Business & Finance Exam (Florida) — 2026 Guide
The universal Florida exam: 120 open-book questions in 6.5 hours covering accounting, lien law, insurance, and employment rules. Every certified category — GC, building, roofing, plumbing, and more — must pass it once.
Exam at a glance
| Part | Questions | Time | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business & Finance | 120 scored | 6 hr 30 min | $80 |
- License
- Required once for every certified contractor category
- Administrator
- Professional Testing, Inc. / Pearson VUE
- Format
- Open book
- Passing score
- 70% per part
- Registration fee
- $135 per cycle
- Retake wait
- 21 days between attempts
- Eligibility window
- 4 years to pass all parts
- First full attempt
- About $215 in exam fees
Is it open book? Yes — and that changes everything
Every question on this exam can be answered from the approved references sitting on your desk. Nobody memorizes lien law deadlines or OSHA tables — the exam tests whether you can find the answer under time pressure.
That's why candidates with well-organized books beat candidates who "studied harder." Navigation is the skill: knowing which book holds each topic, having the key sections tabbed, and moving on the moment a lookup runs long.
Our Tab & Pass method is built entirely around that: a tabbing system for each approved reference, lookup drills with a stopwatch, and practice questions whose explanations tell you the book and section — so every question trains your navigation, not just your recall.
How to register, step by step
- 1
Get approved by the DBPR
Apply through the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation at myfloridalicense.com. The DBPR verifies your experience and education and authorizes you to test.
- 2
Register with the exam administrator
Once approved, register for the exam and pay the $135 registration fee plus your part fees with Professional Testing, Inc. You choose which parts to attempt in this cycle.
- 3
Schedule your seat at Pearson VUE
Pick a test center and date through Pearson VUE. Bring your approved references — tabbed and highlighted — plus valid ID. Book the morning slot if you can; these are long exams.
What happens if you fail a part
You keep credit for any part you pass — you only retake what you failed. But every retake costs money and time:
- The wait: 21 days minimum between attempts at the same part.
- The money: retakes re-trigger fees — a new registration cycle costs $135 plus the fee for each part you retake.
- The clock: you have 4 years from your first passing score to finish all parts, or you start over.
The cheapest exam is the one you only take once. A timed practice run tells you whether you're ready before the fees are on the line — take the free practice test. For the full fee math, see what the Florida exam really costs.
The good news: you only take it once
Business & Finance is required for every certified category — but one passing score covers all of them. Pass it for your first license and you never sit it again, even if you add a second trade later. For a full study plan, read our Business & Finance exam guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Florida Business & Finance exam open book?
Yes. The exam is open book — you bring the approved reference books into the testing room. The real skill is navigating your books quickly, which is why tabbing and highlighting your references before exam day matters more than memorization.
What score do you need to pass the Florida Business & Finance exam?
You need 70% on each part to pass. Each part is scored separately, and you keep credit for parts you pass while you retake the ones you failed.
How much does the Florida Business & Finance exam cost?
Exam registration is $135 per cycle, plus per-part fees (Business & Finance $80). A first full attempt totals about $215. Retakes trigger new fees.
How soon can you retake the Florida Business & Finance exam if you fail?
You must wait 21 days between attempts at the same part, and you have a 4-year eligibility window to pass all parts.
Would you pass the Business & Finance exam today?
Take a free, timed practice test scored against the 70% passing line — with book-and-section references for every answer, so studying doubles as tabbing practice.
Start the Free Practice Test