How to get a plumbing contractor license in Florida: the official requirements
The Certified Plumbing Contractor license, the experience and training it takes, the exam and how to apply, from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Construction Industry Licensing Board.
In Florida, the statewide plumbing license is a contractor license, issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Construction Industry Licensing Board. Florida's statewide plumbing license is the certified plumbing contractor certificate: no one may contract without being certified or registered in the proper classification, and a certified contractor may contract in any jurisdiction in the state. Journeyman plumber licenses are issued by counties and municipalities. Experience and training: Have at least 4 years of active experience in the trade as a skilled worker who learned it through an apprenticeship, or as a foreman, with at least 1 year as a foreman. Other routes combine a related 4-year degree with 1 year of experience, or foreman and skilled-worker years with accredited college credits. A full year counts as at least 2,000 person-hours. Licensing exam: Pass the appropriate examination approved by the Construction Industry Licensing Board and certified by the Department to establish competency for statewide contracting. How to apply: Apply to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation in writing; you must be 18. Before the certificate is issued, file an affidavit that you have workers' compensation, public liability and property damage insurance as the board requires.
Florida plumbing contractor license requirements
| Requirement | Florida |
|---|---|
| License you apply for | Florida's statewide plumbing license is the certified plumbing contractor certificate: no one may contract without being certified or registered in the proper classification, and a certified contractor may contract in any jurisdiction in the state. Journeyman plumber licenses are issued by counties and municipalities. |
| Apprentice or trainee registration | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Construction Industry Licensing Board. |
| Experience and training | Have at least 4 years of active experience in the trade as a skilled worker who learned it through an apprenticeship, or as a foreman, with at least 1 year as a foreman. Other routes combine a related 4-year degree with 1 year of experience, or foreman and skilled-worker years with accredited college credits. A full year counts as at least 2,000 person-hours. |
| Classroom hours | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Construction Industry Licensing Board. |
| Licensing exam | Pass the appropriate examination approved by the Construction Industry Licensing Board and certified by the Department to establish competency for statewide contracting. |
| How to apply | Apply to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation in writing; you must be 18. Before the certificate is issued, file an affidavit that you have workers' compensation, public liability and property damage insurance as the board requires. |
| Background check | Applicants must be of good moral character; the board may refuse certification on that ground only when the lack of good moral character is substantially connected to a certified contractor's responsibilities and the finding is supported by clear and convincing evidence. |
| State fees | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Construction Industry Licensing Board. |
| License term | Two years; certificates are renewed every 2 years. |
| Continuing education | At least 14 classroom hours of continuing education each two-year cycle, including workers' compensation, business practices, workplace safety and 1 hour on laws and rules. |
Where the official source we read does not state something, the table says so rather than guessing. Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools, apprenticeship programs, fingerprint vendors and application portals are not included.
This page covers the plumbing license issued by the state. Cities and counties can have their own registration, permit or license rules; ask the local building department where you will work.
How to get licensed in Florida
- Build at least 4 years of active experience in the trade, including at least 1 year as a foreman (or use one of the degree or college-credit combinations).
- Apply in writing to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation for plumbing contractor certification.
- Pass the examination approved by the Construction Industry Licensing Board.
- File the insurance affidavit; the certificate is issued once the board qualifies you and the original license fee is paid.
- Renew every 2 years.
Go further
Requirements state by state.
Open →CareerHow to become a plumberThe career path, nationally.
Open →PayPlumber salary in FloridaWhat plumbers earn.
Open →CareerPlumber career guideThe job, skills and outlook.
Open →ResumePlumber resumeHow to present your hours and licenses.
Open →InterviewPlumber interview questionsWhat hiring managers ask.
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Questions people ask
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How this page is built
Each fact on this page comes from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Construction Industry Licensing Board and the rules it publishes (sources named below), read on the dates shown, with the exact wording we relied on kept on file. Requirements and fees change; the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Construction Industry Licensing Board's current instructions govern. We re-read each state's sources every six months (next review by May 10, 2027).
- Not legal advice.
- Licensing rules can change. Verify current requirements with the issuing agency.
- Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools, apprenticeship programs, fingerprint vendors and application portals are not included.
- This page covers the plumbing license issued by the state. Cities and counties can have their own registration, permit or license rules; ask the local building department where you will work.
- This page covers the contractor license named above. Specialty, limited and out-of-state (reciprocity) licenses have their own rules.
- Florida Statutes (2026), s. 489.105 Definitions (Online Sunshine, Florida Senate), official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Florida Statutes (2026), s. 489.111 Licensure by examination (Online Sunshine, Florida Senate), official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Florida Statutes (2026), s. 489.113 Qualifications for practice; restrictions (Online Sunshine, Florida Senate), official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Florida Statutes (2026), s. 489.115 Certification and registration; endorsement; reciprocity; renewals; continuing education (Online Sunshine, Florida Senate), official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Florida Statutes (2026), s. 489.107 Construction Industry Licensing Board (Online Sunshine, Florida Senate), official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Florida Statutes (2026), s. 489.1455 Journeyman; reciprocity; standards (Online Sunshine, Florida Senate), official source, read Nov 9, 2026.