Mechanical Contractor Info & F.A.Q.'s
The Best Tools for Passing Your Florida State Contractors Exam
- On-Line Learning Program
- Software Learning Program
- Classroom Learning Program
To view the answer to any of the
following FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS either click the question or scroll
down the page.
Contractors Classes
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What are the Formats of the Classroom, Online and Software Learning
Programs?
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What if I do not understand any
material or have any questions?
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What is the time
limit to complete the program?
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What
hardware and software is required?
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How will my program be updated and how do I gain access to new test
questions?
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Do you have a recent list of
referrals or any student testimonials?
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How long will it take to
receive my order?
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Do you have a Syllabus for
this Course?
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Should I save time by having my secretary, wife, etc., highlight my books
for me?
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What is Contractor Classes student
pass rate?
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Where can I find more
Information?
Florida State Contractor's
Exam
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Where
and when is the Florida Mechanical Contractors Exam offered?
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What is the Florida
Mechanical Contractors Exam like?
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If I fail to pass one section of the examination, do I have to retake all
parts?
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How often does the content on the State exam change and how often is your
material updated?
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How do
I register to take the Florida State
Mechanical Contractor Exam?
Florida Contractors License
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What are the residency requirements for a Florida State
Mechanical
Contractors License?
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What Contractor categories require state registration or certification??
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What is the difference between a "Certified" and "Registered"
Mechanical
Contractor license?
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What
scope of work may be performed under a
Mechanical Contractor's License?
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What are the requirements to obtain a State
Mechanical
Contractors License?
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How do I verify my experience?
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How do I activate my license after I pass
the test?
-Contractor Classes-
Classroom Learning Program Format:
Exam Review Lectures: Our instructors are seasoned professionals and
review the Contractor Exam each and every time it is given. Classes are in
the College Lecture type format with information presented utilizing
state-of-the-art computer graphics, animations and multimedia exhibits. This
course teaches the concepts currently being covered on the exam and explains
the problem solving techniques that you must master to do the math problems
on your test. These Presentations also pinpoint "Answer" passages to
Highlight and critical pages to Tab for quick location. Class size is
limited and students have the opportunity to ask questions after class.
Study Questions: Students are supplied with a printed workbook of
study questions which will be very similar to the questions they will see on
exam day. Included is an a answer key and explanation of correct answers.
Practice Exam: A simulated practice exam will be administered in
class which will be in the same content criteria as the State exam. The exam
will be reviewed by the instructor and the student may grade themselves and
evaluate their readiness.
Online or Software Learning Program
Format:
Exam Review Lectures: These are the same exact lectures that we offer in
a classroom environment but may be viewed on a computer. This allows you to
learn at your own pace and fast-forward, pause, stop, or replay any section
to ensure that you fully understand the required material. You are also not
burdened with the time & expense of travel costs but may learn in the
convenience of your own home or office and as your schedule permits.
This format proves to be the first choice of
the "Working Professional".
Study Question Software: This is our database of exam study
questions compiled into an interactive computer software learning tool. This
gives you instantaneous computer feedback on each question along with
detailed explanations and/or "Narrated Solution Presentation". These
explanations and accompanying Animated Presentations will ensure that you
learn how to work through each problem or find the answer to each and every
question. In the event that you do not fully understand any material, you
are encouraged to call us at your convenience, one of our instructors will
be happy to review or explain any items and tutor you personally on the
subject.
"Flash Card
Review" Software:
Time is of the
essence on exam day and our "Flash Card Review" software is designed to help
you develop and hone your search procedures to locate the correct answer
pages quickly and efficiently.
Practice Exam Software: You can test
yourself in the convenience of your own home with this acclaimed software. A
typical exam will be randomly-computer-generated using the same content
criteria that is used for the Florida State Contractors Exam. Answers
selected along with time spent on each question will automatically be
tracked for "Student Performance Assessment".
The assessment will list any questions answered
incorrectly along with a detailed explanation on how to derive the required
answers. This evaluation will also compare your “Average time spent per
question" against the "Maximum Exam Time Permitted" along with your
individual Score broken down by Exam Content Category. This information will
be displayed in easy to read graphs, allowing you to quickly pinpoint and
isolate any area of weakness for review.
You may test yourself as often as you like. A new
set of typical exam questions will be randomly-computer-generated each and
every time you launch an exam. This state-of-the-art "Practice Exam"
Software is an Invaluable Tool ensuring that our students are not
only Proficient in Each Area of the Required Exam Content but also
Up-To-Speed-To-Succeed, on exam day.
The information in our
course is presented in a manner, which makes it very easy to learn and
understand. However, in the event that you do not fully
understand any material, you are
welcome to call us at any time. Our staff will be happy to review or explain
any items and tutor you personally on the subject in question.
We support and allow
use of our "Learning Program" by the original purchasing student for
one installation and six months from time
of order.
A Pentium class
computer, Windows XP or Vista, and a sound card with speakers are the only hardware required.
