The new reciprocity agreement with Louisiana makes it easier for Florida contractors to become licensed in Louisiana and for Louisiana contractors to become licensed in Florida. The agreement applies to General, Building, and Residential contractor licenses only.
In July 2020, Florida’s Construction Industry Licensing Board was charged with exploring and entering into licensing reciprocity agreements with other states. The first state with which Florida has entered into a reciprocity agreement for licensing is Louisiana. Under Florida law, a contractor from Louisiana can seek the same type of license in Florida, if the contractor
[h]olds a valid, current license to practice contracting issued by another state or territory of the United States, if the state or territory has entered into a reciprocal agreement with the board for the recognition of contractor licenses issued in that state, based on criteria for the issuance of such licenses that are substantially equivalent to the criteria for certification in this state.
Based on the new reciprocity agreement, many contractors will meet this standard.
Louisiana contractors who want a Florida license must also meet the following criteria:
Pass the Florida Business and Finance Exam
Hold a Louisiana Contractor’s license for at least 5 years.
Submit a license verification form that indicates that the license has not been revoked, suspended, or placed on probation during the past 5 years; that the license has no pending disciplinary actions against it; and that the license was obtained by examination
Pay the application fee
Submit electronic fingerprints
Submit a personal credit report and pass a financial background check
Submit a business credit report if planning to business under the business’ name in Florida
If applying for a Florida General Contractor’s license (as opposed to a Building Contractor’s or Residential Contractor’s License), provide proof of at least one year of experience in the new construction of a structure that is 4 stories or taller.
Take a Florida Building Code continuing education course.
Louisiana contractors should note that nothing in this rule prevents a Louisiana contractor who has been licensed for more than 10 years from seeking a Florida license without taking any exam under Florida’s 10 year rule.
We can assist you with the entire application process to make sure that it goes smoothly and to answer any questions you may have. As part of that we can help setup a Florida corporation or LLC for you to business as and ensure that you understand and use Florida’s construction lien laws and contractor licensing laws to your benefit. Many times we can do this for a flat fee. To learn more, please contact me at jason.lambert@dinsmore.com or (813) 543-9823.