Florida plumbing contractors are licensed and regulated statewide by the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), operating under the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and governed by Chapter 489, Part I of the Florida Statutes.
Licenses & Credentials
| Credential | Type | Exam | Application | Exam Fee | Initial | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Plumbing Contractor (CFC) | license | Yes (Professional Testing, Inc. (Plumbing Trade Knowledge, paper-and-pencil, administered in Orlando/Kissimmee area in February, April, June, August, October, and December); Business and Finance examination administered computer-based via Pearson VUE) | $245 (DBPR — combined initial application and licence fee. $245 if applying between May 1 of an even year and August 31 of an odd year; $145 if applying between September 1 of an odd year and April 30 of an even year. No separate initial licence fee is charged.) | $295 (Total exam-related fees for applicants sitting both examinations: $135 registration fee payable to Professional Testing Inc.; $80 exam site administration fee payable to DBPR; $80 Business and Finance CBT administration fee payable to Pearson VUE. Applicants exempt from the Trade Knowledge exam (baccalaureate building construction degree, GPA 3.0+) pay $215. Applicants already holding an active CILB licence are exempt from B&F and pay $215.) | — | $205 / 2 yr |
| Registered Plumbing Contractor (RFC) | license | No | $305 (DBPR — combined initial application and licence fee. $305 if applying between May 1 of an odd year and August 31 of an even year; $205 if applying between September 1 of an even year and April 30 of an odd year. No separate initial licence fee is charged.) | — | — | $130 / 2 yr |
Certified Plumbing Contractor (CFC) (license)
A statewide Florida plumbing contractor licence. A Certified contractor may contract for plumbing work in any jurisdiction across Florida without fulfilling separate local contractor competency or licensing requirements. Certified Plumbing Contractor licence numbers begin with CFC. The scope of the Plumbing Contractor (CF) licence covers the full range of plumbing work including drainage, water supply, gas piping, medical gas piping, septic, irrigation, solar heating water systems, fire standpipes and sprinklers to the extent authorised by law, and pneumatic control piping.
- Standard examination route. Experience: Four years of experience in the plumbing trade. At least one year must be supervisory (foreman-level) experience. Up to three years may be substituted by military service of any type, or by accredited college credit hours in any subject. Must be at least 18 years of age. Must pass two CILB examinations: the Plumbing Trade Knowledge exam (paper-and-pencil, offered six times per year in Orlando/Kissimmee area) and the Business and Finance exam (computer-based, available on demand via Pearson VUE). Must demonstrate financial responsibility: FICO credit score of 660 or higher, or complete a CILB-approved 14-hour financial responsibility and stability course if FICO is below 660. Must qualify a construction business. Must maintain $100,000 liability insurance and $25,000 property damage insurance. Workers' compensation coverage or an exemption required.
- Baccalaureate degree exemption. Experience: Four years of experience in the plumbing trade (standard requirement applies) Applicants who hold a baccalaureate degree in building construction from an accredited 4-year college with a GPA of 3.0 or higher are exempt from the Plumbing Trade Knowledge examination. Only the Business and Finance exam is required. Effective July 1, 2020.
Other fees: Initial application & licence fee — lower half of biennial cycle — $145 (DBPR (September 1 odd year through April 30 even year)); Active renewal with qualified business (timely) — $255 (DBPR); Active renewal with qualified business (after August 31, 2026) — $280 (DBPR); Inactive renewal (timely) — $55 (DBPR); Inactive renewal (after August 31, 2026) — $80 (DBPR); Reactivation (inactive to active, outside renewal period) — $305 (DBPR)
Certified contractors renew on August 31 of every even-numbered year. The initial application fee is $245 (first half of biennial cycle: May 1 even year through August 31 odd year) or $145 (second half: September 1 odd year through April 30 even year); this single fee covers both the application and the initial licence. Plumbing Trade Knowledge exam is paper-and-pencil, offered 6 times per year in Orlando/Kissimmee area, administered by Professional Testing Inc. Business and Finance exam is computer-based via Pearson VUE. Total exam fees are $295 for applicants sitting both parts ($135 to Professional Testing Inc. + $80 exam site administration to DBPR + $80 B&F administration to Pearson VUE). The four-year examination window begins with the first scheduled exam date.
