Licensing Guides
HVAC License Florida: How to Become an HVAC Professional in Florida
HVAC, FL
Table of Contents
What Is the Median Salary for an HVAC Technician in Florida?
How Much Does It Cost to Get an HVAC Contractor License in Florida?
There’s not a state in the country where HVAC systems are more important to consumers than Florida. With the heat and humidity, Floridians depend on their residential and commercial units every day. That’s why HVAC professionals are in high demand in the Sunshine State, making it a career with great job security.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, reports that there are over 415,800 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers nationwide and 37,370 work in Florida. The national number is expected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032 — adding more than 20,000 of these skilled workers to the ranks. In Florida that growth rate is expected to be more than double that. The U.S. Department of Labor’s job search website, CareerOneStop, projects the growth rate in Florida to be 15% for HVAC mechanics and installers, and the Associated General Contractors of America, says contractors are hiring. In the 2020 AGC-Autodesk Workforce Survey, 60% of firms in the U.S. and 50% of firms in Florida had unfilled hourly craft positions.
Heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems wear out and break down, so there is always a need for tradespeople who know how to fix them or install new systems. Also, as the push for energy efficiency and reducing pollution grows stronger, there’s a need for mechanical systems to be retrofitted, upgraded or replaced entirely to remain compliant.
The licensing requirements for HVAC workers and HVAC contractors vary from state to state and in some cases from locality to locality.
If you’re considering taking this career path, you’ll need to understand the Florida HVAC license regulations and figure out how to navigate the process.
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Licensing Requirements for HVAC in Florida
Is a license required for HVAC Contractors in Florida? Yes.
To legally perform heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration work in the state of Florida, you must be a licensed air conditioning contractor or a technician apprentice working under a licensed contractor.
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations, a division of Florida’s Construction Industry Licensing Board, issues the licenses.
Types of HVAC Licenses in Florida
What are the different types of HVAC licenses in Florida?
There are four types of HVAC contractor licenses currently available in Florida.
Class A State Certified Contractor
Class B State Certified Contractor
Class A State Registered Contractor
Class B State Registered Contractor
A Class A License allows you to work on any size unit. A Class B License allows you to only work on units of 25 tons of cooling or less and 500,000 BTU of heating.
A State Certified License allows you to work anywhere in the state of Florida. You must pass the State of Florida’s licensing examination to earn a Certified License.
A State Registered License allows you to work only in the locality where you passed that locality’s competency exam. Each county will have its own licensure requirements.
Class C State Certified and Registered licenses are no longer offered but are still recognized by the state for those contractors who held them prior to Oct. 1, 1988.
Steps to Get an HVAC License in Florida
Both certified and registered contractor licenses require you to:
Be 18 years of age.
Have a high school diploma or GED.
Complete a training program—either on-the-job training working under the supervision of a licensed contractor or classroom training at a vocational school or college.
Get verified experience in the HVAC industry.
Pass a trade knowledge exam and a business and finance knowledge exam.
Acquire general liability insurance in the amount of $100,000 with $25,000 property damage coverage.
Demonstrate financial responsibility based on your submitted FICO credit report with a score of 660 or higher.
Complete a Criminal Background check.
How to Get an HVAC License in Florida
WORK EXPERIENCE: Work experience can be any combination of the following:
A bachelor’s degree in a related field and one year/2,000 hours of experience; OR
Four years of experience through an apprenticeship program, with at least one of those years as a foreman; OR
One year of experience as a foreman and at least three years of college credits; OR
One year of experience as a worker, one year as a foreman, and two years of college credits; OR
Two years of experience as a worker, one year as a foreman, and one year of college credits
TAKE LICENSING EXAM: After getting the education and training you need, you must pass the exam or exams. You need to earn at least 70% to pass. All examinations are open book and consist of multiple-choice questions. Each paper-and-pencil examination session is 4 hours and 45 minutes long. Some parts are administered in two sessions.
Effective July 1, 2020, exam candidates who have received a bachelor's degree in building construction from an accredited four-year college, or a related degree as approved by board rule, and has a GPA of 3.0 or higher are exempt from having to take the trade knowledge portion of the exam. You will be required only to register for the Business and Finance exam.
APPLY FOR LICENSE: After you have passed the exam, you may apply for your Florida contractors license.
PROVIDE PROOF OF:
INSURANCE: You will need to provide proof of general liability insurance in the amount of $100,000 with $25,000 property damage coverage.
SOLID FINANCES: You will need to submit your FICO credit score of 660 or better. According to the state website, “If an applicant does not have a 660 credit score at the time of application, the applicant may still establish financial responsibility by obtaining a licensing bond or letter of credit. The amount of the bond or letter of credit depends on the type of license: $20,000 for Division I contractors or $10,000 for Division II contractors. These amounts may be reduced to $10,000 for Division I contractors and $5,000 for Division II contractors by completing a board-approved financial responsibility course.”
CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECK: You must have a background check as part of the application process, and it will require you to submit your fingerprints.
Benefits of Getting an HVAC License In Florida
There are many benefits to getting your HVAC license:
First and most important, it is required by law in Florida to be licensed through the state to legally perform A/C and Refrigeration (ACR) work.
A trade license is proof of your experience and skill.
Only licensed ACR contractors can: operate a business and advertise services, obtain commercial insurance, pull building permits and pass inspections, bid on public and government projects.
Having a license protects your company and customers.
Gives you a competitive advantage in the job market.
Increases your earning potential.
