Florida Reciprocity Procedures

The State of Florida’s low voltage reciprocity agreement with the State of Georgia

NOTE: Power Learning Systems, Inc. does not provide any phone/email support or guidance for the State endorsement process. However, I have compiled a step by step guide that I hope will be of help to you if you decide to take on this project. The application process is time consuming and can be very frustrating. Frequently individuals have taken many months to get approved and spend many long hours trying to contact the States for information and still many times they improperly submit their application and it gets rejected and they have to start over again. If you don’t have the time or patients to invest in this project, please contact us and we can recommend to you a qualified company in your area that has the experience, knowledge and specializes in processing this type of application with much less stress on you. The “Best of Success” to you, Steve Dale

The steps to get Florida to endorse a Georgia Low Voltage License:

To obtain your Florida; Alarms I, Alarms II or Specialty Contractors (Limited Energy) electrical licenses by endorsement (based on the Georgia low voltage examination categories). You will need to mail the following to the State of Florida, Department of Business and Professional Regulation:

o Submit, the application for endorsement (Click Here for a copy) which begins on page 4, pages 1 – 3 are instructional and information pages. Completely fill out all the blank spaces on the entire application. If something on the application does not apply, place a N/A = “not applicable” in that blank space. A complete application contains the following three (3) forms:

            1. The DBPR ECLB 4453 – Initial Certification Application (page 1 or 6), The Transaction Type you should check is: “Certification by Endorsement” on page 1.
            2. The DBPR 0010 – Master Individual Application (page 1 of 3)
            3. The DBPR 0020 – Master Organization Application (page 1 of 1)

o Submit a letter from the Georgia electrical licensing board requesting verification of your license. It needs to include the following information:

1. Your State low voltage license number (license verification),

2. The date your low voltage license was issued,

3. The status of your licenses; current “active” and in “good standing,

4. It also must state that you received your license through testing/examination (cannot have been acquired from reciprocity or endorsement from another State).

Click Here for a proper Georgia State verification letter in a fillable .pdf format.

Click Here to read the related Florida Statute 489.511

o Submit a xerox copy of your Georgia low voltage license (card) that was issued to you.

o Submit a Business Entity Credit Report. The Credit Report must include a public records statement that records have been checked by County, State and Federal levels. You September use any credit reporting agencies as long as they meet the Florida Administrative Code Statute: 61G4-12.011(12); which states that the credit report must be from a nationally recognized credit agency (12) A “nationally recognized credit agency” shall mean a credit agency that: (a) Obtains credit information both within and outside the State of Florida; (b) Validates, updates, and maintains the accuracy of credit information obtained; and (c) Obtains credit reports from at least two (2) credit bureaus.

Click Here for the State listing of approved credit reporting agencies.

o Submit a “Certificate of Status” from the Florida Secretary of State for your corporation, partnership or fictitious name. If you have not registered your company with the Florida Department of State Division of Corporations you will need to do that first.

Click Here for a link to the “Business Registration” section of the Florida Division of Corporations.

Click Here for a link to order a “Certificate of Status” from the Florida Division of Corporations. Note: This service is not available for limited liability partnerships or general partnerships.

o Submit verification of officer/supervisor status. This letter needs to be notarized and be on company letterhead stating your name, your title and that you currently have officer/supervisory rights within the company.

           Click Here To read the related Florida Statute 489.522(1)(2)(a)(c) or 489.522(b)(1)(2); Qualifying agents; responsibilities.

o Submit a copy of your business comprehensive general liability insurance policy with coverage of at least one (1) million dollars. Comprehensive general liability insurance is insurance that a business owner has which covers personal injuries and property damage that the business owner or their employees cause to other persons. It does not protect property owned by the insured. The annual cost for this insurance runs between $500.00 – $1,500 depending on the coverage type and amount selected. To find insurance agents go to the yellow pages and look under; “insurance” or search on the web under “general liability insurance”.

o Submit a copy of your workers' compensation insurance policy. Workers' compensation coverage is required if you have four (4) or more employees, full-time or part-time. You September exempted corporate officers or members of a limited liability company and not count them as an employee, but you will need to request an exemption from your workers' compensation insurance provider for each individual. To be exempt the following requirements must be meet:

            1. The corporation must be registered with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations - 440.05 (11), Note: Out-of-state contractors that are corporations or limited liability companies can qualify as foreign corporations or foreign limited liability companies by filing specific forms and documentation with the Florida Division of Corporations. For more information regarding the foreign qualification requirements, call (850) 245-6051. The forms can be accessed at: www.sunbiz.org.

            2. The applicant must be listed as an officer of the corporation in the records of the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations - 440.02 (15) (b) (2),
            3. There is no limit to the number of corporate officers eligible for exemption,
            4. There is no application fee.

If you have under four (4) employees and don't want to carry workers' compensation. You September file form DBR ECLB 4458 as part of your application. Click Here for form DBR ECLB 4458. Then within 30 days of issuance of your State license you will need to file form DWC 250, Notice of Election to be exempt with the Department of Workers' Compensation. Click Here for form DWC 250. Note: Electrical contractors are considered "Non-Construction Industry" NOT "Construction Industry".

Click Here to search for workers’ compensation insurance companies.

Click Here to read the related Florida Statute 489.510 Evidence of workers' compensation coverage.

      o Submit a letter from your financial institution (bank, credit union, savings and loan etc. where you have your business account) verifying the following:

            1. The business/company has a current active bank account,
          2. You (the applicant) are an authorized signer on this bank account,
            3. The current balance in the bank account must be at least $10,000.00. Note: you can place these funds into your bank account then withdraw it after the letter has been produced. If you cannot produce or show the minimum $10,000.00 in your financial institution’s account then you September get a “irrevocable letter of credit” as a substitute.
          4. The letter must be notarized and written on the financial institution’s letterhead.

          Click Here to view a sample financial institution letter.

o Submit a “Statement of Bonding Limits”. This is page 5 of the application. Make sure your surety agent attaches an original power of attorney and uses a raised seal, no watermarks.

           Click Here for CNASurety bond application, a company that has good rates on and is familiar with providing the “Statement of Bonding” for Florida low voltage licensing . Note: Any bonding company can provide you the Statement of Bonding. To look up other bonding companies search under “Bonding Companies” on the web.

           Click Here for CNASurety web site.

o Submit a letter verifying financial responsibility. This letter needs to state your name, your title, the company name and that you are financially responsible for it.

           Click Here to view a sample letter stating financial responsibility.

o Submit a check or money order in the amount of $150.00 made payable to the Department of Business and Professional Regulations.

NOTE: If your company is a new business entity in the State of Florida, you will be required to pay an additional fee of $255.00. When you are filling out the state application on page 1,

o Mail the completed State endorsement application and all the necessary paperwork with the required fees to: The Department of Business and Professional Regulation, 1940 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783.

*Make copies of all documents and request signed verification of receipt of documents*

NOTE: Licensed Florida Alarms I, Alarms II or Specialty Contractors (Limited Energy) electrical licenses are required to complete at least fourteen (14) hours of approved continuing education every two (2) years for license renewal. Power Learning Systems provides continuing education to meet these requirements, please visit: www.4ezCredits.com