Quick answer
The documents needed for a Florida contractor application are your passing exam scores, the right DBPR CILB application form, a credit report with a FICO score, Livescan fingerprints, your work history, proof of insurance and workers’ comp (or an exemption), and court or lien papers if you answer “yes” to a background question. If you’re qualifying a company, add the business details and a business credit report.
Who this is for: you passed (or are about to pass) your Florida certified contractor exam and want everything in one pile before you fill out the license application.
Most of the documents needed for a Florida contractor application aren’t hard to get. The trouble is timing. A credit report that comes back under 660, or a past lien nobody remembered, can add weeks. So gather first, then file. Below is the list we work from, with the official source for each item. There’s a printable checklist at the end.
Which application form do you need?
It depends on two things: your license category and whether you’re licensing just yourself or qualifying a company. DBPR’s Construction Industry Licensing Board (the CILB, the board that approves your license) uses a numbered form for each category. The 5-series forms are for individuals. The 6-series forms are for a contractor qualifying a business. For a general contractor, that’s CILB 5-A (individual) or CILB 6-A (qualifying a business). The versions we checked show an effective date of July 2024.
As of October 14, 2026, DBPR’s checklist pages for these applications say they are “currently unavailable using online services.” That means a paper application, mailed to DBPR at 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783. VERIFY: our reviewer could not reload the DBPR checklist page to reconfirm the “unavailable online” wording and the “pass the exam before you submit” note. Recheck the page before publishing.
What are the documents needed for a Florida contractor application?
Here’s the full set, in the order we collect them.
1. Proof you passed the exam
DBPR’s checklist says to make sure you’ve passed the state certification exam before you submit the license application. Your passing scores are good for four years under Rule 61G4-16.005, so don’t let them sit.
2. Your legal name and Social Security number
The form asks for your full legal name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card. No nicknames or initials. List any other names you’ve used.
3. Your work history
The current forms don’t use a separate experience affidavit. Instead, you fill out the employment history section on the application. For each job you list the employer, the qualifier’s license number, a contact person and an email. The form says DBPR may contact your supervisor to verify experience, so make sure those people know a call could come.
The most common route is four years of active experience, with at least one year as a foreman, under section 489.111, Florida Statutes. The forms count one year as 2,000 hours. College credit can replace part of the experience. If you’re counting on it, have your transcript ready.
4. A credit report with a FICO score
The checklist says your credit report must include a FICO-derived score and show that local, state and federal records were searched. A score of 660 or higher with no unsatisfied judgments or liens meets the requirement. Below 660, you also send proof that you finished a board-approved 14-hour financial responsibility course (Rule 61G4-15.006).
If you’re qualifying a business, the 6-series checklist asks for a credit report on the business too.
5. Livescan fingerprints
Florida law requires a full set of fingerprints from every initial applicant (section 489.115). You use a Livescan provider registered with FDLE. DBPR’s fingerprinting page lists the ORI number for construction as FL923400Z and says to bring two forms of ID. Keep your receipt.
6. Insurance and workers’ comp
You attest on the application that you carry general liability and property damage insurance. The minimums on the forms are:
| License category | Public liability | Property damage |
|---|---|---|
| General and Building | $300,000 | $50,000 |
| All other categories | $100,000 | $25,000 |
For workers’ comp, you need coverage, an exemption, or an affidavit that you’ll get the exemption within 30 days after your license is issued.
7. Business documents (if you’re qualifying a company)
On the 6-series form, the business name and any “doing business as” name must match what’s on file with the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz). You’ll also need the company’s federal employer ID number and an ownership breakdown that adds up to 100%. Decide who the financially responsible officer is, if anyone. A new one files form CILB 8. If you name none, the form says the primary qualifier takes on financial responsibility for the company.
8. Background paperwork, only if you answer “yes”
The application asks about criminal history, bankruptcies, unsatisfied judgments or liens, and any license that was denied or disciplined. A “yes” means filling in the extra section and attaching the matching papers: court disposition records, proof a lien or judgment was satisfied, a bankruptcy discharge, or the board order. A felony conviction alone can’t be the only reason for denial under section 489.115. If your situation is complicated, talk to a Florida construction attorney first.
