Florida Plumbing Contractor License

A Florida Plumbing Contractor means a contractor whose services are unlimited in the plumbing trade and includes contracting business consisting of the execution of contracts requiring the experience, financial means, knowledge, and skill to install, maintain, repair, alter, extend, or, if not prohibited by law, design plumbing. A plumbing contractor may install, maintain, repair, alter, extend, or, if not prohibited by law, design the following without obtaining an additional local regulatory license, certificate, or registration: sanitary drainage or storm drainage facilities, water and sewer plants and substations, venting systems, public or private water supply systems, septic tanks, drainage and supply wells, swimming pool piping, irrigation systems, and solar heating water systems and all appurtenances, apparatus, or equipment used in connection therewith, including boilers and pressure process piping and including the installation of water, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas and related venting, and storm and sanitary sewer lines. The scope of work of the plumbing contractor also includes the design, if not prohibited by law, and installation, maintenance, repair, alteration, or extension of air-piping, vacuum line piping, oxygen line piping, nitrous oxide piping, and all related medical gas systems; fire line standpipes and fire sprinklers if authorized by law; ink and chemical lines; fuel oil and gasoline piping and tank and pump installation, except bulk storage plants; and pneumatic control piping systems, all in a manner that complies with all plans, specifications, codes, laws, and regulations applicable. The scope of work of the plumbing contractor applies to private property and public property, including any excavation work incidental thereto, and includes the work of the specialty plumbing contractor. Such contractor shall subcontract, with a qualified contractor in the field concerned, all other work incidental to the work but which is specified as being the work of a trade other than that of a plumbing contractor. This definition does not limit the scope of work of any specialty contractor certified pursuant to s. 489.113(6), and does not require certification or registration under this part of any authorized employee of a public natural gas utility or of a private natural gas utility regulated by the Public Service Commission when disconnecting and reconnecting water lines in the servicing or replacement of an existing water heater. A plumbing contractor may perform drain cleaning and clearing and install or repair rainwater catchment systems; however, a mandatory licensing requirement is not established for the performance of these specific services.

Licensing Requirements

Below are some of the requirements needed to become a licensed Plumbing Contractor in the State of Florida:

Age

Must be at least 18 years of age.

Examination

Must take and pass the state certification examinations (Plumbing and Business & Law). Please note that the application process cannot be started until the exams are taken and passing scores are obtained.

Experience / Education

A person will qualify for a Certified Plumbing Contractor’s license by meeting one of the following requirements:

Four-year construction-related degree from an accredited college (equivalent to three years’ experience) and one year proven experience applicable to the category for which you are applying.
One year experience as a foreman and not less than three years of credits from accredited college-level courses.
One year experience as a worker, one-year experience as a foreman, and two years of credits from accredited college-level courses.
Two years’ experience as a worker, one year experience as a foreman, and one year of credits from accredited college-level courses.
Four years’ experience as a worker or foreman of which at least one year must have been as a foreman.

Military Veterans

A veteran will qualify for a certified license by meeting on of the following:

Three years of military service and one year experience as a foreman applicable to the category for which you are applying.
Two years of military service, one year experience as a foreman, and one year experience as a worker or foreman applicable to the category for which you are applying.
One year of military service, one year experience as a foreman, and two years experience as a worker or foreman applicable to the category for which you are applying.

Florida Plumbing Contractor Installing Drain Pipe on New Residential Construction — *Licensed Plumber Installs Plumbing System in Florida home*

Applicants for the Certified Plumbing Contractor License must have experience in the installation of:

Roof and Storm Drainage
Waste Piping
Backflow Prevention Devices
Sanitary Drainage
Water Distribution Systems
Drainage Venting
Water Distribution Lines
Natural Gas and Liquid Petroleum Piping and Venting Systems
Additional Experience that may be used includes the maintenance and repair of:
- Roof and Storm Drainage
- Waste Piping
- Backflow Prevention Devices
- Sanitary Drainage
- Water Distribution Systems
- Chemical Waste Drainage
- Drainage Venting
- Water Distribution Lines
- Industrial Water Drainage
Medical Gas Piping
- Medical Gas (Oxygen, Helium, Nitrous Oxide, Compressed Air)
- Meical Gas Vacum Piping
Industrial Piping
- Industrial Gas Piping
- Industrial Vacuum Piping
- Steam Distribution
- Oil and Gasoline Storage and Distribution
- Sewage Disposal Systems (Septic Tanks, Pumps, Lift Stations, and Interceptors
Solar Water Heating Systems
Water Wells and Irrigation Systems
Swimming Pool Piping Systems

