Tag: florida contractor tips

Pool Contractor Work Defined

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If you’re a pool contractor or deal with pools on the job, we wanted to share some important information with you from the Florida Swimming Pool Association (FSPA). On October 28, 2016, there was a joint meeting of the Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board and Construction Industry Licensing Board. In this meeting, the topic of discussion was a proposal by the FSPA to define installation and repairs or pool and spa equipment as it pertains to electrical work.

Prior to the meeting, the FSPA addressed their position on what electrical work can be done by each type of pool contractors; there are three types of pool contractor licenses. After doing their research, the FSPA said it found it normal for pool contractors to address the electrical termination to all pool appliances. However, the FSPA did not want to and could not make an official position. Before the meeting, the FSPA was asking the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board for help in clarifying this issue.

The pool licenses included that were mentioned about include: These pool appliances include: Pool motors/pumps. Time clocks, Control boxes (air switches, controllers), Heat pumps/low voltage gas heaters/solar systems, Transformers, LED lighting/laminar jets, Bonding grid, Pool lights with bond and ground, Chlorinating systems/ozone systems/sanitizing systems, Automated backwash valves, Ladder and handrail bond.

The FSPA did acknowledge that they do not have authority to make a real official position on this topic, so they assisted the Board and did research on the topic to help instead. From their research, they requested that a new definition be added under 61G4-12.011, F.A.C.. This would define the installation or repair of pool/spa equipment with electrical work as: “the term “installation or repair” of pool/spa equipment is defined as inclusive of installation and connection of electrical equipment on the load side of the disconnect for that equipment. This suggested change has the support of the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals and the United Pool & Spa Association.

Are you looking to become a pool contractor? We can help you get your Florida contractor’s license. Our team will work hard to get you licensed fast. In under two weeks! Start the process today by clicking here or calling 239-777-1028.

Want to Update your Contractor’s License?

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Wishing you could get better contracting jobs? You can! Did you know you can upgrade some contractor’s licenses out there? After a period of time, certain certified licenses are eligible to be upgraded. Licenses that are able to upgrade include: HVAC – Class C, HVAC –Class B, Residential, Building, Swimming Pool Servicing, Residential Pool Contractor.

If you’re a contracting with one of the above licenses, you may be eligible to upgrade your license. When you upgrade your license, you will have access to more jobs, better jobs, and higher-pay. With a higher-level license, you are beginning to work your way up the contracting world ladder. You will never have to miss out on another work opportunity again due to lack of proper license.

However, there are some stipulations that occur for eligibility; these include:

  • Trade tests for the higher level license must have been passed within four years of submission.
  • Business and Finance Exam needs to be taken for the original licensure process.
  • License has to be in active status for a certain amount of time.

The market has improved, so you should think about upgrading your license.

At our company, we are a team of professionals that help people get their contractor’s licenses, as well as renew and upgrade their licenses. We don’t just fill out forms for people, but rather we analyze each and every individual situation and use a person’s information strategically to build an application that will be easily approved. We give unlimited time to our clients by answering any and all questions. With us, clients have no forms to fill out. Ninety-five percent of our clients work with us through email or fax.

To start with us to upgrade your license or to get your contractor’s licenses, click here or call us at 239-777-1028  for a quick and easy way to get your license.

The Risk of Unlicensed Activity

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As a contractor licensing company, we believe in sharing information and resources with the contracting community so people are as informed and knowledgeable as possible on the latest news.  For this post, we want to discuss the topic of unlicensed activity. Unlicensed contractor activity is illegal; in fact, it’s a criminal offense. For this topic, the information we will share comes directly from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).

If you want to be a contractor, it is in your best interest to get a contractor’s license. If you don’t, not only will you be eligible for fewer jobs, but you run the risk of getting caught in the act, and being charged with a misdemeanor or felony. Besides having an offense against you, you can also be subject to court-ordered monetary restitution. As a homeowner, they don’t even have to end up paying an unlicensed contractor even if the work was well done. Now, not all contracting work requires a license, and there are exemptions. In order to fall under an exemption, you have to make sure you are working legally and properly (licensed required or not) so you will not get in trouble with the homeowner, state, or DBPR.

