Florida contractor license basics: HVAC, plumbing and electrical
What it takes to get licensed for HVAC, plumbing and electrical work in Florida, summarized from the state’s own licensing boards with a link to every source.
Check before you file. We summarized these rules from each state’s official licensing board in October 2026 and link every source. Requirements, fees and forms change, and cities and counties often add their own license or registration. This is general information, not legal advice.
Want the step-by-step version? See the Florida contractor license + LLC checklist.
Statewide contractor licensing
Florida DBPR Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB). Florida has a statewide license system. A certified license (state exam) is good statewide; a registered license (local competency card) is good only in that city or county.
Threshold: Casual or minor handyman work under $2,500 total is exempt from state licensing; work that needs a permit usually doesn't qualify.
Source: Florida DBPR Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), checked October 2026.
Florida HVAC license
Who licenses it: Florida DBPR Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB)
| Licenses |
|
|---|---|
| Experience | Four years as a worker or foreman, at least one as a foreman, or a college or military combination (one year = 2,000 hours). |
| Exams | Business & Finance exam plus a trade knowledge exam (Pearson VUE). You pass first, then apply within four years. |
| Insurance, bond and finances | Liability insurance of $100,000 public liability and $25,000 property damage, workers' comp or an exemption, and proof of financial responsibility (a credit score of 660+ or a 14-hour financial responsibility course). |
| When a license isn’t needed | Only the $2,500 casual or minor handyman exemption, which doesn't cover work that needs a permit. |
| Also note | The CILB says no new Class C (servicing-only) licenses have been issued since 1988. |
Source: Florida DBPR Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), checked October 2026.
Florida plumbing license
Who licenses it: Florida DBPR Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB)
| Licenses |
|
|---|---|
| Experience | The same four-year worker or foreman framework as the other CILB trades. |
| Exams | Business & Finance exam plus a Plumbing Trade Knowledge exam. |
| Insurance, bond and finances | $100,000 public liability and $25,000 property damage, plus workers' comp or an exemption and the same financial responsibility test. |
| When a license isn’t needed | Only the $2,500 casual or minor handyman exemption. |
Source: Florida DBPR Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), checked October 2026.
Florida electrical license
Who licenses it: Florida DBPR Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board (ECLB)
| Licenses |
|
|---|---|
| Experience | One route is three years of management experience in the trade within the last six years; other routes exist. For the full EC license, at least 40% of the experience must be 3-phase work. |
| Exams | Business & Finance exam plus a Technical & Safety exam; apply within 3 years of passing the first part. |
| Insurance, bond and finances | $300,000 per occurrence, $500,000 property damage and $100,000 per person (or an $800,000 combined single limit), workers' comp, and a credit report showing financial responsibility. |
Source: Florida DBPR Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board (ECLB), checked October 2026.
Register the business
You file Articles of Organization online or by mail; it needs a Florida registered agent and a name ending in LLC or L.L.C.
Source: Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), checked October 2026.
You’ll also want a free EIN from the IRS (apply online) and a business bank account.
Once you’re licensed
Run the business on free software: scheduling, estimates, invoicing, built-in accounting and an AI call assistant, $0 a month with unlimited users. Pick your trade and state at signup and you’ll start with a state-priced starter price book.
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Your techs see what else a house needs. On the MyHomeService360 network, when your AC tech refers a plumber on the network and the plumbing job sells and gets paid, your company earns a share of the network fee. The business that receives the referral pays nothing for the lead itself, only a network fee after the job is booked and paid. How the referral network works.
Questions people ask
Do I need a state license for HVAC work in Florida?
Florida DBPR Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) licenses HVAC contractors in Florida. Only the $2,500 casual or minor handyman exemption, which doesn't cover work that needs a permit. Check the official page linked on this page for current rules.
Who licenses electricians in Florida?
Florida DBPR Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board (ECLB). See the linked official page for license classes and requirements.
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