- The CGC exam is computer-based through Pearson VUE, so there are no fixed "testing windows" - you schedule individually once approved.
- Professional Testing, Inc. handles registration and scoring; Pearson VUE runs the actual test-day logistics at its centers.
- Business and Finance runs 120 scored questions in 6 hours 30 minutes; Contract Administration and Project Management each run 60 scored questions in 4 hours 30...
- You must pass all three parts within four years of your first attempt, or earlier passes start expiring.
How CGC Scheduling Actually Works
If you're picturing the CGC exam like a twice-a-year event with a registration deadline and a single test day for everyone, that's not how it works. The Florida Certified General Contractor Exam is delivered as computer-based testing through Pearson VUE, which means there isn't a shared "spring window" or "fall window" the way some paper-based licensing exams operate. Instead, once your eligibility is confirmed, you become responsible for booking your own appointment at a Pearson VUE test center based on seat availability near you.
This matters for planning purposes. Rather than counting down to a fixed exam date months away, your real scheduling task is sequencing three separate things in the right order: getting your application approved, receiving authorization to test, and then picking dates that give you enough runway to prepare for each of the three exam parts. For a deeper look at what "prepared" actually means content-wise, the CGC Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt walks through a study approach built around this exact structure.
From Application Approval to Test Day
The oversight chain for this credential runs through the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) inside the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Professional Testing, Inc. is the organization that registers candidates and develops and scores the examinations, while Pearson VUE is strictly the test-delivery partner - the company running the computer stations, checking your ID, and enforcing the reference-material rules at the physical testing center.
Practically, that means your path to a test date looks like this:
- Document eligibility. You need to be at least 18 and generally show four years of qualifying experience, with at least one year in a supervisory capacity. Qualifying college coursework or military credit can offset up to three of those years. General-contractor applicants also need experience across at least four of six structural work areas, including one year of qualifying new-construction work on structures four stories or higher. The full breakdown lives in CGC Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
- Clear financial and background checks. Financial responsibility review, fingerprinting, and proof of insurance and workers' compensation compliance are part of the approval process before you're cleared to schedule anything.
- Register with Professional Testing, Inc. Once your application is approved, this is the step that actually unlocks your ability to book exam parts.
- Book your Pearson VUE appointment(s). You choose the test center, date, and time based on what's open - for one exam part or multiple, depending on how you want to pace yourself.
Key Takeaway
Because approval has to happen before scheduling, the real "deadline" pressure in 2026 isn't a calendar date - it's how quickly you get your documentation together so you're not sitting idle waiting to book a seat.
The Three Exams You'll Be Scheduling
The CGC credential isn't a single sitting - it's three separately scored, open-book, multiple-choice exams, and each one gets its own appointment. Knowing the time and question count for each helps you decide how to space your bookings.
| Exam Part | Scored Questions | Time Allowed | Passing Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business and Finance | 120 | 6 hours 30 minutes | 70% |
| Contract Administration | 60 | 4 hours 30 minutes | 70% |
| Project Management | 60 | 4 hours 30 minutes | 70% |
Scores are not rounded, so a 69.6% will not become a passing 70%. Also keep in mind that some sittings may include unscored pilot items mixed into the exam, with extra time allotted so those additional questions don't eat into the time you need for scored content. For the exact mechanics behind that 70% threshold and how it's calculated, see CGC Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Business and Finance
This is the longest exam by both question count and time, and it's weighted heavily toward the numbers side of running a contracting business.
- Conducting Accounting Functions is the largest single domain at 32%
- Managing Administration Duties follows at 26%
- Complying with Government Regulations sits at 15%
Contract Administration
This shorter exam concentrates on the paperwork and legal mechanics of getting projects underway and properly permitted.
- Project Contracts dominates at 40% of this exam
- Preconstruction Activities follows at 27%
- Obtaining Licenses, Permits and Approvals carries 20%
Project Management
Field knowledge is the focus here, and it's the most lopsided domain split of the three exams.
- Construction Methods, Materials, Tools, and Equipment makes up 63% on its own
- Safety follows at 20%
- Reading Plans and Specifications rounds it out at 17%
Remember that these percentages are approximate and can shift by up to three percentage points under the current rule, so treat them as a study-priority guide rather than an exact blueprint. A full breakdown of all thirteen domains across the three exams is available in CGC Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 13 Content Areas.
