It’s expected that there will be a 9% increase in electrician jobs within this decade. This guide has all you need to know about how to become a licensed electrician in Florida. Whether you’re a first-timer looking to get licensed or you’re moving to Florida from another state, we’ve got you covered.
Licensed electricians make an average of $56,900 per year, and many have a say in their working hours. To be a licensed electrician, you need to complete the necessary classroom hours and work experience and pass a specific exam. We’ll cover each step in detail, including how to renew a license and associated costs below.
Does Florida Require an Electrician License?
You cannot legally perform electrical work in the state of Florida unless you are certified by the state or registered by the county to do so. Without a license, you won’t be able to get the necessary permits for certain projects and your work won’t meet the standards of most building regulations.
If you complete electrical work without a license in Florida, you can be held liable for any issues around the work afterward, and you won’t have a leg to stand on in your defense.
Florida Electrician License Requirements
Becoming a Certified Electrical Contractor in Florida permits you to work as a licensed electrician across the state. Certified Electrical Contractors can install, fix, and design electrical wiring, fixtures, appliances, including electrical installations systems, alarm systems, and specialty categories within the state of Florida.
Other license categories include Registered Electrical Contractor, Alarm System Contractor, and Specialty Contractor. The difference between a Registered Electrical Contractor and a Certified Electrical Contractor is that the former cannot work with alarm systems and is only able to work in the county or city where they are registered.
This article focuses on the requirements to become a Certified Electrical Contractor in Florida.
To become a Certified Electrical Contractor, you must:
- Submit an application that includes:
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- A $296 fee for applying for active status
- W-2 forms for each year of experience required for employment verification
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- A credit report from a nationally recognized credit reporting agency
- School transcripts, if using education as part of work experience
- Supporting legal or business documents, if necessary.
How to Get a Florida Electrician License
To become a Certified Electrical Contractor, you should first ensure you meet the work experience requirements detailed further below.
You must also take the State of Florida Electrical Contractors Exam within 3 years of the date of your application. This exam is offered in two parts: a business section with test questions lasting 2.5 hours and a technical/safety section with test questions lasting 5 hours. You can find a testing center for this exam here.
After completing the necessary work experience and examination, you can log on to the Florida Department of Business ; Professional Regulation website to apply for your license online or print the application and apply by mail. Be sure to include all necessary copies and payment with your application.
FL Electrician License Costs
It costs $296 to apply for an active Certified Electrical Contractor license in Florida for the first time. Renewals before the expiration date cost $300 and are to be paid every 2 years. Renewals also require the completion of 11 continuing education credits which can be found online for between $80-$90.
If you’re applying for a license on behalf of your business, you’ll need to present a Business Financial Statement showing a net worth of at least $10,000.
While it costs a few hundred dollars to get your licensure at first, the electrical field is well compensated. Certified Electrical Contractors in Florida make an average of $56,062 per year including an average of $7,500 made through overtime. Top earning electricians in Florida make well over $80,000.
FL Electrician License Prerequisites
To become a Certified Electrical Contractor, you need to be at least 18 years of age and meet the experience requirements.
The experience requirements are:
- 3 years of management experience in the trade within the last 6 years OR
- 4 years of experience as a contractor, supervisor, or foreman in the trade within the last 8 years OR
- 6 years of comprehensive training, technical education, or supervisory experience with an electrical or alarm business within the last 12 years (6 years if it’s within the Armed Forces) OR
- Must be licensed as an electrical professional engineer for 3 years within the last 12 years OR
- A combination of experience listed in the first three bullet points totaling 6 years of experience within the last 12 years.
Within your experience requirements, 40% of the work must be in 3-phase services. Three-phase services are typically commercial or industrial, whereas single-phase services are for residential homes.
You can find a list of trade schools that offer electrician training courses here.
Renewing Your Florida Electrical License
Florida electrical licenses expire on August 31st of every even-numbered year. Renewals cost $300 before the expiration date and $325 after the expiration date.
Complete the renewal form on the official website and mail it with your payment to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation in Florida.
To avoid fees or retraining, you must renew before August 31st of the required year. Continuing Education is a requirement for renewal.
The 11 required continuing education credits hours required for this license are:
- 1 hour of continuing education for workers’ compensation
- 1 hour of continuing education for workplace safety
- 1 hour of continuing education for business practices
- 1 hour of continuing education for Florida Laws ; Rules
- 7 hours of continuing education for Technical instruction including:
- 1 hour of a Florida Building Code advanced module course
- 2 hours of false alarm prevention only for electricians who preform alarm work
You can use the Florida Department of Business ; Professional Regulation website to search for continuing education courses in your area or online. Courses through 2023 can be found here.
Course prices vary greatly and you may be able to find cheaper education credit courses online. If so, just make sure they are approved for Florida Electricians’ License Renewal by the DBPR Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board.