Currently, the DBPR has a hotline and a mobile app that allows people to report unlicensed activity on the go. This makes it very easy for people to report unlicensed work and workers. The DBPR also has a Division of Regulation hosts events to spread awareness to perform stings and sweeps in the communities to stop and educate on unlicensed activity.  In the past year, the organization has conducted more than 921 unlicensed activity outreach events, 49 stings, and 828 sweeps.

Don’t risk your future or career by practicing unlicensed activity illegally. If you’re looking to get a contractor’s license, we can make it easy for you. We are a group of trained professionals that will help you get your Florida contractor’s license fast. To start the process, click here or call us at 239-777-1028.

Hurricane Preparedness with Contracting

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With Hurricane Matthew behind us, we can now all reflect on our hurricane preparedness. In Florida, we’re at the end of hurricane season, but it’s always good to know how to properly prepare. We wanted to share some information that the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) released in September to remind Floridians, residents and businesses, to create a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan. When a hurricane, or any type of natural disaster is on the way or does occur, it’s important to access the needs of one’s family, love ones, business. You want to prevent as many problems, wreckage, and disasters as possible.

In Florida, the DBPR has shared the following DBPR and state resources for people to use to assist them in the event a natural disaster occurs. The list includes:

 

  • com – One this site, people are able to create a specialized disaster plan for their family and/or business.
  • org – Here, businesses can register to access information and updates, and report damage that a storm is causing.
  • org/publicmapping – On this site, people can find which evacuation zone they are in.
  • org – The Florida Division of Emergency Management’s webpages gives access to tips, storm updates, and other resources.
  • com – Florida Gov. Rick Scott releases his updates on any storm on this site.
  • 2016 Natural Disaster Guide – This guide shares steps to protect consumers from becoming victims of unlicensed activity after a natural disaster.
  • Unlicensed Activity Resources – This link includes unlicensed activity FAQs, tips for hiring licensed professionals, printable materials, and more.
  • com – If a contractor’s licenses needs to be verified with the DBPR, a person can visit this site, call 850-487-1395, or download the DBPR mobile app.
  • If a person sees any suspected unlicensed activity in Florida, he or she can contact the DBPR and report the incident. To report, email the DBPR at ULA@myfloridalicense.com, call the Unlicensed Activity Hotline at 1-866-532-1440, or using the DBPR mobile app.

Bookmark these links; they will come in handy before, during, and after the next major storm hits.

If you want to help rebuild after a storm, you’ll need to acquire a contractor’s license in Florida. We are here to help; we can help get you licensed fast. To get started on your license today, call us at 239-777-1028 or click here.

FAQ About Contractor’s License

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In our business, it’s our job to help people get their contractor’s license fast and easy. We do the work for you. We take pride in our high quality, efficient survey. Getting a Florida contractor’s license can be a tough, complex process; many contractors end up getting denied when the application isn’t properly filled out or things are missing. Since the process can be complicated, we wanted to share some frequently asked questions that we get during the pre and post-license process.

FAQ

Pre-License

HOW LONG ARE MY TEST SCORES VALID?

For construction, it’s four years. For electrical, it’s two years.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A REGISTERED AND A CERTIFIED LICENSE?

A “certified contractor” is a state wide contractor licensed at the state level.  A “registered contractor” is a contractor who has a county license (or multiple) who then had to register that license with the state because it was a major trade. Registered contractors can only work in the county in which they have a competency card.

AM I ABLE TO USE OUT-OF-STATE / OUT-OF-COUNTRY EXPERIENCE?

When it comes to contractor’s licenses, experience is important and valid no matter where it occurred, as long as it was legal experience and the projects meet requirements.

I HAVE A TROUBLED PAST, CAN I STILL GET A LICENSE?

It depends on the severity and number of incidences and how recent these incidences are. Click the link below to contact us and learn more.

Post-License

HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO RENEW MY LICENSE AND/OR COMPLETE CONTINUING EDUCATION?

In Florida, a certified contractor needs to complete 14 hours of board-approved continuing education every two years by August 31 of an even-numbered year. For registered contractors, they need to renew in odd-numbered years.

If you’re looking to get your Florida contractor’s license, renew your license, or upgrade your license, we can help! Contact us at 239-777-1028 or click here for more information.

What is A Pollutant Storage Systems Contractor?

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Thought about a career in contracting? You’ve probably heard of general contractors, building contractors, and roofing contractors, but have you ever heard of a pollutant storage systems contractor? Below, we will share some details about this specific type of contracting.

