General is unlimited. Building stops at three stories for new construction. Residential covers homes for up to three families, two habitable stories. All three pass the same Business & Finance, Contract Administration and Project Management exams — the trade parts run 60, 50 or 45 questions. In practice the license you can get is usually decided by the experience you already have.
What each license lets you build
| License | Scope of work (s. 489.105(3), F.S.) |
|---|---|
| General contractor | Unlimited as to the type of work — any building, any height, including structural work. |
| Building contractor | Commercial buildings and single- or multiple-dwelling residential buildings up to three stories, plus accessory structures — or non-structural remodeling, repair and improvement of a building of any size. |
| Residential contractor | One-, two- and three-family residences of up to two habitable stories above no more than one uninhabitable story, plus accessory structures. |
Scope is what decides the jobs you can legally bid. If your work is and will stay single-family and duplex, Residential covers it. If you want mid-size commercial work, you need at least Building. High-rise and unrestricted structural work is General only.
The exams
All three licenses pass the same three examinations — Business & Finance, Contract Administration and Project Management — each open book, each 70% to pass with no rounding. Business & Finance is identical for everyone at 120 questions and 6.5 hours. The two trade parts differ in length:
| License | Each trade part |
|---|---|
| General contractor | 60 scored questions, 4.5 hours |
| Building contractor | 50 scored questions, 4.5 hours |
| Residential contractor | 45 scored questions, 4.5 hours |
The content barely moves. We compared the DBPR's six content sheets line by line. Building covers every topic on the general contractor's list. Residential drops seven commercial-leaning items — cranes, hoisting equipment, lift plans, heavy equipment, LEED and other sustainability systems, estimating software, and the time an architect or engineer has to review a submittal — and keeps the rest. The weights stay within the three points the state allows on any form. The building and residential exam guides go through each in detail.
Who qualifies for which
The eligibility routes in s. 489.111(2), F.S., are the same for all three: a relevant bachelor's degree plus 1 year of experience; 4 years in the trade including 1 as a foreman; or a mix of trade years and college credit. What differs is the experience the board will count. Rule 61G4-15.001, F.A.C., defines it class by class:
| License | Experience that counts |
|---|---|
| General contractor | Commercial construction in at least 4 of 6 areas, including at least 1 year on structures of four stories or more. |
| Building contractor | Commercial construction in at least 4 of 6 areas; no height requirement. |
| Residential contractor | Detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses up to three stories, in at least 3 of 5 areas. |
The six commercial areas are foundations or slabs over 20,000 square feet, masonry walls, steel erection, elevated slabs, column erection, and formwork for structural reinforced concrete. The five residential areas are foundations, slabs and structural formwork; masonry walls; structural demolition; structural wood framing including trusses (platform framing does not count); and column erection.
This is usually what makes the decision. Experience that is entirely single-family work does not qualify you for Building or General, whatever the number of years. The four-story requirement is the only thing between a Building applicant and a General one.
Moving up later
The statute does not make you choose once. Under s. 489.111(2)(c)4., F.S., an active certified contractor can step up by passing the higher license's examination after proven experience in the license they hold:
| From | To, and experience needed in the current license |
|---|---|
| Residential contractor | Building contractor after 3 years, or general contractor after 4 years |
| Building contractor | General contractor after 4 years |
That is why Residential is a common first license: it is the one you can reach on single-family and duplex experience alone, and it leads to the other two. Because the trade exams share their content, what you study for one carries into the next.
Which should you take?
- Your experience is on single-family homes and duplexes — take Residential now; plan the ladder if you want commercial work later.
- You have commercial experience but not on four-story structures — Building is the license your experience supports.
- You have a year or more on structures of four stories or more — General gives you the unlimited scope, and it is the same three exams.
Then check the application details for your class on getting a residential license, getting a building license or getting a general contractor license. The rule quoted here took effect on May 16, 2024; confirm the current version with the DBPR before you file.
One purchase covers all three
Pick your license in the practice tools and the question set and mock exam length follow it. Change your mind later and your access still covers you. 20 questions free, every answer explained.