Tag: how to renew a contractor license

What is a Demolition Contractor?

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Thinking of a job in contracting? How about a career as a demolition contractor? As a demolition contractor, you can work on and be involved in the demolition of buildings, structures or sites, these could be residential or commercial. A demolition contractor removes parts of a building or structure from a property. In order to hold this position in the state of Florida, you need a specialty contractor’s license. The license is “Certified Building Demolition Specialty Contractor.”

Demolition uses hydraulic equipment (with cranes, wrecking balls, explosives, loaders) to demolish a building or structure. This field is very regulated because demolition contractors often work on structures that have been damaged by fire, weather, or have structure deficiencies. The healthy and safety standards are strong and high in this field.

The average salary for a demolition contractor is $46,474.

After passing Florida’s state certification exam, a person who wants a license as a certified contractor needs to complete the license application form. You must obtain the license within four years of receiving your exam score.

This license was added in the state of Florida so people could be licensed for work on steel tanks 50 feet or less in height, towers 50 feet or less in height, structures 50 feet or less in height.  In short, this license allows a person to demolish any residential or commercial structure under four stories. If the person needs to do work that requires demolishing a building that is more than four stories, you need a certified general contractor license.

Previously to this license being added in the state of Florida, a Division 1 License (CRC, CBC, or CGC) would have to have been acquired for the demolition to occur. In 2012, a bill was passed that amended the definition of contractor in the Florida Statues. The definition changed from demolishing only certain building to demolishing all buildings regardless of height or number of stories.

Get Your Florida Contractor’s License

Looking for a contracting job? Or a job in demolition? We can help you get your contractor’s license. We take pride in getting contractors their licenses fast and easy. To learn more and to get started, click here.

What is a Glass and Glazing Contractor?

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The world of contracting is vast. If you’re interested in working with your hands and jumping into the contractor world, there’s so many specialties to choose from. You are bound to find one you like! For this article, we wanted to focus on one contractor specialty: a glass and glazing contractor.

What does a glass and glazing contractor do exactly? According to the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board, a glass and glazing contractor is a specialty contractor whose services include (but are not limited to) installing, attaching, maintaining, repairing, altering, fabricating, and designing all types of windows, glass, and mirrors in residential and commercial buildings and areas. The windows, glass, and mirrors can be fixed or moveable (such as sliding glass doors).

In the state of Florida, a state certified license is not required to perform non-structural glass and glazing work, which includes the installation of glass and mirrors. If you plan on working with the installation of doors, windows, store-front frames, and structurally anchored things, a contractor’s license is required. Some counties will even require a specialize license specifically for glass and glazing work.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average yearly pay for a glass or glazing contractor is $42,090.

To be a glass or glazing contactor, a person must have a high school diploma or equivalent. Many glass and glazing contractors enter an apprenticeship program to learn the trade; some people learn trades in vocational school, and others just learn the trade under a licensed professional.

A glass and glazing contractor’s duties include things like cutting glass, installing skylights, display glasses, front-entry walls, installation and repair of windows on high-rise buildings, and basic window and door frame glass installation.

Apply for a Contractor’s License

Does a glass and glazing contractor job sound like the job for you? If so, you should think about getting your Florida glass and glazing contractor’s license. We can help make it happen for you. Our team specializes in helping people get their contractor licenses fast and with little stress as possible. We also can help you get your license in other states, as well. To start the license process today, contact us at 239-777-1028 or click here to learn more.

 

 

What is a Pollutant Storage Contractor?

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Contracting is a very lucrative career. A career in contracting has many specialties for a person to choose from. Through training and apprenticeships, a person generally can find their niche in such a large field. For this article, we will focus on a pollutant storage contractor. After reading the details of this occupation, you may have a better idea if this is the right type of contracting work for you.

To become a pollutant storage contractor in the state of Florida, a person must:

  • Be at least 18
  • Have four years of experience in the trade with at least one year of supervisory work
  • Have a four-year construction-related degreed from an accredited college and one year related experience.
  • One year as a foreman and not less than three years of credits from accredited college level courses.
  • One year as a workman, one year experience as a foreman, two years of credits from accredited college courses.
  • Two years as a workman, one year as a foreman, 1 year of any college level courses.
  • Three years of college credit can substitute experience.

Pollutant storage contractors install, maintain, alter, extend, and design pollutant storage tanks. Pollutant storage contractors has knowledge and expertise in pre-installation and site preparation, material handling, excavation, tank installation, leak detection, tank removal, piping, and many other topics within this field. The state of Florida requires 14 hours of board-approved continuing education every two years before the licenses renewal period for certified and registered contractors.

