How to get a HVAC license in Florida
The full Florida hvac licensing path — experience hours, required exam, fees, and where to apply. Verified 5/26/2026.
Career prep, not a license.
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Certified Class A or Class B Air Conditioning Contractor
Florida licenses HVAC contractors at the state level through the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), part of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Florida separates HVAC work into Class A (unlimited) and Class B (25-ton cooling / 500,000 BTU heating cap) licenses, and both require passing three exams: business & finance, trade knowledge, and the Florida law exam. This guide covers exactly what qualifies, what's on the exams, and what it costs to get licensed.
Step-by-step: how to get your Florida HVAC license
The DBPR process is slower than most states — plan on 4–6 months from application to license, mostly because credit and background checks can bounce the file back to you multiple times.
- Decide between Certified (statewide) or Registered (local competency only). Certified lets you pull permits anywhere in Florida; Registered restricts you to the county/city where you passed local competency.
- Meet the experience requirement: 4 years of proven HVAC experience, with at least 1 year as a foreman OR a combination of college (up to 3 years credit for a construction/engineering degree) and field experience.
- Get financial responsibility: FICO 660+ OR post a $10,000–$20,000 bond. Bad credit is the #1 reason Florida apps get rejected.
- Pass all three exams through Professional Testing, Inc.: Business & Finance (open-book), HVAC Trade Knowledge (Class A or B, open-book), and Florida Law (open-book).
- Get general liability insurance ($300k) and workers' comp (or exemption for corporate officers).
- Submit application with $249 fee, fingerprint card ($80 through Livescan), and all supporting docs.
Certified vs. Registered — which Florida HVAC license do I need?
Certified is the default for anyone building a real business. Registered exists mostly for old-school operators who've been working in one county for decades.
- Certified Class A Air Conditioning Contractor — no tonnage limit, statewide. This is what most new businesses want.
- Certified Class B — capped at 25 tons cooling / 500,000 BTU heating, statewide. Fine for pure residential.
- Registered Contractor — local competency card only; you can only work in that jurisdiction. Rarely worth it unless you'll never leave one county.
- Mechanical Contractor (unlimited) — covers HVAC plus process piping, boilers, and refrigeration; broader scope, harder exam.
Florida HVAC exam: what's on it
All three exams are computer-based at Professional Testing centers or remote-proctored. Business & Finance and Law are open-book with the DBPR-approved reference list; Trade Knowledge is open-book only for the code sections.
Business & Finance: 120 questions, 6.5 hours. Covers project management, contract law, lien law (Florida Chapter 713 is heavy), payroll, taxes, and basic accounting.
HVAC Trade Knowledge (Class A): 100 questions, 6.5 hours. Covers Manual J/D/S, refrigerant handling, 2020 Florida Mechanical Code, 2020 Florida Building Code – Energy Conservation, ductwork, and equipment sizing.
Florida Law: 40 questions, 2 hours. Covers Chapter 489 F.S. (contractor licensing) and Chapter 61G4 F.A.C.
Florida HVAC license fees & ongoing costs (2026)
Year-one budget: roughly $1,500–$2,500 not counting insurance premium and reference-book purchases. Renewal is every two years.
- Application fee: $249.
- Exam fees: $135 per exam × 3 = $405 total.
- Reference books (required for open-book exams): $700–$1,000 for the full set.
- Fingerprint / background: $80.
- GL insurance $300k: $800–$2,400/year.
- Workers' comp (per employee, or exemption for corporate officers ~$50).
- Renewal: $209 every 2 years, plus 14 hours of continuing education (1 hour law, 1 hour workers' comp, 1 hour workplace safety, 1 hour advanced code, 1 hour business, 9 general).
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a hvac license in Florida?
You need 4 years experience (1 yr as foreman) or combination of college and experience. Then pass the Florida HVAC Contractor Exam (Business & Finance + Trade) administered by Professional Testing, Inc.. Applications go through the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (DBPR).
What exam do I need to pass?
Florida HVAC Contractor Exam (Business & Finance + Trade) — administered by Professional Testing, Inc..
How much experience do I need?
4 years experience (1 yr as foreman) OR combination of college and experience
What about fees, insurance, and continuing education?
Class A: unlimited capacity. Class B: ≤25 tons / ≤500K BTU heating. EPA 608 mandatory. Liability insurance ($300K/$50K). 14 hrs biennial CE. Renewal $209.
How does Florida's credit-check requirement actually work?
DBPR pulls your FICO. A score of 660+ satisfies financial responsibility with no bond. Below 660, you must post a bond: $20,000 for Division I (general/building/residential) or $10,000 for Division II (which includes HVAC). Below 660 also triggers an automatic 14-hour financial responsibility CE course before the license issues.
Does Florida have HVAC license reciprocity with other states?
Florida has reciprocity agreements with Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, California, and Nevada for the trade portion of the exam only. You still must pass the Florida Business & Finance and Florida Law exams, meet experience and financial-responsibility requirements, and pay all fees.
Can I do HVAC service and repair in Florida without a contractor license?
No. Any installation, repair, maintenance, or service of HVAC systems for compensation requires a Certified or Registered Contractor license. Working as an employee of a licensed contractor is fine — the license belongs to the qualifier, not each worker. Unlicensed contracting is a first-degree misdemeanor and DBPR issues cease-and-desist orders and civil fines up to $10,000.
How long does it take to get a Florida HVAC license?
Realistic timeline: 4–6 months. Fastest path: buy reference books first, schedule all 3 exams within 60 days of studying, submit fingerprint through Livescan the same week, and have insurance and credit report ready. Application review at DBPR takes 30–60 days after everything is in, and any missing document restarts the review clock.
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