Tag: how to renew a contractor license

Change In Mechanical and Air Conditioning Contractor Licensing Exams

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Starting in August, the Mechanical and Air Conditioning “Class A” contractor exams with no longer be given in pencil and paper format; there will be a switch to a computer test. This is great news! People can now take the tests whenever they want, as long as they schedule it. Before, people had to go to certain locations and the exams ran only once every 2 months.

However, construction license exams in pencil and paper format still exist, but they have been cut back to one day exams.  The exam schedule is as follows:

  • Wednesday, August 16, 2017 – Deadline, July 16, 2017
  • Wednesday, October 18, 2017 – Deadline, September 17, 2017
  • Wednesday, December 13, 2017 – Deadline, November 12, 2017

 

If you have questions about any of the exams, our team is here to help. Every type of contractor license requires a different type of testing. If you are unsure about what exams or other requirements that are needed for the type of license you’re trying to acquire, visit our Contractor Licenses page or gives us a call at 239-777-1028.

 

For example, a mechanical contractor has the following requirements and experience needed for a person to obtain a license.

 

  • A person needs to have at least 4 years of experience working for a licensed contractor, or
  • A person needs a combo of college credits or military experience,
  • 12 months of this experience, at least, have to be has a foreman

 

During this experience, a person must do sheet metal ductwork, piping for lift stations, install systems more than 25 tons for cooling and 500,000 BTU for heating, install ACs, install heating equipment, install refrigeration equipment, install boilers, install condensate piping, install digital control wiring and direct it, and more!

 

Like stated above, these requirements are different for each specialty of contracting, but all contractors must pass the exams. Let us help you get your license! Click here to contact us.

 

Does Your Contracting Service Require Florida Licensing?

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When it comes to providing a range of different contractual services in Florida, you may or may not need licensing and even certain permits in order to proceed with the project and be good with the laws of the state. Failing to obtain the proper permits or licenses can result in hefty fines, penalties, and even worse if you are a repeat offender. This is why it is really important to know whether or not you need licensing for a project you have been contracted to undertake.

The basic rule of thumb is that, for most construction related services, your company and perhaps everyone who works in said company, will need to be licensed by the state in order to operate lawfully. This licensing is not required for, say, a group of friends getting together to help a buddy with a weekend project. These licensing requirements are intended for people who receive financial compensation for their work.

Pretty much any sort of major undertaking, particularly if it can affect the structural integrity of the building you are working on, is going to require each person on the project have the appropriate state licensing. However, even if you are getting compensation, there are some projects that do not require state licensing.

Things that are superficial or aesthetic, such installing non-fixed awnings, cleaning of pools and spas, installation or maintenance of irrigation systems, can all be performed for compensation without a license. Driveways and sidewalks, water filtration systems, and even replacement of drywall (so long as it does not effect a load bearing wall) can also be undertaken without a license.

Regardless of what type of project you plan on undertaking, it is recommended to check to ensure that you have the right licensing and permits for any project you are going to be compensated for. Almost all major projects, including anything electrical, structural, or dealing with lead bearing walls or frames, is going to require all who are on the contracted team to be licensed by the state.

 

However, there are smaller, more superficial projects that are routine parts of most contracting jobs that can be performed by an unlicensed worker without any issue. You can find a comprehensive list of what actions require licensing and which do not on the Florida state website, but it is still advised to double check, especially if the project you have been tasked with isn’t on the list.

 

If you’re looking to get a Florida contractor’s license, we can help. We are a Florida contracting licensing company. For more information, click here or call 239-777-1028.

Calling all future contractors!

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Calling all future contractors! The construction world needs you right now.  Right now, there is a high demand in the United States for construction jobs; however, there is a lack of workers. According to the National Association of Home Builders, there are about 200,000 construction jobs that need to be filled across America. The average age of a construction worker continues to rise, and fewer younger people are coming into the industry. Once the Baby Boomer generation retires, then there will be a true shortage in the number of construction workers out there.

Construction is a fast-growing industry right now, increasing 2.8 percent each year. There will be close to 800,000 jobs added in this industry in the next 7 years.

