To be an electrician in Florida an individual must posses a license granted by Florida’s Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board that is a part of the state’s Department of Business Professional Regulation.
Once the proper license is Yours, people and businesses can use Your services to perform the necessary electrical work in Florida.
Check Electrician Schools in Florida, FL
Electrician Training in Florida, FL
License Types in Florida
Depending on Your skill set, You can apply for a wide range of Florida’s electrician licenses, such as:
- Certified Electricial Contractor (EC) – allows to perform almost all types of electrical work
- Registered Electrical Contractor (ER)
- Certified Alarm System Contractor I (EF)
- Registered Alarm Contractor I (EY)
- Certified Alarm Contractor II (EG)
- Registered Alarm Contractor II (EZ)
- Certified Electrical Specialty Contractor (ES)
- Registered Electrical Specialty Contractor (ET)
Take into account that there are 2 types of focuments You can obtain in the state of Florida for each of the above stated classifications. You can be (A) certified or (B) registered in Florida. Only the certified type provides a legal base to perform electrical work anywhere in Florida. Being simply a registered electrician will only allow You to do work in the geographic area for which You were approved.
Required Electrical Experience
The Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board for the state of Florida requires at least one of the following criteria to fulfill before the license can be issued:
- 3 years of management experience in the electrical trade within the last 6 years immediately preceding the filing of the application
- 4 years of experience as a foreman, supervisor or contractor in the electrical trade within the last 8 years immediately preceding the filing of the application
- Be licensed as an electrical professional engineer for 3 years within the last 12 years
- 6 years of comprehensive training, technical education or broad experience associated with an electrical contracting business within the last 12 years immediately preceding the filing of the application
- 6 years of technical experience in electrical work with the U.S. Armed Forces or a governmental entity within the last 12 years immediately preceding the filing of the application
- Have a combination of any of these electrician qualifications totaling 6 years of experience
Florida Reciprocity
The state of Florida does not provide a great path to being granted an electrician license based on Your former work in other US states. They do recognize few
licenses
from California, North Carolina and Georgia.Nevertheless, there may be others but You have to prove that the standards in the other state are very similar to Florida’s ones. The Florida Board will make that determination so be sure to provide as much documentation as possible in order to make Your best case for reciprocity.
Regardless, in case You are being endorsed You need to provide proof of employment including any W2 forms. If you were self-employed You will be required to get three notarized letters vouching for Your electrical work. Endorsement applications can take a long time to be completed so be patient while Florida Board processes Your application.
Your exam result in another state may also be accepted but You have to check with the state as nothing is guaranteed. Usually they are helpful so do not stress, instead work with them as You go through the formal steps for beginning Your career path.
License Fees
Florida imposes high fees for going through the process to become a licensed electrician in the state. The application fee is in amount of $327.50 and the actual licensing fee is $300. Bear in mind, You’ll need to renew the license every 2 years for additional fee of $300.
View Florida’s applications for becoming a licensed electrician
Taking the Exam
Pearson VUE handles the electrical exam for the state of Florida. You will have to pay Pearson directly ~$70 for the exam administration. Candidate must score at least 75% to pass the examination, which is based on the National Electrical Code (NEC) and is made up of 2 parts. Both sections, likewise in other states, are open book. First one is a business section with 50 questions and the second one is a technical section with 100 questions.
Best Cities in Florida for Electrical Work
If you are preparing for an electrician career in the state of Florida, You should know which state areas will offer You the most work. The population centers and highest overall electricity consumption are in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville and Orlando. But, of course, there are several other cities which require lots of electrical work. Since FL continues to experience strong population growth, the job market should prove to be steady for electricians. Best of luck being an electrician in Florida!
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