Dan Biggins,
Executive Director
Division of Professions
Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board
1940 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783
Phone: 850.487.1395
Fax Information
Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board
The Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board is responsible for licensing and regulating electrical contractors. The board meets regularly to consider applications for licensure, to review disciplinary cases, and to conduct informal hearings relating to licensure and discipline. The board engages in rulemaking to implement the provisions set forth in its statutes and conducts other general business, as necessary.
Important Information (Hot Topics)
2012 Grandfathering Changes Do Not Apply to Electrical Contractors
There appears to be some confusion over the availability of grandfathering with the Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board. There were no legislative changes to Chapter 489, Part II, Florida Statutes, to allow for grandfathering of registered electrical contractors’ licenses. There was a statutory change that allowed grandfathering under Chapter 489, Part I, Florida Statutes, affecting registered contractors with the Construction Industry Licensing Board.
We understand that some licensees have received letters from county building departments that they can grandfather their registered electrical contractor’s license. These letters are incorrect and there is no grandfathering for registered electrical contractors at this time.
If you are interested in becoming certified you may file an application to take the examination. Applications may be found at Apply For/Update License > Electrical Contractors.
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HB 517 was approved by Governor Rick Scott on April 6, 2012 and reduces the continuing education required to activate an inactive license. You now only have to complete one renewal cycle of continuing education instead of completing continuing education for all the renewal cycles your license was in an inactive status. Effective July 1, 2012, in order to reactivate an inactive license, you will need to complete the continuing education requirements in place at the time of the last renewal for your profession. That includes 14 hours of board-approved continuing education that was taken during the last, or current, renewal period and must include the following:
7 hours technical
1 hour workers’ compensation
1 hour workplace safety
1 hour business practices
2 hours false alarm prevention (for all certified and registered alarm contractors and certified electrical contractors who perform alarm work)
1-3 hours general credit
1 hour Florida Building Code advanced module course
Board Information
The Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board consists of 11 members: 7 certified electrical contractors, 2 certified alarm system contractors I, and 2 consumer members.
License Information
Definition of Occupation and Class Codes
License Categories:
Specialty Electrical Contractors
• Electrical Contractor
• Alarm Contractor I and II
• Lighting Maintenance Specialty
• Sign Specialty
• Residential
• Limited Energy
• Utility Line
Licenses may be issued by registration or certification:
Registration – The applicant has taken and passed a local competency examination and can practice only within that locale.
Certification – The applicant has taken and passed the State Licensing examination and can practice throughout the State of Florida.
Methods of Licensure:
By Endorsement - Yes
By Examination - Yes
By Reciprocity - No
Business Entity - No
Electrical Business Information
Applicant Information
Application/Licensure Fees
A breakdown of application and licensure fees is provided with application packets.
Examination Information
The Bureau of Education and Testing is responsible for examination development, administration, review and grades.
Eligible Alarm One, Alarm Two and Unlimited candidates, please see the References section in the "Candidate Information Booklet - English" to order a free download of references UL 365 and UL 681.
List of Acceptable Credit Reporting Agencies
Information for Licensees
Biennial License Renewal Fee
Electrical Contractors – Certified = $300
Electrical Contractors – Registered = $125
The fees above include a $5 unlicensed activity fee and a $4 fee, which is transferred to the Florida Building Commission to fund projects relating to the building construction industry or continuing education programs offered to persons engaged in the building construction industry in Florida.
Continuing Education Requirement
14 hours of board approved continuing education is required each biennium prior to the renewal period for both certified and registered contractors; at least 7 hours of which are on technical subjects; 1 hour on workers’ compensation; 1 hour on workplace safety; 1 hour on business practices and 1 hour of advanced course. Multiple license holders are required to complete the continuing education requirements only once each biennium. Contractors who are engaged in alarm system contracting must take a 2 hour false alarm prevention course as a part of their continuing education.
Continuing Education Information
The Bureau of Education and Testing is responsible for the management of continuing education providers and courses. Below are shortcuts to their continuing education pages.
Continuing education main page
Continuing education policy
List of continuing education providers and courses, and hours required
Alarm System Agent provider and course list
Fire Alarm System Agent provider and course list
Information for providers / instructors
Reporting requirement for criminal convictions
As of October 1, 2009, Section 455.227(1)(t), Florida Statutes requires all professional licensees to report to the department within 30 days of being convicted or found guilty of, or having plead nolo contendere or guilty to a crime in any jurisdiction. The statute also requires the reporting of any convictions that occurred prior to October 1, 2009. A licensee who fails to report that information may be subject to disciplinary action, including fines, suspension or license revocation. To report this information, complete the criminal self-reporting document and mail it to the department.
Enforcement
The Division of Regulation is responsible for enforcement of professions and related businesses licensed by DBPR under the Division of Professions to ensure that the laws, rules and standards set by the legislature are followed. To file a complaint visit MyFloridaLicense.com.
Links and Resources