Being a contractor can be a rewarding job, but it can also be a stressful and demanding one, which may be a reason why some people have decided not to pursue a career in this industry. Most, if not all, construction jobs are physically demanding, which means a person needs to be a certain level of physically fit to complete tasks. Many construction workers are also out of work due to sickness of injuries resulting from a job. Construction sites can be dangerous, but also extremely physical, like stated before; people can end up with broken bones, strains, heart issues, hurt backs, pulled muscles, etc.

If you take care of yourself and practice safety measures at any jobsite, your chance of getting hurt of sick will be less. It is good to be physically active with the body, but sometimes it can become too demanding. Checkups with a doctor, chiropractor, massage therapist are great ways to keep the body healthy and limber.

The world will always need contractors. Construction will always occur whether it’s on a new building or an old bridge.

If you’re interested in becoming a contractor, we can help you make that happen. We are a Florida contractor licensing company. We will gather all necessary information from you and do all the hard work for you. We will have you licensed fast with little-to-no hassle! To learn more, click our Florida Contractor’s License page or click here or call 239-777-1028 to contact us.

Self-Reporting Crime as a Contractor

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Did you know as a contractor yourself supposed to self-report any crime you did? Whether or not you knew this information, we want to make you aware of the rules when it comes to self -reporting so you will not get in trouble more than you have to.

As of now, if you are a contractor, you a required to report any crime you have been found guilty of or pled no contest to within 30 days. Any charge falls under this ruling, even if it has nothing to do with your job. It is regardless of adjudication.

If the Licensing Board finds that you, the licensed contractor, were charged during a time that you had a license, and you didn’t report it, the Board can do any number of things from mild penalties to more severe ones.

The Board can: issue a formal reprimand, restrict your practice, suspend or permanently revoke your license, fine you up to $5,000 per offense, place you on probation with the possibility of requiring you do to more exams, schooling hours and treatment (drugs, anger) if it correlates to your offense and charged crime.

If you self-report, you can avoid a Board review when submitting applications for your current license, including transferring your license to another company, changing to active status or qualifying an additional entity.

When you submit any application, a background check is done, and if the Board finds a crime you committed during the time you held your license and didn’t report it, it is most likely you will be called in before the board. It’s in your best interest to report.

If you have any questions about self-reporting or getting your Florida contractor’s license, let us help you. We are an experienced Florida contractor licensing company who has helped thousands of people get their license. For more information or to start today, view our Florida Contractor’s License page.

Intent with Wording for a Contractor

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Contractors, especially those running their own business, have to know a lot more than the basics of the trade. For this post, we wanted to discuss letters of intent. In the contracting world, contracts and deals happen all the time. Letters of intent are enforceable when they are properly written, but they must include essential terms of the agreement at hand including the price, payout, scope of work, duration of project, and a commitment to sign a contract for the work by a certain date. If this letter of intent says it’s not binding until a formal contract is signed, then in a court of law they will say no terms were agreed upon yet.

Think of a letter of intent as a halfway point between a verbal agreement and a formal contract. There is always the chance that letters of intent are unenforceable. If you’re worried about any issues arising, you’re better off skipping this step and creating a formal agreement right off the bat. With a formal contract, looked over by lawyers, there is no question about what is being promised and delivered for a deal or project. All the details are laid out and this contract binds both parties to the agreement.

When you’re a contractor, you also have to think about legal information, along with other rules, regulations and daily duties. If you have any concerns about legal issues or rules in the contracting industry, please feel free to reach out to us. We are a Florida contractor licensing company and we stay on top of all the latest news and rules that you need to know to practice legally.

Looking to become a Florida contractor? We can help get you licensed. We’ve helped thousands get their Florida Contractor’s license and we help them do it fast and efficiently. 95 percent our applicant’s license package makes it through on the first try. Let us help you get your career started. To learn more, get help on other contractor issues, or get your license, click our Florida Contractor’s License page.

Florida Contractor Licensing Company Celebrates 10 Years

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Happy Birthday to us! We are a Florida contractor licensing company and we’re celebrating a big anniversary. Our 10th anniversary! On April 2nd, our company has officially benn in business for 10 years helping Florida contractors get their Florida contractor’s license. We also help people get their contractor licenses in other states, as well.

