Underground Utility Contractor License Exam Prep

License Scope

An "underground utility and excavation contractor" means a contractor whose services are limited to the construction, installation, and repair of:

• main sanitary sewer collection systems;
• main water distribution systems;
• storm sewer collection systems;
• the continuation of utility lines from the main systems to a point of termination up to and including the meter location for the individual occupancy, sewer collection systems at property line on residential or single-occupancy commercial properties, or on multioccupancy properties at manhole or wye lateral extended to an invert elevation as engineered to accommodate future building sewers, water distribution systems, or storm sewer collection systems at storm sewer structures; and
• install empty underground conduits in rights-of-way, easements, platted rights-of-way in new site development, and sleeves for parking lot crossings no smaller than 2 inches in diameter, provided that each conduit system installed is designed by a licensed professional engineer or an authorized employee of a municipality, county, or public utility and that the installation of any such conduit does not include installation of any conductor wiring or connection to an energized electrical system.

Method of Qualification

You must have 4 years of underground utilities construction experience, of which at least one year must have been as a foreman or supervisor. College credits can substitute for up to 3 years of experience. If you have a four year college degree in ANY field, that counts as 3 years of experience. You do not have to have the necessary experience before you take the exam. After passing the exam you have up to 4 years to gain the necessary experience to become a licensed Underground Utility Contractor.

Licensing Steps

Step 1. Register for one of our comprehensive exam preparation courses, and select the exam ready book purchase option.  Please note: You are allowed to use the exam ready books at the open-book Florida contractors State exam!

Step 2. Register for your Florida contractors State exam.  Let us help you with your exam registration - telephone CEI at: 800-423-7058. If you are confident with the required registration process and steps then you can register through Professional Testing Inc. at: www.floridaexam.com.

Step 3.  Prepare for and pass your exam.

Step 4. Mail application with your passing exam scores to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. You will receive your license within approximately 60 days after submitting the completed application.

For detailed information please visit the State of Florida website.

Exam Details - What to Expect

The Applicant will be required to pass 2 separate exams with a score of 70% or higher.

• Business & Finance Exam – 6.5 hour computer-based exam
• Underground Utility & Excavation Trade Knowledge - 5 hour computer-based exam

Both exams are open-book, multiple-choice, and timed.

Reference books should be brought to both open book exams. Permanent book tabs and highlighting in books is allowed for the examinations. 

Business & Finance Exam

The Business and Finance Examination is composed of 120 questions. It will be administered in one session via computer in the calm atmosphere of a convenient testing center at a time of your choosing.

Underground Utility & Excavation Trade Knowledge Exam

The Underground Utility & Excavation Trade Knowledge examination is composed of 80 equally weighted questions covering the following topics:

• Pre-Installation:  20%
• Traffic Control:  5%
• Excavating, Backfill, and Compaction:  20%
• Pipe Installation and Repairs:  15%
• Piping, Valves and Fittings:  15%
• Testing and Disinfecting:  10%
• Drainage Systems:  5%
• Equipment:  10%

The trade knowledge exam will be administered in one session via computer in the calm atmosphere of a convenient testing center at a time of your choosing.

Preparing for Your Exam

Applicants will need to get familiar with all of their exam books. Applicants must know how to properly read the test questions and quickly locate the answers. Knowing which books to use for each content area is essential to passing the exam. A quality exam preparation class is the best way to prepare for the exam. We recommend either the Pro Pack or the Power Pack to prepare for your exam.

100% One Year Course Guarantee

Students receive access to their course for a full year from the date of their registration!

EXAM READY BOOKS (Highlighted & Tabbed for the Exam) 

The licensing exam is an open-book exam. CEI stocks all books required for the general contractor exam. 

Exam Ready Books are specially prepared to make passing the exam easier. Exam Ready Books are professionally highlighted and tabbed by CEI's staff to indicate the answers to common test questions. Book tabs will help you find the correct section of the books much more quickly when looking for the answer to an exam question, and highlights detail parts of the books from where questions are often asked.

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Book set includes all references required for the Trade and Business & Finance exams:

• AIA Documents: (A-201, A-401, A-701)
• Builder's Guide to Accounting
• Florida Contractor's Manual
• Florida Statutes Chapter 455                               
• Code of Federal Regulations. OSHA Title 29, Part 1926
• Building Estimator's Reference Book (Walkers)
• AWWA Standard for PVC Pressure Pipe & Fabricated Fittings, 4 in through 12 in
• Concrete Pipe & Box Culvert Installation
• Pipe & Excavation Contracting
• Utility Accommodation Manual
• The Handbook of PVC Pipe Design and Construction 
• Damage Prevention Guide 
• 555-Directional Bore & 556-Jack & Bore     
• Florida Building Code, Plumbing

Locations

Sarasota, FL - CEI

CEI

5016 Calle Minorga

Sarasota, FL 34242

Orlando, FL - Spring Hill Suites

Spring Hill Suites by Marriott

5828 Hazeltine National Drive

Orlando, FL 32822

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Tamarac Campus of GoldCoast

5600 Hiatus Road

Tamarac, FL 33321