Have you ever wished to become an HVAC technician? You have to understand the process of getting a license in your state. Nationally, having an EPA 608 Certification is required for people involved in maintaining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of equipment likely to give off refrigerants in the air.
This article highlights everything you need to know about the licensing process for HVAC contractors in various states.
What Does an HVAC License Mean?
An HVAC license is an authorization for a technician to handle HVAC-related tasks after training and certification. Not all states request an HVAC technician license, and the procedure for getting one varies. Passing a relevant exam guarantees clients that you have what it takes to work in the industry.
After meeting the relevant criteria, you may take an exam from the International Code Council (ICC) exam. The body creates and administers the exam at approved testing locations.
How much Does It Cost To Become a Certified HVAC Technician?
Certification of HVAC technicians proves their proficiency in working in a particular field. Certification requires 210 classroom hours for a five-year course.
Paying the registration fee and attaining the acceptable 2.5-grade point average to pass the certification training is mandatory. Some schools offer certifications that require having completed high school or General Education Diploma (GED).
Vocational schools and community colleges charge about $1,200 to $15,000 to attend HVAC training that lasts 6-12 months. In Northwest Spokane, WA, year-long training costs about $6,500.
In Michigan, nine-month training costs about $13,500, including a basic tool kit and EPA examination fees. The programs offer basic training in motor controls, refrigeration, technical math, heating systems, and applied physics.
A two-year associate degree covering HVAC-related technologies costs $150,000 to $35,000. In Phoenix, AZ, a one-year training costs $19,125, while a two-year degree costs $29,420. For Denver, the degree goes for $30,200. Associate degrees combine general education and technical skills.
Cost Of HVAC Apprenticeships
Three to five-year HVAC apprenticeships cost about $500 to $2000. The Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractor of America has four-year home study apprenticeship courses that cost $512 to $732 annually. Coursework for self-study equals classroom-based and physical practice.
The Air Conditioning Contractors of America has four-year apprenticeships at $1,300 to $2,000. You must train under a professional HVAC technician to earn a portion of a regular wage. HVAC apprenticeship training is usually available at local bodies of the Home Builders’ Association (HBA) or Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).
Environmental Protection Agency certification is required for HVAC technicians working with refrigerants. This is likely to cost you about $40 to $240.
Other Costs To Becoming HVAC Certified
You need to budget for other costs regarding becoming a certified HVAC technician. The budget should include about $500 to $1,000 for books and other supplies and $5,000 to $10,000 for housing and food annually. HVAC student tools cost about $400, and uniforms cost about $160.
Scholarships
The Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors of America offers scholarships valued at more than $500. Other schools like Pennsylvania’s New Castle School of Trades also award scholarships.
HVAC License Requirements In All States
Every state has its requirements for an HVAC contractor license. Some states don’t require this license. Here’s everything you need to know regarding what it takes to obtain a license for HVAC technicians in different states.
Alabama
The Alabama Heating, Air conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors board gives HVAC contractors licenses. You must pass a relevant exam. Another requirement is a certificate from an apprenticeship acquired from the state board not exceeding two years. Alternatively, you need to have graduated from an approved course.
Alternatively, you need about 3,000 hours of experience supervised by a licensed HVAC contractor. You apply for certification after passing a relevant exam. The other requirements include a performance bond worth $15,000 and a fee.
Alaska
HVAC technicians don’t need a license in this state. However, you need to become certified in an appropriate field. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development in Alaska handles the certification.
Licenses for contractors are from the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. The different specializations include:
- Domestic services
- Automatic temperature management systems
- Extensive HVAC tasks
- Heating, cooling, and process piping
- Extensive refrigeration
- Domestic plumbing with hydronic warming
HVAC technician license requirements include:
- Mechanical Administrator license
- Liability insurance
- Passing a test with multiple questions
- $10,000 surety bond
- Worker’s compensation insurance
- Mechanical contractor registration
Arizona
There are no requirements to obtain a license for HVAC technicians in the state. However, the Registrar of Contractors issues licenses for HVAC contractors. The requirements for this license include:
- 4+ years experience
- Or, more experience and certified apprentice graduation
- Pass a trade and business management exam
- Worker’s compensation insurance
- Secretary of state or Arizona Corporation Commission registration
- Pass a relevant license exam
Arkansas
The state doesn’t require HVAC technicians to obtain a license. However, the Department of Labor and Licensing issues licenses for contractors. There’re five license options available whose requirements include:
- Two years of contractor experience
- Experience working for a licensed HVAC contractor
- Passing a state exam
License renewal is annual.