What Is the Median Salary for an HVAC Technician in Florida?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the annual mean salary for HVAC mechanics and installers nationally as $59,620 and in Florida as $52,220. According to indeed.com, the average salaries for HVAC professionals in Florida increase with experience and training and are as follows:
HVAC Installer: The average wage for an HVAC installer is $22.12 per hour in Florida and $6,750 overtime per year.
HVAC Technician: The average wage for an HVAC Technician is $26.11 per hour in Florida and $6,705 overtime per year.
HVAC Mechanic: The average wage for an HVAC Mechanic is $23.86 per hour in Florida.
HVAC Supervisor: The average base salary for an HVAC Supervisor is $75,123 per year in Florida.
Salary can vary widely depending on the city and many other important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years you have spent in your profession.
What Business Owners Need to Know
Getting the most out of an HVAC technician, no matter where they are in their licensing journey, takes work. ServiceTitan’s cloud-based, all-in-one HVAC software gives technicians and business owners the technology they need to do the work efficiently, and the data they need to do it smartly.
ServiceTitan features:
SMS communications that keep customers informed about the technician’s visit.
Location-specific service history, including recorded calls, accessible from the mobile app.
Required forms that ensure every job is done right, driving consistency.
The ability to build multi-option proposals with photos, on-site, in minutes.
Sales presentations that make conversations with customers easier and drive average ticket.
Mobile payment acceptance, eliminating lost checks and increasing cash flow.
To learn more, schedule a demo with a product expert today.
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How Much Does It Cost to Get an HVAC Contractor License in Florida?
The different licenses cost different amounts in Florida. The fees for licenses are based on whether you are using the certification or registration process and when you file for the license:
Registered Contractor Fee: $309 if applying between May 1 of an odd year and Aug. 31 of an even year; $209 if applying between Sept. 1 of an even year and April 30 of an odd year.
Certified Contractor Fee: $249 if applying between May 1 of an even year and Aug. 31 of an odd year; $149 if applying between Sept. 1 of an odd year and April 30 of an even year.
Renewals are due every two years on Aug. 31. Certified licenses expire in even-numbered years, while registered licenses expire in odd-numbered years.
The renewal fee for both types of license is $209.
You will also have to pay fees for the examinations. The statewide exam is administered by Professional Testing Inc. The registration fee is $135. The Business and Finance test is $80. The trade knowledge-based test is $80.
How to Get an HVAC License in Florida
According to the state website, to become a state-certified contractor in Florida, you must:
Be at least 18 years of age.
Meet the educational/experience requirements.
Obtain a passing score on all parts of the Florida State Construction examination.
Be of good moral character.
Pay all applicable fees.
Obtain workers' compensation coverage.
Demonstrate financial responsibility.
Training Programs and Schools
There are many programs to get the training you need to become an HVAC professional in Florida. Some certification programs only require one or two semesters before you can begin serving as an assistant and begin accruing the work experience you need. Other programs can be two- or four-year college degree programs in air conditioning, refrigeration, and heating systems technology.
Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, Palm Beach State College, and Florida State College at Jacksonville all appear on a Top 10 Ranking nationwide.
Here's a great list of the best heating and cooling system schools in Florida:
Tuition: The cost of tuition depends on the program you choose but can range from about $600 for a certificate program to about $15,000 per year at a four-year school.
Program Prerequisites: You must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or a GED (General Educational Development) degree.
On-the-Job Experience: While on the job, you will need to have good customer service skills, be detail-oriented, have some mechanical capability, and be physically fit because the job can include some heavy lifting and hours of walking, standing, and working in tight spaces.
HVAC Specific Requirements: EPA Certification
Everywhere throughout the country, EPA regulations under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act require that HVAC technicians who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of equipment that could release refrigerants into the atmosphere must be certified. EPA Section 608 HVAC Certification is required for any professional who conducts refrigerant line-pressure tests or handles or adds refrigerant to existing air conditioning systems.
Most training programs can direct you to how and where to get that certification, or your employer will require you to get it before handling refrigerant. You can also go to EPA.gov and key in 608 Certification in the search bar to find out which institutions in your state offer certification programs.
Take Certification Exam: You must acquire your EPA Certification from an approved organization. A list of these organizations can be found on the EPA’s website. There are four types of EPA Certifications for Refrigerant. They allow for different levels of certification for different scopes of work.
Type I – for servicing small appliances containing five pounds of refrigerant or less.
Type II – for servicing high-pressure units that contain five pounds or more of refrigerant (including most small commercial and residential systems).
Type III – for servicing or disposing of low-pressure appliances.
Universal – for servicing all systems and appliances covered under Types I, II, and III. Generally more useful than targeting any one specific certification.
Core Exam
For all certifications, you must pass the “Core Section” of the EPA certification exam. It covers the following topics:
Ozone depletion
Clean Air Act and the Montreal Protocol
Section 608 regulations
Substitute refrigerants and oils
Refrigeration
The Three R’s (Recover, Recycle, Reclaim)
Recovery techniques
Dehydration evacuation
Safety
Shipping
National HVAC Certifications
Other certifications can help you demonstrate your proficiency to potential employers and clients. North American Technical Excellence (NATE) certification, ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers) certification, and other professional certifications are not required but can add to your marketability as a service provider and increase your opportunity to make more money.
Other Requirements Unique to Florida
Certified contractors must perform 14 hours of continuing education during each license period. The CE credits must come from a state-approved provider.
Resources
You can stay up to date on all HVAC industry news several ways:
Check top HVAC blogs, including ServiceTitan’s blog
Read about the latest industry trends
Listen to top HVAC podcasts like ServiceTitan’s Toolbox for the Trades podcast.
