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Exam prep for the Florida DBPR — Construction Industry Licensing Board.
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Choose Plan & EnrollPreparing for the Florida contractor license exam? Contractor Pathway gives you an original, exam-focused study guide and four full-length practice exams for the Certified General Contractor (CGC) credential and the shared Business & Finance exam — matched to the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) blueprint. Choose your classification below to start studying today.
How the Florida CGC exam is structured
The Certified General Contractor credential is the broadest Division 1 classification, issued by the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Division 1 candidates take three separate open-book, computer-based exams, each requiring a 70% passing score (scores are not rounded). Exams are developed by Professional Testing, Inc. and delivered by Pearson VUE.
| Exam Part | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Business & Finance (shared across CILB classes) | 120 | 6.5 hrs |
| GC — Contract Administration | 60 | 4.5 hrs |
| GC — Project Management | 60 | 4.5 hrs |
Because the exams are open-book, the decisive skill is fast reference navigation — knowing exactly where each answer lives in the adopted reference texts. Our study guides are built around the CILB reference list so you practice locating and applying information under time pressure. Always confirm current reference editions and Candidate Information Booklets on the DBPR website before your test date.
What we cover for Florida
- Certified General Contractor (CGC) — the unlimited Division 1 classification (Contract Administration + Project Management).
- Business & Finance — the exam shared across all Florida construction classifications.
- Each course includes a topic-by-topic study guide and four full-length practice exams with detailed answer explanations, matched to the CILB blueprint.
How to pass on the first try
- Pick your classification and study the topic-area guide built on the board’s adopted references.
- Tab and index your approved reference books so you can find any table or article in seconds.
- Take all four timed practice exams and review every explanation until you consistently score above 70%.
- Confirm your exam date, references, and application steps on the DBPR / CILB site, then schedule with Pearson VUE.
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Florida contractor exam — FAQ
Who licenses general contractors in Florida?
The Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
What score do I need to pass?
70% on each exam part; scores are not rounded, so a 69.4% is a fail.
How many exams does a CGC candidate take?
Three — Business & Finance, GC Contract Administration, and GC Project Management — taken and passed separately.
Are the Florida exams open book?
Yes. They are open-book, computer-based exams delivered by Pearson VUE, so fast reference navigation is the key skill.
How hard is the Florida CGC exam?
The challenge is less about memorization and more about endurance and speed: three separate parts totaling more than 15 hours of testing, all open-book, each requiring 70% with no rounding. Candidates who fail often run out of time because they have not tabbed and indexed their reference books well enough to locate answers quickly. Practicing under a timer with the adopted references is the difference-maker.
What is the difference between a Certified and a Registered contractor in Florida?
A Certified contractor passes the state exams and can work anywhere in Florida. A Registered contractor is licensed only in the specific local jurisdiction that issued a competency card. The Certified General Contractor (CGC) credential our course targets is the statewide path. Confirm which path fits your plans on the DBPR website.
How much experience do I need for a Florida CGC license?
Florida generally requires four years of proven construction experience, or an accepted combination of college education and experience, in the role you are applying for. Confirm the exact experience and education criteria for your classification with DBPR before applying.
What happens if I fail one part of the Florida exam?
You retake only the part you failed, not all three. Parts you have already passed remain valid for a limited period, so plan to clear all three within that window. Confirm the current validity period and rescheduling fees with DBPR / Pearson VUE.