Florida's CILB licenses plumbing contractors, certified statewide or registered locally. Here is the plumbing qualifier role, the experience routes, the two part exam, insurance, fees and the county journeyman level.
Florida licenses plumbing contractors, not individual plumbers. The Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) under the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) issues a certified plumbing license that works statewide or a registered one that works only where you hold a local competency card, and any LLC or corporation that contracts plumbing must be qualified by a licensed plumbing contractor. Journeyman licenses come from counties and cities.
This guide covers the state license, the plumbing qualifier, the two part exam and the local journeyman level. For every Florida trade in one place, start with the Florida contractor license requirements, and for other states see how to get a contractor license in each state.
At a glance Issued by: the CILB under DBPR, Chapter 489 Part I, Florida Statutes. Experience: 4 years as a worker or foreman, at least 1 year as a foreman. Exam: Business and Finance on computer plus a paper Plumbing Trade Knowledge test. Fees: $135 exam registration and a $245 initial certification fee today. Company rule: a business contracts plumbing only through a qualifying agent.
Who Licenses Plumbing Work in Florida
Section 489.105(3)(m) of the Florida Statutes defines a plumbing contractor as one whose services are unlimited in the plumbing trade, and section 489.115(1) bars contracting without certification or registration in the proper classification. The CILB FAQ lists plumbing among the categories that require it.
The state stops at the contractor. Section 489.1455 lets counties and municipalities issue journeyman plumbing licenses, so a working plumber's card comes from local government while the company license and qualifier rules come from the CILB.
Certified or Registered: Two Ways to Hold the License
| Question | Certified plumbing contractor | Registered plumbing contractor |
|---|---|---|
| Where you may contract | Anywhere in Florida | Only where you met local competency |
| State exam | Yes, two tests | No state exam |
| Proof of competency | CILB exam and experience | Local certificate of competency |
| Renewal deadline | August 31, even years | August 31, odd years |
| Company application | CILB 6-M | CILB 3 |
Certified. Section 489.105(8) lets a certified contractor work in any jurisdiction without meeting that jurisdiction's competency rules. Section 489.113(4)(a) says the holder only shows the certificate and pays the local business tax and permit fees.
Registered. Section 489.117 requires evidence of the local examination and licensing requirements, with no state exam, and limits the registrant to the counties or cities where those were met. A registrant must report each new local certificate to the board within 30 days.
Which to choose. A one county shop can start registered; a company that bids across county lines needs the certified license.
What a Florida Plumbing Contractor May Do
Without any additional local license, a plumbing contractor may work on sanitary and storm drainage, venting, water supply systems, septic tanks, wells, pool piping, irrigation, solar water heating, boilers and process piping, gas and sewer lines, and medical gas systems. Work that belongs to another trade must be subcontracted to a contractor licensed in that trade.
Section 489.113(3) runs the other way too: a general, building or residential contractor must subcontract plumbing work unless it holds a plumbing certificate or registration.
One narrow exemption applies: section 489.103(9) exempts work of a casual, minor or inconsequential nature under $2,500 in total, but not work that is part of a larger job, split up to evade the law, or offered by someone who advertises as a contractor.
The Plumbing Qualifier: How a Company Gets Licensed
A Florida plumbing license belongs to a person. When that person wants to contract as an LLC, a corporation or any name other than his or her own, section 489.119(2) requires applying as the qualifying agent of the business, and the business name then appears on the license. The CILB FAQ confirms the separate qualified business license ended October 1, 2009; the individual now qualifies the company with his or her own license on the CILB 6-M application.
The qualifier signs an affidavit that he or she has final approval authority for all construction work and all business matters of the company, including contracts, checks and payments, unless the board approves a financially responsible officer. That affidavit is the heart of the plumbing qualifier role.
Primary, Secondary and Financially Responsible Officer
| Role | Responsible for | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Primary qualifying agent | All operations, field work and finances | s. 489.1195(1)(a) |
| Secondary qualifying agent | Field work where his or her license pulled the permit | s. 489.1195(2)(e) |
| Financially responsible officer | All financial aspects of the business | s. 489.1195(1)(b) |
Primary. Section 489.105(4) makes the primary qualifying agent responsible to supervise, direct, manage and control the company's contracting activities. Two or more primaries share that duty jointly and equally.
Secondary. A secondary qualifying agent answers only for field work at sites where his or her license pulled the permit, plus any work he or she accepts. A secondary is not responsible for financial matters, and a joint agreement filed with the board can name one sole primary.
