Florida uniquely splits plumbing licenses into two paths: Certified (state-issued through DBPR, works statewide) and Registered (county-issued, works only in the issuing county and any counties with reciprocity). The Certified Plumbing Contractor license (CFC) is the path most owner-operators pursue because it scales statewide - but it requires passing the toughest state exam in the southeast plus 4 years of journey-level experience.
Florida is the fastest-growing plumbing market in the US, adding an estimated 14,200 net new plumbing jobs between 2022-2032 per BLS Florida State Occupational Projections. The Hurricane recovery economy (Ian, Idalia, Helene) plus continuous coastal development creates structural demand that outpaces every other state. Permit volumes in Hillsborough, Lee, Pinellas, and Brevard counties hit record highs in 2025.
This guide covers both the Certified and Registered paths, the FDPR exam structure, the state insurance and bond requirements, the 4 county-level systems that matter most (Miami-Dade, Broward, Hillsborough, Orange), and the post-license operational reality including continuing education through FDBC-approved providers.
Statewide. Can work in any Florida county. Issued by the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) through DBPR.
Bond minimum: $20,000 or net worth + financial responsibility test
Insurance: $300K general liability + $50K property damage minimum
County-only license. Issued by individual counties; valid only in issuing county plus reciprocating counties (varies). Used when state exam not yet passed.
Bond minimum: Varies by county ($5K-$25K)
Insurance: $100K-300K general liability typical
Separate license. Required for sewer mains, water mains, and any excavation beyond service lines. Many plumbers add this for full-service capability.
Bond minimum: $20,000 or net worth requirement
Insurance: $300K general liability
Florida requires 4 years of practical experience in plumbing trade work within the 10 years prior to application. At least 1 year must be in a supervisory capacity (foreman, crew lead). Document with W-2s, signed affidavits from prior employers, and Florida Form CILB 18 (Verification of Experience). College or technical school plumbing training can substitute for up to 3 of the 4 years if accredited.
The CFC exam is administered by Professional Testing Inc. (PTI) for DBPR. Three parts: Business and Finance (120 questions, 6.5 hours, open-book), Plumbing Trade (Volume 1, 100 questions, 5.5 hours, open-book), and Plumbing Trade (Volume 2, 80 questions, 4.5 hours, open-book). All open-book using your printed and tabbed copies of approved references. Passing score is 75% per section. Total exam time spread over 2 days. Fee is $80 per section ($240 total).
Florida requires you to demonstrate financial responsibility either by (a) posting a $20,000 contractor bond OR (b) showing personal/business net worth of $10,000+ plus a 660 minimum FICO score plus passing the Business and Finance exam section. Most new contractors choose the bond route since it is faster; bond annual premium is 1-3% of face value ($200-600/year) with decent credit. The bond protects consumers and the state from contract default.
General liability minimum is $300,000 per occurrence with $50,000 property damage. Workers comp is mandatory if you have ANY employees (even part-time). Florida has aggressive workers comp enforcement; uncovered employees trigger automatic stop-work orders + fines starting at $1,000 per uninsured employee. Premium for plumbing class code 5183 averages $9-14 per $100 of payroll through National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) rated markets.
Submit Application for Certified Contractor License (Form DBPR CILB 4359) along with proof of insurance, proof of financial responsibility (bond or net worth + credit), 4 years of experience documentation, exam pass results from PTI, FBI fingerprint Live Scan (~$60), and $249 application fee. DBPR processing is 4-8 weeks. Approved applicants receive a CFC number; license is valid for the remainder of the 2-year cycle (cycles end August 31 of even years).
