HVAC license requirements by state: A comprehensive guide

HVAC contractors with mechanical licenses are in high demand across the country, but their license requirements vary by state. In addition to checking all relevant HVAC license requirements in your area, you’ll also want to ensure you have an HVAC contractors insurance coverage to protect your business.

NEXT’s state-by-state list provides all the licensure requirements to obtain an HVAC technician license. Understanding these requirements can help you become a licensed and insured HVAC technician and thrive in your profession.

(We also have state guides for other trades, including general contractors, handypersons, electricians, landscapers, roofing, painters and plumbers.)

Our list is in alphabetical order to make it easier to find the state you’re looking for. Some states have individual pages that can give you more details.

Jump ahead:

• States A-E
• States F-J
• States K-O
• States P-T
• States U-Z

Alabama

HVAC contractors must be licensed in Alabama by the Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors. You qualify to take the exam if you have one of the following:

• You must have held an apprenticeship certificate issued by the Board for the previous two years.
• You must show transcripts showing graduation from an approved course.
• You must show proof of at least 3,000 hours (18 months) of work experience under a licensed contractor.

Once you have passed the exam, you will need to apply for active certification, which includes a fee and a $15,000 performance bond.

Alaska

Alaska requires HVAC contractors to be licensed as Mechanical Administrators. There are multiple types of HVAC-related categories available under the Mechanical Administrator license. They include:

Heating, cooling and process piping (HCPP)

Requires one of the following:

• Journeyman experience or management experience in four of the previous six years.
• A degree in mechanical engineering plus one year as a journeyman pipe fitter or a field engineer.
• Professional mechanical engineer registration plus mechanical contracting management experience for one of the previous three years.

Mechanical systems temperature control (CNTL

Requires one of the following:

• Journeyman experience or management experience in four of the previous six years.
• A degree in mechanical engineering.

Residential HVAC (RHVC)

Requires journeyman residential experience for two of the previous four years.

Residential plumbing and hydronic heating (RPHH)

Requires journeyman residential experience for two of the previous four years.

Unlimited HVAC/sheet metal (UHVCS)

Requires one of the following:

• Journeyman experience or management experience for four of the previous six years.
• A degree in mechanical engineering plus journeyman experience or field engineering experience for one of the previous three years.
• Professional mechanical engineering registration plus mechanical contracting management experience for one of the previous three years.

Unlimited refrigeration (UR)

Requires journeyman experience for two of the previous four years; or proof of graduation from an accredited course or trade school.

You are required to take and pass a multiple-choice exam which costs $125. Once you hold a license (cost: $350 total including application fee), you will need to register as a Mechanical Contractor (cost: $50), which includes a business license, a $10,000 surety bond, proof of liability insurance and proof of workers’ compensation insurance.

Arizona

To work in Arizona as an HVAC contractor, you will need to be licensed by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. In order to qualify for a license, you will need to show four years of experience in the HVAC specialty you are applying for a license in or have two years of experience plus graduation from a course or apprenticeship.

You must pass the trade and business management exam, be registered with the Arizona Corporation Commission or the Arizona Secretary of State, show proof of workers’ compensation insurance, and get a cash or surety bond.

Arkansas

HVAC/R contractors in Arkansas must hold a license issued by the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing. There are five classes of licenses: Class A-E

You will need to be pre-approved to take the exam, showing two years of experience as an HVAC contractor or employee of a contractor. HVAC business licenses must be renewed every year.

California

California requires its HVAC contractors (specialty license C-20) who complete jobs exceeding $500 to be licensed by the Department of Consumer Affairs Contractors State License Board.

You must pass both a trade exam and a business and law exam. To qualify to take the exam, you must have at least four years of experience in the previous 10 years. You must have a $25,000 contractor license bond and proof of workers’ compensation and liability insurance.

Learn more about HVAC license and insurance requirements in California.

Colorado

Colorado does not require licensing for HVAC contractors, but it is possible to become certified. Local licensing may be required.