Financially responsible officer. If the qualifier lacks financial responsibility for the company, the CILB FAQ says the company must obtain a financially responsible officer. Rule 61G4-15.0021(2) requires that officer to post a bond or irrevocable letter of credit of $100,000 payable to the board for fines and costs.
Qualifying More Than One Plumbing Company
Rule 61G4-15.0021 makes any additional business subject to board approval, and the applicant must appear before the board unless he or she owns 20 percent or more of the new business or shows that he or she was hired as a W-2 employee of it.
A request that would bring the qualifier to three or more businesses requires a board appearance unless it is the third business and the qualifier owns 20 percent or more of all three. Rule 61G4-15.0024 lists what proves the ability to supervise an additional business: 20 percent ownership, W-2 employment, or a joint venture or employment agreement that sets out how the qualifier controls the construction work.
Does the qualifier have to own the company? No. The CILB FAQ says the qualifier needs supervisory authority and final approval authority over the company's construction affairs, not ownership.
When a Qualifier Leaves
Section 489.119(3)(a) gives a company 60 days from the day its only qualifier departs to employ another one. Until then it may not contract, unless the board grants the financially responsible officer, the president or a partner a temporary nonrenewable certificate to finish contracts already awarded; the CILB FAQ says that certificate lasts 60 days and cannot be extended.
Section 489.128 says a business organization without a primary or secondary qualifying agent is unlicensed, and contracts it signs while unlicensed cannot be enforced by it. Section 489.119(5) also requires the license number on every permit application, bid, contract, advertisement and marked vehicle.
Locally, Miami-Dade County requires a local plumbing contractor to have a master plumber as its qualifying agent.
The Qualifier Angle for Company Owners
Many owners run crews, win work and manage money well before they personally hold four years of plumbing experience, a year of it as a foreman, and a passed CILB exam. Florida's answer is the qualifying agent: a certified plumbing contractor who joins your company, supervises the plumbing work and takes responsibility for it before the board. The Licensing Company, led by industry authorities Marshall Schofield and Jeremiah Jaskulski, places certified contractors as full time W-2 employees who actually supervise the work, which is also the relationship Rule 61G4-15.0024 names as proof of supervision when a qualifier takes on an additional business.
Learn what the role involves in what is a qualifying agent, read the trade detail in plumbing contractor qualifying agent requirements, see every Florida rule in our Florida qualifying agent guide, or hire a qualifying agent for your plumbing company.
Experience You Need to Sit for the Certified License
Section 489.111 requires you to be at least 18 years of age and of good moral character, sets the routes, and the CILB 6-M application lists them as five methods. A full-time year means at least 2,000 person-hours.
| Route | Experience | Education |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 year in plumbing | Engineering degree, counts as 3 years |
| 2 | 1 year as a foreman | 3 years of college credits |
| 3 | 1 year as a worker, 1 year as a foreman | 2 years of college credits |
| 4 | 2 years as a worker, 1 year as a foreman | 1 year of college credits |
| 5 | 4 years, at least 1 of them as a foreman | None |
Degree route. Rule 61G4-15.001(4)(c) accepts a mechanical engineering or sanitary engineering degree for the plumbing classification.
Whose supervision counts. Rule 61G4-15.001(1) accepts experience gained under a contractor properly licensed in plumbing or a category covering it. Experience from work that is exempt under section 489.103 does not count.
What the board looks for. The CILB 6-M form asks, for each employer, whether you installed waste piping, water distribution systems, natural gas and liquid petroleum piping and venting, sanitary drainage and drainage venting (Part A). Showing all of Part A and a majority of Part B, which covers maintenance, medical gas, industrial piping, septic systems, solar water heating, wells and pool piping, lets the Department approve the experience; otherwise the board reviews it.
Veterans. The form adds three military routes, each of which still needs one year as a foreman.
The Florida Plumbing Contractor Exam
Rule 61G4-16.001(12) makes the certified plumbing exam two tests: Business and Finance, and Plumbing General Trade Knowledge. DBPR contracts with Professional Testing, Inc. to register candidates and to develop and score the exams, so you apply through Professional Testing first.
| Test | Format | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business and Finance | Computer, daily at Pearson VUE | 120 | 6.5 hours |
| Plumbing Trade Knowledge AM | Paper and pencil | 45 plus 5 isometrics | 4.5 hours |
| Plumbing Trade Knowledge PM | Paper and pencil | 65 | 4.5 hours |
Where and when. The trade test is not given on demand. DBPR's 2026 schedule holds it at the Osceola Heritage Park Exhibition Building in Kissimmee; the sitting dates are posted on the Professional Testing schedule. Professional Testing must receive your application at least 30 days before the exam date.
