What is Occupational Licensing?
An “occupational license” is, put simply, government permission to work in a particular field. To earn the license, an aspiring worker must clear various hurdles, such as earning a certain amount of education or training or passing an exam. In the 1950s, only one in 20 U.S. workers needed the government’s permission to pursue their chosen occupation. Today, that figure stands at almost one in four.
HVAC Contractor (Residential) Occupational Licensing
License required in 35 states
8th most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations
Average Fee for License:$383
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 (Residential) Licensing Overview
Thirty-five states (more than half of states) require a licence to work as a HVAC Contractor (Residential). On average, these laws require $383 in fees, 1,045 days of education and about 2 exam. HVAC Contractor (Residential) Licenses have the 8th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. Fees for a license exceed $1000 in Nevada.
Where is a HVAC Contractor (Residential) the most regulated?
Out of the 35 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a HVAC Contractor (Residential) 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 (Residential) the least regulated?
Out of the 35 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a HVAC Contractor (Residential) has the lowest burden in Nebraska. Nebraska requires $0 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no education.
Where is a HVAC Contractor (Residential) license the most expensive?
An occupational license for a HVAC Contractor (Residential) costs the most in Nevada. Nevada requires $1040 in fees, 2 exams, 4 years experience, and no education.
Where is a HVAC Contractor (Residential) license the least expensive?
An occupational license for a HVAC Contractor (Residential) 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 (Residential) license?
An occupational license for a HVAC Contractor (Residential) 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 (Residential) license?
An occupational license for a HVAC Contractor (Residential) takes the least time to obtain in Louisiana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington, Wisconsin (0 days).
What states require exams for a HVAC Contractor (Residential) license?
To obtain an occupational license for a HVAC Contractor (Residential) there is at least one exam required in: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia. Rhode Island requires 4 exams.
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 Burdensome
Based on data released in November 2022| Burden Rank | State | Occupations Licensed | Fees | Estimated Calendar Days Lost | Education | Experience | Exams | Minimum Grade | Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Alaska | 64 | $850 | 730 | None | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Arkansas | 72 | $305 | 730 | None | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 20 | Arizona | 68 | $596 | 730 | None | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 11 | California | 75 | $579 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| 10 | Connecticut | 65 | $705 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | 61 | $45 | 1825 | None | 5 years | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Delaware | 42 | $153 | 2190 | None | 6 years | 1 | 0 | 16 |
| 16 | Florida | 55 | $364 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 17 | Georgia | 41 | $297 | 1463 | 16 clock hours | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Hawaii | 64 | $694 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | Iowa | 71 | $434 | 2190 | None | 6 years | 2 | 12 | 18 |
| 3 | Idaho | 66 | $355 | 2190 | None | 6 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 14 | Kentucky | 38 | $406 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 28 | Louisiana | 77 | $400 | 0 | None | None | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Maryland | 58 | $405 | 2190 | None | 6 years | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Michigan | 48 | $200 | 1095 | None | 3 years | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Mississippi | 65 | $290 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | North Carolina | 66 | $280 | 730 | None | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 30 | North Dakota | 65 | $100 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 35 | Nebraska | 61 | $0 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | New Jersey | 54 | $331 | 1825 | None | 5 years | 2 | 0 | 21 |
| 15 | New Mexico | 66 | $324 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 9 | Nevada | 75 | $1,040 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 13 | Oklahoma | 42 | $615 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 19 |
| 27 | Oregon | 69 | $310 | 3 | 16 clock hours | None | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | 50 | $50 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Rhode Island | 70 | $660 | 2920 | None | 8 years | 4 | 0 | 18 |
| 25 | South Carolina | 60 | $280 | 365 | None | 1 years | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Tennessee | 69 | $364 | 0 | None | None | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Texas | 38 | $195 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 31 | Utah | 64 | $405 | 4 | 25 clock hours | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Virginia | 72 | $720 | 1826 | 8 clock hours | 5 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 33 | Washington | 76 | $118 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | 42 | $175 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | West Virginia | 67 | $356 | 365 | None | 1 years | 3 | 0 | 18 |
License to Work
The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.
View Report