Large states · 4 trades verified · checked 2026-10-20
Florida trade licenses
Electrician, Plumber, HVAC and General contractor credentials in Florida, from the issuing board's page or the statute: who issues each one, the levels, the time it takes and the exam.
| Trade | Issued by | Top credential | Time to top | Exam | Fees printed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | Florida Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board | Certified Electrical Contractor | 4 years | Yes | No |
| Plumber | Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board | Certified Plumbing Contractor | 4 years | Yes | No |
| HVAC | Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board | Class A Air-Conditioning Contractor | 4 years | Yes | No |
| General contractor | Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board | Certified General Contractor | 4 years | Yes | No |
Electrician in Florida
Statewide certification of electrical contractors under Fla. Stat. § 489.511. The statute sections read license the contractor; they do not create a state journeyman license. Certified Electrical Contractor: 4 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
Certified Electrical Contractor — 4 years, exam. Out-of-state route: reviewed case by case under the source's rules.
What the top level asks for: Within the 8 years before applying, at least 4 years as a supervisor or contractor in the trade; or within 6 years, at least 3 years of management experience (up to half may be education); or 6 years of training, technical education or supervisory experience within 12 years; or 3 years as a licensed electrical engineer. Pass the certification exam. § 489.511(1)(b).
Florida electrician details · Electrician in every state
Plumber in Florida
Statewide plumbing contractor certification. Fla. Stat. § 489.105 defines a plumbing contractor's services as unlimited in the plumbing trade. Certified Plumbing Contractor: 4 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
Certified Plumbing Contractor — 4 years, exam. No reciprocity partner is named in the source.
What the top level asks for: A total of at least 4 years of active experience as a worker who has learned the trade, at least 1 of them as a foreman; or a combination of college credit and experience (for example, 3 years of credits plus 1 year as a foreman). § 489.111(2)(c).
Florida plumber details · Plumber in every state
HVAC in Florida
Statewide air-conditioning contractor certification in Classes A and B, plus mechanical contractors; Class C (service only) has not been issued to new applicants since October 1, 1988. Class A Air-Conditioning Contractor: 4 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
Class B Air-Conditioning Contractor — 4 years, exam. Class A Air-Conditioning Contractor — 4 years, exam. No reciprocity partner is named in the source.
What the top level asks for: The same 4 years with 1 as a foreman, or a college-credit combination. § 489.111(2)(c).
Florida HVAC details · HVAC in every state
General contractor in Florida
Statewide certification in three Division I categories: residential, building and general contractor. Certified General Contractor: 4 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
Certified Residential Contractor — 4 years, exam. Certified Building Contractor — 4 years, exam. Certified General Contractor — 4 years, exam. No reciprocity partner is named in the source.
What the top level asks for: The same 4 years with 1 as a foreman; § 489.111(2)(c)4 also lets a certified building contractor upgrade after set years of experience.
Florida general contractor details · General contractor in every state
Moving to or from Florida
Electrician: Florida reviews out-of-state licenses without naming partners. Plumber: no route is named in the source. HVAC: no route is named in the source. General contractor: no route is named in the source. Conditions differ by board, so read the state page for each trade before relying on a partner list.
Nearby and comparable: California · Georgia · Michigan · North Carolina · Ohio. Guides: how long each state takes · license or registration.
General information from the Florida sources on 2026-10-20, not legal advice. Each board is the authority; confirm before applying.