9. The fee
The July 2024 forms list a fee that depends on when you apply: $245 from May 1 of an even year through August 31 of an odd year, and $145 from September 1 of an odd year through April 30 of an even year. Pay by check to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. VERIFY: the 5-series forms we checked are dated July 2024. A separate March 2026 grandfathering form (CILB 29) lists $305 and $205 for the same windows. Confirm the fee on the current 5-series form before publishing. DBPR also lists fee-waiver programs, including ones for military personnel and National Guard members.
From our files
The pattern we see most often is a file that’s complete except for one item that takes weeks to fix. Usually it’s an old judgment that shows up on the credit report, and the applicant has to track down proof it was paid. Another common one is a work history contact who left the company years ago and can’t be reached. Pull your credit report and call your references before you print the form.
Mistakes we see
- Using a nickname instead of the name on the Social Security card.
- Sending a credit report without a FICO score or without the public records search.
- Answering “no” to the criminal history question without checking sealed or expunged records first. The form tells you to check.
- Filing the individual form when you meant to qualify a business, or the reverse.
- Waiting until the exam scores are close to the four-year limit.
Printable checklist
Florida contractor application checklist
☐ Passing exam scores (within 4 years)
☐ Correct CILB form (5-series for you, 6-series to qualify a business)
☐ Full legal name as on Social Security card, plus SSN
☐ Employment history with contacts and emails
☐ College transcript, if using credit for experience
☐ Credit report with FICO score and public records search
☐ 14-hour course certificate, if score is under 660
☐ Business credit report, if qualifying a company
☐ Livescan fingerprints and receipt (ORI FL923400Z)
☐ General liability insurance at the required minimum
☐ Workers’ comp policy or exemption
☐ Sunbiz name, FEIN and ownership details, if qualifying a company
☐ Court, lien, judgment or bankruptcy papers for any “yes” answer
☐ Fee check to DBPR
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a business credit report for a Florida contractor license?
Only if you’re qualifying a company. The 6-series CILB forms ask for a credit report on the business in addition to your personal credit report.
Do I need an experience affidavit for my Florida contractor license?
The current CILB forms use an employment history section rather than a separate affidavit. You list each employer, the qualifier’s license number and a contact, and DBPR may contact them to verify your experience.
What credit score do I need for a Florida contractor license?
A FICO score of 660 or higher with no unsatisfied judgments or liens. If your score is lower, you can send proof of a board-approved 14-hour financial responsibility course with your application.
What is the ORI number for Florida contractor fingerprints?
DBPR lists FL923400Z as the ORI number for construction applicants. Give it to the Livescan provider so your prints go to the right place.
How long are Florida contractor exam scores valid?
Four years. Rule 61G4-16.005 says a passing grade is valid only for four years, so file your license application well before that.
Want us to check your pile before you mail it?
We’ve been filing Florida contractor applications since 2007. Send us your documents and we’ll put the application together and catch the gaps first.
General, Building or Residential: $825 · All other trades: $725 · Questions? Call 239-394-2300.
Related reading
- Florida Contractor License Application Process: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Florida Contractor License Experience Requirements
- DBPR Financial Responsibility: Contractor Requirements
Sources
- DBPR form CILB 5-A, Certified General Contractor (Individual), eff. July 2024, checked October 14, 2026
- DBPR form CILB 6-A, Certified General Contractor Qualifying a Business, eff. July 2024, checked October 14, 2026
- Section 489.111, Florida Statutes, checked October 14, 2026
- Section 489.115, Florida Statutes, checked October 14, 2026
- Rule 61G4-15.006, F.A.C., checked October 14, 2026
- Rule 61G4-16.005, F.A.C., checked October 14, 2026
- DBPR application checklist, certified contractor, checked October 14, 2026
- DBPR fingerprinting page, checked October 14, 2026
- DBPR Construction Industry FAQs, checked October 14, 2026
This article is general information, not legal advice.
