King Contractor School
    For desk people, not field people

    A Design Engineer? Your U.S. career is gold — but the Contractor course may not be for you.

    Let's be honest: if you design structure, MEP, hydraulics or geotechnics, your equivalent role in the U.S. is Professional Engineer (PE), not General Contractor. King Training isn't for every engineer, and this page explains exactly when it's the wrong fit.

    This course is currently taught in Portuguese. English and Spanish versions are in development; no launch date has been announced.

    PE License pathStructural · MEP · GeoDesign-Build optionHonest take
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    Design vs. construction: a clean line in the U.S.

    In the U.S. (and Florida specifically), the line between design and construction is legally cut. Design Professional (PE/Architect) signs and seals plans. General Contractor builds those plans, hires subs and answers to the owner. Two separate licenses, two separate boards.

    Where the design engineer fits

    Engineering firms (Kimley-Horn, AECOM, WSP, Stantec, Walter P Moore, Thornton Tomasetti) hire foreign engineers as Engineering Designers, EITs, BIM specialists, Project Engineers. The PE walks the project through approval and seal. Your portfolio, Revit/AutoCAD/SAP2000 fluency and design seniority count more than the U.S. degree.

    Salary range

    • EIT / Engineering Designer: $70k-95k
    • Project Engineer (5-10 years): $95k-130k
    • PE Civil/Structural: $130k-180k
    • Senior PE / Principal: $180k-300k+

    When the GC course IS for you (even as a designer)

    1. You want to launch a Design-Build firm.
    2. You plan to develop and sell your own properties.
    3. You need dollar income now while spending 4-7 years on the PE.
    4. You're tired of the desk and want to manage real construction.

    If none of those is your case, focus on validating the PE License and ignore the Contractor route. Choosing both without a clear plan wastes time and money.

    Ready for the legal shortcut?

    Stop chasing diploma equivalence. Start with the license that pays today.

    King Training is a course taught in Portuguese that takes you from the DBPR application to passing the Pearson VUE exam for the Florida General Contractor license.

    See the price
    Frequently asked questions

    Direct answers, no fluff

    Should a design engineer take the General Contractor course?

    Probably not. If your career is structural, MEP, hydraulic or systems design, your equivalent profession in the U.S. is Professional Engineer (PE), not General Contractor. The right path is the PE License — slower, but aligned with your expertise.

    Is design engineering valuable in the U.S.?

    Yes. PEs specialized in structural, MEP, energy and geotechnical work are extremely well-paid ($110k-180k+ in Florida) and in demand at firms like Kimley-Horn, AECOM, WSP and Stantec. But you need the PE License to seal projects.

    Can I work as a design engineer without a PE License?

    Yes — as Engineering Designer, EIT (Engineer in Training), CAD/Revit Designer or Project Engineer inside a firm where a PE seals your plans. But you cannot offer engineering services to the public or sign projects on your own.

    Are there cases where a design engineer should also get a GC License?

    Yes, in three: (1) you want to open a Design-Build firm selling design + construction; (2) you want to build and sell your own properties (development); (3) you want immediate dollar income while you spend the next 4-7 years validating the PE.

    Keep reading

    Other related guides

    How to validate Engineering (PE License)Read now Field engineer becomes GCRead now What a General Contractor doesRead now EB-2 NIW visa for engineersRead now Engineers & builders hubRead now

    The DBPR license is the credential that pays in U.S. dollars.

    Start today the path many professionals have already walked to build, bill and scale legally in Florida.

    Enroll in King Training