Residential Contractor License Exam (Florida) — 2026 Guide
The license for one- and two-family homes and townhouses: Contract Administration, Project Management, and Business & Finance — all open book, all passed at 70%.
Exam at a glance
| Part | Questions | Time | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contract Administration | 60 scored | 4 hr 30 min | $40 |
| Project Management | 60 scored | 4 hr 30 min | $40 |
| Business & Finance (universal — guide) | 120 scored | 6 hr 30 min | $80 |
- License
- Certified Residential Contractor (CRC)
- 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 $295 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, so a full re-attempt can approach the ~$295 you paid the first time.
- 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.
Don't forget Business & Finance
Every certified Florida contractor — regardless of trade — must pass the universal Business & Finance exam once. It's 120 open-book questions in 6.5 hours covering accounting, lien law, insurance, and employment rules, and it trips up more candidates than the trade parts do.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Florida Residential Contractor 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 Residential Contractor 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 Residential Contractor exam cost?
Exam registration is $135 per cycle, plus per-part fees (Contract Administration $40, Project Management $40, Business & Finance $80). A first full attempt totals about $295. Retakes trigger new fees.
How soon can you retake the Florida Residential Contractor 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 Residential Contractor 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