Are you trying to get a permit in your town? Don’t have a contractor’s license with the State of Florida? You may need a local competency card.

What’s a local competency card?

A local competency card shows that you’ve complied with a local government’s licensing requirements. These cards are also called certificates of competency. In most cases, you’ll need to pass an exam given by the city or county. The exams often consist of trade knowledge and business/law. They’re typically issued when the exam is passed and you’ve met the requirements of the issuer.

Do I still need a Florida Contractors License?

Yes. Florida requires most major construction trades to register with the DBPR. In fact, performing construction services without a state license may be illegal! However, some counties and towns may require competency cards of contractors who aren’t required to be licensed with the state.

Who requires a competency card?

Many cities and counties in Florida will require a competency card before pulling a permit. The major ones are Hillsborough, West Palm, and Orange counties. Many others will also require you to pass an exam and register with the state prior to pulling a permit.

What type of state license do I need?

The State of Florida has two main license types for most trades. The first is a certified license. You must pass the state exam and complete the certified contractor application to qualify. The second license type is a registered license. A registered license doesn’t require you to pass the state exam. However, you must pass the local exam of the city or county in which you’re trying to pull a permit.

What do I do first?

You’ll notice that most local applications require that you have a registered license with the state. You’ll also notice that the state application requires a competency card. So which do you do first? In most cases, you’ll want to take and pass the local exams first. However, your local competency card usually isn’t issued until you register with the DBPR. How do you get around this? You’ll need a letter from your city or county stating that you’ve met the requirements for your local competency card. Attach the letter to your application and it satisfies this requirement.

Want help getting your local competency card or registered contractor license?

Getting a state license or local competency card can by confusing. That’s why we created The License Company. We help contractors like yourself navigate the licensing process. Learn more about what we do by clicking here.

Learn more about car dealer licensing

Did you know one of the most popular license types are those needed by auto dealers?  That’s right!  Car dealer licensing is necessary in almost every state.  Generally, if you sell over a certain amount of vehicles in a year, you must get a license.  If not, you could be out of compliance with state law.  Learn more about our car dealer licensing services by following the steps below.

STEP 1: In what state(s) are you looking to be licensed?

Many of our customers need a license for only one state.  However, some need to be licensed in multiple states due to the location of their dealership.  The car dealer licensing process begins by determining in which state you want to be licensed.

STEP 2: Tell us more about your dealership.

This is where we gather more information about you and your dealership.  This step includes learning the name, location, and additional information about your business.  It’s important that we ensure your information is correct as any changes could require submitting your application a second time.  Name, address, and other changes may cause a delay in your license issuance.

STEP 3: Sign and submit your application.

You’ll need to sign your application once we collect the information needed for it.  This is one of the last steps before getting your license.  The state will review your application and either approve or deny it based on the information you provided.  Car dealer licensing applications typically aren’t denied unless you don’t meet the state’s requirements.

STEP 4: Receive your license!

You’ll quickly be notified once the state has processed and approved your application.  Your license will either be physically mailed to your address or be available for printing online.  Each state is different but we’ll be sure to let you know how to receive your license once approved.

Are you ready to get your car dealer license?  Complete our online car dealership licensing application to start the process today!

Travel Agent Licensing

Do you know that some states require travel agents to get a license before offering their services?  Do you know these states can also assess fines and fees for not having a license?  If your answer is no, you’re not alone.  Learn how we can help whether you’re a large agency looking for a license in all states or a new agent ready to sell travel on your own!  Follow the steps below and we’ll take care of the rest.

STEP 1: Tell us about your business.

Tell us in which states you plan to do business.  For example: States like Florida, California, Washington, and others all require a travel agency license.  Each state law is different but most require a license if you’re advertising to sell travel to that particular state.  This can be true even if your business or customers aren’t located in that state!  Are you advertising trips to Disney World?  If so, Florida requires that you obtain a seller of travel license.  Are you advertising trips to California?  Guess what?  They too require a license for your business!

STEP 2: Gather your information.

Tell us a little more information about your business.  This includes your address, mailing address, phone number and other information which is a requirement for your travel agent licensing application.  The states who require a travel agency license are very particular about this information being 100% accurate.

STEP 3: Sign the application.

Sign your applications and send them to the state department.  Different states have different departments which regulate the travel industry.  Each state requires a different application and most require your original signature.  These documents can be emailed directly to you for review and faster processing.

STEP 4: Get your license!

Travel agent licenses are issued once you meet the state’s requirements.  In some cases, a state may also require you to register your business with the secretary of state.  In others, all you need to do is complete an application. Don’t risk being fined for not having a license.  Let us help you get licensed faster and easier than on your own.  Contact us today and get your license now!

Learn more about contractor licensing

The License Company helps all types of contractors get their license!  We work with you, at your pace, to help make the contractor licensing process easy.  We’re here from start-to-finish to answer your questions about the licensing process, cost, and any others you may have.  Here’s how you can start today!

NOTE:  Please visit our License Research page if you would like more information about a license type and aren’t ready to apply at this time.

STEP 1: What type of contractor are you?

Tell us what type of contractor license you’re looking for.  Are you a general contractor, plumber, or a specialty trade?  This allows us to find the right application for your license.

STEP 2: Tell us about yourself.

Tell us a little information about yourself and your company.  Correct names, addresses, and additional information are all valuable to ensure the fastest turnaround time.  We work with you to gather the information required for your license type.

STEP 3: Sign the application.

It’s time to sign your application now that you’ve provided us with your information.  Most contractor licensing applications will require your original signature.  We can email you the pages needing your signature for a faster turnaround time.

STEP 4: Get your license!

The last step is to get your license!  The licensing authority can issue your license once you’ve met their requirements.  Licenses are often mailed directly to your address or printed electronically and emailed to you.

Ready to get started?  Click on the “Start Here” button below and let us help you get licensed faster!

Do you know that we can gather most of your information through our online license application?  It’s the easiest way to get started and lets us know what license type you need!

Note: Every license type is different.  Some licenses require additional information such as credit reports and photographs of your business.  The information above gives a basic example of the licensing process only.  For example: A contractor license application will be different than a car dealer application.  Applications also vary from state to state.