Scoring. You need 70 percent on each test. The trade test is worth 160 points: 110 multiple choice points plus five isometric drawings worth up to 10 points each, and the pass mark is 112. Three licensed plumbing contractors grade each drawing, and you cannot pass without earning isometric points.
Trade test weights. Drainage and water distribution are 20 percent each, medical gas piping 20 percent, natural gas piping 15 percent, industrial piping 10 percent, and pools, wells and irrigation, solar, and fire protection 5 percent each.
Open book. Every test is open book with the approved reference list DBPR publishes. You have four years from your first scheduled exam to pass all parts, with unlimited attempts, and you retake only the part you failed.
One exemption. Under section 489.113(1), a candidate with a bachelor's degree in building construction and a 3.0 GPA takes only Business and Finance.
Credit, Background Check and Insurance
Credit. Rule 61G4-15.006 requires a credit report with a FICO derived score of 660 or higher and no unsatisfied judgments or liens; below 660, you complete a board approved 14 hour financial responsibility course instead. The CILB 6-M asks for credit reports on you and on the business you will qualify, and the CILB FAQ says there is no minimum net worth.
Background. Section 489.115(6) requires a statewide criminal history check through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the CILB checklist tells applicants to submit fingerprints through a registered Livescan provider right after applying. The board may not deny a license solely because of a felony conviction.
Insurance. Rule 61G4-15.003 sets the plumbing contractor minimum at $100,000 public liability and $25,000 property damage, the same figures printed on the CILB 6-M. Under the same rule the CILB is the certificate holder, the board audits at random, and the coverage must stay in force for the life of an active license. You also need workers' compensation coverage or an exemption obtained within 30 days after the license issues.
What It Costs to Get Licensed
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Exam registration | $135 | Professional Testing, Inc. |
| Plumbing paper exam site administration | $80 | DBPR |
| Business and Finance computer test | $80 | Pearson VUE |
| Initial certification (CILB 6-M) | $245 | DBPR |
| Renewal every two years | $205, plus $50 per qualified business | DBPR |
Exam fees. Professional Testing's instructions list these three nonrefundable payments for plumbing candidates. Credit reports, fingerprints, insurance and reference books are priced by outside vendors.
Certification fee. The CILB 6-M fee is $245 for applications filed now; the fee changes by filing window, so anyone applying after August 31, 2027 should check the current CILB 6-M form.
The Licensing Steps in Order
- Confirm your experience fits one of the five routes and gather employer names, dates and license numbers for the CILB 6-M.
- Register for the exam with Professional Testing, Inc. at least 30 days before the plumbing exam date you want.
- Sit for Business and Finance at Pearson VUE (scheduling opens within 72 hours after Professional Testing approves you) and the paper Plumbing Trade Knowledge test in Kissimmee.
- Pull a credit report with a FICO score; if it is under 660, finish the 14 hour financial responsibility course.
- Buy plumbing liability coverage at the board's minimums and arrange workers' compensation or an exemption.
- Apply to DBPR on the CILB 6-M to qualify your business, or on the CILB 5-M as an individual, and pay the $245 fee.
- Submit Livescan fingerprints right after you apply.
- After approval, put the license number on permits, bids, contracts, advertising and marked vehicles.
Journeyman and Apprentice Plumbers: The Local Level
Florida's state board issues no journeyman or apprentice plumber license. Section 489.1455 lets counties and cities issue a journeyman plumbing license to a person who scored at least 75 percent on a proctored Block and Associates exam or another board approved exam, completed a registered apprenticeship program or has at least 12,000 hours of on the job training, and completed Florida Building Commission module coursework.
The same section requires every county and city to recognize a journeyman plumbing license issued by any other county or city in Florida. A journeyman licensed in Hillsborough County, for example, must be recognized as a journeyman in Gainesville.
Local rules differ. Miami-Dade County requires three years of proven experience (no more than half a year through education), an exam and a certificate of competency, lets a journeyman work only for a contractor holding a certificate of competency in that field, and requires one journeyman for every three trainees on a permitted job site.
Apprentice years matter later: the CILB counts time as a worker who learned the trade through an apprenticeship toward the four years a certified license needs.
Registered to Certified, and Coming From Another State
Registered to certified. Section 489.118 lets a registered plumbing contractor convert to a certified license without sitting the state exam if he or she holds a valid registered local license, passed a substantially similar written exam, has 5 years of experience in the category, has never had the license revoked, has had no suspension or fine over $500 in the last 5 years, and meets the insurance and financial rules.
