Frequently Asked Questions
About the DBPR Exam
The Business & Finance examination is required for all construction contractor categories in Florida. It tests your knowledge of business practices, contract management, project management, and financial management in construction.
Key exam facts:
- Format: Computer-based, multiple-choice
- Questions: 125 questions total (120 scored + 5 pilot)
- Time Limit: 6.5 hours
- Passing Score: 70% (84 out of 120 scored questions)
Yes, the DBPR Business & Finance exam is an open-book test. You are allowed to bring all six reference books into the testing center. This is why PrepBoss focuses on developing your lookup speed and book navigation skills.
Although it's open-book, the 6.5-hour time limit means you have only about 3 minutes per question. Without proper preparation and book familiarity, you won't be able to locate answers quickly enough to complete the exam successfully.
You may bring:
- All 6 approved reference books
- Basic calculator (non-programmable)
- Books can have tabs (highly recommended)
- Highlighting in books is allowed
Not allowed:
- No electronic devices (phones, smart watches, etc.)
- No loose papers or notes
- No writing in the books (except highlighting)
- No additional reference materials
All construction contractor categories in Florida are required to pass the Business & Finance examination. This includes:
General Categories:
- General Contractor
- Building Contractor
- Residential Contractor
Mechanical & HVAC:
- Air Conditioning "A"
- Air Conditioning "B"
- Mechanical Contractor
- Sheet Metal Contractor
- Gas Line Contractor
Marine & Specialty:
- Marine Specialty
- Marine Bulkhead
- Marine Dock Worker
- Marine Pile Driving
- Marine Seawall
Structural:
- Structural Aluminum/Screen
- Structural Carpentry
- Structural Masonry
- Structural Pre-Stress/Precast
- Structural Steel
- Specialty Structure
Pool & Water:
- Commercial Pool
- Residential Pool
- Service Pool
- Irrigation Contractor
Other Specialties:
- Roofing Contractor
- Plumbing Contractor
- Solar Contractor
- Rooftop Solar
- Glass & Glazing
- Garage Door
- Gypsum Contractor
- Plaster and Lath
- Pollutant Storage
- Underground Utility
- Window and Door
Note: Each contractor category also has its own trade-specific exam in addition to the Business & Finance exam. For book lists and study materials specific to your trade exam, visit our Toolkit section.
Yes — in many cases.
If you have a qualifying degree from a U.S. school, you may be eligible to skip the trade knowledge portion of the exam. You would only need to pass the Business & Finance exam.
Who qualifies?
- Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or Building Construction
- From a U.S. regionally accredited college or university
- With a minimum GPA of 3.0
You must still meet experience, credit, and background check requirements — but you can bypass the technical exam.
What if my degree is from another country?
You'll need to get a foreign credential evaluation from an approved provider (e.g., NCEES, WES, Josef Silny).
Your degree must be found equivalent to a U.S. degree in the same field, and meet the 3.0 GPA threshold.
Once verified, you may also be approved to skip the trade portion and just take the Business & Finance exam.
If you hold a NASCLA (National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies) accredited contractor license, you may be eligible for certain licensing pathways in Florida.
However, all contractor applicants, including NASCLA license holders, must still pass the Florida Business & Finance exam to obtain a Florida contractor license.
PrepBoss focuses exclusively on preparing you for the Florida Business & Finance portion, which is required for all license types regardless of your NASCLA status.
Florida Licensure by Endorsement: Business & Finance Exam Only
Florida offers a Licensure by Endorsement pathway for out-of-state contractors, allowing you to bypass the trade exams under specific conditions:
- Reciprocity Agreements: Florida has formal reciprocity agreements with certain states, including California, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Georgia. If you're licensed in one of these states, you may qualify for endorsement.
- 10-Year Licensure Rule: If you've held a valid contractor license in another state for at least 10 years, and it's currently active or was active within the past 2 years, you may be eligible for endorsement.
In both scenarios, you must:
Pass the Florida Business and Finance Exam: This exam assesses your knowledge of business practices and financial management as they relate to construction in Florida.
The following six books are required and allowed for use during the exam:
| Book | Key Content Areas Covered | Approximate Exam % Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Contractors Manual | Covers major portions of Content Areas A, B, C, E, and F | 50% |
| Builder's Guide to Accounting | Primarily D (Accounting Functions), with overlap into B (Administrative Duties) and F (Regulations & Tax Filings) | 32% |
| AIA A201 – General Conditions | Contract administration, project communication, legal responsibilities, and general conditions | 7% |
| Florida Statutes Chapter 455 | Licensing, disciplinary actions, and regulatory framework (Content Area F and part of B) | 5% |
| AIA A401 – Subcontractor Agreement | Covers C and F — contractor/subcontractor roles, liability, and coordination | 4% |
| AIA A701 – Instructions to Bidders | Covers F — bidding procedures, document handling, and procurement instructions | 2% |
Important Disclaimer: These percentages are approximate estimates based on general exam patterns and content analysis. Actual exam content distribution may vary. PrepBoss is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) or any official testing agency. These estimates are provided for study guidance purposes only and should not be considered as official exam specifications. Always refer to official DBPR materials for authoritative exam information.
