How to Get a Plumbing License in Florida: Local Journeyman Cards and the State Contractor Exam

Who licenses plumbers in Florida?

It depends on the level. The DBPR Construction Industry Licensing Board licenses plumbing contractors, the people and companies that contract plumbing work. Its scope for a plumbing contractor covers contracts requiring "the experience, financial means" and skill to "install, maintain, repair, alter, extend, or, when not prohibited by law, design plumbing" (CILB). Journeyman plumbers, the licensed workers in the field, are licensed by counties and municipalities under Florida Statutes 489.1455.

What are the Florida plumbing license levels?

How do you become a journeyman plumber in Florida?

Through your county or city. State law sets the floor: a journeyman license in the plumbing, pipe fitting, mechanical or HVAC trades requires a state-approved apprenticeship or "at least 12,000 hours of on-the-job training in his or her specific trade," a proctored journeyman exam score of at least 75%, and Florida Building Commission coursework (Fla. Stat. 489.1455). Counties can then add their own paperwork and fees.

As one example, Palm Beach County's journeyman application (form revised 2019) accepts a registered 3-year plumbing apprenticeship or 4 years of full-time work under the direct supervision of a certified plumbing contractor, charges $100, and requires 75% on the trade exam (Palm Beach County). That differs from the state's 12,000-hour figure, which is exactly why you check the county you'll work in.

Moving counties is easier than it used to be. Under 489.1455, a county or city "must recognize a person as a journeyman" in the plumbing trades if another Florida county or city issued that person a journeyman license in the same trade (Fla. Stat. 489.1455).

How do you get a certified plumbing contractor license?

1. 1

   Reach four years of experience, one as a foreman

   Florida Statutes 489.111 requires four years of active experience with at least one year as a foreman, or one year of experience plus a four-year construction degree, or a mix of college credit and foreman time (Fla. Stat. 489.111). You must be 18.

2. 2

   Register for the exams

   DBPR contracts with Professional Testing, Inc. to register candidates and score construction exams (DBPR CIB). Plumbing is a Division II trade: you pass Business and Finance (120 questions, 6.5 hours, by computer) and Plumbing General Trade Knowledge.

3. 3

   Book the paper exam at least 30 days out

   The plumbing trade exam is given in Orlando, usually on a Wednesday in February, April, June, August, October and December. The scheduling deadline is 30 days before the exam date (DBPR plumbing CIB).

4. 4

   Sit a full exam day

   The morning session (4½ hours) is five isometric drawings; the afternoon (4½ hours) is 110 multiple-choice questions (DBPR plumbing CIB).

5. 5

   Apply to the CILB with credit, fingerprints and insurance

   CILB applications require electronic fingerprints and a credit report; below a 660 FICO-derived score you need a 14-hour financial responsibility course. The minimum for non-building categories is $100,000 public liability and $25,000 property damage, plus workers' comp or an exemption (CILB application).

6. 6

   Renew every two years

   Complete 14 CE hours, including workplace safety, business practices, workers' comp and laws and rules, before the August 31 even-year deadline (CILB).

How is the Florida plumbing contractor exam scored?

Out of 160 points: 110 multiple-choice questions at 1 point each and 5 isometric drawings at 10 points each. The pass mark is 70%, or 112 points. DBPR points out that the drawings are worth only 31.25% of the total, but you can't pass without earning some isometric points (DBPR plumbing CIB). Teams of three licensed plumbing contractors grade each drawing pass or fail on eight criteria: legibility, orientation, flow, angles, piping, labeling, vents and fixtures. Practice drawing full systems by hand, with every vent labeled, until it's routine.

Starting your own plumbing company in Florida

A certified license lets you bid statewide. The business still needs these pieces before you take the first emergency call.

• Qualifying a business: a certified contractor can qualify a company; renewal adds $50 per qualified business (CILB).
• Insurance: keep the CILB liability minimums and workers' comp in force (CILB application).
• Taxes: sales and use tax on fixtures and materials and how your entity files are in Florida contractor taxes and licensing.
• Business setup: entity, trucks, pricing and first customers are in how to start a plumbing business.