Other states. The CILB's reciprocity agreements with Louisiana, North Carolina and Mississippi cover general, building and residential licenses only, so none covers plumbing. Section 489.115(3)(d) does allow endorsement for someone who has held the same license in another state for at least 10 years, applied for while that license is active or within 2 years after.
Renewal, Continuing Education and Penalties
Certified plumbing contractors renew by August 31 of every even year and registered ones by August 31 of every odd year. Rule 61G4-18.001 requires 14 hours of continuing education each cycle, with one hour each of an advanced building code module, workplace safety, business practices, workers' compensation, and laws and rules; up to 4 hours can come from attending a board meeting where disciplinary cases are heard.
Contracting without a license is a first degree misdemeanor under section 489.127, and a repeat offense or one committed during a declared state of emergency is a third degree felony. Operating on an inactive or suspended license counts as unlicensed.
Related guides: the Florida general contractor license, the Florida electrician license, how to get a plumbing contractor license nationally, and our states overview.
Florida Plumbing License FAQ
What is a plumbing qualifier in Florida? A plumbing qualifier is the certified or registered plumbing contractor whose license qualifies a business to contract plumbing. He or she signs an affidavit of final approval authority over the company's construction work and business matters and is responsible to the CILB for supervision. A company can have more than one, and there is no limit on qualifiers per business.
Does Florida issue a state journeyman plumber license? No. Journeyman plumbing licenses come from counties and cities under section 489.1455, and every county and city must recognize one issued elsewhere in Florida. The state issues only the certified and registered plumbing contractor licenses.
Do I need plumbing school to get a Florida plumbing license? No state rule requires a school. The certified route runs on experience, and college credit can replace up to three of the four years. Some candidates take a 14 hour financial responsibility course to meet the credit rule, and every license holder completes 14 hours of continuing education each cycle.
What happens if our plumbing qualifier quits? The company has 60 days to employ a new qualifying agent under section 489.119(3)(a). The financially responsible officer, the president or a partner can ask for a temporary nonrenewable certificate to finish existing contracts during that time.
Talk With a Florida Plumbing Licensing Specialist
If the license is the missing piece for your Florida plumbing company, you do not have to wait years to open your doors. Our founders, Marshall Schofield and Jeremiah Jaskulski, built The Licensing Company to place certified contractors as full time W-2 qualifying agents who supervise the work. Call 615-219-2110 or hire a qualifying agent to talk through your path.
Sources
Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- Florida Statutes s. 489.103, exemptions
- Florida Statutes s. 489.105, definitions
- Florida Statutes s. 489.111, licensure by examination
- Florida Statutes s. 489.113, qualifications for practice
- Florida Statutes s. 489.115, certification, renewal and insurance
- Florida Statutes s. 489.117, registration
- Florida Statutes s. 489.118, certification of registered contractors
- Florida Statutes s. 489.119, business organizations and qualifying agents
- Florida Statutes s. 489.1195, qualifying agent responsibilities
- Florida Statutes s. 489.1455, journeyman reciprocity and standards
- Florida Statutes s. 489.127, prohibitions and penalties
- Florida Statutes s. 489.128, contracts by unlicensed contractors
- Florida Administrative Code Rule 61G4-15.001, qualification for certification
- Florida Administrative Code Rule 61G4-15.0021, business organizations
- Florida Administrative Code Rule 61G4-15.0024, supervision of business entities
- Florida Administrative Code Rule 61G4-15.003, public liability insurance
- Florida Administrative Code Rule 61G4-15.006, financial responsibility
- Florida Administrative Code Rule 61G4-16.001, certification examinations
- Florida Administrative Code Rule 61G4-16.009, examination and reexamination
- Florida Administrative Code Rule 61G4-18.001, continuing education
- DBPR Construction Industry Licensing Board
- CILB frequently asked questions
- CILB 6-M application, Certified Plumbing Contractor qualifying a business
- CILB 6-M application checklist
- CILB reciprocity agreements
- DBPR Construction Examinations
- DBPR Examinations at a Glance
- DBPR Plumbing Candidate Information Booklet
- DBPR Plumbing Examination Content Information
- Professional Testing, Inc. registration instructions
- Miami-Dade County Plumbing License
Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, licensing guidance, or an offer of services. Licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction. For specific compliance questions, contact The Licensing Company for a confidential consultation.