Since 2007, it has been our mission and goal to deliver the best service in the industry to contractors. In fact, we have helped thousands of contractors successfully get their licenses. We have also helped contractors form their own and new businesses. The purpose of our contractor licensing company is to help people get licensed fast while making the process stress free and easy. We do all the heavy lifting. We are experts in putting together contractor license applications. We know the correct information to provide and everything the Licensing Board needs to know. We take pride in how painless, fast and efficient we make the process.

Our team members are experienced and knowledgeable in this field. In our business, we have be able to get 95 percent of the licensing packages approved for licensure the first time around with no deficiencies. We are also able to get people new businesses and LLCs within a few days.

Our team members are essential to our success. We are dedicated to helping out clients every step of the way. We have worked with electrical contractors, building contractors, and remodeling companies. We also have a well-rounded business background.

If it wasn’t for our clients, we would not have made it 10 years. So, thank you to all out-contractor clients who have made our business a success. Thank you for trusting us to help get your contractor license in Florida.
Not only do we love helping our clients get licensed, but we love being a wealth of information for them, as well. We share contractor news, tips, and legal information to help our clients succeed in their careers.

 

Let’s hope we have another 10 years of helping Florida contractors get licensed in the future. TO learn more, click our Florida Contractor’s License page.

 

 

How to Obtain a Registered Contractor License in Florida

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Whether you have been a Florida resident for years, or you just recently moved to the state and are looking to start a trade business or transfer your current certification to Florida, obtaining a Florida contractor license can be daunting when you aren’t sure of the proper steps to take towards receiving licensure.

 

Florida, unlike some other states, has a set of guidelines for both Certified Contractors and Registered Contractors. The guidelines and requirements for a certified contractor and a registered contractor are a little bit different from each other.

 

When it comes to becoming a Florida Registered Contractor, as previously stated, there are a few requirements that the state has before you are handed a license. Registered Contractors are required to meet local requirements for different counties and municipalities, along with obtaining a Local Competency Card and Occupational License. The competency card must be registered with Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

 

Most importantly, a Registered Contractor may only work in the county to which they have received their competency card. Certified Contractors can take work anywhere in the state.

 

  1. To be considered for a Registered Contractor license, you must have: Workers’ Compensation (or exempt forms), Liability, and Property Damage Insurance.
  2. You must also provide a credit report, proof of satisfaction of liens and any judgments, along with the ability to prove your financial stability, and proper net worth requirements set under Rule 61G4-15.005, FAC.

 

Obtaining a Registered Contractor License is a little easier than going through the Certified contractor process, as it has a few less requirements. Although, both types of licenses require many of the same steps.

 

Looking to get your Florida contractor’s license? We can help. We are a Florida contractor licensing company. We also help people get their Georgia contractor’s license, as well as other states.To get started on the contractor license process, click here or call 239-777-1028.

Certified Contractor License vs Registered Contractor License

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Which Option is Best For You and Your Business

 

If you are considering opening up your own Florida contracting business, it might be a bit hard to figure out which contractor license is best for you.

 

No matter what your trade is, whether you’re a carpenter, HVAC, electrician, etc., it is very important for you and your business to make the right choice when it comes to licensure.

 

It goes without saying that it is important that you have real and legitimate experience in your chosen field in which you are seeking licensure. And in the case of a Certified Contractor License, you must have legitimate proof that you have experience in the field to which you lay ownership.

Certified Contractor License

With a Certified Contractor License, you will have the ability to take work anywhere in the state of Florida without having to be registered at any specific municipality or county in which the work is to be performed.

 

The requirements are a bit more difficult, such as: you must have at least four years of experience in the field, and this experience needs to be proven and verified with the contractor you worked for. Also, at least one of the four years, you must have had a supervisor role.

 

You must also successfully complete the Florida Certified Contractor Examination. Both of these requirements are unique to the Florida Certified Contractor License.

Registered Contractor License

In contrast with the Certified Contractor License, a Registered Contractor License will only permit you to take and perform work in the county to which your Competency Card is registered.

 

You still have to obtain insurance and provide a credit report for both licenses.

Which License is Better?

It all comes down to your end goal. If you just want and have a small business, you will do fine with just a Registered Contractor License. You don’t have to jump through so many hoops to get this licensure, though you will have only a small area to seek out and perform work.

