HVAC Contractor (Residential)
License required in 35 states
8th most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations
24th most heavily regulated occupation among moderate-income occupations
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.Licensing
Thirty-five states license HVAC contractors working on residential properties. On average, states require almost three years (1,055 days) of education and experience, $397 in fees, and about two exams. All in all, 30 states require at least one exam (Rhode Island requires four). These requirements rank as the eighth most burdensome.
States Ranked by Average Licensing Burden for 102 Lower-Income Occupations
More Burdensome Less Burdensom
Based on data released in November 2017Burden Rank | State | States Licensed | Fees | Estimated Calendar Days Lost | Education | Experience | Exams | Minimum Grade | Minimum Age |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Rhode Island | 35 | $660 | 2920 | 8 years | 4 | 0 | 18 | |
2 | Iowa | 35 | $890 | 2190 | 6 years | 2 | 12 | 18 | |
3 | Idaho | 35 | $395 | 2190 | 6 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
4 | Maryland | 35 | $405 | 2190 | 6 years | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
5 | Delaware | 35 | $109 | 2190 | 6 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
6 | Virginia | 35 | $720 | 1826 | 8 clock hours | 5 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
7 | New Jersey | 35 | $331 | 1825 | 5 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
8 | D C | 35 | $45 | 1825 | 5 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
9 | Nevada | 35 | $1,078 | 1460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
10 | California | 35 | $579 | 1460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | |
11 | Kentucky | 35 | $506 | 1460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | |
12 | Connecticut | 35 | $465 | 1460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | |
13 | Hawaii | 35 | $615 | 1460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
13 | Oklahoma | 35 | $615 | 1460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
15 | Florida | 35 | $364 | 1460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
16 | New Mexico | 35 | $318 | 1460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
17 | Georgia | 35 | $297 | 1463 | 16 clock hours | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
18 | Texas | 35 | $195 | 1460 | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
19 | Michigan | 35 | $400 | 1095 | 3 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
20 | Arizona | 35 | $956 | 730 | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
21 | Utah | 35 | $549 | 733 | 20 clock hours | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 0 |
22 | Arkansas | 35 | $255 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
23 | North Carolina | 35 | $260 | 730 | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
24 | Alaska | 35 | $450 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
25 | South Carolina | 35 | $280 | 365 | 1 years | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
26 | Mississippi | 35 | $290 | 67 | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
27 | Oregon | 35 | $410 | 3 | 16 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
28 | Louisiana | 35 | $460 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
29 | Tennessee | 35 | $360 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
30 | West Virginia | 35 | $174 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
31 | North Dakota | 35 | $125 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | ||
32 | Wisconsin | 35 | $175 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
33 | Washington | 35 | $113 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
34 | Pennsylvania | 35 | $50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
35 | Nebraska | 35 | $0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |