Florida General Contractor Florida Contractor Business Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What types of general contractor licenses does Florida issue?
- Certified General Contractor (statewide) and Registered General Contractor (county-specific) (Correct answer)
- Only one type of license exists
- Separate licenses for residential and commercial
- No licensing is required in Florida
Correct answer: Certified General Contractor (statewide) and Registered General Contractor (county-specific)
Florida issues Certified General Contractor licenses (valid statewide) and Registered General Contractor licenses (valid only in the county of registration), each with specific exam and experience requirements.
Question 2: What is the qualifying agent system in Florida construction licensing?
- A licensed individual who qualifies a business entity to perform contracting work, taking responsibility for the company's construction activities (Correct answer)
- An insurance agent who qualifies contractors
- A building inspector
- A real estate agent who finds construction projects
Correct answer: A licensed individual who qualifies a business entity to perform contracting work, taking responsibility for the company's construction activities
In Florida, a qualifying agent is the licensed contractor who qualifies a business entity to engage in contracting, bearing personal responsibility for the company's construction practices and compliance.
Question 3: What are the financial requirements for obtaining a Florida general contractor license?
- Demonstrating financial stability through credit reports, financial statements, and meeting minimum net worth requirements (Correct answer)
- No financial requirements exist
- Only a checking account is needed
- Financial requirements only apply to large companies
Correct answer: Demonstrating financial stability through credit reports, financial statements, and meeting minimum net worth requirements
Florida requires contractor license applicants to demonstrate financial responsibility through financial statements showing adequate net worth, credit history review, and in some cases, obtaining a surety bond.
Question 4: What is the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB)?
- The Florida state board that regulates construction contractor licensing, discipline, and continuing education requirements (Correct answer)
- A federal construction agency
- A private industry association
- A union for construction workers
Correct answer: The Florida state board that regulates construction contractor licensing, discipline, and continuing education requirements
The CILB operates under the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, overseeing contractor licensing exams, issuance, renewals, continuing education, and disciplinary actions for violations.
Question 5: What are the exam requirements for a Florida Certified General Contractor license?
- Pass both a business and finance exam and a contract administration exam administered by the DBPR (Correct answer)
- No exam is required with enough experience
- Only a written essay about construction
- A practical building test only
Correct answer: Pass both a business and finance exam and a contract administration exam administered by the DBPR
Applicants must pass two exams: a business and finance exam covering accounting, contracts, and management, and a contract administration exam covering building codes, safety, and project management.
Question 6: What are the grounds for disciplinary action against a Florida contractor?
- Abandoning a project, financial mismanagement, code violations, unlicensed activity, fraud, and failure to maintain insurance (Correct answer)
- Only criminal convictions
- Disciplinary action never occurs
- Only if the building collapses
Correct answer: Abandoning a project, financial mismanagement, code violations, unlicensed activity, fraud, and failure to maintain insurance
Grounds include project abandonment, diversion of funds, building code violations, performing work without proper permits, fraud, incompetence, failure to maintain insurance, and allowing unlicensed individuals to use the license.
Florida General Contractor Florida Contractor Business Management 1
What types of general contractor licenses does Florida issue?