Congratulations, April licensees!

Congratulations to the following Licenses, Etc. clients who were approved in April:

• Paulette Brown at Brown & Brown Residential Builders, Inc. of Punta Gorda, FL
• Arnulf Albrecht at Arnulf Albrecht General Contracting, Inc. of Naples, FL
• Robert Ricciardelli at Pelican Bay Contracting, Inc. of Naples, FL
• John David Lowe at Physical Security, LLC  of  Bessemer, AL
• David Williams at Eikon Builders LLC  of  Fort Myers, FL
• Jeff LeBon at LeBon Services LLC  of  Port Charlotte , FL
• Erique Matta at SPF Roofing Systems, Inc. of Pompano Beach, FL
• Matthew Jackson at T.V. Diversified, Inc. of Lake Worth, FL
• Randolph Carter at All Septic All Plumbing, Inc. of Cape Coral, FL
• Michael Cusick at Mike Cusick, LLC  of  Leesburg, FL
• Gary Huffman at Campus Crest Construction, Inc. DBA Florida Campus Crest Construction, Inc. Charlotte, NC
• Richard Copeland at Thor Construction, Inc. of Minneapolis, MN
• James Calvert at Advanced Service by James Calvert, L.L.C. of Venice, FL
• Shanze Lee at S Lee LLC  of  Lake Mary, FL
• James M. Burbach at Summit Building & Development, Inc. of Lake City, FL
• Perry Hodges at Highway Intelligent Traffic Solutions, Inc. of Lancaster, TX
• Blaise Daluise at Innovative Construction Design LLC  of  Sarasota, FL
• Jose Toledo at Melcon General Contractors, LLC  of  Long Island City, NY
• William Markulin at Modern Concepts HVAC, Inc. of Sarasota, FL           

Any questions? Call Lisa at 239.777.8321 for more information.

Our Experience with the New Experience

As everyone knows, the biggest part of an application for a new construction license is the experience section. What experience are they looking for? How much do they need? What do they consider valid experience?

For Division II Contractors, the basics are simple. In the minimum four years of experience that the board requires for licensure, if you have not gained experience in all areas of installation listed on the application then it will go for an automatic board review. They then will review your work history with you and decide whether or not you have the required experience to be able to receive a license.

Division I Contractor applications are a bit more complicated than that. They are looking for four years of experience working for a licensed contractor. To prove this, actual project details must be listed. Each project must meet four of the areas required by the statute. If the projects do not, you can list additional projects so that at least four areas are met for the requisite time frame. If there is any doubt in the reviewers mind, the applications are going straight to the board for further clarification.

College can take time off the amount of experience you need to submit. The board specifies that 1 year of college is equal to 30 earned credits at an accredited college. No matter how many credits you have, you will still need a minimum of 12 months of experience as a foreman.

The board also has provided the minimum amount of hours that 1 year of experience is supposed to be. Each year of experience is to be 2,000 hours of work under a licensed contractor. The intent is for W-2 employment. This way the individual is working legally under a contractor and is covered by all appropriate insurances. Many applicants going before the board are being asked to produce W-2s.

This is not a guarantee in any way that your application won’t go for board review. We are seeing more and more sent for review. They are really cracking down. We can help to avoid certain pitfalls that applicants are stepping into. Call us to discuss these details in depth. We are here to help.

Licenses, Etc. - A DBPR Approved Credit Reporting Agency

In Florida, to work as a State Certified Contractor the Department of Business & Professional Regulation’s Construction Industry Licensing Board requires all applicants need to provide credit reports personally and on the business entity they want to qualify. Both credit reports must indicate that local, state, and federal records have been searched and personal credit reports must contain a FICO derived credit score.

Licenses, Etc. is now on the Florida DBPR’s List of approved Credit Reporting Agencies!

Our credit reports include:

• FICO Score
• Statement that Public Records have been searched at the Local, State and Federal Levels

So whether you need just a report run or you need an entire application service, call the team at Licenses, Etc.

Credit Report FAQs

Why do I need a Credit Report to get a Contractor’s License?
Your Personal Credit Report enables the State to make a decision on your Financial Responsibility and lets them ensure that the contractor applying for the license is Financially Responsible.