According to the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, a pollutant storage systems contractor is a contractor whose services are “limited to the installation, maintenance, repair, alteration, extension, or design and use of materials and items used in the installation, maintenance, extension, and alteration of, pollutant storage tanks.”

In Florida, a pollutant storage systems contractor needs to be licensed. With the license, this contractor can install, remove, maintain, extend, and alter underground fuel oil, chemical, and gasoline pollutant storage tanks, piping and pump installations.

To be a pollutant storage systems contractor, a person must be over the age of 18 and have a good moral character. Experience required includes:

  • Four years of experience in the trade with at least one year of having been supervisory work.
  • Or, a four-year construction-related degree from an accredited college and one year of applicable experience.
  • Or, one year as a foreman and not having less than three years of credits from any accredited college.
  • Or, one year as a workman, one year proven applicable experience as a foreman, and two years of credits from any accredited college.
  • Or, two years’ experience as a workman, one-year experience as a foreman, and one year of credits from any accredited college.

Does this contracting career sound appealing to you? If so, you’ll need to get a Florida contractor’s license, and we can help you get one. We are a contractor licensing company and we are professionals in helping contractors receive their license fast. We make the process easy for you. Ninety-five percent of our applicants get through the process the first time with no issues. To start the process, click here or call us at 239-777-1028.

Learn About Excavation Contractors

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There are so many different types of contracting jobs out there. If you’ve thought about becoming a construction or electrical contractor, it’s a great, fulfilling career to go into, but have you thought what specific field you’d want to focus on within contracting? Have you heard of an underground utility and excavation contractor? This is a contractor whose services fall into the construction, installation and repair of main sanitary sewer collection systems, main water distribution systems, and storm sewer collection systems. No worried about going underground or getting a little dirty? If this career sounds intriguing to you, read below for more information about what an underground utility contractor and excavation contractor does for a living.

An underground utility contractor and excavation contractor also deals with the continuation of utility limes from main systems to the point of termination and including the meter location for individual occupancy facilities, sewer collection systems at property lines on residential or single occupancy properties, or on multiple occupancy properties. He or she also installs emplty underground conduits in easements, platted rights-of-wat in new site developments, sleeves for parking lots crossings and rights-of-way.

They are not allowed to install any piping that is a major part of a fire protection system.

When working in construction, excavation contractors prepare sites, do grading, trenching, and other tasks with the soil. They also operate heavy equipment and machinery. The contractor removes soil in order to place a new foundation and makes sure the soil is firm through different compaction tests. He also backfills around the new foundation after the footers and stem wall have been placed.

In the state of Florida, an underground utility and excavation contractor needs a Florida contractor’s license in order to practice legally. They will receive the licensed after they take an exam and apply. He or she must be at least 18 years of age to be qualified, along with being the recipient of a baccalaureate degree from a four-year college in the field of engineering, architecture or building construction and has one year of experience in the business. Or, they must have a total of four years of active experience as an apprentice. Or, they must have a combination of no less than one year of experience as a foreman and no less than three years of credits from college.

If this type of contracting interests you, it’s time to apply for your contractor’s license today! We can help you! We make getting a contractor’s license simple. To start the process, call 239-777-1028 or click here to learn more.

 

What is an AC Contractor?

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From plumbing and swimming pools to mechanical and air conditioning, there are all kinds of contractors. The trade of contracting is important and hard work. These jobs require a lot of skill, and often put people in potentially dangerous situations, because work sites, machinery and tools can all cause harm.  In this article, we will focus on a class A air-conditioning contractor.

What is a class A air-conditioning contractor? According to the Florida Department of Business & Regulation, a specialty contractor is a contractor “whose services are unlimited in the execution of contracts requiring the experience, knowledge, and skill to install, maintain, repair, fabricate, alter, extend, or design central air-conditioning, refrigeration, heating, and ventilating systems.”

Class A Contractors can execute “contracts requiring experience in the installation, maintenance, repair, fabrication, alteration, extension or design of duct work in connection with a complete system but only to the extent that such duct work is performed by the contractor as is necessary to complete an air-distribution system, boiler and unfired pressure vessel systems, and all appurtenances, apparatus, or equipment used in connection with them.”

