Florida Electrician Exam

Florida Has Multiple Electrical Exams — They're Not the Same Test

Florida's electrical exam landscape is split between state-level contractor exams and local competency exams, and they're administered by different testing vendors with different formats. Which exam you need depends on which credential you're pursuing.

The state exam (for Certified Electrical Contractor) goes through Pearson VUE. Local journeyman and master exams are administered by county CTQBs, often through vendors like Prov. Mixing them up leads to studying for the wrong test.

State Certified Contractor Exam (Pearson VUE)

The Certified Electrical Contractor (EC) exam is a two-part, open-book, computer-based test administered at Pearson VUE testing centers.

Part 1 — Technical/Safety: 100 scored questions, five-hour time limit. Covers the National Electrical Code, electrical theory, installation practices, and safety standards.

Part 2 — Business and Finance: 50 scored questions, 2.5-hour time limit. Covers business law, financial management, workers' compensation, lien law, and the Florida Building Code.

You need 75% on both sections to pass. Passed scores remain valid for exactly three years — if you don't complete your license application within that window, both parts expire and you start over.

To register, submit Form DBPR ECLB 8 ($263.25 application fee) to the ECLB. Once approved, you have 72 hours to schedule your exam session through Pearson VUE ($123.75 testing fee). Rescheduling or canceling requires at least two full calendar days' notice or you forfeit the exam fee.

If you need ADA accommodations, contact Pearson VUE's testing department directly before scheduling — not after.

Local Journeyman and Master Exams

Local competency exams are proctored by county boards, not by the state. Miami-Dade uses Prov as its testing vendor. Hillsborough and Palm Beach administer their own local exams. Formats vary, but most share these characteristics:

• Open-book format
• Focused on the National Electrical Code and local building code
• Timed (typically three to four hours)
• Minimum passing score of 70% to 75%, depending on the county

The journeyman exam covers general trade knowledge: wiring methods, circuit calculations, grounding, safety, and code compliance. The master exam adds advanced technical content and a business administration section.

Registration goes through your county CTQB, not through Pearson VUE. Fees vary by county and are typically lower than the state exam.

Common Mistakes

Studying for the wrong exam. The state contractor exam and local competency exams have different scopes. The state exam covers business and finance topics that don't appear on local journeyman tests. Local exams may emphasize county-specific code provisions that the state exam doesn't.

Letting scores expire. Your state exam scores are valid for three years. Between passing the exam and completing the full license application (insurance, financial statements, fingerprints, experience verification), the clock is running. Start gathering application documents before you test, not after.

Ignoring the schedule deadline. After ECLB approves your exam application, you have just 72 hours to schedule with Pearson VUE.

After the Exam

Passing the exam doesn't make you a licensed contractor. For the state EC license, the exam is step two of a five-step process that continues with business formation, insurance binding, financial documentation, and the license application (Form DBPR ECLB 1). For local cards, passing the exam leads to the county issuing your Certificate of Competency.

Our Florida Electrician License Guide maps the full sequence from exam eligibility through final license issuance, including the exact documents you'll need at each stage.

See more Florida guides →