Florida Certified Master Builder
What is a Florida Certified Master Builder?
Out of the approximately 73,000 certified general and building contractors licensed by the State of Florida, fewer than 40 hold the Florida Certified Master Builder (FCMB) designation. Our founder, Frank R. Coppola, III, is one of them. He is also a past Chairman of the FCMB Board of Directors.
Florida Certified Master Builders are among the most respected home builders, remodelers, and commercial contractors in the industry. An FCMB is recognized for a demonstrated commitment to craftsmanship, professionalism, and client satisfaction.
The designation is not a state license and is not issued by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. It is a separate certification. Builders who seek it must meet standards that go beyond Florida’s licensing requirements, including proven experience, financial stability, integrity, and a documented record of customer service. Applicants are then vetted and approved by the Florida Master Builder Certification Board.
The program exists to give consumers a way to identify a builder who has chosen that higher bar. State licensure establishes the legal minimum. FCMB status is a voluntary filter on top of it.
Qualifications
Florida Certified Master Builders must:
- Have at least 7 years of work experience in the construction industry or hold a Bachelor’s Degree in the construction field
- Have held a contractor license for at least 5 years
- Derive their principle income from the building industry
- Provide proof of workers comp and liability insurance
- Offer clients a written contract on all building and remodeling projects with standard dispute resolution and disclaimer language
- Issue a minimum of a 1-year written Home Warranty on all newly constructed projects
- Have a clean building record defined as no outstanding issues with the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) or the applicant’s local building jurisdiction
- Pass a criminal background check
- Have a credit rating of 700 or better
- Pass a reference check with a client satisfaction rating of 4 or better out of a scale of 1-5, where 5 is the highest satisfaction rating
- Pass a subcontractor and supplier reference check
- Be a member in good standing of a professional builders association (3 years minimum)
- Submit a Florida Certified Master Builder Application detailing their experience in the construction industry
- Sign a Florida Certified Master Builder Agreement indicating their continued compliance with all Florida Certified Master Builder requirements and standards
- Be vetted and approved by the Florida Master Builder Certification Board