Question Re: Residential Contractor License/Experience

HammerUrHouse

Hi all,

My name is Diane and I will be taking the residential contractor's exam in April. I'm a little hung up on the experience verification in regard to the state application and I am hoping that maybe someone can clear it up for me. I have bought and sold quite a few homes here in Florida, some were my main residences, some not. The ones that I have lived in....I have pulled my own homeowner permits and particpated in/supervised all of the work from footers to drywall and everything in between. I have called the licensing board for the state a couple of different times and can't get a clear answer on experience. I have a year of college, verifiable permitting that a building inspector will sign off on as supervisory experience. My hang up is the 2 years of "worker" experience. I have certainly "worked" on every house that I have owned. Seemse like they want the experience to be in the structural components? Is that correct? How do I verify the "workers" experience if I have been my own boss as a result of owning 15 properties. From what I have read, I need verifiable experience under a FLorida licensed and active contractor? Is this correct? Hope someone can help answer these questions and possibly shed some light on how I can get this application to fly with the state. Have a great day!

bwalley

Are you taking the Certified contractors exam or Registered?

If Certified, this will apply, if you have any other questions please ask.

I don't think working on your own house qualifies for the experience required.

You can substitute up to 3 years of the required work experience if you have a college degree form an accredited college in the area of construction, 1 year of college probably will not work as 1 year of experience.

You need 4 years of experience with 1 year being as a foreman or supervisor.

The experience does not have to be for a currently active contractor, the contractor verifying your experience has to be current and active.

bwalley

Check with http://www.contractortalk.com/members/kclicenses-20416/

kclicenses, she is a Forum member here and is very knowledgable about contractors licensing in Florida, it may be a good idea to hire her to help you.

Good luck with your test.

HammerUrHouse

Are you taking the Certified contractors exam or Registered?

Certified

If Certified, this will apply, if you have any other questions please ask.

I don't think working on your own house qualifies for the experience required.

This is where I am confused and the licensing board for the state can't seem to answer when I call. If I have pulled all of my own homeowner permits and had the building inspector sign off on all work, I would think I could use this as experience. The inspector has agreed to verify this. This area seems a bit grey to me as far as state requirements....wish they could tell me what they want in regard to this, but they can't.

You can substitute up to 3 years of the required work experience if you have a college degree form an accredited college in the area of construction, 1 year of college probably will not work as 1 year of experience.

Confused here too...everything that I have read and researched states that this is one of my options for experience......


2 years of experience as a workman, 1 year of experience as a foreman, and 1 year of credits from any accredited college level courses

You need 4 years of experience with 1 year being as a foreman or supervisor.

The experience does not have to be for a currently active contractor, the contractor verifying your experience has to be current and active.

How would this current and active contractor be able to verify if I had not worked directly for him?

Sorry if this seems a bit anal but I want to get this application to the state correct the first time I submit.

Again, thanks so much!

bwalley

The contractor verifying your experience does not have to be the contractor you worked for, they are saying they know you have the required experience, if it is found out they lied on the application, they face disciplinary action by the CILB and could possibly have their license revoked or suspended.

I think they want the experience to be under the direction and control of a licensed contrator, since you worked under a homeowners permit on your house, the experience may not count.

I have been told the board has been looking closer at experience lately, so it may come up.

Seems to me you have 2 years experience and 1 year of college, even if the CILB accepts the 2 years, you are still short 2 years, because the college will not count unless it is a degree in a construction related field.

I may have missed something though.

Contact kclicenses, she is on the Forum and she would be able to help you out, if she can't I know a woman in Tallahasse that could answer your questions

HammerUrHouse

Great info Bwalley! I will take your advice and contact kclicenses.

You are the Bomb!!!

bwalley

I have been through it 2 times already and juat passed the plumbing contractors exam and am doing it again.

I figured if I could help you I would, as it is very confusing, dealing with the CILB is a major PITA.

Good luck and make sure you keep studying and practicing at it, make sure you thoroughly read and understand the questions, sometimes you will only read part of it and make an assumption.