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LicenseReciprocity

Contractor License from Montana to Florida: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-09-01 · source: Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) ↗

A contractor license transfers from Montana to Florida by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), verify your Montana license, and meet Florida's endorsement requirements. FS 489.115(3) grants certification by endorsement to an applicant who holds a substantially-equivalent out-of-state license OR who passed a substantially-equivalent national/regional/state exam. Florida accepts the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building Examination in lieu of the CILB general/building trade exam, and the Electrical Contractors Licensing Board accepts the NASCLA electrical exam.

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

Florida does not have a trade agreement covering Montana for the selected trade, so this move runs on Florida's case-by-case endorsement process. If you do commercial general-building work, check whether Florida accepts the NASCLA exam — passing it once can replace the trade exam here and in about fourteen other states. Electricians should check Florida's NERA status.

What changes, Montana → Florida

Side-by-side: Montana vs Florida (Contractor (GC/electrical/plumbing/HVAC)), verified 2026-09-01
Montana (current)Florida (destination)
Application fee$190–$210 (The range covers the electrical reciprocity/endorsement pathway this row models. Montana State Electrical Board application fees, identical whether the applicant qualifies by substantial equivalency (reciprocity/endorsement) or by examination: Journeyman Electrician $190, Master Electrician $190, Electrical Contractor $210. A $50 temporary work permit for exam candidates is charged in addition to the application fee. Outside this range and not part of the electrical pathway: the DLI Construction Contractor Registration ($70, non-refundable, valid two years) is a workers'-comp registration for general contractors - not a trade licence and not a reciprocity route - as is the $125 Independent Contractor Exemption Certificate; testing-vendor exam fees and workers' compensation coverage are also separate. The Electrical Board's licence pages state that its fees are non-refundable; the DLI registration application states the same for the $70 fee.)Application/endorsement fee set by DBPR rule; no single verified transfer figure
Processing timeNot published.Not stated on retrievable pages
Licensing authorityMontana State Electrical Board (DLI Business Standards Division); Construction Contractor Registration (DLI Employment Relations Division)Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB)

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Florida sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

  1. Confirm Florida's current requirements on the Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
  4. Hold a current out-of-state license issued under criteria substantially equivalent to Florida's, or pass a substantially-equivalent exam (NASCLA accepted).
  5. Pass the Florida Business and Finance (law) examination.
  6. Meet CILB experience, financial-responsibility/credit, and insurance requirements (FS 489.111/489.115).
  7. Pay the fees (Application/endorsement fee set by DBPR rule; no single verified transfer figure) and allow Not stated on retrievable pages.

Official links

Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) ↗

Related guides

Reverse: Florida → MontanaContractor in MontanaContractor in FloridaAll contractor states

Frequently asked questions

Does Florida accept a Montana contractor license?

A contractor license transfers from Montana to Florida by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), verify your Montana license, and meet Florida's endorsement requirements. FS 489.115(3) grants certification by endorsement to an applicant who holds a substantially-equivalent out-of-state license OR who passed a substantially-equivalent national/regional/state exam. Florida accepts the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building Examination in lieu of the CILB general/building trade exam, and the Electrical Contractors Licensing Board accepts the NASCLA electrical exam.

What still applies even if reciprocity covers my trade?

Florida's business and law exam, financial statement, bond, and registration — reciprocity waives the trade exam only, not these.

What does the Montana-to-Florida move cost and how long does it take?

Application/endorsement fee set by DBPR rule; no single verified transfer figure; processing Not stated on retrievable pages.

Would the NASCLA exam help for this move?

If you do commercial general-building work, possibly — about 15 states accept the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building exam toward licensure. Check whether Florida is one on the Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) site.

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-09-01.

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-09-01

How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]