Why do I need a Credit Report for a newly formed business?
They are checking for open liens, judgments and bankruptcies. The State requires that all companies must have a credit report included in the application. The fact that it is a new company does not negate the need to have a report run on that company.

Can I have I have any open bankruptcies, judgments or liens?
The company, applicant and any officer of the company cannot have any unpaid Liens, Judgments or non-discharged Bankruptcies. You will be required to show legal documentation of satisfaction or discharge as proof in order to have your application reviewed.

Congratulations, March licensees!

Congratulations to the following Licenses, Etc. clients who were approved in March:

• Anthony Onesti at US Electrical Construction Co, Inc. DBA US Construction Group of Woodstown, NJ
• Armando Quintero at Intellisite, Inc. of St. Pete Beach, FL
• Maynard Grover at Elektro Systems, LLC of Ocala, FL
• Clifford Byrd at Specialty Building Services, Inc. of Naples, FL
• Trevor Kutz at Progressive Power Group, Inc. of Rossmoor, CA
• Ryan Hughes at Ryan Hughes Design, Inc. of Palm Harbor, FL
• William Martell, III at Martell & Slattery Construction, LLC of Sarasota, FL
• David Jones at Jones Air Conditioning & Electric, Inc. DBA R-Value Insulation Contractors of Naples, FL
• Greg Walls at Fallsafe Solutions, LLC DBA Fallsafe Walls & Ceilings of Ft. Myers, FL
• Mary Ceavers at Lefta Construction, LLC of Miami , FL
• Louis LaMarca at LaMarca Construction Managment, Inc. of Pittsburgh, PA

Any questions? Call Lisa at 239.777.8321 for more information.

Congratulations, February licensees!

Congratulations to the following Licenses, Etc. clients who were approved in February:

• Adam Johnson at Air Jam Cooling & Heating, LLC at Port of St Lucie, FL
• Thomas DiTommaso at BBT Construction, Inc. of North Miami Beach, FL
• Arnulf Albrecht at Arnulf Albrecht General Contracting, Inc. DBA Pelican Bay Remodeling of Naples, FL
• David Arent  at Build, LLC of Naples, FL
• James D. Martin at HLM Environmental Remediation, Inc. of Rockledge, FL
• Todd Woodall at Todd Woodall Enterprises, LLC of Vero Beach, FL
• Marc Lerdon, Florida Design and Remodel, Inc. of Port St Lucie, FL
• Jeremy Earl at Signature Bridge, Inc. of Willougby, OH
• Rigoberto Rangel at State Plumbing, Inc. of Miami, FL
• Lawrence Campbell at Best Electric and Air, Inc. DBA Best Home Services of Bonita Springs, FL
• Leland Redfern at Redfern Real Estate Services, LLC of Fort Myers, FL
• Alejandro Vidal at Right Now Air Solutions, LLC of Miami, FL
• Barry W. Ahern at Barry's Cooling and Heating Services, LLC of Naples, FL

Any questions? Call Lisa at 239.777.8321 for more information.

Registered Vs. Certified

With all this talk about grandfathering of registered licenses, we have gotten calls from many registered license holders. One of the state’s stipulations to this application is that the applicant must have a valid county competency card. Unfortunately some of the individuals that we have spoken to have let their county license lapse thinking that keeping the state registration current was all that they were required to do. This is not the case.

To fully understand a registered license, let’s start with the actual definition as given in the Florida Statutes:

“Any contractor who has registered with the department pursuant to fulfilling the competency requirements in the jurisdiction for which the registration is issued. Registered contractors may contract only in such jurisdictions.”

In laymen’s terms, first, you get a county license and then, second, you just tell the state that it exists by registering it. The license actually resides in the county. Letting the county competency card expire is letting the license technically expire.

So remember, keep the county competency card current and keep your state registration current. To be legally licensed both of these needs to be kept up to date. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to call. We are always here to help you.

Congratulations, January licensees!

