- One of these: 3 years of management experience in the trade within the last 6 years, 4 years as a supervisor or contractor in the trade within the last 8 years, 6 years of training, technical education or supervisory experience within the last 12 years, or 3 years as a licensed electrical engineer. Combinations totaling 6 years also count.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every two years. Certified electrical contractors need 11 hours of continuing education, including workers compensation, workplace safety, business practices, Florida laws and rules, a building code advanced module, and 6 technical hours. Licenses expire August 31 of even years.
Do you need a state license in Florida?
Florida licenses electrical work at the state level through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Electrical Contractors Licensing Board. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Certified licenses work statewide. Registered electrical contractors may only contract where they hold a local competency registration.
Florida license types for electrical work
Florida splits the work into 3 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Certified Electrical Contractor (EC) | Electrical wiring, fixtures, appliances, raceways and conduit, good anywhere in Florida |
| Registered Electrical Contractor (ER) | Electrical contracting only in the local areas where you meet local competency requirements |
| Certified Specialty Electrical Contractor | One segment of electrical work, such as elevators or utility lines |
Steps to get licensed in Florida
- Build the required experience, for example 4 years as a supervisor or contractor in the trade within the last 8 years.
- Apply for the exam with the ECLB 8 form and pass both parts of the state exam.
- Get liability insurance, workers compensation or an exemption, credit reports and a business financial statement.
- Apply for initial certification with the ECLB 1 form and pay the $296 fee within 3 years of passing.
- Renew every two years with 11 hours of continuing education.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. One of these: 3 years of management experience in the trade within the last 6 years, 4 years as a supervisor or contractor in the trade within the last 8 years, 6 years of training, technical education or supervisory experience within the last 12 years, or 3 years as a licensed electrical engineer. Combinations totaling 6 years also count.
The license to apply for. Certified Electrical Contractor (EC).
Florida electrical exams
Trade exam. Yes. A two part state exam taken on computer at vendor sites around Florida. You must pass before applying for the license, and passing scores must be less than 3 years old.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Florida
The board lists 3 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Initial certification by exam, active | $296 |
| Initial certification by exam, inactive | $51 |
| Renewal fee, certified electrical contractor | $296 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Public liability of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence, plus $500,000 property damage, or a combined single limit policy of $800,000. You also need workers compensation or an exemption.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every two years. Certified electrical contractors need 11 hours of continuing education, including workers compensation, workplace safety, business practices, Florida laws and rules, a building code advanced module, and 6 technical hours. Licenses expire August 31 of even years.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Florida
- Your business must show a net worth of at least $10,000 on a financial statement made within the last 12 months.
- Applicants submit a credit report on themselves and on the business they will qualify.
- Certified electrical contractors who do alarm work need 2 extra hours of false alarm prevention training.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for an electrician near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Electrical Contractors Licensing Board and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how electrical contractors run on Koira.