Connecticut

To work as an HVAC contractor, you’ll need a license issued by the Department of Consumer Protection. There are 21 different heating, piping and cooling license types available.

To qualify for a journeyman’s license, you will need to have completed a registered apprenticeship program or the equivalent. You will need to pass an exam and pay an application fee.

For a contractor license, you need to show you have two years of experience as a licensed journeyman. You need to pass a contractors exam, as well as a business and law exam. The license must be renewed annually.

Delaware

Delaware requires HVAC contractors to hold a license. There are two license types that determine the type of work you are permitted to do. The Master HVACR Restricted license is able to provide work in one specialty area. To provide service in more than one specialty area, you must hold a Master HVACR license.

As part of your application, you must supply proof of a journeyman’s certificate and at least two years of experience under a master contractor. If you don’t have a journeyman’s certification, you must have at least seven years of work experience under a master contractor.

District of Columbia

To meet the District of Columbia’s HVAC license requirements, you will need to be licensed by the District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades. To become licensed as a journeyman or master contractor, you will need to pay an application fee and pass the written exam. The license must be renewed every two years.

Florida

To work in Florida, you will need an HVAC license from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

There are four types of HVAC license classifications: Class A and Class B certified contractors and Class A and Class B registered contractors.

• Class A license allows you to work on projects of all sizes.
• Class B license limits work to 25 tons of cooling and 500,000 BTU in one system.
• A certified license allows you to work anywhere in Florida.
• A registered license allows you to work in specific jurisdictions or counties. You must pass the local exam or licensing requirements to operate.

You might also opt for a certified or registered mechanical contractor license, which allows the same work on heating, refrigeration and air conditioning, but extends the work scope to boilers/pressure vessel systems, gasoline piping and more.

For all licenses, applicants must pass both a trade exam and a business and finances exam. Depending on the type of license you’re applying for, you may need to meet certain education and experience requirements.

Learn more about HVAC license requirements in Florida.

Georgia

Georgia requires HVAC contractors to have a license from the Georgia State Board of Conditioned Air Contractors to work in the state. There are two categories of licenses: Class I, which is restricted, and Class II, which is unrestricted.

Class I applicants must have four years of experience, while Class II applicants must have five years of experience. In both licenses, education can be applied to experience requirements. Both licenses require passing an exam with a score of 70% or higher. A $10,000 cash or surety bond is required in the county where you are planning to work.

Learn more about HVAC license and insurance requirements in Georgia.

Hawaii

To work as an HVAC contractor in Hawaii, you must be licensed by the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. While there is no license for HVAC technicians, you will have to get a specialty contractor license with specific classifications to perform HVACR work.

You will need to pass a business and law, as well as a trade exam. To qualify, you must have four years of experience out of the previous ten years in full-time supervisory work as a journeyman, foreman, supervisor, or contractor in the specialty field you are applying to be licensed for.

You must show proof of workers’ compensation insurance and liability insurance ($100,000 per person, $300,000 per occurrence and $50,000 for property damage).

Idaho

The state of Idaho requires all people who work in the HVAC industry to be licensed, including apprentices, journeymen and contractors. There are two classes of HVAC contractor licenses — contractor and specialty contractor — and both are awarded by the Idaho Division of Building Safety.

For both contractor license types, to qualify to take the exam, you must show proof of at least 24 months of experience as an HVAC journeyman or HVAC specialty journeyman. A $2,000 compliance bond is required.

Illinois

There is no licensing requirement on a state level in Illinois; however, there are HVAC license requirements on the local level. It is important to check the licensing requirements in the jurisdiction in which you plan to work.

Indiana

Indiana has no HVAC licensing requirements on the state level, but many local governments do have requirements. Make sure to check the requirements of the county or city in which you plan to work.

Iowa

The state of Iowa requires all levels of HVAC workers to be licensed. HVAC contractors must be licensed by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing.

To become a licensed contractor you must hold an HVAC master-level technician license or employ at least one person with that license. You must show a permanent place of business and proof of being properly insured with a $5,000 bond. You must also show proof of public liability insurance (also called general liability).