Congratulations to the following Licenses, Etc. clients who were approved in January:

• Andrew Waters at QJ, Inc. DBA Ace Air Conditioning of Lantana, FL
• Stephen Brillati at Brillati Carpentry, LLC of Macomb, MI
• John C. Gratton at Keys Contracting Services, Inc. of Marathon, FL
• Chester Forbes at Forbes Can Fix It, L.L.C. of Melbourne, FL
• Rollo C Page, II at Reel Construction Enterprises, L.L.C. of Santa Rosa Beach, FL
• Robert Hine at Morca Construction Services, Inc. of Marco Island, FL
• Jason Sain at Deangelis Diamond Healthcare Group, LLC of Naples, FL
• Nicolas Costabile at High Rock Builders, LLC of Boynton Beach, FL
• Shawn Beckman at Air Cool Inc of Naples, FL
• Adam Eckelbarge at Mader Southeast and EB Builders, Inc. of Edgewater, FL
• Kristopher Belligan at Sentry Metals, LLC of Nokomis, FL
• Dennis Kaiser at DK of Naples, Inc. of Naples, FL
• Garland Weis at Inlet Pools & Spas Corp. of Naples, FL
• Reid Kessel at Central Florida Site Development, Inc. of Orlando, FL
• Robert Bisbee at Advanced Technology Solutions Ocala, LLC of Ocala, FL
• Lance Jones at Clear View Security Group of Orange Park, FL
• Jorge Vaca-Ribera at JVR A/C Services, Inc. of Naples, FL
• James McCann at The Posh Plumber, Inc. of Naples, FL
• Richard Lowisz at Services 4 All Seasons, Inc. of Jacksonville, FL
• John El-Koury at All Tropical Construction, LLC of Islamorada, FL
• Kenneth Pence at Pence Plumbing, Inc. of Jupiter, FL

Any questions? Call Lisa at 239.777.8321 for more information.

Is Your Resolution to be Licensed?

We are already a month into 2013. This is the time when everyone starts to  realize that the resolutions made with all intention of following through, just aren’t getting accomplished. To achieve our goals, it takes action…

If your resolution was to be licensed, be in business for yourself or add a new level of service to your business, there are clear steps to take.

• Step one: Identify the license needed.

• Step two: If a test is necessary, sign up for an exam prep class and take the test. Resources can be found here.

• Step three:  Submit the application to the state.

Accomplishing your goals can be achieved. Don’t give up before you try. If you want to make it even easier, contact the team at Licenses, Etc. We can advise you on the license you are able to apply for, assist in starting the business and help the application portion go as smoothly as it possibly can. Don’t just wish, resolve and accomplish!

Self-Reporting of Criminal Offenses

As of October 1, 2009, the Florida Statutes require all license holders to self-report to the department. This must occur within 30 days of being convicted, found guilty of, or pleading nolo contendere or guilty to a crime of any kind, anywhere. 

The statute also requires the reporting of any convictions that occurred prior to October 1, 2009.  If you do not submit this information, you can be subject to fines, suspension or license revocation.  You must report any felony, misdemeanor or traffic offense that is not for parking, speeding, inspection, or traffic signal violations. This is true regardless of whether you were placed on probation, had adjudication withheld, were paroled, or pardoned.

It is important to ensure that you are not jeopardizing your license over something as small as a careless driving ticket or speeding in a manatee zone. To report this information, complete the criminal self-reporting document and mail it to the department. You can always call the Licenses, Etc. team as well for help!

Congratulations, December licensees!

Congratulations to the following Licenses, Etc. clients who were approved in December:

• Kevin Taras at Done-Rite Cooling & Heating, LLC of Naples, FL
• Scott Montgomery at Valley Tank Testing, L.L.C. of Apollo Beach, FL
• Scott Beck at Valley Tank Testing, L.L.C. of Apollo Beach, FL
• Robert Hine at Naples Building Group, LLC of Naples, FL
• Ruth Lofquist at Gator Construction Enterprises, Inc. of Auburndale, FL
• John Verhoff at The EcoPlumbers of Florida, LLC of Fort Myers, FL
• Jeffrey Eisenberger at Hayden Air, Inc. of Palm City, FL
• Francia Fernandez at Electro-Mechanic Industries, Inc. DBA Vermana of Orlando, FL
• Dale Kinsell at Barry Rutenberg & Associates, Inc. of Gainesville, FL
• Kevin Hart at KWH Construction, LLC of Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Lance Martin at Lance Martin Construction, LLC of Naples, FL
• Ricardo Lara Reza at Total Roofing Systems Specialist, Inc. of Martin, FL
• Carrera Padilla at Right Roofing, LLC of Oakland Park, FL
• Robert White at White Inspection Services, L.L.C. DBA White Construction of Winter Park, FL

Any questions? Call Lisa at 239.777.8321 for more information.

