Florida Contractor Licensing Explained
To become a general contractor in Florida, an individual must first demonstrate that they are eligible to start the application process through a combination of experience and education or a successful examination. The first step is to obtain either four years of work experience as a contractor, effective August 21, 2012, or to earn a degree in construction, construction management or engineering. Or, a combination of the two can be used if they total out to equal four years of experience. Those who already hold a license in another state can negate the need for one to four years gaining experience because many states require even more education . After proving to the Board of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations (DBPR) that they are qualified, individuals may apply to take the exam.
The exam is equitable to take as it tests for industry knowledge, but it is challenging. Even those who have worked for years in the industry may have trouble passing the test. Those who pass the test will receive notification that they are approved to continue the licensing process. One factor which is not considered is the criminal history of exam candidates. If you have ever been found guilty of a felony charge in any state, you will need to have a hearing to discuss your prior conviction, how it relates to your license status, and if you are allowed to go forward with the application process.
The Florida General Contractor Exam: All You Need to Know
The Florida General Contractor Exam is comprised of two portions: the business and finance section, and the trade portion. The business and finance section accounts for 50 questions and covers the following topics: accounting principles, business organization, capital improvements, construction contracts, including contract types, elements of a construction contract and contract law, legal responsibilities, including liens, bonds and notes, taxes, insurance, employee regulations, and mitigation of damage, as these general principles apply to contracting.
The purpose of the trade portion is to discuss the areas where the general contractor would exercise skill and training. The exam may include questions on trade knowledge, OSHA regulations, building codes, etc.
The Florida General Contractor License Practice Test covers over 130 trades. A few of the trades you can expect to see are concrete, masonry, framing, roofing, drywall, plaster and lath, insulation, doors and windows, carpentry, finish carpentry and trim, cabinets and millwork, siding, decking, swimming pools, seawalls and bulkheads, impervious membranes, grading, drainage and earthwork, pavement, and site utility standards.
How Practice Tests Boost Exam Performance
Practice tests are an integral part of preparation for the Florida General Contractor Exam. It is not enough to simply study your books and rely on what you know, you must practice the test. The practice test process will go a long way toward confirming you have learned the material.
First, taking a practice test will allow you to become familiar with the format of the questions. The thought of sitting down and having to read and answer 120 questions is daunting for most people. Even if you are very familiar with the concepts, the time pressure of the exam is one of the biggest things you will need to overcome. Failing to prepare as best you can with practice tests will only compound this problem for you.
Secondly, the practice tests will give you more confidence with the questions and allow you to get a sense of the level of difficulty of the questions. The Florida general contractor exam is one of the hardest exams out there according to those who have taken multiple exams. Therefore, we do not want to go into the exam underestimating how difficult the questions could be.
Finally and most importantly, the practice tests will help you identify your weaknesses. By completing practice tests, you will see which areas you are weak in and can go back and do additional review in those areas after the practice test. Also, by doing practice tests, you can get used to seeing questions that are worded several different ways. You may not recognize this in the books, but in the exam you will be exposed to questions you think you know, but when reworded become confusing.
Good luck with your exam! Be sure to make use of the practice tests to keep up the momentum of the test preparation.
Study Tips for the Florida General Contractor Practice Test
Preparation is essential when it comes to tackling the Florida General Contractor license practice test, as noted above. The first step in this process is determining how you learn best and then creating an approach that is tailored to your preferences. For example, if you are a visual learner, it may work best to create flashcards or reference charts with key data points listed out. Meanwhile, those who prefer an auditory method can read aloud or record themselves reading the notes as preparation.
In addition to developing your own strategies, you should take advantage of other options available to you . For example, some of the companies that produce study materials for the Florida general contractor license offer their own practice tests that closely resemble the real one. You can also find online tools that can track your progress as you prepare for the exam.
It is important not only to study the content covered on the practice test, but also to get familiar with the format of the questions. One common challenge that people face when taking any type of standardized test is simply getting accustomed to the types of questions being asked and how they are presented.
Florida General Contractor Exam: Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Becoming a General Contractor in Florida is a challenging process that requires candidates to attain a wealth of knowledge and experience before they can pass their exam. Here, we’ll go over some common mistakes that candidates make while taking their exam, so you can determine what areas you may need more knowledge in while prepping for your own exam.
Not using the official Florida General Contractor Study Guide: Many candidates start preparing for the test without knowing what the specific exam questions will entail. The best way to ensure you’re prepared for your exam is by working through a Florida General Contractor Study Guide, provided by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). This guide includes sample questions, practice tests, and even details about how to apply to take your exam. By familiarizing yourself with the style of questions you’ll be asked, you’ll be able to draw from your existing knowledge of the industry and use your general knowledge to answer questions.
Not identifying weak areas in your knowledge: Even though the Florida General Contractor Study Guide will give you sample questions, they won’t be enough for you to fully asses your knowledge on every possible exam topic. To do this, you should utilize a Florida General Contractor Practice Test, such as those provided by My Contractor Licensing. These tests are high-quality, comprehensive tests that help you identify and focus on your weak spots. Once you have a better idea of your downfalls, you’ll be able to use your general knowledge of the industry, as well as the Florida General Contractor Study Guide, to address those weaknesses and regain your confidence.
Overanalyzing exam questions: The Florida General Contractor exam may ask you questions that are worded in a confusing way, or even distracters, which are effectively wrong answer choices that are designed to confuse you and make the test longer and more difficult. Try to avoid overthinking your responses and instead relying on your general knowledge of the industry, as well as the Florida General Contractor Study Guide and My Contractor Licensing’s practice tests, to answer questions.
You don’t have to pass the Florida General Contractor exam on the first try. However, by avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll be able to ensure that you’ll pass your test and become a licensed Florida General Contractor on your first attempt.
Practice Test Preparation Resources
There are a few reputable platforms that can help you prepare for the Florida General Contractor practice test. Before I talk about them, I need to mention something really important. You should not use free practice tests available on various websites. Don’t use lists of questions and answers you find online either. Answers to practice questions without explanations will not help you understand questions on the test. Using a free online practice test is simply wasting your time.
I am not saying you should pay for just any test prep resource. Again, make sure you are using a reputable source with a solid vocabulary. It doesn’t have to be terribly expensive. A test prep course that is definitely not affordable for many people is Florida Building Contractor Examination Course by the International Code Council. It comes at a price of about $1 , 795. However, test prep courses by other companies like Kaplan, Udemy, HTML Pro and others, are affordable and seem to be quite effective as well. After you take a look at these companies and their courses, it is up to you whom to choose.
The other thing you should check out is some books that are available on Amazon and books.com. You can also find review guides for your exams from these and other companies. Test Guides, Inc. and ATP Publishing now offer a bundle. For a mere $400, you’ll get two books with Florida General Contractor practice tests, the contractors’ book of checklists, exam calculations, and visual inspector. While books with lots of pictures and infographics tend to be more engaging even for adults, written material seems to be more reliable than an interactive course. Take your time to choose a good company to prepare for your test.