Our program does not run on "Apple" systems. If you have any concerns, download our demos. If the demos run, then the full
versions will also run on your hardware. You will need internet access
free of any restrictions from a firewall to facilitate activation and installation of the
software and to participate in the On-Line program.
Our On-Line program
has direct access to our server and our installed Software
modules check for updates and new version releases automatically to ensure that the user is never studying outdated
information. The student may also, at any time, click their "New Test
Questions" link, which specifically lists and itemizes new questions
from the previous exams. Students should pay particular attention to these
"New Test Questions" since they generally show up repeatedly in the
following few test cycles.
Click the following
link for a listing of recent students who have offered to be references
for our "Learning Program".
We maintain one of the
largest investments of inventory on the shelf and ready to ship.
We process orders
daily and our standard UPS Ground delivery in Florida is generally "Next Day".
You may track your shipment from our web
site using the following link.
Click to Track Shipment
You may view a Syllabus by
clicking the following link.
If you were going to
highlight headings such as “Chapter 2” and “Glossary” or irrelevant and
outdated exam information, then there would be no value in the student doing
this task and it would be very appropriate to have someone else highlight
the “Exam Reference Books”.
In our “Learning
Program” we pinpoint critical answer passages and topics currently
emphasized on the exam. The student correspondingly reads these passages,
physically highlights these passages, and hears this information
read and explained to them.
This is an extremely
effective learning strategy combining “Visual, Tactile, and Auditory” styles
of learning. This ensures that the student will be able to quickly locate
and understand these answers as opposed to trying to find and read this
information for the very first time on exam day.
Our most recent
polling reports that 95.91% of our students passed their exams on the first
attempt.
You can find Articles and information at the link below
pertaining to:
The Construction Industry
Contractor Continuing Education
Future Industry Outlook
New Trends and Techniques
Exam Preparation
Studying Strategies
Test Taking Strategies
Testing Anxiety
Click here to View Articles of
Interest
-Florida State MECHANICAL Contractor's
Exam-
The exam is
given every even month
simultaneously in Tallahassee, Orlando,
and Miami.
Click this link
for FL State Reference:
Test
Dates
Business & Finance Exam
(All Contractor Classifications)
This is an
"Open Book Test" with 120 multiple choice questions which must be completed
in 6 ½ hours and with a minimum passing score of 70%. It is offered at over a thousand computer
testing centers across the country. Students may make an appointment
to take this exam at any location and date convenient for them. A key
advantage to our computer based Learning Program is that the student may
train and practice with this computer testing interface ensuring their familiarity,
confidence and success on exam day.
Business & Finance Exam Content
The content of this
examination is proportioned from the following content areas:
| A |
Establishing the Contracting Business |
11% |
| B |
Managing Administrative Duties |
26% |
| C |
Managing Trade operations |
10% |
| D |
Conducting Accounting Functions |
32% |
| E |
Managing Human Resources |
6% |
| F |
Complying with Federal Laws and
Regulations |
15% |
Business & Finance Exam Reference Books
The following Exam
Reference Books are required for this exam:
Florida Statutes
Chapter -455, 2007
AIA 201
AIA 401
AIA 701
Builders Guide to
Accounting
Contractors Manual
Code of Federal
Regulations (OSHA) 1903
Code of Federal
Regulations (OSHA) 1904
Code of Federal
Regulations (OSHA) 1910
Mechanical Contractor
Trade Knowledge Exam
The General Trade Knowledge portions of
the examinations is an open book test, administered in one session over one
day. (Wednesday) The session consists of 80 equally weighted multiple
choice questions, with a minimum passing score of 70%
Mechanical Exam Content
The
content of these examinations is proportioned from the following content
areas:
| A |
Pre-Installation and Design Engineering |
10% |
| B |
Ductwork and HVAC Materials |
10% |
| C |
Installation of Refrigeration and HVAC Systems |
12.5% |
| D |
Installation of Mechanical Systems |
15% |
| E |
installation of Refrigeration and HVAC Equipment and
Components |
10% |
| F |
Installation of Mechanical Equipment and Components |
15% |
| G |
Maintenance Analysis of Refrigeration and HVAC |
10% |
| H |
Maintenance service of Refrigeration
and HVAC |
5% |
| I |
Safety and Equipment |
10% |
| J |
Excavating |
2.5% |
Mechanical Exam Reference Books
The following Exam
Reference Books are required for this exam:
Air Conditioning and
Refrigeration Troubleshooting Handbook
Code of Federal Regulations (OSHA) 29 Part 1926
Contractors Manual
NFPA Installation of
Air Conditioning and Ventilating Systems
NFPA Installation of
Warm Air Heating and Air Conditioning Systems
NFPA Standard for
Exhaust Systems for Air Conveying of Vapors, Gases, Mists and Noncombustible
Particulate Solids
NFPA Standard for
Health Care Facilities
Pipefitter's Handbook
SMACNA Fibrous Glass
Duct Construction Standards
SMACNA HVAC Duct
Construction Standards, Metal and Flexible
SMACNA Energy Systems
Analysis and Management
TRANE Air
Conditioning Manual
TRANE Ductulator
TRANE Reciprocating
Refrigeration Manual
Energy Efficient
Building Construction in Florida
Florida Building Code
- Mechanical
Florida Building Code
- Chapter 13
Florida Building Code
- Fuel Gas
More information can also be found at the following links:
FL State Reference:
Required Exam Reference Books
FL State Reference:
Exam Candidate Brochure
FL State Reference:
Content: Mechanical Exam
No. You are only required to
retake sections which were not passed. However, a candidate must pass all
sections within two years.