Congratulations, November licensees!

Congratulations to the following Licenses, Etc. clients who were approved in November: 

• Antonio Uzcategui at Beta Calum, LLC of Jacksonville, NC
• Jeff Lackner at Benchmark Alliance Group, LLC of Naples, FL
• Mike Ricklick at Americold, LLC and RCI Air Conditioning Company of Palmetto Bay, FL
• Charles Everett, Broward Dock and Seawall, Inc. of Pompano Beach, FL
• Maurice Sweet at Tier 1 Custom Builders, LLC of Miramar Beach, FL
• Celia Swink at Swink Consulting and Management, Inc. of West Palm Beach, FL
• Joseph Jack Polansky at JEST Consulting, L.L.C. of Davie, FL
• Brad Lee at Brad Lee Construction, LLC of Havana, FL
• Jason Cline at Cline Roofing Services, Inc. of St. Petersburg, FL
• Mark Raley at Revolution Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc. of St. Petersburg, FL
• Alan Wackes at Allied Bean Demolition, Inc. of Coconut Creek, FL
• Robert Miller at Highland Contractors, Inc. of Wellington, FL

FYI:  Since the rules changed, qualifying an additional business entity application is much easier.  You might want to reconsider that second business you always wanted to open. It’s a great time to do it!

Congratulations, October licensees!

Congratulations to the following Licenses, Etc. clients who were approved in October:

• William DeBella at Golden Pool Service, LLC of Naples, FL
• Josh Martin at Vermillion Toney, LLC dba ServPro of Cape Coral of Cape Coral, FL
• Thomas Cain at Aluminum FX Construction, Inc. of Plant City, FL
• Anthony Esposito at Dana Engineering, Construction, Consulting Co. of New Port Richy, FL
• Michael Suggs at Michael Suggs Enterprises, Inc. of St. Augustine, FL
• William Green at B. Green Builder, LLC of Naples, FL
• Rick Stephano at Campbell, Rosemurgy, Stephano Construction Services, LLC of Deerfield Beach, FL
• Daniel Zuloaga at Real Rock Company of Naples, FL
• Steven Pittman at Rifenburg Construction, Inc. of Troy, NY
• Brian Machin at Xtreme Home Builders DBA Eagle Fence Corp of Hialeah, FL
• Phillip Grannell at Grannell Enterprises Inc. of Englewood, FL
• Robert B. Krampen, Sr. at Brico Home Conditioning LLC of Fort Myers, FL
• Traci Brentano at Ceco Pipeline Services Company, Inc. of Houston , TX
• Reina Yvonne Longsworth at Longsworth Comfort Air, LLC of Lehigh Acres, FL

And remember if you would like to be set up on Social Media Networking sites, call Lisa at 239.777.8321 for more information.

It is Now MUCH EASIER to Qualify an Additional Business Entity!

The Qualifying an Additional Business Entity application has been streamlined and we are finding that it has helped a lot of individuals be able to realize their goals. The CILB no longer requires CPA prepared financials or letter of capitalization which means that they are not checking for positive equity any longer if it does not go to the board for review. They also do not require 3-months of bank statements, bank verification letter, a list of projects completed by each company, information about vendors or who can pull permits, or a signature from a “responsible party” of each company.

What they do still require is that you own at least 50% of each business independent of each other to have the application processed and approved at the DBPR.  Officially they have 30 days to do this review, but typically things are getting completed in 2 weeks or so. If the qualifier does not own at least 50% of each of the business entities, then the application will have a mandated review by the CILB.  This review will bump the approval process from the 2 weeks to about 3 months.  This is all because of scheduling for the board meeting.  The qualifier would need to attend the meeting and answer any and all questions posed by the board. 

