Under Florida law, a plumbing contractor means a contractor whose services are unlimited in the plumbing trade, including the contracting business consisting of the execution of contracts requiring the experience, financial means, knowledge, and skill to install, maintain, repair, alter, extend, or — if not prohibited by law — design plumbing.

In practice, the scope of a Certified Plumbing Contractor covers sanitary and storm drainage systems, venting, public and private water supply systems, septic tanks, swimming pool piping, irrigation systems, solar water heating systems, medical gas systems, and fire sprinkler systems. It's a Certified license issued by the DBPR's Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), meaning it's valid across the entire state, not just one city or county.

You must be able to prove one of the following options in order to submit your Florida Plumbing Contractor License application to the DBPR:

• A 4-year construction-related degree from an accredited college, plus 1 year of on-the-job experience.
• 1 year of experience as a foreman, plus not less than 3 years of credit from accredited college-level courses.
• 1 year as a worker, 1 year of experience as a foreman, plus 2 years of credit from accredited college-level courses.
• 2 years as a worker, 1 year as a foreman, plus 1 year of credit from accredited college-level courses.
• 4 years as a worker or foreman, of which at least 1 year must have been as a foreman.

Along with your qualifying experience pathway, the CILB expects your documented plumbing experience to span the core systems that make up the plumbing trade, including:

Review Every Application Type & Purchase Initial Issuance

See every Florida contractor license application type side by side, and purchase the Initial Issuance application service directly, on our Florida Contractor License Information page.

Every Certified Plumbing Contractor must carry general liability insurance before the DBPR will issue a license. Workers' compensation coverage is also required, unless you qualify for a state exemption.

We work closely with our sister company, Artisan Insurance Inc., to provide these coverages. Both businesses are family owned and operated, so your license paperwork and your insurance move together instead of stalling on each other.

Certified licenses renew every two years, due by August 31 of even-numbered years. Renewal requires 14 hours of continuing education per cycle, covering topics such as workplace safety, workers' compensation, business practices, and laws/rules.

Whether you are applying for a new Plumbing Contractor license, changing from one business to another, or wanting to qualify an additional business, we are here to help.