General Contractor Experience

You must have at least one year of experience in the construction of structures at least four stories in height.

Applicants for the Certified General Contractor License must have experience in four or more of the experience areas listed below:

• Foundation/Slabs greater than 20,000 sqft.
• Masonry walls
• Steel erection
• Precast concrete structures
• Column erection
• Formwork for structural reinforced concrete
• Elevated slabs

How much experience do I need?

• 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
• Be a certified residential or building contractor holding an active current license for a minimum of 4 years

If you are a veteran and you do not fit one of the experience profiles above, you can still get a license if you meet one of the experience profiles below:

• 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

How do I Prove the Experience

As part of your application process, you must submit an application form which contains a sections which requires you to describe in detail every aspect of your experience, including:

• Employer name and address
• Dates of employment
• Employer phone number
• Name of qualifying agent for employer and their license number
• Your role within the project
• The dates of the project
• The trade areas involved in the project
• Project name
• Project address
• Your title in the project and the duties performed in it
• You can list as many projects as it is necessary to reach your time of experience

You can view the General Contractor Application form by visiting the Florida DBPRs Website. There are several forms to choose from:

• CILB 5-A – Certified General Contractor as an Individual You can find the experience section of this application under Section VI – PART B – Qualifications for Certified License
• CILB 6-A – Certified General Contractor Qualifying Business You can find the experience section of this application under Section III – PART B –Qualifications for Certified License

The section on experience is titled "xxxx". Please note that any information you submit to the CILB is subject to their scrutiny and review; this does not mean that every single application is subjected to an exhaustive inspection but do keep in mind you must be able back up any claims you make on your application in the event that your particular application is subjected to a more rigorous examination

What if I have not worked in the construction of highrises?

I your experience does not include any work on structures higher than three stories, you do not meet the experience requirements set forth by the State. In that case, you might want to consider a Building Contractor's License (CBC). This license only allows to build up to three stories and therefore does not require you to have experience in with taller structures.

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