§ 6-313. Eligibility; licensure by examination.

A completed application package for examination must be filed at least two weeks prior to the appropriate regularly scheduled county competency board meeting for which the applicant seeks to be included on the agenda. The board shall review the application to determine the applicant's eligibility for examination. The examination shall cover knowledge of basic principles of contracting in the field for which the applicant is applying and basic principles for business and law.

To be eligible for certification by examination, the applicant must meet the following criteria, through information and documentation supplied with the application, prior to taking the exam.

(a)

The applicant shall provide a credit report from a department of business and professional regulation approved credit-reporting agency, demonstrating evidence of financial responsibility as required in Section 489.115(5), (6), Florida Statutes, and by Rules 61G4-15.005 (1) and (2) F.A.C.

(b)

The applicant shall have no outstanding judgments or have been convicted of a felony. This requirement may be waived by the board on a case-by-case basis with appropriate documentation.

(c)

The applicant must be at least 22 years of age and must meet the relevant experience requirements for the field in which he or she seeks to obtain a certification, as provided below. For the purposes of experience requirements, one year of experience shall be equivalent to a minimum of 2,000 person-hours.

An applicant must provide information substantiating that he or she meets the requirements relevant to the field for which a license is sought. In considering the experience information provided in the application, the board shall only consider experience directly relevant to the field for which a license is sought.

General, building, residential, and marine contractors general requirements:

At least one year of structurally related experience in four or more of the following areas: Site work, excavation, footings, piles and pile caps, laying concrete slabs/decks, masonry walls, trusses, wood framing, reinforcement bar, steel erection, column erection and formwork.

The experience requirements for specific license categories shall be:

General contractors: Four years of construction related experience with at least one year of structurally related experience in commercial construction of four or more stories, or possessing an active building contractor's license for at least the four previous years.

Building contractor: Four years of construction related experience with at least one year of structurally related experience in commercial, industrial, or multiple dwelling residential construction, or possessing an active residential contractor's license for at least the three previous years.

Residential contractor: Four years of construction related experience with at least one year of structurally related experience in residential construction.

Roofing contractor: Four years of construction related experience with one year of structurally related experience in roofing construction.

Commercial pool/spa contractor: Four years of construction related experience in swimming pool construction.

Residential pool/spa contractor: Three years of construction related experience in swimming pool construction.

Swimming pool/spa servicing contractor: One year of proven experience related to the scope of work of a swimming pool/spa servicing contractor and has satisfactorily completed 60 hours of instruction as per Rule 61G4-18.003 F.A.C.

Marine contractor: Four years of construction related experience with at least one year of structurally related experience in marine construction.

Specialty structure contractor: Four years of construction related experience in this trade.

Mechanical, Class A air conditioning, Class B air conditioning and sheet metal contractors in general:

(1)

Has received a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in the appropriate field of engineering, and has one year of proven experience in the mechanical field; or,

(2)

Has at least four years of active proven experience as a skilled workman in his trade; or

(3)

Has a combination of not less than two years of proven experience as a skilled workman and not less than two years of credits from any accredited institution level courses relative to the trade in which the applicant is to be tested.

Master plumbing with gas, underground utility and excavation contractors in general:

(1)

Has received a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in a related field, and has one year of proven experience in the relevant field;

(2)

Has at least four years of active proven experience as a workman who has learned his trade by serving an apprenticeship or as a skilled workman who is able to command the rate of a mechanic in his particular trade;

(3)

Has a combination of not less than three years of proven experience as a skilled workman and a diploma or certificate of completion from a bona fide trade school or accredited institution.

Sign (nonelectrical), moving, demolition, landscape structure, irrigation and lawn, exterior application and gas contractors: Two years of proven experience in the field of which they are applying.

Educational credit: For each of the above contractor fields, a Bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited institution shall be equal to three years' experience; a Bachelor's degree in a nonrelated field shall be equal to two years' experience; an Associate's degree in related field from an accredited institution shall be equal to one year of experience.

The following information and documents relative to the experience requirements are required in order to process an application. These documents and the requested information are board approved and cannot be substituted:

(1)

Past employment must be listed in chronological order, starting with most current employment, and must include a detailed job description.

(2)

An experience affidavit form confirming employment must be completed using an Okaloosa County Verification of Experience Form. An out-of-state experience affidavit must be supplemented by verification on the company letterhead of applicant's employer. Explanations must include a timeframe and a description of work duties and functions. A DD214 military form with supporting documentation may be used as proof of experience.

From the date of board approval, an applicant shall have one calendar year to have taken and scored a grade of at least 75 percent or above on the standard business and law exam and on an examination in the particular field for which the application is being made; to be prepared, proctored and graded by the approved testing agency. When the passing score is achieved the applicant shall proceed with application for state licensure. Upon receipt of a state license the applicant shall provide to the department of growth management, the state license, business tax receipt, proof of general liability insurance, worker's compensation exemption/insurance and a hold harmless agreement to obtain a certificate of competency. The department shall issue the certificate of competency when the above-mentioned documentation is provided and all fees are paid in full.

If an applicant fails to take the exam within the one calendar year after board approval, then the applicant will be required to reapply to the appropriate board for reapproval.

Applicants who have taken and failed the exam six months prior to the effective date of this article, will be allowed an additional six months after the effective date of this article to continue to take the exam without prior board approval.

(Ord. No. 07-32, § 2(Exh. A), 6-19-07; Ord. No. 17-11 , § 7, 6-6-17)