The content of the Florida State Contractors
exam is in a continual state of change. Each and every examination has 20
new questions called “Pilot Questions”. The emphasis and content of the exam today is totally different
than it was six months ago.
If we were using the antiquated method of
publishing, printing and stocking workbooks for our students it would be
almost impossible to keep up with these changes, and we would also be very
reluctant to simply throw all this stock away as changes were made on the test.
This is one of the key reasons why we chose to
develop computer-based-training. The ease of Updating Software
is built into the dynamic nature of computer systems. This allows us to
effortlessly modify our content on a continual basis and keep abreast of
the State examination.
This guarantees the students using our "Learning
Program" the highest probability of success and saves them from studying a barrage of unrelated subjects and outdated material.
You may register On-Line at
"Professional Testing" by clicking this link:
Register for Exam
On-Line
-Florida MECHANICAL Contractors License-
You do not need to be
a resident of Florida and your experience does not have to be in the
State of Florida.
The following
categories require registration or certification: General; Building;
Residential; Sheet Metal; Roofing; Air-conditioning; Mechanical; Swimming
pool/spa; Plumbing; Electrical; Underground Utility and Excavation; Solar;
and Pollutant Storage. The following link describes the work which can be
preformed in these various licensure categories.
Licensure
Category Descriptions
A State
“Certified” license can be used throughout the State of Florida. A County
“Registered” license is issued by one specific County. Other Counties may, or
may-not, issue reciprocity and allow you to do business in their
jurisdiction. Since very similar requirements, testing, cost, and effort are needed
to obtain either type of license, we only recommend pursuing State
“Certified” licensure.
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A "mechanical contractor" means a contractor whose services are unlimited in the execution of contracts requiring the experience, knowledge, and skill to install, maintain, repair, fabricate, alter, extend, or design central air-conditioning, refrigeration, heating, and ventilating systems, including duct work in connection with a complete system. A "mechanical contractor" shall not perform any work shall not include any work such as liquefied petroleum gas fuel lines within buildings, potable water lines or connections, sanitary sewer lines, swimming pool piping and filters, or electrical power wiring.
For more information see Florida Statutes:
489.113
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Successful completion of the Florida
Certified Contractor's Examination.
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Four years of experience in the category
for which he or she seeks licensure, of which ONE YEAR must be supervisory
experience. (Categories are described in question above) You may also
substitute up to three years of college credit hours for experience and
these college credits are NOT required to be construction related.
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Proof of Workers' Compensation (or an exemption),
Liability, and Property Damage Insurance.
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A credit report along with proof of
satisfaction of liens and judgments (if any), and proper financial
stability.
More information can also be found at the following links:
-FL Statutes:
489.111
-FL Administrative Code:
Chapter 61G4
-FL Department of Business & Professional Regulation
FAQ's.
-FL
Construction Industry Licensing Board website.
For answers to any specific questions, you are encouraged to call the
"FL Construction Industry Licensing Board" at (850) 487-1395.
This is the office of authority.
In completing
your
Initial Issuance of Licensure Package
you must provide signed verification of your experience from a currently
licensed, Florida Certified Contractor in the category for which you are
applying, or in a category that allows him or her to perform or supervise
the work which you are applying. For example, if you are applying to become
a Mechanical Contractor, you can provide verification from another
licensed Florida Certified Residential, Building, General or Mechanical Contractor.
Your experience may also be verified by a Licensed Architect, Engineer
or
Building Official, from anywhere in the United States.
More information can also be found at the following link:
-Verification
of Experience
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After passing the exam
your scores are automatically forwarded to the
State of Florida. You will however,
need to submit a completed license application form to the "Department of
Business and Professional Regulation".
In our "Learning Program" we review specific criteria required so
you will know how to fill in
this application correctly. You may download this form
from the following link:
Initial Issuance of Licensure Package
A credit report must also be submitted with
your application and you may view a list of Credit
Reporting Agencies accepted by the Florida Construction Industry Board
from the following link:
Acceptable Credit Reporting Agencies
Most students who are not involved in
active projects
will elect to apply for and secure their license in an "Inactive" status.
Then they have it. Prior to starting a project utilizing their license or
applying for a permit, the contractor would purchase Liability Insurance and
Worker's Compensation Insurance and then apply to "Activate" their license
using the form at the following link:
Change of Status from Inactive to Active
More information can also be found at the following link:
-Hints
for change of status application.
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