This class cannot perform work such on liquefied petroleum or natural gas lines within buildings, potable water lines/connections, sanitary sewer lines, swimming pool piping/filters, or electrical power wiring.

They are often referred to as HVAR technicians because they work on heating, ventilation, cooling, and refrigeration systems. These individuals work in homes, schools, office builds, hospitals, factories, and other buildings. Because they work with broken or dysfunctional heating and cooling systems, their worksites may be very warm or cold; they often work in cramped spaces and have irregular hours. These machines can break at any time!

To become an HVACR technician/contractor, a person needs a state license and a postsecondary education. The median pay for this career in 2015 was $36,630 per year. From 2004-2014, the job outlook for this position is at a 14 percent growth with is much faster than the average.

If you think this career is right for you, it’s time to look into getting your Florida contractor’s license. Let us do the application for you. We may the process very simple and streamlined. We get your application approved fast. To contact us, click here or call 239-777-1028.

What Is Masonry?

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Thought about going into masonry? Maybe you know some masonry workers or have had some experience in building masonry structures before? There’s a lot to know about being a masonry worker that you may not know and should consider before diving into the profession. Below, we will share some basic information with you about what masonry workers do. From there, you can decide whether a profession in masonry is right for you after all.

A mason worker is usually referred to as a “mason.” Masons use bricks, concrete blocks, concrete, and natural or manmade stones in order to build walls, walkways, fences, and other masonry-based structures.

In 2015, the median pay for a mason was $39,640 a year or $19.06 per hour. In 2014, there were 252,900 masonry jobs in the United States. It’s projected that from 2014 to 2024 the number of jobs in the field will increase 15 percent, which is much faster than the average job growth numbers in America. Since the country’s population continues to grow, there will be more construction (schools, hospitals, homes, etc). There are many job openings to be had for a mason going forward in America.

To become a mason, a person needs a high school diploma or equivalent. After one of these are completed, a person usually completes an apprenticeship program or learns the profession on the job from a professional.

Masonry is a physically demanding job. Masons are expected to lift heavy materials (stones, rocks, bricks, equipment), and they must often stand, kneel, and bend for long periods of time. A mason’s job is also weather dependent. Since most masonry jobs are outdoors, inclement weather can stall a project’s progress.

On average, most masons work full time.

If you’re looking to become a mason or get your Florida contractor’s license, we can help you through the license process. Although licenses aren’t always required for all contracting-based jobs, people tend to trust workers more that have certifications and licenses.We make getting your Florida contractor’s license simple, fast and easy. We streamline the process. To start with us, reach out to us today to get your contractor’s license! Click here or call us at 239-777-1028.

What is a Pool Contractor?

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Enjoy working with your hands and being out by the pool? Maybe you should consider a career as a swimming pool contractor! Swimming pool contractors build and repair pools, as well as other larger water equipment. These contractors are responsible for the pool, the equipment necessary to maintain it, and installing safety devices that help protect the people who use the pool.

A residential pool/spa contractor focuses on residential work and deals with the construction, repair and servicing of pools or hot tubs or spas. He or she deals with the layout, excavation, installation of light niches, construction of floors, installation of tile and coping, installation of housing for pool equipment and more. This contractor does not deal with connections to a sanitary sewer system or potable water lines.

For a swimming pool spa serving contractor, he or she is not required to have licensure when dealing with water treatment or cleaning unless the usage involves construction, modification, disassembly, or replacement of equipment.

There are no formal education requirements for this career. It does not require a college degree. A degree in construction management or science, civil engineering or a construction-related field can be very beneficial though.

Licensure requirements vary state by state for a pool contractor. Some states require an exam and fees. In Florida, swimming pool specialty contractor licenses may be issued: layout, structural, excavation, trim, decking, piping, and finishes. These contractors may not contract directly with the public; they must work under contract and supervision within the scope of work of a contractor licensed under certain Florida statutes.

In 2013, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said the average salary of a construction manager was $92,700.  From 2012 to 2022, it is expected that contracting jobs and construction managers will have a 16 percent job growth rate.

If you’re thinking about becoming a swimming pool contractor or spa servicing contractor in the state of Florida, we can help get you your Florida contractor’s license. We can do the application process for you so there will be no errors along the way. We make the process painless and easy. To start your licensure process, call us at 239-777-1028 or click here.