Florida Solar Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) under the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) issues a dedicated Solar Contractor classification under Fla. Stat. §489.105(3)(j) and Fla. Admin. Code 61G4. Florida is one of the few states with a true standalone solar license. Solar contractors install solar photovoltaic, solar thermal water-heating, pool-heating, and solar-powered ventilation systems. Florida offers two paths: Certified (statewide scope) or Registered (limited to local jurisdictions where the applicant holds a competency card). The Certified path requires four years of experience, a passing score on the NASCLA Florida Solar Contractor exam, financial responsibility documentation, $100,000 / $25,000 / $200,000 minimum insurance, and a credit report.

Governing Authority

Under Florida Statutes Chapter 489 Part I; Fla. Admin. Code 61G4, Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) is the body that issues this license and enforces compliance with it. CILB licenses general, building, residential, and specialty contractors statewide and adopts the Florida Building Code by reference. The Solar Contractor classification is one of the certified specialty contractor categories.

Official portal: https://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/construction-industry/
Address: 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783
Phone: (850) 487-1395

Eligibility Requirements

At a minimum the applicant has to be 18 years old and supply a valid Social Security Number. No Florida residency requirement.

Good moral character

CILB conducts a fitness review and credit check on every applicant under Fla. Stat. §489.115.

Background investigation

Mandatory FDLE/FBI fingerprint background check via Live Scan.

Experience & Education Matrix

Plan to substantiate four years of proven experience in the solar trade, at least one of which must be as a foreman, supervisor, or contractor with hard records. Payroll, tax, project logs, and supervisor verification are what the board relies on when it reviews the claim.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

DBPR experience affidavits signed by licensed solar, electrical, or plumbing contractors
W-2s, 1099s, or certified payroll covering the qualifying period
Completion certificate from a registered solar apprenticeship

Education substitution

Up to three years of experience may be substituted with a four-year construction-related degree, or one year with an associate degree.

Examination Structure

The licensing examination is delivered by Professional Testing Inc. (under contract to DBPR). All of the following parts must be cleared prior to issuance:

Florida Solar Contractor Trade Knowledge — 80 questions, 390 minutes, passing score 70%
Florida Business and Finance — 120 questions, 390 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $80 per part.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be retaken individually. The exam application is valid for one year.

Insurance & Financial Security

The cited state source set does not require a contractor license surety bond for this credential. Contractors should still confirm project-specific bond, permit-bond, or public-works bond requirements before bidding.

General liability

Minimum public liability of $100,000 per occurrence (bodily injury) and $25,000 (property damage), with a $200,000 aggregate.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory for any construction business with one or more employees under Fla. Stat. §440.

Additional financial requirements

CILB requires a credit report with a FICO score of at least 660; lower scores require a $20,000 surety bond ($10,000 for a registered license).

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$249
Examination	$160
Initial license	$209
Renewal (every 2 years)	$209

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the Florida Certified or Registered Solar Contractor every 2 years. Renewal currently costs $209. Florida certified contractor licenses renew on August 31 of even-numbered years.

Continuing education: Fourteen hours of CILB-approved continuing education each two-year renewal cycle.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Florida Solar License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

Florida does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Georgia	Trade exam waived	Florida–Georgia reciprocity for active certified specialty contractors with five years in good standing.
Tennessee	Trade exam waived	Florida–Tennessee reciprocity.
North Carolina	Trade exam waived	Florida–North Carolina reciprocity.

CILB maintains limited reciprocity (verify directly with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) with several southeastern states for the Solar Contractor classification.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Solar license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Document four years of solar experience. Compile experience affidavits, W-2s, and apprenticeship records.
Pull a credit report. FICO 660+ required, otherwise post a surety bond.
Submit the DBPR application. File the Certified Solar Contractor application with the $249 fee.
Complete Live Scan fingerprinting. FDLE/FBI background check is mandatory.
Pass both exam parts at 70%. Trade Knowledge and Business and Finance, administered by Professional Testing.
File the certificate of insurance. $100K/$25K/$200K minimum public liability plus workers compensation.
Receive the Certified Solar Contractor license (CVC). DBPR issues the wallet card with the CVC prefix upon receipt of all post-exam documentation.

Pre-Submission Checklist

The items below are the ones worth confirming before the application is filed with CILB:

☐ Four years of documented solar experience
☐ Credit report with FICO 660+ (or surety bond)
☐ DBPR Certified Solar Contractor application with $249 fee
☐ Live Scan fingerprint clearance
☐ Pass Trade Knowledge and Business and Finance exams at 70%+
☐ $100K/$25K/$200K public liability insurance certificate
☐ Workers' compensation coverage

Study and Reference Materials

What follows are the regulator-cited and commonly used preparation references for this trade. They appear here for convenience only; CLR takes no compensation for them.

NEC Article 690 — Solar Photovoltaic Systems — NFPA. Primary technical reference. Open-book at the test center.
Florida Building Code — Energy Conservation — ICC. Required for solar thermal and PV.
CILB Solar Contractor Candidate Information Bulletin — Professional Testing Inc.. Free PDF outlining exam content.

Common Filing Mistakes

Based on the board's own instructions and the sources cited here, the problems below are what most often stall a Florida Solar application.

Skipping the credit check

A FICO below 660 forces the surety bond requirement and is the most common application delay.

Confusing Certified with Registered

A Registered license is only valid in jurisdictions where you have a competency card.

Letting workers compensation lapse

DBPR audits coverage at every renewal and any lapse is a citable offense.

Missing CE hours

Fourteen hours per cycle, including a one-hour Workers Compensation course and a one-hour Laws and Rules course.

Forgetting the solar thermal scope

The Solar Contractor license covers PV, solar thermal, and pool heating. A plumber is not required for solar hot water.

Other Florida Trade Licenses

If the Solar license is not the right fit, the following published Florida trade guides are also covered by CLR:

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Florida have a dedicated solar contractor license?

Yes. The Certified Solar Contractor (license prefix CVC) is a certified specialty contractor category under Fla. Stat. §489.105(3)(j) and authorizes statewide PV, solar thermal, pool heating, and solar ventilation work.

What is the difference between Certified and Registered?

A Certified license is valid statewide. A Registered license is only valid in the local jurisdictions where the contractor holds a competency card.

Is NABCEP certification required?

No. NABCEP is voluntary in Florida, though many incentive programs prefer it.

What insurance does CILB require?

$100,000 per occurrence bodily injury, $25,000 property damage, $200,000 aggregate, plus workers compensation for any business with one or more employees.

How often does the license renew?

Every two years on August 31 of even-numbered years. Fourteen hours of CILB-approved continuing education are required each cycle.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-05-10 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-08