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As a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) contractor, you can earn a good living and help both residential and commercial clients enjoy safe and comfortable interior environments. Like many states, Florida regulates skilled trades to ensure that consumers receive the highest-quality services.

This means you must obtain a license from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) before you can legally operate as an HVAC contractor. How do you go about getting one?

Class A and B Licenses

If you want to work as an air conditioning contractor, you’ll need either a Class A or Class B license. With a Class A license, you may accept unlimited contracts for work relating to the installation, maintenance, repair, and alteration of HVAC systems. Design, fabrication, and extension services are also included.

Class B license holders are permitted to perform similar services but are limited in the scope of work. With this license, you may accept contracts only for systems intended for up to 25 tons of cooling and 500,000 BTU of heating. This is typically limited to residential and perhaps small business settings.

Requirements for HVAC Licensing

Before you can obtain an HVAC license, you must meet educational/experience and financial requirements. In terms of education or experience, you can submit proof of one of the following:

• Four-year construction-related degree from an accredited college plus one year of applicable work experience
• Three years of college credits plus one year of experience as a foreman
• Two years of college credits plus one year as a worker and one year as a foreman
• One year of college credits plus two years as a worker and one year as a foreman
• Four years of work experience, including at least one year as a foreman

As for financial requirements, you must provide a personal credit report and financial statement, a business credit report and financial statement, and a certificate of insurance. From there, you’ll have to pass the required state exams.

Required State Exams

Two state exams are required to obtain an HVAC license: the Business and Finance Exam and a trade exam. The first is an open-book test featuring 120 questions that you will have 6.5 hours to complete. You must answer at least 70% (84) of the questions correctly to pass.

From there you will test for either a Class A or Class B license. The Class A Air Conditioning Contractor Exam features 130 questions, and you will have 7.5 hours to complete it.

The Class B Air Conditioning Contractor Exam consists of 80 questions, and you will have five hours to complete it. Both tests are open-book, and you must answer at least 70% (91 and 56) of the questions correctly to pass.

Test Preparation That Makes Your Life Easy

Are you looking for a program designed for working professionals that offers convenient 24/7 online access to courses so you can work at your own pace? Contact RocketCert to learn more about exam prep programs that help you obtain your HVAC contractor license in Florida.