69A-46.010. Submission of the Application

(1) The applicant shall submit an application on a form furnished by the division which shall conform with Section 633.328, F.S.

(2) The application shall be accompanied by a fee as prescribed in Section 633.132, F.S.

(3)(a) As a prerequisite to challenging the examination as a Contractor I, II, or III, the applicant shall provide evidence of four (4) years proven experience in the employment of a Contractor I, II, or III, or a combination of experience and education equivalent thereto.

1. “Experience in the employment of a contractor”, as required by Section 633.318(3), F.S., must be gained from full-time employment by a contractor licensed as provided in Section 633.318, F.S., relating to technical areas. For purposes of this rule chapter, “technical areas” means those activities engaged in by a contractor and participated in by the applicant which provide experience in laying out, fabricating, installing, inspecting, altering, repairing, or servicing fire protection systems. For purposes of this rule chapter, four (4) years proven experience as a certified plumbing contractor, licensed pursuant to the provisions of Section 489.115, F.S., may be offered toward the experience requirements for a Contractor I or II and shall be considered equivalent to two (2) years proven experience in the employment of a contractor. A certified plumbing contractor shall offer no more than 4 years as a certified plumbing contractor toward the 4 years experience requirement in Section 633.318, F.S. The applicant’s experience must be verified by the contractor employing the applicant. The required verification shall be in the form of a letter from the employing contractor, on company stationery, attesting to the applicant’s duties, the kinds of jobs he worked on; his dates of employment; and any other information reasonably calculated to provide the division with an informed understanding of the applicant’s work experience. An applicant offering self-employment experience shall provide verification in the form of letters from customers, and others familiar with his work. It is the applicant’s responsibility to furnish the required verification. The experience will be evaluated to determine an applicant’s qualifications for the class of certificate requested; or,

2. The division will accept a current NICET Level III or IV certification as a Fire Protection Engineering Technician in the subfield of Automatic Sprinkler System Layout, for contractor I and II applicants, and will accept a current NICET Level III or IV certification as a Fire Protection Engineering Technician in the subfield of Special Hazards System Layout, for Contractor III applicants, issued by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies in Alexandria, Virginia; or,

3. The applicant can provide evidence of a combination of experience and education equivalent to four (4) years proven experience in the employment of a contractor. Acceptable education shall include, but not be limited to, a bachelor degree from a four (4) year college or university with a major in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, fire science engineering technology, or equivalent coursework; or an associate degree (2 years) with a major in fire science engineering technology or fire protection engineering technology. The applicant must furnish official transcripts to substantiate all degrees and coursework. The curriculum, degree, date degree awarded, and all engineering, fire science, and fire protection courses must be clearly identified on the transcripts. Acceptable experience to combine with the education offered shall be provided in the same form as required under subparagraph 1., above. For purposes of combining education and work experience, the number of hours worked in part-time employment will be counted as the appropriate percentage of full-time employment.

4.a. Applicants for certification as a Contractor I who are offering 4 years proven experience as a certified plumbing contractor as the equivalent of 2 years proven experience in the employment of a contractor shall combine that experience with a NICET Level III or IV certificate; or with 18 credit hours from a 4-year college or university, or a junior or community college in courses which teach the material in the National Fire Protection Association standards on which the applicant will be tested; or with other equivalent coursework.

b. Applicants for certification as a Contractor II who are offering 4 years proven experience as a certified plumbing contractor as the equivalent of 2 years proven experience in the employment of a contractor shall combine that experience with a NICET Level III or IV certificate; or with 15 credit hours from a 4-year college or university, or a junior or community college in courses which teach the material in the National Fire Protection Association standards on which the applicant will be tested; or with other equivalent coursework.

(b) As a prerequisite to challenging the examination as a Contractor IV, the applicant shall provide evidence of two (2) years proven experience in the employment of a Contractor I, II, or IV, or a combination of equivalent education and experience, which combination need not include experience in the employment of a contractor. For purposes of combining education and experience, education in the areas described in subparagraph (a)3., above, including at least 3 credit hours from a 4-year college or university or junior or community college in courses which teach the material in the National Fire Protection Association standards on which the applicant will be tested; or other equivalent coursework; and experience in the areas described in subparagraph (a)1., above, shall be provided. In addition, the division will accept a current NICET Level III or IV Certification as a Fire Protection Engineering Technician in the subfield of Automatic Sprinkler System Layout, issued by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies in Alexandria, Virginia.

(c) As a prerequisite to challenging the examination as a Contractor V, the applicant shall provide evidence of:

1. Licensing as a certified underground utility contractor, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 489, F.S., which shall be submitted in the form of a copy of the license issued by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, accompanied by a statement that the applicant certifies that he is the person named on the license; or

2. Four years experience in the employment of an individual licensed as a certified underground utility contractor or plumbing contractor pursuant to the provisions of Section 489.115, F.S., which shall be submitted in the form of a letter, on company stationery, signed by the certified underground utility contractor or plumbing contractor, attesting to the applicant’s duties; the kinds of jobs he worked on; his dates of employment; and any other information reasonably calculated to provide the division with an informed understanding of the applicant’s work experience; or

3. A combination of education and experience equivalent to four (4) years proven experience in the employment of a certified underground utility contractor or plumbing contractor. For purposes of combining education and experience, education in the areas described in paragraph (a)3., above, including at least 3 credit hours from a 4-year college or university or junior or community college in courses which teach the material in the National Fire Protection Association standards on which the applicant will be tested; or other equivalent coursework; and experience in the areas described in subparagraph (a)1., or subparagraph (c)1. or 2., above, shall be provided.

(d) For all classes of contractor applicants the division will accept other experience and education combinations which are equivalent to those described above.

(4) The applicant shall not be approved to challenge a competency examination unless the applicant has substantiated employment experience or a combination of employment and education. The applicant is encouraged to submit documentation of all relevant experience and education since each instance of a combination prerequisite must necessarily be decided individually. When the review of the application has been completed the applicant will be notified in writing whether or not he has qualified to challenge the competency examination in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 120, F.S.

Rulemaking Authority 633.104 FS. Law Implemented 633.318, 633.328 FS. History–New 10-14-86, Amended 12-21-88, 10-20-93, Formerly 4A-46.010, Amended 5-18-08.