Exam fees: $255 by rule for a first attempt — $135 to the examination vendor (Professional Testing, Inc.) at scheduling, $80 administration for the test and $40 processing (Rule 61G4-12.009, F.A.C.). A retake is $135 + $80.
Always confirm the current amounts with the DBPR / Professional Testing / Pearson VUE before you pay — fees change.
The exam fee, broken down
Rule 61G4-12.009, F.A.C. splits the fee three ways: $135 to the examination development vendor, Professional Testing, Inc., at scheduling; $80 for each test administered; and $40 processing — $255 for Business & Finance on its own, or $335 when it is one of the tests on a first certification application. Pearson VUE, which delivers the test, raised its administration fee in January 2023, so confirm the current total when you schedule.
If you don't pass, a retake means paying the exam fees again — which is exactly why thorough practice (and fast open-book navigation) pays for itself.
The bigger licensing budget
The exam fee is small next to the full cost of getting licensed in Florida. Plan for several other line items, which vary by license type and county:
- Trade-knowledge exam — your trade exam (e.g. garage door, aluminum/screen enclosure, or the general/building/residential exam) has its own fees, separate from B&F.
- DBPR license application fee — paid to the state when you apply for the license itself.
- Background check / fingerprinting, credit report, and proof of financial responsibility.
- Insurance and bonding — general liability, workers' compensation, and any required surety bond.
- Reference books for the open-book exams (the Florida Contractor's Manual, Builder's Guide to Accounting, AIA documents, etc.).
The single best way to control cost is to pass on the first attempt. Every retake stacks exam fees on top of lost time. Here's the study plan that gets you there.
What our prep costs (and saves)
Full access here is $49 for 3 months or $89 lifetime — a fraction of one retake's fees and far below seminar pricing. You get all 120 practice questions, the study guide, the timed simulation, and the Open-Book Finder reference-speed drill. The first 5 questions are free.
Spend on passing, not retaking
Practice the real format, learn where every answer lives, and walk in once. 20 questions free, every answer explained — no account needed.