HVAC License Requirements by State
What each state's official licensing board or agency page says, quoted word for word. States we could not verify are marked as such.
Look up a state
Alabama Verified on an official page
Agency: Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors
"A heating and air conditioning contractor performs installation, service, and/or repair on a heating and/or cooling apparatus."
hacr.alabama.gov/how-to-get-licensed/
Official pages read 2026-10-05. Verified: 29 of 51 (the 50 states and DC).
HVAC licensing is set by states and, in many places, by cities and counties. There is no single national HVAC license. The federal rule that applies almost everywhere is EPA Section 608 certification for handling refrigerant, which is separate from any state license. This page quotes the official state board or agency page for each state we could read. It does not summarize, and it does not fill gaps: if we could not read an official page, the state is marked Not verified. Rules change, so open the official page before you apply, and ask your city or county about local licenses and permits.
Worked example: reading an entry
Texas: the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation page says "Contractors who install, repair, or maintain systems related to air conditioning, refrigeration, or heating must have a TDLR license." A second TDLR page says "Any person who assists a licensed air conditioning and refrigeration contractor in performing air conditioning and refrigeration maintenance or repair work must register as a technician." So in Texas both contractors and the technicians who help them deal with the state agency. Other states license only contractors, only commercial work, or only certain trades, and the quotes show which.
All states
51 of 51 rows shown
| State | Agency | What the official page says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors | "A heating and air conditioning contractor performs installation, service, and/or repair on a heating and/or cooling apparatus." | Official page |
| Alaska | Not verified | Not verified: no official page could be read | None |
| Arizona | Arizona Registrar of Contractors | "This classification allows the licensee to install and repair comfort air conditioning systems, including refrigeration, evaporative cooling, ventilating, and heating with or without solar equipment." | Official page |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, HVAC/R | "To sit for an Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing HVAC/R contractor exam, you must be pre-approved by the Board." | Official page |
| California | Contractors State License Board (C-20 classification) | "A warm-air heating, ventilating and air-conditioning contractor fabricates, installs, maintains, services and repairs warm-air heating systems and water heating heat pumps" | Official page |
| Colorado | Not verified | Not verified: no official page could be read | None |
| Connecticut | Department of Consumer Protection (D-1 and D-2 limited licenses) | "The holder of this limited license may perform the installation, repair, replacement, maintenance or alteration of any warm air, air conditioning and refrigeration system" | Official page |
| Delaware | Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners | "The Board issues master plumber, master HVACR and master restricted HVACR licenses. Restricted licenses limit practice to a specialty such as air conditioning." | Official page |
| District of Columbia | D.C. Code 47-2853.201 (Board of Industrial Trades, DLCP) | "refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic" means a person who designs, installs, maintains or alters mechanical systems for refrigeration or air conditioning of any public or private building or vehicle | Official page |
| Florida | Florida Statutes 489.105 (Construction Industry Licensing Board classes) | "Class B air-conditioning contractor" means a contractor whose services are limited to 25 tons of cooling and 500,000 Btu of heating in any one system | Official page |
| Georgia | Not verified | Not verified: no official page could be read | None |
| Hawaii | Contractors License Board (C-52 classification) | "C-52 Ventilating and air conditioning contractor. To fabricate, assemble, and install warm-air heating and air cooling systems including heating and cooling solar systems" | Official page |
| Idaho | Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, HVAC Board | "Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Board - Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses" | Official page |
| Illinois | Not verified | Not verified: no official page could be read | None |
| Indiana | Not verified | Not verified: no official page could be read | None |
| Iowa | Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board | "Information for those in the plumbing and mechanical systems trades (hydronic, HVAC, refrigeration, and sheet metal)." | Official page |
| Kansas | Not verified | Not verified: no official page could be read | None |
| Kentucky | Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (815 KAR 8:010) | "815 KAR 8:010. Licensing requirements for master HVAC contractors and journeyman HVAC mechanics." | Official page |
| Louisiana | Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (Mechanical subclassification) | "The installation, maintenance or repair of air conditioning, ventilation, refrigeration, coolers, freezers, and ice rinks. A license is required when the value exceeds $10,000." | Official page |
| Maine | Not verified | Not verified: no official page could be read | None |
| Maryland | Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors | "The Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVACR) Contractors licenses and regulates individuals who provide commercial and residential HVACR services" | Official page |
| Massachusetts | Office of Public Safety and Inspections (refrigeration technician license) | "This license is required for anyone who performs refrigeration work having a capacity over 10 tons in the aggregate." | Official page |
| Michigan | Not verified | Not verified: no official page could be read | None |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry | "While there is no state license required for mechanical contractors, businesses must file a $25,000 mechanical contractor bond with DLI" | Official page |
| Mississippi | Mississippi State Board of Contractors | "Commercial and residential contractors and roofers are required to be licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors." | Official page |
| Missouri | Not verified | Not verified: no official page could be read | None |
| Montana | Not verified | Not verified: no official page could be read | None |
| Nebraska | Not verified | Not verified: no official page could be read | None |
| Nevada | Not verified | Not verified: no official page could be read | None |
| New Hampshire | Not verified | Not verified: no official page could be read | None |
| New Jersey | State Board of Examiners of HVACR Contractors | "This board licenses and regulates heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration contractors in New Jersey." | Official page |
| New Mexico | Not verified | Not verified: no official page could be read | None |
| New York | Not verified | Not verified: no official page could be read | None |