Things to keep in mind:

• The qualifier must either be an equity owner of BOTH companies OR a W2 employee of BOTH companies, or a combination thereof.  If they are not, there is a VERY slim chance that they will approve the application, and it is not recommended to proceed.
• Ideally, the two business entities should be geographically convenient to each other, as the qualifier will need to be able to explain how they will be able to properly supervise the projects being undertaken by both companies.
• The board can ask any other questions that they deem relevant to this process.

In addition to this, they are still looking for open bankruptcies/liens/judgments, but now also look at CREDIT SCORES.  Any applicant with a credit score below 660 is required to get a financial stability bond.  For Division-1 licenses (CRC, CBC and CGC), the bond is $20,000. For Division-2 licenses (everything else), the bond is $10,000.  Bond amounts can be cut in half ($10,000 D-1, $5,000 D-2) by taking a 14-hour financial responsibility course.

We know this is a lot to take in… trust us… WE KNOW. No one likes change, but this could be just the change you have been looking for. The one thing that can be counted on, we are here to help you.

2012 Grandfathering Does Not Apply to Electrical Contractors

There appears to be some confusion over which registered licenses can now submit applications to become certified through the new Grandfathering statute. There were no changes to the Florida Statutes to allow for grandfathering of registered electrical contractors’ licenses. Only registered licensees under the purview of the Construction Industry Licensing Board can grandfather.

The DBPR has stated that some licensees have received letters from county building departments that they can grandfather their registered electrical contractor’s license. These letters are incorrect and there is no grandfathering for registered electrical contractors at this time.

If you are interested in becoming certified, we can help you file an application for the initial issuance of your Certified Electrical license. Or, if you do have a registered license governed by the CILB, you can find more information here:  http://licensesetc.blogspot.com/2012/09/registered-contractors-grandfathering.html

Glass & Glazing and Marine Contractor Test Goes Electronic

Effective November 1, 2012 Glass & Glazing and Marine Specialty Trade Knowledge exams will be offered in Computer Based Testing format (CBT). Business and Finance exams have always been computer based, but this is the first CILB Trade exam to go paperless. We think that this is the first of many that will go this route. No word yet alluding to when any others will follow suit.

If you have any questions regarding your Trade Knowledge, Contract Administration or Project Management registration, call the Bureau of Education and Testing customer service center at 407-264-0562. To schedule the computer based Business and Finance exam, you must wait 7-10 business days after submitting the form to sign up for the exams before calling 888-204-6230.

You can read more information on the state web site at
http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/servop/testing/faq.html. Or as always call us for further information or clarification.

Congratulations, September licensees!

Congratulations to the following Licenses, Etc. clients who were approved in September: 

• Theresa Cleary at Four Seas Enterprises, Inc. of Lake Park, FL
• Miralys Gonzalez at JMG Building Contractors, Inc. of Tampa, FL
• Gregg Tremblay of Naples, FL
• William Minnielli at Tampa Pavement Constructors, Inc. of Winter Park, FL
• Leslie Hope at Hydra Engineering & Construction, LLC of Crawfordville, FL
• James Petri at Friends of The Carpenter, LLC of Lehigh Acres, FL
• Thomas White Jr. at Tom White, Inc. DBA Tom White Painting and Restoration of St. Petersburg, FL
• Ben Judd at Tom White, Inc. DBA Tom White Painting and Restoration of St. Petersburg, FL
• Robert Ainslie at Cambi, Inc. of Jasper, AL
• Stewart Scott at Extensys, Inc. of Oldsmar, FL
• Bradford Keller at We Are Techknowledgey LLC of Bonita Springs, FL
• David Dunshee at Coastline Construction Services, Inc. of Hollywood, FL
• James Caldwell of Winter Park, FL

 And remember if you would like to be set up on Social Media Networking sites, call Lisa at 239.963.5369 for more information.

Registered Contractors Grandfathering Starts October 1st

We have some amazing news for anyone who holds a Registered Contractor’s license that is under the purview of the CILB. If you have held an active state-registered license for a minimum of 5 years, you can submit an application to receive an equivalent Certified License as of October 1, 2012. This means that you can then be licensed to do work in any county throughout Florida without having to get multiple county licenses! All you would need to do is register your one license in the county you wish to do business!

House Bill 897, which passed during the 2012 legislative session, was approved by Governor Rick Scott on May 4, 2012. This bill will re-open and extend the time period for contractors to request that their registered contractor’s license be grandfathered to a state wide certified contractor’s license. This grandfathering time period will take effect on October 1, 2012 and applications will be accepted until November 1, 2015.