Registered Plumbing Contractor (RFC) (license)
A jurisdiction-specific Florida plumbing contractor registration. A Registered contractor has satisfied the competency requirements of a specific county, city, or local jurisdiction and may contract for plumbing work only in that jurisdiction and adjoining locales that accept the registration. Registered Plumbing Contractor licence numbers begin with RFC. Registered contractors must first obtain a local contractor licence, then apply to DBPR for state registration.
- Local licence route. Prerequisite: Valid local contractor licence issued by a Florida city, county, or jurisdiction Experience: As determined by the local licensing jurisdiction The local licence is submitted to DBPR as proof of competency for the registered state registration. No CILB trade examination is required for registration. Financial responsibility (FICO 660+ or 14-hour course) and insurance requirements apply. Registered contractors renew on August 31 of every even-numbered year.
Other fees: Initial application & licence fee — lower half of biennial cycle — $205 (DBPR (September 1 even year through April 30 odd year)); Active renewal with qualified business — $180 (DBPR); Inactive renewal — $55 (DBPR); Active to inactive status change renewal — $105 (DBPR); Reactivation (inactive to active) — $230 (DBPR); Delinquent renewal — active individual — $235 (DBPR); Delinquent renewal — active with qualified business — $285 (DBPR); Delinquent renewal — inactive — $85 (DBPR); Delinquent inactive to active reactivation — $260 (DBPR)
Registered contractors renew on August 31 of every even-numbered year. A licence not renewed by August 31 enters Delinquent status and must be renewed before it becomes null and void. Florida does not use a 90-day or over-90-day delinquency structure for RFC licences — a single Delinquent fee schedule applies; late_renewal_under_90 and late_renewal_over_90 are 0 (not applicable — Florida RFC uses a single Delinquent status model with no graduated 90-day penalty structure). Standard fees confirmed from RC_Insert_Current.pdf and RC_Insert_Delinquent.pdf (both fetched September 3, 2026). No Business and Finance examination required for RFC registration.
Continuing Education
Continuing education is required to renew:
- 14 hours per 2-year cycle — All active Certified and Registered Plumbing Contractors
14 hours of CE required per 2-year renewal cycle for active licence renewal. Mandatory subject areas: at least 1 hour each in Workplace Safety, Workers' Compensation, Business Practices, Advanced Module Building Code, and Laws and Rules. Plumbing contractors are not required to complete the Wind Mitigation Methodology hour. The remaining hours are general credits. Licensees issued less than 12 months before the renewal deadline owe no CE. Licensees issued between 12 and 24 months before the deadline owe 7 hours. CE providers must be approved by the CILB.
Reciprocity
No reciprocity agreements.
The CILB has formal reciprocity agreements with Louisiana, North Carolina, and Mississippi — but only for General, Building, and Residential contractor licences. The Plumbing Contractor classification (CF/RF) is not included in any CILB reciprocity agreement. Out-of-state plumbers seeking a CFC have two routes: (1) endorsement for substantially equivalent exams — the CILB Endorsement list includes no plumbing state equivalent, and the CILB FAQs state endorsement approval is very stringent and rarely approved; (2) 10-year out-of-state licence endorsement route (effective July 1, 2020) for applicants who have held an active out-of-state licence for at least 10 years — subject to CILB approval. Applicants who cannot qualify under either route must sit both Florida exams. RFC registration requires a valid Florida local licence; out-of-state licences do not substitute.
Bond & Insurance
Bond: No statewide requirement. No surety bond is required for individual Certified or Registered Plumbing Contractors. A $100,000 bond is required only for a Financially Responsible Officer (FRO) — a role used when a qualifying agent does not have full financial responsibility for the business they qualify.
Insurance: Required. All active Certified and Registered Plumbing Contractors must maintain minimum insurance: $100,000 commercial liability insurance and $25,000 property damage insurance (confirmed from DBPR CILB 5-M and CILB 2 application forms). Workers' compensation coverage or a valid exemption must also be maintained.