Kansas

The state of Kansas does not require HVAC contractors to hold a license in order to work; however, there may be requirements on the local level, so it’s important to check with the local jurisdiction in which you plan to work.

Kentucky

HVAC contractors must be licensed by the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction in order to work in Kentucky. To be eligible for a license, applicants must have held a valid Kentucky Journeyman Mechanic license for at least two years, and must have been under the direct supervision of a Master HVAC contractor.

You will need to pass a trade exam, as well as a business and law exam, and must have general liability insurance of at least $500,000. Eight hours of continuing education is required to renew the license.

Louisiana

In order to work in the state of Louisiana, HVAC contractors require a mechanical license from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors. A license is required for any project exceeding $10,000 in value, including labor and materials.

You will need to pass a trade exam and a business and law exam. You also must provide proof of experience in the form of an apprenticeship or through classroom education.

Maine

There are no HVAC contractor licensing requirements at the state level in Maine; however, it is important to check the local requirements before you begin any work.

Maryland

HVAC contractors are required to be licensed by the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors, in the state of Maryland. There are three different licenses: Master HVACR Contractor, Master Restricted HAVCR Contractor and Limited HVACR Contractor.

All licenses require passing an exam. To qualify to take the exam, you will need to have the following:

• Master license: Be licensed as a Journeyman HVAC technician and provide all areas of HVACR services for three years working under the supervision of a licensed Master HVAC Contractor. You must have worked a minimum of 1,875 hours in the year before applying for the license.
• Master restricted license: Be licensed as a Journeyman HVAC technician and provide HVACR services for three years working under the supervision of a licensed Master HVAC Contractor. You must have worked a minimum of 1,875 hours in the year before applying for the license.
• Limited license: Be licensed as a Journeyman HVAC technician and provide HVACR services for two years working under the supervision of a licensed Master HVAC Contractor. You must have worked a minimum of 1,000 hours in the year before applying for the license.

You must show proof of business insurance in Maryland, including general liability insurance and property damage insurance.

Massachusetts

A general HVAC contractor in Massachusetts does not need a state license unless they work specifically in refrigeration. Any refrigeration contractor who works with more than 10 tons of refrigeration must be licensed.

To become licensed, you will need to pass an exam and show that you have had at least 2,000 hours of work experience as a licensed refrigeration technician. Educational experience is required as well, with coursework requirements starting at 250 hours depending on the total number of work hours completed.

Learn more about HVAC license and insurance requirements in Massachusetts.

Michigan

To work as an HVAC contractor in the state of Michigan, you will need to be licensed as a mechanical contractor by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. The licensing is very specialized and you’ll need to choose from the ten classifications you want to work in. There are also specialty licenses.

You will need to pass an exam and must show at least three years of experience in every work classification if you want to receive a license.

Minnesota

While there are no state licensing requirements for HVAC contractors in Minnesota (as mechanical contractors), businesses have to file a $25,000 surety bond with the Department of Labor and Industry to perform gas, heating, ventilation, cooling, air conditioning, fuel burning or refrigeration work. There may be local licensing requirements for HVAC technicians.

Mississippi

HVAC contractors in the state of Mississippi require a license from the Mississippi State Board of Contractors if they work on projects over $10,000. Projects under $10,000 do not require a statewide license, but may be required for local jurisdictions. However, anyone who handles refrigerant must have an EPA certification. Also, the Board requires licensing for commercial and residential projects over $50,000.

To work on larger commercial jobs, Mississippi requires HVAC workers to have a mechanical contractor license. This classification has 16 specialty classifications. To get this license, applicants must pass a trade exam, as well as a law and business management exam.

In addition, you will need to show details of any HVAC experience, show proof of general liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance (if the applicant has five or more employees), and submit a financial statement.

Missouri

HVAC contractors are not required to have a license on the state level in order to work in Missouri. However, there may be local requirements so make sure to check county or city requirements before you begin work.

