A Registered and a Certified Contractor are two forms of the license which the State offers.
A certified contractor who has passed his examinations can work anywhere within the state. A certified License is slightly more expensive to get, but it allows you to work anywhere within the state.
A registered contractor is registered by a local county or municipality and receives a competency certificate by the cities and licensing board. A Registered Contractor can only work in the counties or municipalities where they hold a local license. It also requires him/her to have been issued a certificate of competency by those jurisdictions. A registered license is cheaper to get and allows you to work in specific local jurisdictions in Florida only. Most people get a certified contractor license as it gives them more freedom to work anywhere in the state.
When it is time to renew your license the DBPR will send you a notification that the renewal period is open, at which time you can renew your license(s). This will be 90-120 days before the expiration. All notices will be provided via email.
To obtain the Initial Issuane of Licensure the applicant must meet all the requirements stated on the How to get a Registered License in Florida page.