California
The state doesn’t have any requirements to obtain a license for HVAC technicians. California’s Department of Consumer Affairs issues licenses for HVAC contractors. The requirements for an HVAC contractors license California include:
- Four years of experience in the past ten years
- $15,000 security bond
- Worker’s compensation insurance
- Pass a state exam
Colorado
HVAC technicians don’t need a license to work at the state level. However, some cities and counties require a license. The requirement is to pass an exam with multiple-choice questions with a score of not less than 70% in three hours.
Connecticut
HVAC technicians obtain the relevant license from the Department of Consumer Protection. The license options include apprentice, journeyman, or contractor. The contractor licenses are limited or unlimited.
The requirements include:
- Completion of apprenticeship
- Or industry experience and relevant education
- Pas a state exam
Delaware
There are two HVAC contractor licenses in Delaware. Each license depends on the tasks you’re to do. The limited license for Master HVACR is for a particular field, while the unlimited version allows working in various fields.
Applying requires a journeyman certificate with about two years of industry experience supervised by an HVAC contractor at the master level. Or, you may have worked for seven years under the supervision of a contractor at the master level.
District of Columbia
HVAC technicians obtain their license from the state’s Board of Industrial Trades. To obtain a license for a journeyman or master contractor requires paying an application fee and passing a written exam. License renewal is after 24 months.
Florida
The state doesn’t have any requirements to obtain a license for HVAC technicians. However, HVAC contractors get their licenses from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. There are many license options to work in Florida.
You must pass a state exam and other requirements, including:
- A bachelor’s degree
- About 2000 relevant work experience
- Pass a business and finance exam
- Four years as an apprenticeship
- One year as a foreman experience and three years of college credits
- Or one year of HVAC and foreman experience with two years of college credits
Georgia
HVAC contractors obtain their license from the Division of Conditioned Air Contractors in the Construction Licensing Board. The license options include Class I (limited) and Class II (unlimited).
You need fours of experience to qualify for a Class I license and five years for a Class II license. Applicants have to pass an exam with more than 70%. Additionally, you must have a $10,000 cash or surety bond to work in the state.
Hawaii
The state doesn’t have any requirements to get a license for HVAC technicians. HVAC contractors obtain their licenses from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. You need the following to qualify for a specialty contractor license:
- Four years of experience in the last ten years
- Pass business and law exams
- Pass a trade exam
- Workers’ compensation and liability insurance
- A surety bond
- Business registration at the state level
Idaho
Professionals in the HVAC industry need a relevant license. Two licenses for HVAC contractors are available from the Division of Building Safety. These include the contractor and specialty licenses.
Applying for the specialty license requires passing a relevant exam with two years of experience as a journeyman. You also need a $2,000 compliance bond.
Illinois
The state doesn’t have requirements for HVAC technicians to get a license. However, to work in the state may require other licenses.
Indiana
This state has no requirements for HVAC technicians to acquire a license. However, there’s a likelihood of having to obtain some additional operating licenses depending on your state.
Iowa
HVAC technicians obtain their licenses from the Department of Public Health, Plumbing, and Mechanical Systems board. Apprentices must enroll in US Department of Labor-approved programs.
Journeyman technicians must have fours as apprentices and pass a relevant exam. Master technicians must have a journeyman license, two years of experience, and pass an exam.
Kansas
The state doesn’t have any requirements for technicians and contractors in the HVAC industry to obtain a license. Your municipality may require additional licenses.
Kentucky
Technicians in Kentucky get their licenses from the Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction. You must be a licensed journeyman for two years under the supervision of an HVAC contractor at the master level.
You must also pass business, law, and trade examinations and have $500,000 liability insurance. Renewing your license requires attending eight-hour continuing education training.
Louisiana
There’re no licensing requirements to obtain a license for HVAC technicians. HVAC contractors get their license from the Licensing Board of Contractors. Obtaining a mechanical contractor license requires passing trade, business, and law exams.
Maine
The state has no requirements to getting licences for HVAC technicians. However, a license is necessary for any related trades. HVAC technicians may obtain details regarding licensing requirements from the Fuel Board. Main doesn’t have licensing requirements for HVAC contractors.
Maryland
HVAC technicians obtain their license from the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation’s board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors. The options for an HVAC technician license include a master license, a limited master license, and an unlimited master license.
You must pass an exam, have a three-year license as a journeyman, and three years of experience supervised by a contractor at the master level. You must also have general liability and property damage insurance.
Massachusetts
The state has no license requirements for general HVAC technicians. However, refrigeration technicians have two license options. The license for apprentices requires registering for an apprenticeship at the Office of Labor and Workforce Development in the Apprentice Standards division.
