Passed My Test!!!

[studlymandingo]

Whew!!! The last two days I have been in the testing center for the Florida Contractor's Licensure Exam. I passed all sections of the General Contractor exam with flying colors; I can't tell you guys how relieved I was to see my grades. I think I had psyched myself out studying because there was just SO MUCH information relevent to the examination; so I studied and studied until I was just about numb. It paid off and I'm grateful! I always tested well in school and college and never studied like I did for this; that was years ago and I was in a totally different mode then.​

Now, I just have to get my verification in order; I've been in construction and real estate for many years, problem is, my required experience is going to be tough. I have to have 2 years of supervisory experience on buildings 3 stories or more; the first construction company where I had this experience is no longer in business in the same capacity and the original owner (the one I worked for) has passed away. The second, I have been unable to contact as of yet. My other managerial experience was General Manager of a heating and air conditioning company which I did for a number of years; although this counts as some construction management, it doesn't satisfy the 3-story part. Other than these jobs, I have been pretty much been self-employed; though I have built several homes from the ground up, it has been under the licensure of other contractors and the guy I use now apparently doesn't want me to stop using him because he basically makes money for nothing on my projects.​

I have carried my own necessary insurance for years, and have more than enough experience, I just have to track down the original license number of the gentleman I worked for years back or finally get hold of the second company.​

I'm just glad to have the test behind me now...​

 

[stan_deezy]

Re: Passed My Test!!!

Congrats on passing the test!!


Even at your age!

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Passed My Test!!!

Congrats on passing the test!!


Even at your age!

Yea, what Stan said.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Passed My Test!!!

Could old pay stubs help validate your employment? Just a thought...

Sounds like great news for you, Big congrats on this end!

 

[Plainsman]

Re: Passed My Test!!!

Way to go!!

I think a W-2 would prove employment, but not what you did there.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Passed My Test!!!

Yes, the paystubs prove employment, that's it. I have to have an authorized agent of the company give details of my duties and position. The first company was a full-fledged construction company that built multi-use facilities that were several stories tall as well as an offshoot business that built small storage facilities. I was a project manager for the large projects when they operated in that capacity; the owner decided to retire shortly after I left the company and sold it to his daughter who decided to downsize and specialize in the storage buildings. The daughter ran the business successfully for a couple of years and built it up in the niche-market to a point where a larger company became interested in acquiring it; she sold the company and remains as manager for the business. In the capacity they operate now, there is no need for a contractor's license in that state (Tennessee); the daughter is trying to help but she cannot find any record of her father's original license number. So, I've been trying to persue the second company I worked for sold as well, and the new ownership has no record of my duties with the previous company. They are a larger company, and have no real interest in helping me out, so I am trying to locate the original owners. Again this is out of state for me, so I just try to call old contacts to try and track them down...... frustrating to say the least.

Since I've been in Florida, I have worked with a couple of contractors in the business I have now. Basically I put together a project and get a contractor to pull permits, then I manage the project myself, organizing subs as well as doing some of the specialty work myself. The contractor doesn't touch the job and makes a bit of money off of it. This guy recently got himself into a jam with some of his own subs (I don't use his guys because they charge me too much) and couldn't pay them for some work, so on the last project I was putting together, he informs me that I am going to have to start using his subs for my projects; I get quotes that are more than double what my subs charge me! In this tight market, there is no room for this kind of excess; hence me getting my licensure. In the last two years, I have completed more projects for this contractor than he has completed himself; all in the capacity of project manager. When I approached him about verification, he told me he wouldn't sign off; I assume he doesn't want to jump off of the gravy train... What he doesn't realize is, I won't be using him anymore anyway; I can't afford the "new deal" he has come up with that amounts to about 60K out of my pocket on each house!

Oh well, I'll keep plugging on my old resources, it may mean an unscheduled trip to Nashville in the near future for ground ops if I can't get any further by phone!​