§ 22-523. Examinations.

(a)

All applicants for certificate of competency must successfully complete an examination prescribed by the board in order to show his degree of experience in the field for which he is seeking certification, his knowledge of all applicable local, state and federal laws, including but not limited to all applicable building codes, safety, health and lien laws of the county, state and federal governments, and his knowledge of rudimentary administrative principles of the contracting business for which application is being made.

(b)

Examinations for each classification covered by this article shall be held once each calendar quarter at a place, date and hour set by the examining agency.

(c)

Notice of the next regular examination shall be given in writing by the secretary to the board to all who make application to take the examination.

(d)

Examinations may be written or oral. If the applicant desires to take an oral instead of written examination, he should so state on his application, and further state those reasons supporting his request for oral examination provided that oral examinations only be given at the journeyman, master and contractor levels. The board retains the right, in its sole discretion, to deny a request for oral examination and require the applicant to take a written examination instead.

(e)

The secretary will notify each applicant in writing whether he has passed the examination and shall immediately certify the results of the examination to the board for its consideration.

(f)

Except as provided otherwise, herein, any person shall be entitled to take the examination for the purpose of determining whether he is qualified to engage in contracting in the unincorporated area of the county, if the person:

(1)

Is 18 years of age.

(2)

Is of good moral character.

(3)

Has received a baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year college in the appropriate field of engineering, architecture or building construction and has two years of proven experience in the category in which the person seeks to qualify. For the purpose of this requirement, a minimum of 2,000 man-hours shall be used in determining full-time equivalence; or

(4)

Has a total of at least four years of active experience as a skilled workman who is able to command the pay rate of a mechanic in his particular trade or as a foreman who is in charge of a group of workmen and usually is responsible to a superintendent or a contractor or his equivalent, provided, however, that at least one year of active experience shall be as a foreman; or

(5)

Has a combination of not less than one year of experience as a foreman and not less than three years of credits for any accredited college level courses in the applicable trade; has a combination of not less than one year of experience as a skilled workman, one year of experience as a foreman, and not less than two years of credits for any accredited college level courses in the applicable trade; or has a combination of not less than two years of experience as a skilled workman, one year of experience as a foreman, and not less than one year of credits for any college level courses in the applicable trade. For the number of years of credits for any accredited college level courses, the applicant shall show completion of an equal number of courses in the appropriate field of engineering, architecture or building construction. All junior college or community college level courses in the applicable trade shall be considered accredited college level courses.

(6)

All applicants for examination as a master shall provide evidence of a minimum of five years of practical experience in the trade certification of which a minimum of three years must be as a journeyman. The board may, in its sole discretion, consider a person's formal or vocational education as practical experience in the trade.

(7)

All applicants for examination as a journeyman shall provide evidence of a minimum of four years experience in the trade; provided, however, that the board may reduce such requirement to two years experience for individuals who show proof of two years of formal education in the applicable trade, satisfactory to the board. An individual who has completed four years of apprenticeship training in the trade and furnishes a certificate as proof of training are considered to have the required experience.

(8)

The board may refuse to certify an applicant for failure to satisfy the requirement of good moral character only if:

a.

There is a substantial connection between the lack of good moral character of the applicant and the professional responsibilities of a contractor holding a certificate of competency; and

b.

The findings by the board of lack of good moral character are supported by clear and convincing evidence.

c.

When an applicant is found to be unqualified for a certificate because of good moral character, the board shall furnish the applicant a statement containing the findings of the board, a complete record of the evidence.

(Code 1979, § 6-56(2); Ord. No. 96-10, 3-26-96; Ord. No. 98-38, § 2, 7-14-98; Ord. No. 01-14, § 6, 4-3-01; Ord. No. 08-48, § 3, 11-17-08)

State law reference

Examination of contractors, etc., F.S. §§ 489.131(6), 489.537(5).