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How many continuing education hours does a Florida electrical contractor need?

If you hold a Florida electrical contractor certificate or registration, Florida Statutes 489.517 requires at least 11 classroom hours of continuing education (CE) each biennium. At least 7 of the hours must be technical subjects.

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The rule, fact by fact

Course hours
At least 11 classroom hours of continuing education each bienniumEach classroom hour must be at least 50 minutes.
Verified. Florida Statutes · Section 489.517 (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Valid for
Certificates and registrations renew bienniallyThe department sets the renewal procedure by rule.
Same source and date as above
Rule
Section 489.517, Florida StatutesThe section is titled “Renewal of certificate or registration; continuing education”.
Same source and date as above
Online accepted
The board may accept nonclassroom hours by rule, hour for hourWe haven’t confirmed whether the board has adopted such a rule, so plan on classroom hours.
Same source and date as above

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Check that this applies to you. The 11-hour rule is for each certificateholder or registrant licensed as an electrical contractor.

  2. Step 2. Pick courses that count. The board may by rule accept nonclassroom hours hour for hour. The board must also require, by rule, a specialized number of hours in specialized or advanced module courses on the Florida Building Code for your discipline. The Florida Building Commission must have approved those courses.

  3. Step 3. Take at least 11 classroom hours. Make at least 7 of them technical subjects, and add 1 hour each on workers’ compensation, workplace safety and business practices. If you do alarm system contracting, add 2 hours on false alarm prevention.

  4. Step 4. Send proof with your renewal. The department renews on receipt of the renewal application, the fee and proof of meeting all CE requirements.

Before you pay

Before you pay, ask whether the course is a classroom course, because the statute counts classroom hours. Ask whether the Florida Building Commission has approved its Florida Building Code module.

Questions

Who decides which courses and providers count?

The board does. The statute says the board shall by rule establish criteria for the approval of CE courses and providers.

Do specialty and alarm system contractors follow the same hours?

No. The statute sets a separate rule for them. A specialty contractor or an alarm system contractor needs at least 7 classroom hours of at least 50 minutes each during each biennium.

Does renewal require anything besides the hours?

Yes. By applying for renewal, each certificateholder or registrant certifies that he or she has continually maintained the required amounts of public liability and property damage insurance as specified by board rule.

What to do next

Start with Florida Statutes 489.517. This page follows its text. Read it before you pay for a course.

www.flsenate.gov

Sources we read