Montana

As an HVAC contractor who does not plan to hire employees, there is no license requirement, but you will have to register with the Department of Labor and Industry. If you plan to hire employees, you will need a general construction contractor license.

There is no testing or experience required. You will need proof of workers’ compensation insurance.

Nebraska

There is no state-level licensing for HVAC contractors in Nebraska; however, there may be licensing requirements on a local level so it’s important to check these before you start working.

As a contractor working in the state, you will need to be registered with the Nebraska Department of Labor. If you have employees you must show proof of workers’ compensation.

Nevada

HVAC contractors require a state license to work in Nevada. Individuals performing HVAC work will likely pursue Class C specialty contractor licenses. The Class C category has 36 classifications with more subclassifications. The two most relevant licenses are:

• Class C-1 Plumbing and heating contracting
• Class C-21 Refrigeration and air-conditioning

To be eligible to apply for a license, you must show at least four years of experience within the past 15 years as a journeyman, foreperson, contractor or supervising employee. Relevant education from an accredited school can be used to fulfill up to three years of the experience requirement.

You will need to pass a trade exam, as well as a business and law exam. You must pass a background check and submit current financial statements. Approved contractors will need to get a license bond and show proof of workers’ comp.

New Hampshire

There is no state licensing requirement for HVAC contractors in New Hampshire, but it’s important to check for any project permit requirements before you start work on any large projects.

New Jersey

New Jersey requires HVAC contractors to be licensed by the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.

To apply for a license as a Master HVACR Contractor, you will need to demonstrate a combination of work and educational experience, including one of the following:

• Completion of an apprenticeship program and one year as a journeyman.
• A four-year bachelor’s degree from an HVACR-accredited college or university and one year as a journeyman.
• A four-year bachelor’s degree in a related field to HVACR from an accredited college or university, plus three years as a journeyman.
• A two-year degree from a trade, technology or community school/college after completion of an approved apprenticeship. Plus, one year as a journeyman.

In addition, you must show proof of general liability insurance in New Jersey and post a $3,000 surety bond.

Learn more about HVAC license and insurance requirements in New Jersey.

New Mexico

To work as an HVAC contractor in New Mexico you will need a state license from the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department. To be eligible to apply for a license, you’ll need to show proof of two to four years of experience, depending on the classification you’re applying for.

You’ll need to pass a trade exam, as well as a business and law exam, and must submit proof of a surety bond.

New York

There is no state licensing requirement for HVAC technicians in New York. However, there are local requirements, and you must check the local regulations before you begin work.

North Carolina

As an HVAC contractor, you must have a state license to work in North Carolina. Depending on the type of work you do, you’ll need either a refrigeration contractor license (issued by the State Board of Refrigeration Contractors) or a heating and cooling contractor license (issued by the State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractors)

To be eligible for either license, you must show 4,000 hours of work experience. However, completion of an academic or technical training course may be substituted for up to half that amount. You’ll also need to pass a licensing exam.

Learn more about HVAC license and insurance requirements in North Carolina.

North Dakota

While there is no specific HVAC contractor license in North Dakota at the state level, all contractors working on any projects worth $4,000 or more require a state license from the North Dakota Secretary of State. There may be HVAC licensing requirements on the local level and you need to check these in the jurisdiction you play to work in.

For a state contractor license, you need to apply and show proof of business insurance in North Dakota, including workers’ compensation insurance and general liability insurance.

Ohio

To work as a HVAC contractor in the state of Ohio you will need to be licensed by the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board. To be eligible to write the exam, you must show five years of experience as an HVAC technician and must show proof of liability insurance.

Oklahoma

An HVAC contractor must be licensed by the state to work in Oklahoma. Licenses are awarded by the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board and fall under the umbrella of Mechanical Contractor licenses. There are multiple categories of licenses available.

To be eligible to sit the exam, you must show proof of at least four years of experience in HVAC (including three years meeting journeyman requirements), or show a combination of educational hours plus years of experience. The number of hours of experience required varies depending on the type of education you received.

