- Four years of experience as a worker or foreman, with at least one year as a foreman. College credit or military service can replace part of it.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- Every two years, with 14 hours of continuing education including workplace safety, business practices, workers compensation, and laws and rules. Certified licenses expire August 31 of even years.
Do you need a state license in Florida?
Florida licenses plumbing work at the state level through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Construction Industry Licensing Board. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Certified licenses work anywhere in Florida. Registered licenses only work in the local areas where you meet local competency requirements.
Florida license types for plumbing work
Florida splits the work into 2 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 Plumbing Contractor (CF) | Plumbing, drainage, venting, water supply, gas and related piping, good anywhere in Florida |
| Registered Plumbing Contractor (RF) | The same work, but only in the local areas where you hold a local competency license |
Steps to get licensed in Florida
- Build four years of plumbing experience, including one year as a foreman.
- Register with Professional Testing Inc and pass the Business and Finance and plumbing trade exams.
- Get a credit report, electronic fingerprints, liability insurance, and workers compensation coverage or an exemption.
- Apply to DBPR for certification and pay the $145 or $245 fee depending on the date.
- Renew every two years with 14 hours of continuing education and the renewal fee.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Four years of experience as a worker or foreman, with at least one year as a foreman. College credit or military service can replace part of it.
The license to apply for. Certified Plumbing Contractor (CF).
Florida plumbing exams
Trade exam. Yes. A plumbing trade knowledge exam that includes isometric drawings, registered through Professional Testing Inc (PTI). You need at least 70 percent to pass.
Business and law exam. Yes. A Business and Finance exam, scheduled at Pearson VUE.
What it costs in Florida
The board lists 5 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, May 1 of an even year to Aug 31 of an odd year | $245 |
| Initial certification, Sept 1 of an odd year to Apr 30 of an even year | $145 |
| Exam registration with PTI, all parts | $215 |
| Business and Finance exam fee to Pearson VUE | $80 |
| Renewal fee, every two years | $205, plus $50 per qualified business |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Public liability of at least $100,000 and property damage of at least $25,000, plus 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, with 14 hours of continuing education including workplace safety, business practices, workers compensation, and laws and rules. Certified 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
- A certified plumbing contractor can do this listed work without any additional local license, certificate or registration.
- Applicants submit a credit report. A FICO score below 660 means taking a 14 hour financial responsibility course.
- Electronic fingerprints are required.
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 a plumber 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, Construction Industry 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 plumbing companies run on Koira.