| North Carolina | State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors | "Ensure applicants meet minimum qualifications to be licensed for contracting in plumbing, HVAC, fuel gas piping, and fire sprinkler trades." | Official page |
| North Dakota | Not verified | Not verified: no official page could be read | None |
| Ohio | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board | "The Licensing Board regulates commercial contractors who perform the above five specialty trades." | Official page |
| Oklahoma | Construction Industries Board, Mechanical | "Before becoming a Journeyman you must first train as an apprentice." | Official page |
| Oregon | Not verified | Not verified: no official page could be read | None |
| Pennsylvania | Not verified | Not verified: no official page could be read | None |
| Rhode Island | Not verified | Not verified: no official page could be read | None |
| South Carolina | Residential Builders Commission (LLR) | "Residential HVAC work exceeding $500 requires a license." | Official page |
| South Dakota | Not verified | Not verified: no official page could be read | None |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (CMC-C classification) | "Mechanical subcontractors performing mechanical work over $25K must be licensed as contractors." | Official page |
| Texas | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation | "Contractors who install, repair, or maintain systems related to air conditioning, refrigeration, or heating must have a TDLR license" | Official page |
| Utah | Division of Professional Licensing (H100 HVAC Contractor) | "Two (2) years of HVAC-specific experience, verified by W-2 forms" | Official page |
| Vermont | Not verified | Not verified: no official page could be read | None |
| Virginia | Board for Contractors, Tradesmen Program (DPOR) | "The Board for Contractors regulates individual tradesmen who engage in the trades of electrical; plumbing; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)" | Official page |
| Washington | Department of Labor and Industries (specialty electrician certificates) | "Limited energy system (06). HVAC/refrigeration system (06A). Nonresidential maintenance (07)." | Official page |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Division of Labor | "no person may perform or offer to perform heating, ventilating and cooling system work in West Virginia without a certification issued by the West Virginia Division of Labor" | Official page |
| Wisconsin | Department of Safety and Professional Services | "may engage or offer to engage in installing or servicing heating, ventilating or air conditioning equipment unless the person, entity or business holds a registration" | Official page |
| Wyoming | Not verified | Not verified: no official page could be read | None |
Not verified (22): Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming.
How to use this list
- Start with the official page linked for your state and read the current requirements there.
- Check the scope: some boards license contractors and companies, some license individual technicians, and some cover only commercial work.
- Ask your city or county building department about local licenses and permits.
- Get EPA Section 608 certification for refrigerant work. It is required by federal rule whether or not your state licenses HVAC work.
Frequently asked questions
Do HVAC technicians need a state license?
Some do. BLS says some states and localities require HVAC technicians to be licensed and advises checking with your state and locality. The table shows what each state board page we could read says.
Which states license HVAC work?
This page quotes official pages for 29 of the 50 states and DC. Texas, for example, says "Contractors who install, repair, or maintain systems related to air conditioning, refrigeration, or heating must have a TDLR license." States we could not verify are marked Not verified.
Is EPA 608 certification the same as an HVAC license?
No. EPA 608 certification is a federal requirement for handling refrigerant. A state or local HVAC license is separate. See the EPA 608 checker.
What does Not verified mean?
It means we could not read an official state page that answers the question, so we show nothing rather than guess. It does not mean the state has no license.
Do cities and counties license HVAC work too?
They can. Ohio's licensing board, for example, says "All local building and health departments regulate residential contractors." Check with your city or county as well as the state.
More HVAC tools
- HVAC pay by state and metro
Wage percentiles for any state or metro area, your pay compared, and an apprentice earnings planner. - Salary by state table
Sortable table of every state and DC with a two-state comparison. - EPA 608 certification checker
Find the Section 608 type you need from the EPA rule text. - Room AC BTU calculator
Room size to BTU per hour with the ENERGY STAR chart and adjustments. - SEER2 savings calculator
DOE minimum SEER2 by region and yearly cooling cost at your price. - Job outlook 2025 to 2035
BLS projections, openings per year, and HVAC jobs in each state.
Sources
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers. Read from an Internet Archive copy dated September 30, 2026 because the agency site blocks automated access.
- Alabama: Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors.
- Arizona: Arizona Registrar of Contractors.
- Arkansas: Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, HVAC/R.
- California: Contractors State License Board (C-20 classification).
- Connecticut: Department of Consumer Protection (D-1 and D-2 limited licenses).
- Delaware: Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners.
- District of Columbia: D.C. Code 47-2853.201 (Board of Industrial Trades, DLCP).
- Florida: Florida Statutes 489.105 (Construction Industry Licensing Board classes).
- Hawaii: Contractors License Board (C-52 classification).
- Idaho: Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, HVAC Board.
- Iowa: Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board.
- Kentucky: Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (815 KAR 8:010).
- Louisiana: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (Mechanical subclassification).
- Maryland: Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors.
- Massachusetts: Office of Public Safety and Inspections (refrigeration technician license).
- Minnesota: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.
- Mississippi: Mississippi State Board of Contractors.
- New Jersey: State Board of Examiners of HVACR Contractors.
- North Carolina: State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors.
- Ohio: Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board.
- Oklahoma: Construction Industries Board, Mechanical.
- South Carolina: Residential Builders Commission (LLR).
- Tennessee: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (CMC-C classification).
- Texas: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
- Utah: Division of Professional Licensing (H100 HVAC Contractor).
- Virginia: Board for Contractors, Tradesmen Program (DPOR).
- Washington: Department of Labor and Industries (specialty electrician certificates).
- West Virginia: West Virginia Division of Labor.
- Wisconsin: Department of Safety and Professional Services.