About PrepBoss
Free Access:
- 10 static questions per book
- Book Selection Interface
- Basic progress tracking
- 1 Limited Exam
- No answer explanations
- No keywords & page references
- No learning objectives
- No save progress & resume later
Pro Access:
- All Dynamically Updating Questions per book
- Book Selection Interface
- Advanced progress tracking
- 4 Full Exams
- Answer explanations
- Keywords & page references
- Learning objectives
- Save progress & resume later
- Priority support
Practice Mode is designed to help you build book lookup speed and familiarity:
- Select a book to practice with
- Read the question carefully
- Use your physical book's index to find the relevant keyword
- Turn to the page and find the answer
- Select your answer and check if you're correct
- Pro users can see detailed explanations, keywords, and page references
This process trains you to quickly locate information in the reference books, which is the key skill tested in the actual exam.
PrepBoss Pro offers 4 full-length practice exams that simulate the real DBPR test:
- Each exam contains 125 questions (120 scored + 5 pilot)
- 6.5-hour time limit, just like the real exam
- Questions are weighted according to the actual exam distribution
- You can flag questions to review later
- Your progress is saved if you leave and return
- Results are stored in your dashboard for review
The exams are designed to provide the most realistic preparation experience possible.
Effective book tabbing is crucial for exam success. We recommend:
- Use different colored tabs for different sections
- Tab every chapter and major section
- Create tabs for frequently referenced topics
- Use the index to identify important keywords to tab
- Keep your tabbing system consistent across all books
For detailed instructions, download our free Book Tabbing Guide from the Toolkit section.
PrepBoss builds all practice questions and exams based precisely on the official DBPR Business & Finance Exam Content Outline. Our questions are carefully crafted to match the exact content areas and percentages specified by DBPR:
- 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 Government Regulations - 15%
This ensures you're practicing with the most relevant material for your actual exam. Every question is designed to test knowledge from the specific content areas that will appear on your actual exam, with the exact same percentage distribution.
You can view the official content outline here: Official DBPR Content Outline
Billing & Account
Upgrading to Pro is simple:
- Click the "Upgrade to Pro" button in the navigation menu or dashboard
- Select your payment method
- Complete the secure checkout process
- Your account will be instantly upgraded with Pro features
Pro access is a one-time payment, not a subscription, and gives you unlimited access to all PrepBoss features for exam preparation.
PrepBoss Pro offers two options:
- 6-Month Access: Full access for 6 months from purchase date
- Lifetime Access: Never expires - study at your own pace
Your Pro access includes:
- All question banks for all 6 books
- All 4 full-length practice exams
- Complete answer explanations and references
- Priority support (7 days/week, 24-hour response time)
- All future updates during your exam preparation
We designed PrepBoss with a simple pricing model to help you focus on studying without recurring charges.
Yes! If you have 6-month Pro access, you can upgrade to lifetime access for just $100 anytime before your 6-month period expires.
This upgrade gives you:
- Lifetime access that never expires
- All future updates included
- Peace of mind for exam retakes if needed
To upgrade, simply visit your Profile page and click the "Upgrade to Lifetime" button. The upgrade is instant and you'll keep all your current progress.
To reset your password:
- Go to the login page
- Click "Forgot Password"
- Enter your email address
- Check your email for password reset instructions
- Follow the link to create a new password
If you're already logged in, you can change your password from your Profile page.
We're here to help with any questions or issues you may have:
- Email: support@prepboss.com
- Contact form: Contact Us
- Response time: Within 24 hours, Monday-Friday
For urgent issues or technical problems, please include as much detail as possible, including your browser type and any error messages you receive.
Quick Tips
Book Tabbing
Properly tabbed books can save you 1-2 minutes per question. Download our free tabbing guide.
Time Management
Aim for 3 minutes per question. Skip difficult questions and return to them later if you have time.
Index Mastery
Familiarize yourself with each book's index. Most answers can be found through effective index use.
Practice Efficiency
Focus on the highest-weighted books first: FCM (50%) and BGA (32%).
Test Day Prep
Get our comprehensive exam day checklist to ensure you're fully prepared.
Exam Strategy
"This is a speed + lookup exam — not a memory test."
The DBPR exam tests your ability to quickly find information in the reference books, not your ability to memorize content.
Our recommended approach:
- Read the question carefully
- Identify the key terms/concepts
- Go to the most likely book's index
- Look up the relevant keyword
- Find the information on the referenced page
- Select your answer and move on
With practice, you'll develop pattern recognition that helps you know which book to check first for different types of questions.
Still Have Questions?
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