Financial / Credit

Applicants will need to provide proof of financial stability and responsibility by submitting personal credit reports. Credit reports must include a FICO derived credit score and indicate that local, state and federal records have been searched. Credit report containing a credit score (FICO derived) on applicant from a nationally recognized credit reporting agency, which includes a public records statement that records have been checked at local, state, and federal levels. If credit score is below 660 (FICO derived) applicant must submit a bond or irrevocable letter of credit. Note that Fifty percent (50%) of the bond or letter of credit requirement may be met by completion of a 14-hour financial responsibility course.

Fingerprints

An applicant must have a background check as part of the licensing process.

Insurance

Applicants are required to attest that they have obtained public liability and property damage insurance in the amounts determined by Board rule. Applicants are also required to obtain workers compensation insurance or obtain an exemption from worker’s compensation insurance within 30 days of issuance of their license.To download the different application forms related to the Plumbing Contractor’s License, you may visit the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board’s site.

Florida Plumbing Contractor Exams

Florida Plumbing Contractors must pass two exams prior to obtaining their license. Do not sign up to take your exams until you obtain your books and begin studying for them!

Plumbing Exam

Many plumbing contractors in Florida are hesitant to take the plumbing test because they fear the Isometrics. We have all heard stories of how the isometric-drawings portion of the test accounts for nearly 25% of the entire test, and how a lot of people fail the test...well those stories are true, but there's no need to panic. We are here to help you and we know how to draw isometrics very well and that's one of the first things we are going to teach you. We are also going to teach how to find information within your medical gas book (NFPA 99) and all other books used during testing for both the business and the plumbing exams. As soon as you sign up for the plumbing course, you will receive access to practice exams, exercises, and videos to bring you up speed on all aspects of the tests. The Florida Plumbing test consists of 45 multiple-choice questions and 5 isometrics drawings in the morning, and 65 Multiple-choice questions in the afternoon. The subjects involved include: Isometric Drawings, Water Distribution, Natural Gas Piping, Medical Gas Piping, Industrial Piping, Swimming Pools, Wells, and Irrigation, Solar, and Fire Protection.

Business and Finance Exam

This is a separate test which lasts 6.5 hours, and contains 120 questions. Some of the subjects included in this test are: Establishing the Contracting Business, Managing Administrative Duties, Managing Trade Operations, Conducting Accounting Functions, Managing Human Resources, and complying with Government Regulations.

Florida Plumbing Contractor Classes

Before you sign up for any Plumbing courses out there, make sure they offer training on isometrics. Make sure you can practice isometric drawings and get feedback on those drawings from a licensed plumbing contractor in the State of Florida. Some Florida test-takers have experienced difficulty working with instructors from other schools who are not licensed in Florida and are not familiar with Florida Plumbing code requirements. Make sure the instructor reviewing your isometric drawings is a currently-licensed Plumbing contractor in Florida (license number must be listed under www.myfloridalicense.com). Although being a licensed Plumbing contractor in the State of Florida is not a requirement to teach isometrics, it is to your advantage as Florida test-taker to work with an instructor who has taken and passed the same exam you are preparing for. You can take Plumbing Contractor Classes in Tampa, Fort Myers, Orlando, Miami, or Online. You can sign up for your classes at any time and receive access to lecture videos, practice questions, tabbing and highlighting instructions, as well as to step-by-step explanations on how to solve typical Plumbing Contractor Exam Problems. The Plumbing Contractor Classes prepare you for the trade and business exams. Florida Plumbing Contractor Testing Schedule). You must pass all exams before applying for the Plumbing Contractor’s License in Florida. To sign up for the Florida Plumbing Contractor classes, simply click on the "enroll" button below and checkout; this will allow you to receive immediate access to the Florida Plumbing Contractor Classes online, and will also enable you to attend in-person Exam Prep classes. All students have access to both online and in-person classes for an unlimited amount of time (until passing all the Florida Plumbing Contractor exams needed to get the Plumbing license!). The in-person classes are not mandatory and can be taken at the student's discretion. For a list of upcoming classes for the Florida Plumbing Contractor Exams click on the link within the course description below.

Florida Plumbing Contractor Books

The set of books includes all required references for both the Plumbing and Business and Finance exams. Orders placed before 2 PM are shipped the same day via UPS and a tracking number is emailed before 3 PM.