Official Sources
Always verify current requirements directly with the official licensing authority — requirements and fees change.
- CILB — Construction Industry Licensing Board — Florida's licensing authority for all construction contractors, including Certified and Registered Plumbing Contractors (CF/RF)
- CILB FAQs — CILB answers covering licence types, experience, exams, renewals, CE, insurance, bonds, and reciprocity
- Experience Requirements — CILB experience page confirming 4-year requirement and documentation process
- Construction Examinations — CILB examination information including the paper-and-pencil Plumbing Trade Knowledge exam format and schedule
- CFC Initial Application Form (DBPR CILB 5-M) — Official DBPR application form for Certified Plumbing Contractor as an individual — confirms initial fees, experience sections, and insurance requirements
- RFC Initial Application Form (DBPR CILB 2) — Official DBPR application form for Registered Contractor as an individual — confirms initial fees and local competency card requirement
- CILB Reciprocity Agreements — Official CILB reciprocity document — confirms Plumbing (CF/RF) is excluded from all CILB reciprocity agreements
- Endorsement — Substantially Equivalent Exams — Official CILB endorsement list — confirms no plumbing exam equivalent from any state is recognised
- Verify a Florida Contractor Licence — DBPR online licence search — verify any Florida contractor licence by name or licence number
- CILB Statutes and Rules — Chapter 489 Part I Florida Statutes and Chapter 61G4 Florida Administrative Code
Florida's two-tier licensing system
Florida uses a two-tier contractor licensing structure that applies to plumbing contractors:
Certified Plumbing Contractor (CFC) — a statewide licence that allows the holder to contract for plumbing work in any jurisdiction across Florida without fulfilling separate local contractor competency or licensing requirements. Certified Plumbing Contractor licence numbers begin with CFC.
Registered Plumbing Contractor (RFC) — a jurisdiction-specific registration issued to contractors who have satisfied the competency requirements of a specific city, county, or local jurisdiction. A Registered contractor may only contract in the jurisdiction that issued their local licence, and in adjoining locales that accept that registration. Registered Plumbing Contractor licence numbers begin with RFC.
Both licence types fall under CILB oversight. Most contractors seeking to work across multiple Florida counties pursue Certified status.
Certified Plumbing Contractor status removes the requirement to fulfil local contractor competency or licensing requirements in any Florida jurisdiction. It does not remove the requirement to obtain local building permits, pay local occupational fees, or comply with local inspection requirements for individual projects.
What the plumbing contractor licence authorises
The Florida Plumbing Contractor (CF/RF) licence covers a wide scope of work, including sanitary drainage and storm drainage, venting systems, water supply systems, septic tanks, drainage and supply wells, swimming pool piping, irrigation systems, solar heating water systems, and all related equipment and appurtenances. The scope also extends to medical gas piping and systems, fire line standpipes and fire sprinklers to the extent authorised by law, fuel oil and gasoline piping, and pneumatic control piping systems. A licensed plumbing contractor may perform all of this work without obtaining any additional local regulatory licence, certificate, or registration.
Obtaining a Certified Plumbing Contractor licence
Experience
Applicants must demonstrate four years of experience in the plumbing trade. At least one year must be supervisory (foreman-level) experience. Up to three years may be substituted by military service of any type, or by accredited college credit hours in any subject.
Examinations
Certified Plumbing Contractor applicants must pass two examinations:
Plumbing Trade Knowledge examination — a paper-and-pencil, open-book exam administered six times per year (February, April, June, August, October, and December) in the Orlando/Kissimmee area by Professional Testing, Inc. under contract with DBPR. This is the only CILB construction examination in paper-and-pencil format.
Business and Finance examination — a computer-based, open-book exam available on demand at Pearson VUE testing sites throughout Florida. Licensees who already hold a Current/Active CILB licence in any construction category are exempt from the Business and Finance exam.
Exam fees are paid to three separate parties: a registration fee to Professional Testing Inc., an exam site administration fee to DBPR, and a Business and Finance administration fee to Pearson VUE. The total for applicants sitting both parts is $295 in exam-related fees, separate from the initial application fee paid to DBPR.
