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HVAC Contractor (Commercial) Occupational Licensing

License required in 37 states

6th most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations

Average Fee for License:$399

What They Do

HVAC contractors contract with clients to install, service or repair heating and air conditioning systems in residences and commercial establishments. In most states, only contractors require licenses, not those who work for them. In some states, licensing requirements differ based on the setting. Those with a residential license may work only on residential properties, while those with a commercial license may work on commercial properties. Other states require the same license regardless of the setting, and this report records that license in both settings. Many states have contract minimums before the contractor’s license applies. See Appendix B for details.

HVAC Contractor (Commercial) Licensing Overview

Thirty-seven states (more than half of states) require a licence to work as a HVAC Contractor (Commercial). On average, these laws require $399 in fees, 1,155 days of education and about 2 exam. HVAC Contractor (Commercial) Licenses have the 6th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. Fees for a license exceed $1000 in Nevada.

Where is a HVAC Contractor (Commercial) the most regulated?

Out of the 37 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a HVAC Contractor (Commercial) has the highest burden in Rhode Island. Rhode Island requires $660 in fees, 4 exams, 8 years experience, and no education.

Where is a HVAC Contractor (Commercial) the least regulated?

Out of the 37 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a HVAC Contractor (Commercial) has the lowest burden in Nebraska. Nebraska requires $0 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no education.

Where is a HVAC Contractor (Commercial) license the most expensive?

An occupational license for a HVAC Contractor (Commercial) costs the most in Nevada. Nevada requires $1040 in fees, 2 exams, 4 years experience, and no education.

Where is a HVAC Contractor (Commercial) license the least expensive?

An occupational license for a HVAC Contractor (Commercial) costs the least in Nebraska. Nebraska requires $0 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no education.

Where does it take the longest to obtain a HVAC Contractor (Commercial) license?

An occupational license for a HVAC Contractor (Commercial) takes the longest to obtain in Rhode Island. It takes 2920 days (8 years). Rhode Island requires $660 in fees, 4 exams, 8 years experience, and no education.

Where is it fastest to obtain a HVAC Contractor (Commercial) license?

An occupational license for a HVAC Contractor (Commercial) takes the least time to obtain in Tennessee, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Washington, Nebraska (0 days).

What states require exams for a HVAC Contractor (Commercial) license?

To obtain an occupational license for a HVAC Contractor (Commercial) there is at least one exam required in: Rhode Island, Iowa, Idaho, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, New Jersey, Ohio, Georgia, District of Columbia, Nevada, Connecticut, California, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Kentucky, New Mexico, Florida, Alaska, Oregon, Texas, Michigan, Massachusetts, Arizona, Arkansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee. Rhode Island requires 4 exams.

Thirty-seven states license HVAC contractors working on commercial properties. Twenty-six states require between two and six years of experience working under a licensed contractor. Rhode Island, the most burdensome state, requires eight years of experience. At the other end of the spectrum, seven states require no education or experience at all. On average, states require over three years (1,197 days) of education and experience, $400 in fees ($1,078 in Nevada), and about two exams. These high barriers give commercial HVAC contractors the sixth most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied.

States Ranked by Average Licensing Burden for 102 Lower-Income Occupations

More Burdensome Less Burdensome
Based on data released in November 2022

State Licensing Requirements

Select a chart to view:
Burden Rank State Occupations Licensed Fees Estimated Calendar Days Lost Education Experience Exams Minimum Grade Minimum Age
1 Rhode Island 70 $660 2920 None 8 years 4 0 18
2 Iowa 71 $434 2190 None 6 years 2 12 18
3 Idaho 66 $385 2190 None 6 years 2 0 18
4 Maryland 58 $405 2190 None 6 years 2 0 0
5 Delaware 42 $153 2190 None 6 years 1 0 16
6 Virginia 72 $720 1826 8 clock hours 5 years 2 0 18
7 New Jersey 54 $331 1825 None 5 years 2 0 21
8 Ohio 40 $210 1825 None 5 years 2 0 18
9 Georgia 41 $297 1829 24 clock hours 5 years 1 0 18
10 District of Columbia 61 $45 1825 None 5 years 1 0 0
11 Nevada 75 $1,040 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
12 Connecticut 65 $705 1460 None 4 years 3 0 18
13 California 75 $579 1460 None 4 years 3 0 18
14 Hawaii 64 $694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
15 Oklahoma 42 $615 1460 None 4 years 2 0 19
16 Kentucky 38 $406 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
17 New Mexico 66 $324 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
18 Florida 55 $364 1460 None 4 years 1 0 18
19 Alaska 64 $850 1460 None 4 years 1 0 0
20 Oregon 69 $310 1463 16 clock hours 4 years 1 0 18
21 Texas 38 $209 1460 None 4 years 1 0 18
22 Michigan 48 $200 1095 None 3 years 1 0 0
23 Massachusetts 50 $115 700 1000 clock hours 2000 clock hours 1 12 18
24 Arizona 68 $696 730 None 2 years 2 0 18
25 Arkansas 72 $535 730 None 2 years 2 0 18
26 North Carolina 66 $280 730 None 2 years 2 0 18
27 South Carolina 60 $385 730 None 2 years 3 0 0
28 Alabama 63 $340 700 None 3000 clock hours 1 0 0
29 West Virginia 67 $296 365 None 1 years 3 0 18
30 Mississippi 65 $640 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
31 Louisiana 77 $400 0.2 1 clock hours None 2 0 0
32 Tennessee 69 $360 0 None None 2 0 0
33 North Dakota 65 $100 0 None None 0 0 18
34 Utah 64 $405 4 25 clock hours None 0 0 0
35 Wisconsin 42 $175 0 None None 0 0 0
36 Washington 76 $118 0 None None 0 0 0
37 Nebraska 61 $0 0 None None 0 0 0

License to Work

The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.

View Report