You will also need proof of business liability insurance in Oklahoma and a $5,000 surety bond.

Oregon

HVAC contractors in Oregon require a state license to work. There are several license types issued by the Oregon Construction Contractors Board, but licenses are split between residential, small commercial and large commercial. Each category has several endorsements applicants can apply for. HVAC technicians might apply for the following:

• Residential Specialty Contractor (RSC)
• Residential Limited Contractor (RLC)
• Commercial Specialty Contractor – Level 1 (CSC1)
• Commercial Specialty Contractor – Level 2 (CSC2)

All of the licenses above have experience, training and test requirements. You also need to submit a surety bond (amounts vary based on license) and show proof of general liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance if you have employees.

Pennsylvania

You do not need any state licensing to work as an HVAC contractor in Pennsylvania. However, there may be city licensing requirements, so make sure to check these before you begin working.

Rhode Island

There are multiple categories and classes of state licenses that an HVAC contractor must have to own a business in Rhode Island. These include:

Sheet metal master contractor

• Class I: Must have held sheet metal journeyperson I license for one year and pass an exam.
• Class II: Must have held sheet metal journeyperson II license for three years and pass an exam.

Pipefitter master contractor

• Class I: Must have held pipefitter journeyperson I license or pipefitter master II license for one year and pass an exam.
• Class II: Must have held pipefitter journeyperson II license for three years and pass an exam.

Refrigeration master Class I

• Class I: Must have held refrigeration journeyperson I license or refrigeration master II license for one year.
• Class II: Must have held refrigeration journeyperson II license for three years and pass an exam.

Contractor master

• Pipefitting: Must have a Mechanical Engineering degree and four years of experience in pipefitting, or a Business Administration degree and four years of experience in pipefitting, and pass an exam.
• Refrigeration: Must have a Mechanical Engineering degree and four years of experience in refrigeration/AC, or a Business Administration degree and four years of experience in refrigeration/AC, and pass an exam
• Sheet Metal: Must have a Mechanical Engineering degree and four years of experience working in sheet metal, or a Business Administration degree and four years of experience in sheet metal, and pass an exam.

Master mechanical contractor

Must have worked for 10 years as a Rhode Island licensed pipefitter master I and 10 years as a Rhode Island licensed refrigeration master I. No exam required.

All contractors must carry valid Rhode Island business insurance.

South Carolina

To work as an HVAC contractor in South Carolina, you must hold a state license issued by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. There are two different licenses:

• Mechanical contractor license, issued by the Contractor’s Licensing Board
• Residential specialty HVAC contractor license, issued by the Residential Builders Commission.

To get the mechanical contractor license, which is required for performing work over $5,000, applicants must have two years of experience within the past five years. You must pass a trade exam and a business and law exam. They also must provide a financial statement or a surety bond.

To get the residential specialty HVAC contractor license, you will need to have at least one year of HVAC experience within the past five years. You must pass a trade exam and a business and law exam. You must also get a surety bond.

South Dakota

HVAC contractors do not require a state license to work in South Dakota, although there are licensing requirements at the city level so make sure to check the regulations of the city where you plan to work.

Tennessee

An HVAC contractor in Tennessee must have a state license before bidding on projects costing $25,000 or more. You will be awarded a license from the Board for Licensing Contractors. Master and journeyman-level licensing is done on the local level.

There are two statewide licenses:

• Full mechanical contractor license (Full CMC)
• Mechanical – HVAC/Refrigeration contractor license (CMC-C)

The full mechanical contractor licensure includes education and training in both plumbing and HVAC. You must be pre-approved by the Board before taking the exam. You will need to provide a financial statement, letters of reference, and proof of business insurance.

You don’t need pre-approval to take the exam for a CMC-C license. However, you may also need to get the Limited Licensed Electrician license to work in some counties. You will need to provide a financial statement, letters of reference, and proof of business insurance.

