Transfer Your Contractor License to Florida: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)

Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) ↗

Florida has no blanket contractor reciprocity list, but the Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) evaluates out-of-state contractors for endorsement based on your license and experience. FS 489.115(3) grants certification by endorsement to an applicant who holds a substantially-equivalent out-of-state license OR who passed a substantially-equivalent national/regional/state exam. Florida accepts the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building Examination in lieu of the CILB general/building trade exam, and the Electrical Contractors Licensing Board accepts the NASCLA electrical exam. Application fee: Application/endorsement fee set by DBPR rule; no single verified transfer figure.

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

Florida works case-by-case rather than from a published partner list, so the Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB)'s judgment on your specific license and experience decides the outcome. Get any exam waiver or experience credit confirmed in writing before you rely on it — discretionary approvals are exactly the kind of thing that shifts between reviewers.

Florida offers certification by endorsement/reciprocity (FS 489.115) and accepts the NASCLA commercial and electrical exams, which waive only the TRADE exam - applicants still pass the Florida law exam and meet experience/financial requirements. The specific CILB reciprocal-agreement partner states (commonly reported as certain southeastern states) could NOT be verified from the live DBPR reciprocity page on 2026-07-21 and are deliberately not listed. No contractor compact exists.

Florida requirements at a glance

Out-of-state contractor license transfer requirements for Florida, verified 2026-07-21
Exam	FS 489.115(3) grants certification by endorsement to an applicant who holds a substantially-equivalent out-of-state license OR who passed a substantially-equivalent national/regional/state exam. Florida accepts the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building Examination in lieu of the CILB general/building trade exam, and the Electrical Contractors Licensing Board accepts the NASCLA electrical exam
Additional requirements	Hold a current out-of-state license issued under criteria substantially equivalent to Florida's, or pass a substantially-equivalent exam (NASCLA accepted) Pass the Florida Business and Finance (law) examination Meet CILB experience, financial-responsibility/credit, and insurance requirements (FS 489.111/489.115)
Fees	Application/endorsement fee set by DBPR rule; no single verified transfer figure
Processing time	Not stated on retrievable pages

Step by step

Confirm Florida's current requirements on the Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) website — rules change.
Submit the endorsement application to the Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB).
Arrange license verification from your current state.
Hold a current out-of-state license issued under criteria substantially equivalent to Florida's, or pass a substantially-equivalent exam (NASCLA accepted).
Pass the Florida Business and Finance (law) examination.
Meet CILB experience, financial-responsibility/credit, and insurance requirements (FS 489.111/489.115).
Pay the fees (Application/endorsement fee set by DBPR rule; no single verified transfer figure) and allow Not stated on retrievable pages.