Applicants who hold a baccalaureate degree in building construction from an accredited four-year college with a GPA of 3.0 or higher are exempt from the Trade Knowledge examination and need only pass the Business and Finance exam.
The entire examination process must be completed within four years of the first scheduled exam date.
Financial responsibility
Applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility through a FICO credit score of 660 or higher. Applicants with a lower FICO score may alternatively complete a CILB-approved 14-hour financial responsibility and stability course.
Insurance
Active Certified and Registered Plumbing Contractors must maintain:
- $100,000 commercial liability insurance
- $25,000 property damage insurance
- Workers' compensation coverage or a valid exemption
These requirements are ongoing — loss of required coverage is grounds for disciplinary action.
Obtaining a Registered Plumbing Contractor registration
A Registered contractor must first obtain a valid local plumbing contractor licence from the relevant city, county, or local jurisdiction. That local licence is then submitted to DBPR as proof of competency for the state registration. No CILB trade knowledge examination is required for registration; the local examination satisfies the competency requirement.
Registered contractors may only work in the jurisdiction that issued their local licence and adjoining jurisdictions that accept the registration. They cannot contract statewide.
Registered contractors who wish to upgrade to Certified status may be eligible to grandfather their registration into a Certified licence, provided they have held an active licence for at least five years, passed a substantially equivalent examination, and have no revocation or recent suspension on their record.
Continuing education
All active Certified and Registered Plumbing Contractors must complete 14 hours of continuing education (CE) per two-year renewal cycle to renew their licence. Required subject areas include at least one hour each in Workplace Safety, Workers' Compensation, Business Practices, Advanced Module Building Code, and Laws and Rules. The remaining hours are general credits. Plumbing contractors are not required to complete the Wind Mitigation Methodology hour required of some other contractor categories.
Licensees issued less than 12 months before the renewal deadline owe no CE for that cycle. Licensees issued between 12 and 24 months before the deadline owe 7 hours. CE providers must be approved by the CILB.
Renewal
Both Certified and Registered contractors renew on August 31 of every even-numbered year. Both can renew as active or inactive. An inactive licence does not permit contracting for work. A licence not renewed by the deadline enters Delinquent status and must be renewed before it becomes null and void.
Reciprocity and out-of-state applicants
The CILB has formal reciprocity agreements with Louisiana, North Carolina, and Mississippi — but these cover only General, Building, and Residential contractor licences. The Plumbing Contractor classification (CF/RF) is not included in any CILB reciprocity agreement.
Out-of-state plumbers seeking a Certified Plumbing Contractor licence in Florida have two possible routes:
Endorsement for substantially equivalent exams — applicants must demonstrate that their out-of-state exam is substantially equivalent to Florida's. The CILB's list of endorsed exams does not include any plumbing contractor exam equivalent from any state. The CILB describes the endorsement approval process as "very stringent and rarely approved."
10-year out-of-state licence endorsement (effective July 1, 2020) — applicants who have held an active or recently active out-of-state contractor licence for at least 10 years may apply for endorsement into the equivalent Florida licence. This pathway remains subject to CILB approval.
Applicants who cannot qualify under either endorsement route must pass both the Plumbing Trade Knowledge and Business and Finance examinations to obtain a CFC.
Registered Plumbing Contractor registration requires a valid Florida local licence — out-of-state licences do not substitute for state registration purposes.
Verifying a Florida plumbing contractor
The DBPR's online licence search allows anyone to verify the current status of a Florida contractor licence by name or licence number. Searching by licence number (CFC or RFC followed by the number) gives the most precise result. A valid, active CFC or RFC confirms the contractor is currently licensed and in good standing with the CILB.
Homeowners should confirm that a plumbing contractor holds either a valid CFC (for statewide work) or a valid RFC covering the relevant local jurisdiction before work begins.
Important: Plumbing licensing requirements change. The information on this page was verified against official sources on the date shown above. Always confirm current requirements, fees, and exam details directly with the relevant licensing authority before applying or hiring.