The January 1, 2026 Reference List Change
One scheduling detail that trips people up: the approved reference list for this open-book exam updated effective January 1, 2026. Because these exams are open-book, the specific editions you're allowed to bring matter as much as your study plan. Only approved references, in their original editions, are permitted at the test center. Highlighting, underlining, and permanently attached tabs with normal headings are fine, but removable tabs, loose notes, and handwritten or typewritten annotations inside the books are not allowed - and a compliant hand-held calculator is permitted as well.
If you already purchased your reference set before checking the current list, verify the editions again before you book a Pearson VUE appointment. Booking a date and then discovering your books don't match the current approved list is one of the most avoidable ways to waste a scheduling slot.
The Four-Year Clock for Passing All Parts
Scheduling isn't just about picking your next available date - it's about pacing three exams within a hard boundary. Candidates must pass all three parts within four years of their first attempt. If you pass Business and Finance early but let Contract Administration and Project Management drag out past that four-year mark, your earlier passing score can expire, forcing a retake.
This is why many candidates deliberately schedule all three exams within a compressed stretch - say, across several months - rather than spreading them out casually. If you're unsure whether your current pace is realistic, How Hard Is the CGC Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 breaks down what makes each part demanding and how long candidates typically need between attempts.
Building a Scheduling Timeline Around the Domains
Once you know your approval date and roughly when Pearson VUE seats are available, work backward from the heaviest domains rather than treating all three exams equally. Business and Finance carries the most content and the longest sitting, so most candidates benefit from giving it the longest runway before its scheduled date.
Business and Finance Prep
- Prioritize Conducting Accounting Functions (32%) and Managing Administration Duties (26%)
- Build familiarity with your approved reference books before locking a test date
Contract Administration Prep
- Focus on Project Contracts (40%) and Preconstruction Activities (27%)
- Schedule this exam once accounting concepts from part one feel automatic
Project Management Prep
- Concentrate on Construction Methods, Materials, Tools, and Equipment (63%)
- Layer in Safety and Reading Plans and Specifications closer to your booked date
This kind of staggered scheduling only works if your underlying study habits are solid - running practice questions on our practice test platform between bookings is one way to confirm you're ready before committing to a Pearson VUE date rather than after. For a broader review of what separates strong preparation from wasted study time, CGC Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows is worth reading before you lock your first appointment.
Key Takeaway
Schedule Business and Finance first given its length and weight, then sequence Contract Administration and Project Management once you've confirmed real readiness through practice testing rather than a fixed calendar target.
Renewal Deadlines After You're Certified
Passing all three exams isn't the end of the scheduling conversation - it's the start of a new one. Certified licenses renew every two years and generally require 14 hours of continuing education per biennium. Missing this renewal cadence can create its own compliance headaches, so it's worth building reminders into your calendar the moment your license is issued, not waiting until the renewal period is already closing in.
Thinking about renewal costs and CE hours alongside your original exam costs gives you a fuller financial picture of the credential. CGC Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown lays out that full picture, and if you're still weighing whether the entire process - application, three exams, and ongoing renewal - is worth the investment for your career, Is the CGC Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and CGC Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis go deeper into what the license opens up on the employment side, including the kinds of roles listed in CGC Jobs.
Before you commit to any specific test date, it's worth doing a final systems check with a timed practice run through our full-length practice tests so you know exactly which domains still need attention. Pair that with a last pass through CGC Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts in the days before your appointment.
FAQ
No. The exam is delivered as computer-based testing through Pearson VUE on a rolling basis, so you schedule your own appointment once approved rather than waiting for a fixed testing window shared by all candidates.
Scheduling is done through Pearson VUE based on seat availability, and many candidates space the three parts across separate appointments given the combined length - Business and Finance alone runs 6 hours 30 minutes.
Candidates must pass all parts within four years of their first attempt. If that window closes before all three parts are passed, earlier passing scores can expire and need to be retaken.
Yes. The approved reference list took effect January 1, 2026, and only approved references in their original editions are allowed at the test center, so confirm your editions match before booking.
Professional Testing, Inc. handles registration and develops and scores the exams, while Pearson VUE is only responsible for administering the computer-based test at its centers on the date you book.