Experience Requirements; Be Careful in Your Application

I worked at a school whose philosophy was, “It doesn’t matter if the student qualifies for their license or not; they can lie on their application like everyone else does.” This school also boasts an inflated passing rate, and their “professionally tabbed and highlighted books” are tabbed and highlighted by the receptionist and two boys. You can hire someone to process your application, but make sure they know what they are doing. You hire them, they falsify something, and you could end up paying a very dear price later on, down the road.

At this month’s Construction Industry Licensing Board Meeting for Additional Business Entities, the board was keen on asking folks who already have a license technical questions regarding experience. There were a couple of people who were caught off guard and stammered through their testimony. “How are you being paid?” has been a common question for a while now. They were not expecting technical, trade-related questions, so they left without approval.

If you don’t meet the qualifications for the license, there are other legal ways to gain your experience. Speak with someone EXPERIENCED with construction and electrical applications, who attends board meetings, and is willing to let you know the bad things that can happen, instead of glossing over the laws to catch a sale. We have too many contractors walking around Florida with licenses but no real experience in construction. As a homeowner as business owner, that scares the heck out me.

If you are applying to qualify an additional business and you are not on the square/on the level, you are not only jeopardizing your license, but you are also jeopardizing the livelihoods of everyone working for both companies. If one business gets in trouble because of the license holder, all businesses qualified by that license holder are in trouble.

Make sure that anything you put in you application can be backed up in the event of litigation or complaints. W2’s, stock certificates, operating agreements, etc… will be your best friend should a complaint be filed against your license or find yourself in court and didn’t realize that your application is public record.

Happy Contracting!

Robin