This job is very hands on and requires a lot of physical work. If you think you’d be up for the challenge, try out an apprenticeship with a pollutant storage installation contractor or take a class or two to help you decide. Once you are ready to get your Florida contractor’s license, let us help you. Contractor licensing applications can be tricky and complicated, so just give us all your information and we will do all the hard work for you. We help you get your license fast. To learn more about our services, click here or call 239-777-1028.

Maximum Workers’ Compensation Rate Goes into Effect January 1

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At Licenses Etc., we believe in sharing important information with our clients and others in the contracting community. Below, wanted to share an announcement from the Florida Department of Financial Services about Florida Workers’ Compensation.

 

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has decided that the statewide average weekly wage paid by employers subject to the Florida Reemployment Assistance Program Law to be $886.46 for the calendar quarters ending June 30, 2016.

 

Subsection 440.12(2), Florida Statutes (2016), expressly provides that, for injuries occurring on or after August 1, 1979, the weekly compensation rate shall be equal to 100 percent of the statewide average weekly wage, adjusted to the nearest dollar, and that the average weekly wage determined by the Department of Economic Opportunity for the four calendar quarters ending each June 30 shall be used in determining the maximum weekly compensation rate with respect to injuries occurring in the calendar year immediately following.

 

Accordingly, the maximum weekly compensation rate for work-related injuries and illnesses occurring on or after January 1, 2017 shall be $886.00.

 

If you have any questions about this rate information or worker’s compensation in general, contact us here at Licenses Etc. We are happy to help. If you’re looking to get your Florida contractor’s license, our team can make the license application process simple and fast. To contact us and get the process started, click here or 239-777-1028.

Zika is an Occupational Hazard

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Zika, the virus, is an occupational hazard. This virus received a lot of attention back in 2016. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika a public health emergency. This was a pretty big deal, considering it was only the fourth time in the organization’s existence that it declared this type of emergency.

Mosquitos with the Zika virus were found in Florida. As a contractor, a lot of jobs are outside; unfortunately, so are mosquitos. Since there is a risk of exposure to these virus-infected insects, contractors need to alert and protect their workers. First, employers need to informer their employees and contractors of the Zika threat, and offer suggestions and training so they can protect themselves. Such suggestions can include what appropriate clothing should be worn on the job; this clothing should cover legs, arms, and all exposed areas of the body. The employer should supply insect repellents to keep mosquitos at bay. If there is standing water at or near the job site, employers need to try and get rid of what they can. Mosquitos breed in still, standing water.

Even though the media has calmed down with their reporting on the virus, it is still out there, and people can still be infected. The level of concern for the virus should not go away until the virus is out of the United States or there is a vaccine or medication that can combat it. More than 100 people in Florida have contracted the virus, and that number will only go higher. Especially in the rainy season, mosquitos will always be more prevalent around people.

Zika gives people flu-like symptoms and it also may cause a birth defect that creates serious developmental problems in babies and even temporary paralysis in adults.

If you’re a contractor in Florida looking to renew or upgrade your license, or if you want to get your Florida contractor’s license for the first time around, call use today. We are a contractor licensing company that offers clients a fast and simple (and streamlined) license application process. Click here or call 239-777-1028 to learn more or start the process today.

What is the NASCLA Exam?

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If you’re a contractor, and want to be licensed in multiple states, we want to give you some on information on how to go about doing this. The NASCLA accredited examination (The National Association of State Contractor Licensing Agencies) hold the Commercial General Building Contractor exam in September 2009. The purpose of this exam is so a contractor does not have to take a trade exam every time he or she applies for a new license through a different state agency. This exam is considered very beneficial to contractors who want to be licensed across several states, because the regular trades exams can be redundant.

For the states that hold the NASCLA exam, it comes in two ways: administered or accepted. For those states that administer this exam, they will use it as their trade exam. Georgia is one of the starts, so if you want to apply for a contractor’s license in Georgia and take the trade exam, you thus have taken the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor exam. Because you have taken the NASCLA exam, you are now able to apply for another license in another state that accepts this exam. The state would then have the trade exam waived for you.

With states that accept this NASCLA exam, this means a person has taken the exam either through a proctored session or through a state that administers the NASCLA exam. Remember, the NASCLA exam only waives the trade portion of an exam, you’ll still be required to take the state’s business and law exam.

If you’re looking for more information on the NASCLA exam or you’re looking to take the exam or want to get your Florida contractor’s license, we are here to help. We are a contractor licensing company who is dedicated to getting contractors their licenses fast and easy. We do it all for you! Let us help you today! Contact our office at 239-777-1028 or click  .

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 Carpenter?

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Took a carpentry class in high school and got hooked? We don’t blame you. Carpentry is very rewarding. It requires a lot of skill and the projects you create are beautiful, practical masterpieces. After high school, carpentry is a legitimate career to pursue. There will always be a need for carpenters in the world we live in. Below, we will share some basics about the profession of carpentry.