Texas

To work as an HVAC contractor in Texas, you will need a state license issued by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

To qualify for a license, you must have either:

• At least four years of practical experience in air-conditioning and refrigeration-related work under the supervision of a licensed HVAC contractor in the past six years.
• Held a technician certification for the past 12 months and have at least three years of practical experience in air-conditioning and refrigeration-related work supervision of a licensed HVAC contractor in the past four years.

You can apply for either a Class A (unlimited) license or Class B (cooling systems of 25 tons and under, and heating systems of 1.5 million BTUs/hour and under) license. You must pass an exam and show proof of Texas general liability insurance.

Learn more about HVAC license requirements in Texas.

Utah

HVAC contractors in Utah require a state license from the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. There are a number of subclasses under the HVAC specialty contractor license, depending on the type of work you plan to do.

To be eligible for a license, you must take a 25-hour pre-license course from Associated Builders and Contractors Inc (ABC), Utah Home Builders Association (UHBA) or Associated General Contractors of Utah (AGC). You must also show proof of liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance.

Vermont

There are no state HVAC license requirements to work as an HVAC contractor in Vermont; however, it is important to check the local requirements before you begin working in the state.

Virginia

To work as an HVAC contractor in Virginia, you must have a state license from the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation.

You can only get a contractor license after acquiring the master heating, ventilation & air conditioning (HVA) license. Depending on the value of the work you plan to do, you can select one of three classes of contractor licenses (A, B or C). The requirements for each license type include:

• Class A: Show five years of work experience and $45,000 minimum business capital.
• Class B: Show three years of work experience and $15,000 minimum business capital.
• Class C: Show two years of work experience

All applicants must complete an eight-hour pre-licensing course and pass a trade exam and law exam. Class A and B applicants must submit a financial statement or a surety bond.

Learn more about HVAC license and insurance requirements in Virginia.

Washington

HVAC contractors require a state license to work in Washington; however it’s not an HVAC or mechanical license — it’s an electrician license. Two licenses are awarded by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries: journey level electrician license and a specialty electrician license.

Journey level license

As of 2023, you must have completed an electrical apprenticeship program to sit for the exam. You must also have a minimum of 8,000 hours of work as an electrician trainee supervised by a certified journey-level electrician. Industrial or commercial installation must account for 4,000 of those hours. You must have 96 hours of basic classroom instruction.

Specialty electrician license

There are two specialties:

• HVAC/refrigeration system (06A): You need 4,000 hours of work experience and 48 hours of classroom training.
• HVAC/refrigeration – restricted (6B): You need 2,000 hours of work experience requiring supervision 100% of the time.

All applicants must pass an exam to get their license. You must also get your EPA Section 608 certification before handling refrigerants.

To own your own business, you must register as a specialty contractor. You must purchase a surety bond and hold business insurance.

West Virginia

The state of West Virginia requires HVAC work valued at $5,000 or more for residential work

or $25,000 or more for commercial work to be licensed by the West Virginia Department of Commerce Division of Labor.

To be eligible for a license, you must have an HVAC technician certification, which requires you to pass the trade exam, as well as the business and law exam. You must also show proof of workers’ compensation insurance. You must also register a wage bond with the Division of Labor.

Wisconsin

Certification in Wisconsin is not mandatory at the state level, but there are local requirements. Becoming certified as an HVAC Qualifier can cover the requirements of local jurisdictions. If you qualify, you will be licensed by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. There are two HVAC credentials: HVAC Qualifier and HVAC Contractor.

HVAC Qualifier

To be licensed, you will need to pass an exam and must have one of the following:

• At least 1,000 hours of experience per year for four years.
• At least four years in a mechanical engineering school or accredited college
• A total number of four years with a combination of education and experience.

HVAC Contractor

This is a business credential. You only need to pay the fee to become a recognized entity.

Wyoming

There are no state HVAC license requirements for contractors in Wyoming. However, make sure to check the local requirements before you begin working in the state.

This information has been provided as a service. It is correct and up-to-date to the best of our knowledge; however, it is in no way intended to offer legal advice and you must always consult with local authorities before you make any business decisions. Regulations and requirements may change at any time.