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1500​ Monroe St., Fort Myers, FL 33901​
Mailing: P.O. Box 398
Fort Myers, FL 33902
239-533-8895
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Lee County Application Forms

Please note that a certificate of compentency is a contractor's license.

Below is a brief breakdown of all sections within the application form. Brief explanations of each of those sections is given. For questions about the application, please contact Lee County directly.

Application for Lee County Certificate of Competency

The contact information for application-related question is as follows:

Lee County Contractor Licensing
P.O. Box 398, Fort Myers, Florida 33902
(239) 533-8895 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Exam Verification

In this section you must attach proof that you have taken and passed the appropriate exam. Acceptable proof includes a copy of the Prometric©, Thompson Prometric©, Experior, Block & Associates©, Gainesville Independent Testing© or NAI-Block test result form, or a letter of reciprocity from another Florida jurisdiction. Lee County will accept exams taken in the past 5 years for certificates of competency currently being offered in Lee County.

Experience Verification

In this section you must attach original notarized documents verifying that you have the necessary experience in the area covered by the certificate of competency you are seeking. This document is attached to this application for your convenience it must be completed by past or present employers licensed and actively engaged in the construction services field. However, proof of licensure by other jurisdictions, without additional experience verification, will not satisfy this requirement.
The Board can refuse to accept any statement that is: (1) not clearly an original document or (2) where the fact of the document provides evidence that the statement has been changed from its original form.

Current Licenses

In this section you must list any current construction licenses you hold in Lee County or any other jurisdiction.

Financial Responsibility

All applicants must answer the following statements. If you answer is yes to any of them, a full written explanation is required (attach extra sheets to your application if needed). If you are applying to qualify a corporation, partnership or other legal business entity, officers (president, vice president, secretary, partners or owner of proprietorship) of that entity must also provide an explanation if a yes answer to any of these questions pertain to them.
HAVE YOU (or a partnership in which you were a partner or an authorized representative, or a corporation in which you were an officer or an authorized representative) EVER (Yes or No):

  • Undertaken a construction contract or work that a third party, such as a bonding or surety company, completed or made financial statements on?
  • Had claims or lawsuits filed for unpaid or past due accounts by your creditors as a result of construction operations?
  • Undertaken construction contracts or work which resulted in liens, suits or judgments being filed which were not satisfied without damage or harm to any 3rd party?
  • Had a lien filed against you by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or Florida tax division?
  • Made an assignment of assets in settlement of construction obligations for less than the outstanding debts?
  • Been charged with or convicted of acting as a contractor without a license, or if licensed as a contractor in this or any other state, had a disciplinary action against your license?
  • Filed bankruptcy, personal or business, in the last five years?
  • Been found guilty of any crime other than a traffic violation?

NOTE: Any applicant answering yes to one of the financial responsibility questions must provide the Board with an explanation. The explanation should be a written statement outlining the steps the applicant has taken to prevent a recurrence of the circumstances leading to the conviction, judgment, discipline, bankruptcy or other event involved. The applicant is also required to attach any applicable proof of payment, satisfaction of lien or judgment, bankruptcy discharge or agreements for payment.

Qualifying a Company

This section is broken up into two parts (A & B). If you will be operating in your individual name, complete section B only (write N/A in all blanks of section A). Otherwise, fully complete both section A and B accordingly, if a corporation the Secretary must sign.

  • A: In this section a qualifier is legally appointed to act for the business organization in all matters connected with its contracting business, and was given authority to supervise construction undertaken by the business.
  • B: In this section, financial responsibility is accepted by the qualifying agent. It states that the qualifying agent is personally responsible for all of the financial affairs of the business he/she is applying to qualify. This includes Afinancial matters@, both for the organization in general and for each specific job.

Previous Certificates

This section simply asks the following yes/no questions:

  • Have you ever been granted a Lee County Certificate of Competency? License Number Certificate Category
  • Did you voluntarily relinquish this license?
  • Did you allow this license to lapse after it was placed on involuntary inactive status?
    A Lee County Certificate of Competency can be placed on involuntary inactive status for (1) failure to renew the license; (2) failure to maintain liability insurance; or (3) failure to maintain workers= compensation insurance (or an exemption). (If appropriate action is not taken within 6 months of the date the license is placed on inactive status, the license lapses.)
  • Was the license revoked or suspended?
    If yes, attach an explanation of the steps you have taken to avoid a similar occurrence in the future and proof of compliance with any final order against you regarding this license.
  • Have you ever been issued a license by a jurisdiction outside Lee County that was revoked, suspended or voluntarily relinquished?
    If, yes, attach an explanation of the circumstances involved.

Insurance

In this section you must verify that you carry General Liability Insurance and worker's compensation insurance (or exemption).
You do not need to send a certificate of insurance or exemption. You simply vouch for it by filling out the appropriate fields and signing.

Organizational Relationships

This section asks the following yes/no question:

    • Do you qualify or own a business other than the one you are applying to qualify?
      If yes, please contact the Division for guidelines to qualify more than one business.

Federal Employer Identification Number

In this section you must provide your company's FEIN. If there is not legal entity created, provide your Social Security number in lieu of FEIN.

Corporations or Limited Liability Corporations

In this section you must attach a copy of the Annual Report Form filed with the Florida Secretary of State or, if your corporation or LLC is newly established, attach a copy of the Florida Certificate of Incorporation and the page listing the corporate officers. If you are not a corporate officer in the corporation you wish to qualify, an authorization resolution must be completed; the form is attached to this application for your convenience.

Fictitious Name

In this section you must attach a copy of the recorded Fictitious Name Registration and Ownership form from the Division of Corporations. (This does not apply to corporations using their registered name.) Fictitious Name Registration packets may be obtained by contacting Fictitious Name Registration, P.O. Box 1300, Tallahassee, FL 32303-1300 (850) 488-9000. If you are not a partner or owner in the company name you wish to qualify, an authorization resolution must be completed; the form is attached to this application for your convenience.

Photographic Identification:

In this section, you must attach to this application a copy of your driver=s license or other official state identification that contains a photograph. A photo I.D. may be required at the hearing or prior to issuance of the competency card.

Credit Report

A credit report on your credit rating must be submitted as part of the application. You must supply the following credit reports: (Only credit reports no older than six (6) months and from a nationally recognized credit reporting agency will be accepted.)

      1. Credit report in your individual name (required by all applicants), must include a Beacon or FICA rating.
      2. Credit report in the company name you are applying to qualify (required if the date on the corporation or fictitious name documents is more than forty-five (45) days old. If your company is newly established, you must also submit letters from construction related suppliers indicating that an account either exists or has been opened for the entity you are applying to qualify.
      3. Credit report in any business you currently own or qualify or any business you owned or qualified within the past five (5) years.

Credit agencies generally require written authorization to accurately check your credit references. It is your responsibility to provide them with this authorization. Public records pertaining to judgments, bankruptcies and tax liens must be searched and results noted on the credit report. If the public records reflect unsatisfied obligations, attach a written explanation and legal documentation to the credit report or provide a copy to the Division. The credit report should also reflect officers, partners and proprietors, their Social Security numbers and the FEIN. If the credit report is not attached to the application you may have the credit agency send the credit report directly to:

Lee County Development Services
Attention: Contractor Licensing
P.O. Box 398, Fort Myers
Florida 33902