute’s Contractor / Construction Management course to stand out from the competition and help prepare yourself for this rewarding career.
How Much Experience Do I Need?
If you don’t have any prior construction experience, consider apprenticing or taking on small jobs that don’t require a license. This could help you get a better idea of the industry. A contractor license is a license provided either by the government or a ‘professional organization’ such as a union or guild that allows its holder to legally perform various contracting jobs.
Most Common Types Of Contractor Licenses
The most common types of contractor licenses are general contractor, subcontractor, electrician, roofer, and plumber. The states of Florida, Louisiana, Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming don’t require a state license for contractors.
If you’re looking at getting a contractor license of some sort, it is important to consider the kinds of job, the kinds of work, that most appeals to you. It’s also important to take into consideration your long-term goals. In other words, the amount of work that you can do before you have to get a contractor license should only be part of the equation. The amount of work you can take on also depends on the project cost and your geographic area.
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