 

If you want a big booming conglomerate business, a Certified Contractor License is the better choice. This will help you spread your business across the entire state of Florida, and take work anywhere in the whole state.

 

All in all, what contractor license you decided to get is entirely your preference, and how much work you want to have available to you at any given time. Both options are great for different people and purposes.

 

If you are looking to get your Florida contractor’s license, certified or registered, and are looking to get into this industry, contact us today and let us help you. We are a Florida contractor licensing company. Click here or call 239-777-1028 to contact us.

How to Get a Florida Contractor’s License

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It goes without saying that getting a contractor license in Florida can be a headache.

This is good and bad for a few reasons but most importantly, it is good because it guarantees Florida citizens that the work they will receive will be top notch. On the other hand, contractors have to go through a strict, semi-complicated, and long process to achieve appropriate licensure within the state.

 

Florida has quite a few guidelines that aren’t followed in other states, but this just shows how important it is to take the proper necessary steps, and make the paperwork and effort you put in all the more perfect so you don’t waste your valuable time when you could be out getting work!

 

A Certified Contractor in Florida has the ability to contract work anywhere in the entire state of Florida. This is the better option for trade workers, as compared to Registered Contractors.

 

The guidelines and requirements for each license are a bit different, but here we will focus mainly on the requirements and guidelines to obtain a Certified Contractor License in the state of Florida.

 

  1. The person seeking a contractor license must have at least four years of experience in the field that they are seeking certification. At least one of the four years must be in a supervisor role. The four years of experience must be verified by a pre-existing Florida Certified Contractor, or a licensed engineer, building official, or architect.
  2. Applicants must successful complete the Florida Certified Contractor’s Examination.
  3. Candidates must have Worker’s Compensation (or exempt forms), Liability, and Property Damage Insurance.
  4. Applicants must also provide proof of satisfaction of liens and judgments, proper showing financial stability, a credit report, and a net worth requirement under Rule 61G4-15.005, FAC.

 

It sounds like a lot of work, but if you have the right people on your side helping you with the paperwork, it is a breeze to receive your Certified Contractor License in Florida. This contractor license will allow you to take work anywhere in the state, which will help you build your business, and open new doors for work opportunities.

 

If you need helping getting your Florida contractor’s license, let us help you. We have helped thousands of people in Florida get licensed. We are a Florida-based contracting company, but we also help people get licensed in other states, as well. Click here or call 239-777-1028 to get the process started today.

 

GEORGIA ANNUAL REGISTRATION SEASON IS OPEN

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Georgia’s annual registration season for 2017 is from January 1 to April 1 2017. If your annual registration and payment are not postmarked by April 1, you will be fined a $25 filing penalty fee.

This website allows you to file your annual registration without a username and password on the website The Express Annual Registration section allows you to make changes to your entity. The One Click Annual Registration section allows you to pay the annual registration quickly if there are no changes to the entity.

You can file your annual registration with or without making changes after logging into eCorp.sos.ga.gov Annual registration fees are: $50 for profit corporations, LLCs, and LPs; $30 for nonprofit corporations; and $25 for foreign LLPs. If the amount listed for your entity is larger than expected, then the total reflects amounts due from previous years and any late fees.

To keep your entity in “good standing” with the Office of Secretary of State, you should file your annual registration online with a credit card.  You can also file by mail and require a printed annual registration form and payment with a check, certified bank check or money order. Feels can be mailed with your completed annual registration form to: Office of Secretary of State, Annual Registration Filings, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., 313 West Tower, Atlanta, GA 30334.

A paper registration form can be printed from here https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov. All checks must be pre-printed with a complete address in order to be accepted. Cash is not accepted.

Any person authorized by the entity may sign and file an annual registration.

The Corporations Division of the Office of the Secretary of State created a how-to guide to help people through the annual registration process. The guide is here: http://sos.ga.gov/Corporations.

For more help, reach out to the Corporations Division of the Office of the Secretary of State  at corporationswebmail@sos.ga.gov, at 404-656-2817 or toll-free at 844-753-7825.

If you’re looking for help getting a Georgia Contractor’s License or a Florida Contractor’s Licenses, our team can help you with the process. Click here or call 239-777-1028 to contact us.