 

Carpenters construct and repair building structures including stairways, partitions, bridge supports, door frames, that are made from wood and other materials. Carpenters also taken on jobs where they install kitchen cabinets, siding, and drywall.

 

In 2015, the median pay for a carpenter $42,090 per year and $20.24 per hour. In 2014, there were 945,400 carpentry jobs in the United States. It is projected that from 2014 to 2024 to be a 6 percent increase in carpentry jobs available which is average. New homes and remodeling will require carpentry to come in future years with a bigger population.

 

Carpentry is a job that is done both indoors and outdoors. Carpentry jobs are available in so many different construction zones, including jobs like building highways, building bridges, installing kitchen cabinets, etc. Work can be strenuous. Overall, carpenters have a higher rate of illnesses and injuries than the national average.

 

Most carpenters complete an apprenticeship before become a carpenter, while others learn on the job after they started out being just a helper.

 

If you’re still thinking about pursing a job in carpentry, that’s great. Each state varies, so you may want to check and see what is required for you to become a carpenter. If you’re looking about getting a Florida’s contractor’s license on your path, we can help. We make the contracting license process easy and streamlined. Less stress for you. To start the licensing applying process, contact us today. Call us at 239-777-1028 or click here.

How to Renew a Contractor License

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contractor license

Is it time to renew your Florida contractor license? Unsure of what to do? You’ve come to the right place. This post will simplify the steps and information you need to successfully renew your contractor license to keep your business going.

 

There are two parts of renewing a Florida contractor license: paying the renewal fee, and completing continuing education (CEU) courses. But before we talk about these parts, let’s talk about where to go to renew your license and how to do it.

 

Being a licensed contractor, you are most likely registered online with Florida’s Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR).  Click here for DBPR’s website. As a returning user, you can enter your login information. The DBPR’s online services allow you to: link you license with your profile, attach any necessary documents, check your application status, renew licenses, make payments, update an address, view CEU history, maintain license relationship, and work on incomplete submissions.

If you are not registered with the DBPR online or you need a new account, click here for a tutorial on how to create your account and how to link your license to the online account.

 

Once you’re logged in, here are the steps to renew:

  1. Click on the license that you like to renew from those listed on the right.
  2. Select “Renew” from the options shown.
  3. A disclaimer screen explaining CEU information will pop up. Read it, then select “Next.”
  4. A screen with your name, birthday and SSN will pop up. Select “Next.”
  5. A screen with your main address will pop up. If you need to change the address, click the “Main Address” button, and you can update it. If you’d like to add an additional address (license location, license mailing) or add a new phone number, click “Add.” Otherwise, click “Next.”
  6. A summary page will pop up to conform any changes. It will provide the information about to be saved into the system. Read this page. If it looks good, select “Next.” Otherwise, select “Previous” to go back and make any changes.
  7. Complete the Attest Statement by selecting “Yes,” followed by “Submit.”
  8. A payment screen will pop up showing the price of your renewal. Click “Pay Now” to complete the transaction or click “Submit Additional Applications” if you have more than one license that needs to be renewed.
    1. You can pay by credit card or electronic check. Once you have entered the proper information, select “Next.” Your card will be process and a confirmation number will be provided for you to save for your own records.

Parts of the License Renewal

 

Paying Renewal Fees – In 2016, the current two-year license renewal fee is $209 for both certified and registered contractors. A $5 unlicensed activity fee and $4 fee, that will go to the Department of Community Affairs to fund projects related to building construction or continuing education in the building construction industry in Florida, are added to this amount

 

CEU Requirement – Florida requires contractors to complete 14 hours of board-approved CEU hours for each two-year renewal cycle. A contractor must complete at least one hour about workplace safety, one hour on worker’s compensation, one hour on business practices, one hour on Florida laws and rules, two hours of false alarm prevention (for alarm contractors and electrical contractors who perform alarm work), and one hour on Florida Building Code advanced modules.  Seven course hours will come from the specific type of technical contracting work you do (electrical, construction, home inspector, mold). Any remaining hours are considered general credit.

 

There are many places where you can take CEU course. You can choose to take courses online or straight in the classroom. You can decide which course provider and their options best suit your needs based on your schedule, location, and learning preferences. Here are a few places that offer CEU courses for contractor licenses:

 

Gold Coast Schools: www.goldcoastschools.com
Red Vector: www.redvector.com

Need More Assistance with Your Florida Contractor License?

 

The above steps and information should be able to help you easily get through the contractor license renewal process. If you’re having any difficulty, our experts here can help you with the process. If you’re looking to apply for a license for the first time, we can help you get a better chance of approval. To schedule a free consultation or for help, contact us at 239-777-1028.