You must complete 6,000 hours as an apprentice and 250 training hours to apply for a technician license. Alternatively, you may have 4,000 apprentice hours with 500 coursework hours. Having 2,000 apprentice hours with 1,000 coursework hours serves the same purpose. You also have to pass a technician examination.
There’re no requirements to get a general contractor license except those handling refrigeration exceeding 10 tons. Refrigeration contractors need 2000 hours working as registered technicians. You must also complete 100 hours of training and pass a relevant exam.
Michigan
The state doesn’t have requirements to obtain an HVAC technician license. HVAC contractors get their license from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs’ mechanical division, the Bureau of Construction Codes.
You also need three years of experience and pass a relevant exam.
Minnesota
There’re no requirements to obtain a license for technicians and contractors in the HVAC industry. However, your municipality may meet some licensing requirements to operate.
Mississippi
The state has no requirements to get a license for HVAC technicians. Mechanical contractors get their licenses from the Board of Contractors. The licensing requirements include:
- Pass business and law exams
- Workers’ compensation insurance
- Pass a relevant trade exam
- Liability insurance
Missouri
There’re no requirements to obtain a license for HVAC technicians or technicians. However, your municipality may have additional licenses to operate.
Montana
The state doesn’t have requirements to get a license for HVAC technicians or contractors. HVAC contractors must register with the Department of Labor and Industry. Business owners must have a license to handle general construction work.
Nebraska
The state doesn’t have requirements to get a license for technicians and contractors in the HVAC industry. Your municipality may have additional requirements. Registration with the Department of Labor is mandatory for all HVAC contractors.
Nevada
There’re no requirements to get a license for HVAC technicians in Nevada. Contractors obtain specialty licenses from the Contractors Board issues. The requirements for this license are:
- Three years of experience as a journeyman technician
- Surety bond
- Pass an exam in construction management survey
- Industry experience
New Hampshire
There are no requirements for getting a license for technicians and contractors. The state Department of Safety has details regarding licensing requirements in your municipality. All contractors must register in the state.
New Jersey
There are no requirements to obtain a license for HVAC technicians in the state. The Board of Examiners of Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Contractors issues licenses for contractors.
The requirements for this license are:
- Securing a bond and liability cover
- HVAC/R degree or HVAC/R experience for a year
- Degree in a related field or three years o HVAC/R experience
- Vocational training and two years of HVAC/R experience
- Four years of apprenticeship and one-year HVAC/R experience
New Mexico
This state doesn’t have requirements to get a license for HVAC Technicians. Journeymen obtain a certificate of competence from the state’s Department of Regulation and Licensing. The requirements include:
- 4,000 hours of industry experience
- Pass a relevant exam
The Department of Regulation and Licensing issues licenses for HVAC technicians. The requirements to get these licenses, include:
- Four to five years of industry experience
- Pass a trade exam
- Pass business and law exams
- Securing a bond
License renewal requires undertaking five hours of ongoing education.
New York
The state doesn’t have requirements to obtain a license for technicians and contractors in the HVAC industry. Your municipality may have additional licensing requirements to operate.
North Carolina
There are no requirements to obtain a license for HVAC technicians in the state. HVAC contractors get their licenses from the Refrigeration Contractors’ Board. The requirements include:
- Eperience of two years in a related field
- Pass a relevant exam
- Possession of a surety bond
North Dakota
The state doesn’t have requirements to obtain a license for HVAC technicians. You have to find out the requirements for your particular license. Contractors handling projects worth over $4,000 must obtain a license from the Secretary of State.
Requirements for this license include:
- Pay an application fee
- Workers’ compensation insurance
- Business registration
Your business location may have additional licensing requirements to operate.
Ohio
This state doesn’t have any licensing requirements for HVAC technicians. HVAC contractors obtain their licenses from the Construction Industry Licensing Board. The requirements include:.
- Five years of experience as an HVAC tech
- Pass a relevant exam
- Liability insurance
Oklahoma
Two licenses for HVAC technicians are available from the Construction Industry Licensing Board. The license for mechanical contractors requires experience as a mechanical apprentice.
HVAC contractors obtain their licenses from the Department of Construction Industry Licensing.
The requirements include passing a relevant exam and having a $5,000 bond.
Oregon
HVAC technicians may obtain a limited maintenance license for specialty contractors and a license for commercial and residential work. Getting a limited license doesn’t require passing an exam.
The requirements include four years of experience doing installation work and HVACR training. You must train for 16 hours and pass an exam to get the license for commercial and residential HVAC work. Other requirements include general liability and workers’ compensation insurance.
