Florida General Contractor Exam — All Questions

Which state body is responsible for licensing general contractors in Florida?

• a.The Florida Real Estate Commission
• b.The Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)✓
• c.The Florida Department of Transportation
• d.Each county building department, with no state involvement

General contractors in Florida are licensed by the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), which operates under the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Chapter 489 of the Florida Statutes gives the CILB authority over construction contracting.

In Florida, what is the key difference between a CERTIFIED contractor and a REGISTERED contractor?

• a.A certified contractor may work anywhere in the state; a registered contractor may work only in the local jurisdiction(s) that recognized their local competency✓
• b.A certified contractor works only on government jobs; a registered contractor works only on homes
• c.There is no difference; the terms are interchangeable
• d.A registered contractor may work statewide; a certified contractor is limited to one county

A Certified contractor passes the state examination and holds a statewide certificate valid anywhere in Florida. A Registered contractor has qualified through a local competency examination or license and may work only within the local jurisdiction(s) that granted that local credential. Certification is the broader, statewide credential.

How does the scope of a Certified GENERAL Contractor compare with a Certified BUILDING or RESIDENTIAL Contractor in Florida?

• a.The General Contractor is the most limited of the three
• b.All three have identical scopes
• c.The General Contractor has the broadest scope, including unlimited height and any type of building, while Building and Residential contractors have narrower scopes✓
• d.Only a Residential Contractor may build commercial high-rises

Florida's three main certified categories are tiered by scope. The Certified General Contractor has the broadest, essentially unlimited scope, including buildings of any height. The Certified Building Contractor is limited to commercial buildings and residences up to three stories, and the Certified Residential Contractor is limited to one-, two-, and three-family residences not exceeding two habitable stories.

Which chapter of the Florida Statutes primarily governs construction contracting and the licensing of contractors?

• a.Chapter 718 (Condominiums)
• b.Chapter 83 (Landlord and Tenant)
• c.Chapter 501 (Consumer Protection)
• d.Chapter 489 (Contracting)✓

Chapter 489 of the Florida Statutes governs construction contracting, defines the contractor categories, and establishes the powers of the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB). It is the core licensing law Florida contractor candidates must know.