To get a Florida HVAC license, you’ll need credentials from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). License requirements vary depending on where you want to work and the type of HVAC services you offer.
Read ahead to learn all you need to know to get a Florida HVAC contractor license, including:
The first step in structuring your HVAC business is to get a Florida HVAC license from the DBPR. Florida offers three licensing options:
In Florida, the requirements for Class A and Class B certified licenses are largely similar, except for one key difference. While both licenses require passing a state licensing exam, the Class A license exam includes a more extensive trade knowledge section, testing a broader range of industry knowledge compared to the Class B exam.
For both Class A and B certified licenses, applicants must fulfill the following criteria:
HVAC contractors who only want to work in one city may prefer to get a registered Florida general contractor’s license. Registered contractors don’t have the same education and experience requirements as Class A and Class B contractors. They won’t need to take the state HVAC license exam, but local officials could administer an exam.
To apply, applicants must:
The requirements for the local competency card will vary based on the local licensing authority. In Miami, for example, the Miami-Dade Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources sets the following requirements for an initial Journeyman license:
The DBPR requires that all license holders in the construction industry carry certain levels of business insurance in Florida. In addition, certain types of HVAC insurance may help to protect your business.
All division two license holders, including specialists like certified and registered HVAC contractors, must carry $100,000 in liability insurance and $25,000 in property damage insurance.
These limits are significantly less than Florida general contractors, who must carry $300,000 in liability insurance and $50,000 in property damage coverage.
General liability insurance in Florida can help cover the costs of work-related accidents or property damage to third parties.
License holders must also carry workers’ compensation coverage if they have employees unless they get an exemption within 30 days of their license being issued. This insurance can help provide wage protection and other benefits if an employee gets injured on the job.
Tools and equipment insurance can help cover the cost of replacements and repairs for damaged or stolen work gear.
Commercial auto insurance protects against costs related to accidents, such as property damage and medical expenses, if you drive for work.
For buildings, inventory and equipment protection, you’ll need commercial property insurance. It covers your business in the event of damage to your property.
HVAC contractors should expect the licensing process to take approximately three months, not including the time required to meet any experience or education requirements.
An estimated timeline for the licensing process may look like this:
The total time for licensing will vary based on the kind of license you apply for, the number of applications the Board is currently processing and whether your documentation is complete at the time of application.
The licensing process is slowed considerably if the licensing board has to ask you for additional supporting documentation. To expedite the process, make sure you understand the application process and requirements before you begin.
Exams for Class A and Class B air conditioning contractor licenses consist of a business and finance test and a trade knowledge test. There are different trade knowledge tests for Class A vs. Class B licenses.
Applicants with a four-year accredited degree in construction or a trade-related degree approved by the licensing board are exempt from taking the trade knowledge test, according to the DBPR.
All applicants must take the business and finance portion of the test. If you’re taking the Class A air conditioning trade exam, expect 130 questions and 7.5 hours of testing time. The Class B HVAC trade exam has 80 questions and takes about 5 hours.
You’ll also pay a $135 exam registration fee, an $80 testing fee for the business and finance portion and an $80 testing fee for the applicable trade knowledge test.
Since the requirements for registered HVAC contractors vary by location, you may also have to pass a trade knowledge exam. The local licensing authorities set these requirements based on local building codes and other factors, so the specifics for exams will vary by jurisdiction.
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Matt Crawford leads NEXT's content team. He's a small business insurance specialist and has worked with business owners throughout his career as a community journalist and content marketer.
You can find him at one of his many favorite local restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area when he's not at work.