Pennsylvania
The state doesn’t have any requirements to get a license for technicians and contractors in the HVAC industry. Your municipality may have other requirements to operate.
Rhode Island
HVAC technicians may obtain three licenses from the Department of Labor and Training. The license for apprentices requires undertaking certified training. You must complete four years of apprenticeship and pass an exam to obtain a journeyman class I.
Additionally, the Department of Labor and Training issues a Refrigeration Master Class I License and a Refrigeration Master Class II License. The Class I license requires a one-year refrigeration journeyman license and the Class II license requires three years refrigeration journeyman license.
South Carolina
You don’t need to meet any licensing requirements to get an HVAC license. The Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation issues HVAC contractor licenses. You must meet the following requirements to obtain a residential specialty license:
- One year of supervision by a master or licensed HVAC contractor
- Passing a state exam
- Securing a bond
South Dakota
The state doesn’t have any licensing requirements for HVAC technicians and contractors. You must check with your municipality for any additional licensing to operate.
Tennessee
Although the state doesn’t have licensing requirements for HVAC technicians, the Licensing Contractors’ Board issues licenses for HVAC contractors. However, you only need this license when handling projects over $25,000.
Requirements for a Mechanical HVAC Refrigeration Contractor License:
- Passing a relevant state exam
- Passing business and law exams
- Proof of liability cover
Texas
The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors Advisory Board issues two HVAC technician licenses. These include a registered technician license and a certified technician license.
Becoming a registered air conditioning and refrigeration technician requires registering with the state and paying an application fee. To become a certified air conditioning and refrigeration technician requires passing an approved exam.
The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors Advisory Board awards HVAC contractor licenses. You must meet the following requirements:
- About four years of HVAC experience in the last six years supervised by a licensed technician
- Passing a state examination
- Have insurance cover
Utah
There are no licensing requirements for HVAC technicians at the state or local level. The Occupational and Professional Licensing Division awards HVAC contractor licenses depending on the field of work.
The division also awards HVAC contractor licenses depending on the subclass of work. To be eligible, you must complete the following:
- Four years of full-time experience in the last ten years
- Passing a trade exam
- Passing business and law exams
- Liability and worker’s compensation cover
You must undertake continuing education for six hours to renew your license.
Vermont
The Department of Public Safety awards HVAC technician licenses. The requirements to qualify for an electrical specialist license include completing a certified training program with one-year HVAC experience. Alternatively, you may have two years of HVAC experience.
You don’t have to meet any licensing requirements to get an HVAC contractors license. However, check with your municipality for additional licensing to operate.
Virginia
The Professional and Occupational Regulation department awards three levels of HVAC Technician licenses. Licenses for apprentices require finding a program and training. The journeyman license requires passing a state exam after completing an apprenticeship.
You should also complete vocational training and have relevant HVAC experience. The master license requires passing a state exam after obtaining a one-year journeyman license. Alternatively, you may have ten years of HVAC experience.
The Professional and Occupational Regulation department issues three levels of HVAC contractor licenses. All require obtaining a master HVAC tradesman license.
Washington
The Labor and Industries department awards three levels of HVAC license with different requirements.
A master HVAC license requires having a journeyman or specialty electrician license. You must also pass an exam. However, you should check whether your municipality requires additional licensing to operate.
The department also issues contractor licenses. You must have HVAC certification from an approved institute and pass a state exam.
West Virginia
The state doesn’t have licensing requirements to obtain an HVAC license. The Division of Labor in the Department of Commerce awards HVAC contractor licenses. You must meet the following requirements to get a Class D contractor license.
- Passing a trade exam
- Passing business and law exams
- Worker’s compensation cover
Wisconsin
You don’t have to meet licensing requirements to obtain an HVAC technician or contractor license. However, you may get a license from the Department of Safety and Professional Services. Obtaining an HVAC qualified certificate requires passing a state exam, including any of these:
- About 1,000 experience hours annually for four years
- About four years in an accredited college or mechanical engineering institute
- Four years of training and experience
Wyoming
You don’t need a state license to work as an HVAC technician in Wyoming. However, the Wyoming Association of Municipalities has a trades certification program that offers certification programs including:
- Journeyman gas fitter
- Master gas fitter
- Refrigeration journey
- Refrigeration master technician
- Journeyman HVAC technician
- Master HVAC technician
Manage Your Business With An HVAC Software
After realizing the licensing requirements in your state, it is time to get to work. You need software for accurate job scheduling and easy dispatching. Field Complete will streamline managing your business regardless of your experience.
Schedule a free demo TODAY to see how Field Complete can help you get started in the HVAC industry
