Best Contractor Licenses to have in Florida

The top 5 contractor licenses to have in Florida are:

1. General Contractor License: This is the top-license in Florida. You can do any type of work either in-house or by sub-contracting out work; your phone will always ring, people, need you.
2. Roofing Contractor License: Hurricane and rainy seasons are both strong, and one does not help the other. Roofing contractors, just like everyone else, pray for slow hurricane seasons but are ready to fix and replace roofs if damage does occur.
3. Class A Air Conditioning Contractor License: With average summer temperatures in the 90s, ACs must be fixed, with no loop around them, a strong service operation/division translates to a steady source of cash flow.
4. Commercial Pool Contractor License: This is a tourism-based State known for its sunshine, people want their swimming pools to work! No leak, no broken heaters, no dirty pools. Why commercial though? Well, commercial gives you the flexibility to build pools at hotels or communities (very popular in FL).
5. Plumbing Contractor's License: This has been a high-demand trade for decades, leaks can cause major damages to any property and traditional service calls are very well paid, especially after-hours.

These are the official definitions of these different contractor licenses according to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR):

General Contractor

CG and RG – A “general contractor” means a contractor whose services are unlimited as to the type of work which he or she may do.

Roofing Contractor

CC and RC – A “roofing contractor” means a contractor whose services are unlimited in the roofing trade. Roofing contractors have the experience, knowledge, and skill to install, maintain, repair, alter, extend, or design and use materials and items used in the installation, maintenance, extension, and alteration of all kinds of roofing, waterproofing, and coating, except when the coating is not represented to protect, repair, waterproof, stop leaks or extend the life of the roof. The scope of work of a roofing contractor also includes required roof-deck attachments and any repair or replacement of wood roof sheathing or fascia as needed during roof repair or replacement.

Class A Air Conditioning

CA and RA – A “class A air-conditioning contractor” means a contractor whose services are unlimited in the execution of contracts requiring the experience, knowledge, and skill to install, maintain, repair, fabricate, alter, extend, or design central air-conditioning, refrigeration, heating, and ventilating systems. Class A Contractors may also execute contracts requiring experience in the installation, maintenance, repair, fabrication, alteration, extension, or design of ductwork in connection with a complete system but only to the extent that such ductwork is performed by the contractor as is necessary to complete an air-distribution system, boiler and unfired pressure vessel systems, and all appurtenances, apparatus, or equipment used in connection with them. A “class A air-conditioning contractor” shall not perform any work such as liquefied petroleum or natural gas fuel lines within buildings, potable water lines or connections, sanitary sewer lines, swimming pool piping and filters, or electrical power wiring.

Commercial Pool/Spa Contractor

CP and RP – A “commercial pool/spa contractor” means a contractor whose scope of work involves, but is not limited to:

• The construction, repair, and servicing of any swimming pool, hot tub, or spa, including the repair or replacement of existing equipment or the installation of new equipment, as necessary
• The layout, excavation, operation of construction pumps for dewatering purposes, steelwork, installation of light niches, construction of floors, guniting, fiberglassing, installation of tile and coping, installation of all perimeter and filter piping, installation of all filter equipment and chemical feeders of any type, plastering of the interior, construction of decks, construction of equipment rooms or housing for pool equipment, and installation of package pool heaters; and includes the scope of work of a swimming pool/spa servicing contractor.
• A “commercial pool/spa contractor” cannot perform direct connections to a sanitary sewer system or to potable water lines.
• The installation, construction, modification, or replacement of equipment permanently attached to and associated with the pool or spa for the purpose of water treatment or cleaning of the pool or spa requires licensure; however, the usage of such equipment for the purposes of water treatment or cleaning shall not require licensure unless the usage involves construction, modification, or replacement of such equipment.

Plumbing Contractor

CF and RF – A “plumbing contractor” means a contractor whose contracting business consists of the execution of contracts requiring the experience, financial means, knowledge, and skill to install, maintain, repair, alter, extend, or, when not prohibited by law, design plumbing. A plumbing contractor may install, maintain, repair, alter, extend, or design the following without obtaining any additional local regulatory license, certificate, or registration:

• Sanitary drainage or storm drainage facilities
• Venting systems; public or private water supply systems
• Septic tanks; drainage and supply wells
• Swimming pool piping
• Irrigation systems
• Solar heating water systems and all appurtenances, apparatus, or equipment used in connection with these, including boilers and pressure process piping and including the installation of water, natural gas, and storm and sanitary sewer lines; and water and sewer plants and substations
• The design 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 to the extent 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

Learn the 5 steps needed to start a contracting business in Florida
Complete list of contractor licenses in Florida

Being a contractor is not the only option, you can find a good-paying job in construction working for a liecensed contractor. Get more information at floridajobs.org