Sole proprietors with zero employees can file a Workers Compensation Exemption Certificate (Form DWC-250) through Florida Division of Workers Compensation. Exemption fee is $50 and valid 2 years. Exemption is voided immediately if you hire any employee, including 1099 contractors performing recurring work. Misclassifying employees as 1099 is the most common Florida workers comp violation; penalties can exceed $50,000.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CFC application fee | $249 | Non-refundable |
| Three exam sections (Business/Vol 1/Vol 2) | $240 total ($80 each) | Per attempt |
| FBI Live Scan fingerprinting | $60 | Required for background check |
| $20,000 contractor bond (annual premium) | $200-600/year | Depends on credit; better than 660 FICO gets lowest rate |
| General liability insurance ($300K + $50K) | $1,400-2,400/year | Required minimum coverage |
| Workers comp (if employees) or exemption | Variable, or $50/2yr | Sole proprietor exemption alternative |
| CFC issuance fee | $200 | After exam pass + approval |
| CFC renewal (every 2 years) | $200 | Plus 14 hours of CE |
| County local registration (Miami-Dade, Broward typical) | $50-150/county | Required in some counties for permit pulling |
| Approximate first-year total | $2,500-4,200 |
Passing score: 75% per section. All sections must be passed within 4 years.
Cost: $80 per section ($240 total for all three)
Provider: Professional Testing Inc. (PTI), DBPR-contracted
Florida requires 14 hours of approved continuing education every 2-year renewal cycle for CFC licensees. Specific requirements: 1 hour workplace safety, 1 hour workers comp, 1 hour business practices, 1 hour Florida Building Code advanced module, plus 10 hours general elective from FDBC-approved providers. CE must be completed by August 31 of each renewal year. Most plumbers complete CE through Gold Coast School of Construction, Construction Career Group, or PHCC Florida online portal. Audit rate is approximately 10%; keep transcripts for 4 years post-renewal in case of audit.
Florida has limited reciprocity through the SREB (Southern Regional Education Board) compact with Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Plumbers licensed in those states with 2+ years of clean record can apply for Florida CFC license with waiver of exam (must still pay $249 application fee + post bond + provide insurance). All other states must take Florida exams.
CFC (Certified) is state-issued through DBPR and works statewide. RP (Registered) is county-issued and works only in the issuing county plus any counties that have reciprocity agreements with the issuer. CFC requires 4 years experience + state exam; RP typically requires 2-4 years experience + county-administered exam (varies). Most owner-operators pursue CFC for statewide flexibility.
Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor median net income operating own company: $115,000-165,000 in 2025 per IRS Florida Schedule C data, with top quartile in Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Naples markets exceeding $235,000 net. Employed CFCs (working under another company) typically earn $75,000-95,000 W-2.
No. CFC covers building plumbing and connections to a single property tap. Underground utility work (sewer mains, water mains in public right-of-way) requires the separate Certified Underground Utility & Excavation Contractor (CUC) license. Many CFCs add CUC within their first 3 years to capture full-service work.
Florida conducts a "moral character" review. Convictions older than 5 years for non-violent offenses are typically approved with full disclosure. Theft, fraud, embezzlement, and violent crimes within the last 7 years are scrutinized heavily. Conviction does not automatically disqualify but DBPR may impose probation conditions, additional bond requirements, or supervisory limits. Non-disclosure is automatic disqualification.
After major hurricanes (Ian 2022, Idalia 2023, Helene 2024), Florida activates emergency licensing protocols allowing out-of-state contractors to work for 90-180 days under their home state license. Recovery work pays 35-65% premium over normal market rates. Florida CFCs in affected counties typically bill $145-225/hr for hurricane recovery work vs $85-115/hr for normal residential. Demand persists 18-30 months post-hurricane.
Yes. KaamCam handles job dispatch across Florida service areas, GPS-tagged photo documentation for hurricane recovery claims (essential for insurance billing), signed estimates from the truck, invoice generation, and crew time tracking with workers comp class code 5183 reporting. Useful for Florida CFCs running multi-county operations. $12/seat/mo, 30-day trial.
KaamCam helps licensed plumbing contractors track license expirations, store insurance certificates and bond documents, and run jobs from one mobile app. $12 per seat per month. 14-day free trial.