Florida Electrician License: Requirements, Cost & Timeline
Florida requires a state license for this trade. Here is every step, fee and hour it takes — and what it pays once you are licensed.
Do you need a license?
Yes. The credential is the Certified Electrical Contractor (EC), issued by the Florida DBPR — Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board (ECLB). Working without it is a violation in Florida and can carry fines or a stop-work order, so the sequence below matters: training first, then the exam, then the application.
Steps to get licensed
- Meet one of the experience thresholds: 3 years of management experience within the last 6 years, 4 years as a foreman, supervisor or contractor within the last 8 years, or 6 years of combined training and technical experience.
- Submit the Certified Electrical Contractor examination application (ECLB 8) with the $263.25 fee, which includes the $67.25 state examination fee.
- Pass both parts of the Pearson VUE computer-based exam — Business (50 questions / 2.5 hours) and Technical-Safety (100 questions / 5 hours) — scoring at least 75% on each.
- Pay the $123.75 CBT exam administration fee to the test vendor, then schedule the exam.
- File the initial license application (ECLB 1, $296) with fingerprints, a credit report, liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage, and await Board review.
- Renew every two years; the license expires August 31 of even-numbered years.
What it costs
The figures below are what the state charges. Training is separate and quotes vary by provider — a community-college programme and a private trade school can differ by thousands for the same licence.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $263 |
| Exam fee | $124 |
| License / certification fee | $296 |
| Renewal fee | $296 |
| Total state fees | $683 |
Full cost breakdown for Florida →
Keeping it valid
The licence renews every 2 years and the renewal fee is $296. Available through the ECLB 2 endorsement application (an equivalent license from another state, $492 endorsement application fee), subject to Board review; a separate 10-year experience endorsement (ECLB 14) also exists.
What it pays in Florida
Median annual wage for Electrician in Florida: $52,380 ($25.18/hour), across 46,690 jobs. That is the midpoint — half of people in this trade earn more, half less.
Pay detail for Florida, and how it compares →
Other states
| State | State fees | Time | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $175 | 46.2 mo | $84,330 |
| Texas | $30 | 46.2 mo | $56,350 |
Common questions
Do you need a license to be a Electrician in Florida?
Certified Electrical Contractor (EC). Yes — issued by the Florida DBPR — Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board (ECLB).
How much does a Electrician license cost in Florida?
$683 in state fees. Exam retakes cost extra.
How long does it take to get a Electrician license in Florida?
The board does not publish a fixed hour requirement.
What does a Electrician make in Florida?
The median is $52,380 a year ($25.18 an hour) statewide, per BLS OEWS May 2024.
Sources
- https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/electrical-contractors/“The Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board is responsible for licensing and regulating electrical contractors.”
- https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/electrical-contractors/faqs/“Certified Examination Application – $263.25”
- https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/electrical-contractors/faqs/“Certified Computer Based Exam – $123.75 (Paid to vendor after approval)”
- https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/electrical-contractors/faqs/“Initial Certified License (active) – $296.00”
- https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/electrical-contractors/faqs/“Must have four (4) years of experience as a foreman, supervisor or contractor in the trade within the last eight (8) years”
- https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/servop/testing/documents/eleccib.pdf“The minimum percentage score needed to pass the Business section as well as the Technical/Safety section is 75 percent.”
- https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/electrical-contractors/“Licenses expire August 31st every even year.”
- https://www.flrules.org/gateway/readFile.asp?sid=0&tid=26178862&type=1&file=61G6-8.001.doc“The following fees are prescribed by the Board: (1) The application fee for the certification examination for electrical or alarm systems contractor shall be one hundred ninety-six dollars ($196.00).”