FL General Contractor study guide
FL General Contractor · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Florida Certified General Contractor (CGC) credential is issued by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) through the Construction Industry Licensing Board. The DBPR describes its mission as licensing efficiently and regulating fairly, and it publishes a dedicated Certified General Contractor page and an Exam Information page within its Construction Industry Licensing Board section. The FL General Contractor study guide has 9 sections and about 4,245 words.
01Business and Financial Management
Business and Financial Management tests the money and licensing side of contracting: business organization and qualifying-agent rules under Chapter 489, Part I, Florida Statutes, financial responsibility, insurance, job costing, pricing, cash flow, pay applications, and retainage. Expect calculation items as well as statutory recall.
488 words, about 2 min02Contract Administration and Project Management
Contract Administration and Project Management covers the documents and deadlines that decide who gets paid and who bears risk: contract formation, changes, submittals, schedule, closeout, and above all the Florida Construction Lien Law (Chapter 713) and the construction-defect notice statute (Chapter 558). This is the highest-yield deadline domain on the exam.
521 words, about 3 min03Structures and Structural Systems
Structures and Structural Systems tests whether you can follow load from roof to foundation and apply the Florida Building Code and ASCE 7 load provisions. In Florida, wind uplift and flood elevation govern far more designs than seismic, but the exam still expects correct load combinations and lateral-system vocabulary.
454 words, about 2 min04Site Work, Excavation, and Foundations
Site Work, Excavation, and Foundations covers what happens before and below the slab: layout, clearing, grading, excavation safety, stormwater controls, soil bearing, and footing design. Florida conditions - high water table, sandy soils, and flat terrain - shape nearly every answer.
517 words, about 3 min05Concrete, Masonry, and Metals
Concrete, Masonry, and Metals covers the three structural material trades and the inspection and testing that prove compliance: FBC Chapters 19, 21, and 22, ACI 318 for concrete, TMS 402/602 for masonry, and AISC 360 with AWS D1.1 for steel. FBC Chapter 17 special inspections tie them together.
441 words, about 2 min06Carpentry, Roofing, and Finishes
Carpentry, Roofing, and Finishes tests the assemblies that close the building: wood framing under FBC Chapter 23 and the NDS, roof coverings under Chapter 15, and interior and exterior finishes under Chapters 25 and 14. Florida emphasis falls on fastening, roof slope, and water management at the roof plane.
462 words, about 2 min07Building Envelope, Moisture Protection, and Thermal Systems
Building Envelope, Moisture Protection, and Thermal Systems tests the building skin and the Florida Energy Code: water management, air and vapor control, insulation, fenestration, and the flashing details that fail first in service. FBC Chapters 13 and 14, plus manufacturer product approval, supply the rules.
422 words, about 2 min08Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Coordination
Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Coordination tests how the systems trades are installed, tested, and made to fit inside the structure. Rules come from FBC Chapters 27 through 29 (electrical, mechanical, plumbing) plus the Florida Mechanical and Plumbing Codes and NFPA 70.
443 words, about 2 min09Safety, Codes, and Florida Regulatory Requirements
Safety, Codes, and Florida Regulatory Requirements is the regulatory layer that overlays every trade: OSHA jobsite rules, the Florida Building Code system and its product approvals, threshold building inspection, and the state statutes a licensed contractor must know (Chapters 440, 489, 553, 558, and 713). Fall protection is triggered at 6 feet in construction; guardrails run 42 inches plus or minus 3 inches with a midrail.
497 words, about 2 min