The basics:

• Currently hold a valid state-registered construction license. (Specialty Licenses are not included in this grandfathering provision.)
• Have, for that category, passed a written examination that the board finds to be substantially similar to the examination required to be licensed as a certified contractor under this part.
• Have held an active state-registered license for a minimum of 5 years.
• Have not had your contractor's license revoked at any time, nor have had your license suspended or been assessed a fine in excess of $500 within the last 5 years.
• Hold the correct minimum insurances.
• Meet the minimum 660 credit score, or obtain a bond if you do not.
• Supply the application fee of $309.00.

This could be the perfect opportunity to expand your territory. Start getting those jobs that have always been just outside your reach…  Call the Team at Licenses, Etc. today to find out more. 

Congratulations, August licensees!

Congratulations to the following Licenses, Etc. clients who were approved in August:

• Jamin Poe at P3 Construction & Energy Solutions, LLC of Pensacola, FL
• Ricardo Escobar of Doral, FL
• Irvin Zelaya at CNI Concepts Enterprises, Inc. of Miami, FL
• Charles Pritt at Hoffman Plumbing & Air Conditioning, LLC of Tampa, FL
• Del Suppo, Jr at Tri State Pool Covers, LLC of Donora, PA
• Blake Madgett at Madgett Construction, LLC of Boynton Beach, FL
• David Moran at Dusckas Development Group, LLC of Estero, FL
• Christopher Smith at UCMS, LLC of Lakeway, TX
• Joseph Crites at RF Installations, LLC of Grand Prairie, TX
• Michael Meridith at Hubbard Construction Company at Winter Park, FL
• Walt Hogan at Posh Pools of Florida, Inc. of Palm Harbor, FL
• Shawn Callahan at Certified Roofing, LLC of Cocoa, FL
• Sandi R. Kuhlemann at B and J Roofing, Inc. of Atlanta, GA
• Arthur Powell, III at Powell's A/C Repair, Inc. of Tampa, FL

For information on Social Media Networking, call Lisa at 239.777.8321.

Renewal Deadline Extended Due to Tropical Storm Isaac

The DBPR has extended the deadline for renewal of certified contractors and both certified and registered electrical contractors whose licenses are set to expire August 31, 2012. The deadline for these license holders is now midnight September 14, 2012. The state provided an extension because of the impact of Tropical Storm Isaac across the state.

These licensees now have until midnight on September 14, 2012 to complete their continuing education requirements and renew their licenses without having to pay a late fee. Renewal extension FAQs are also available online.

As always, use the online renewal system at www.myfloridalicense.com for faster, more efficient service. Licensees who wish to fax their continuing education course completion certificates to the Bureau of Education and Testing to expedite renewal may use fax number 850.922.2316.

For more information call the gals who always keep you current with the latest information available. Or email us at support@licensesetc.com. 

Re-activation of Inactive Licenses

There is some good news for contractors with Inactive licenses! The number of continuing education credits that an inactive or delinquent inactive licensee must complete before they can reactivate their license has been reduced. Effective July 1, 2012, an inactive or delinquent inactive licensee will only need to complete the CEUs for the renewal period immediately prior to the reactivation.

 

This means that only one cycle needs to be fulfilled. You no longer have to complete every year that you missed. You will need to complete the continuing education requirements in place at the time of the last renewal for your profession. That includes 14 hours of board-approved continuing education that must include the following:

For CILB Licenses -

·         8 hours general credit

·         1 hour workers’ compensation

·         1 hour workplace safety

·         1 hour business practices

·         1 hour advanced building code

·         1 hour laws and rules

·         1 hour wind mitigation methodologies

For ECLB Licenses -

·         7 hours technical

·         1 hour workers’ compensation

·         1 hour workplace safety

·         1 hour business practices

·         2 hours false alarm prevention (for all certified and registered alarm contractors and certified electrical contractors who perform alarm work)

·         1-3 hours general credit

·         1 hour Florida Building Code advanced module course

What a great change from the previous way of doing things. If you have any questions, as always you can shoot us an email or give us a ring.