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.
Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) Occupational Licensing
License required in 37 states
5th most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations
Average Fee for License:$399
What They Do
HVAC sheet metal contractors contract with clients to install prefabricated sheet metal ducts used for heating, air conditioning or other purposes. Typically, only contractors require licenses, not sheet metal workers 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.
Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) Licensing Overview
Thirty-seven states (more than half of states) require a licence to work as a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial). On average, these laws require $399 in fees, 1,175 days of education and about 2 exam. Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) Licenses have the 5th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. Fees for a license exceed $1000 in Nevada.
Where is a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) the most regulated?
Out of the 37 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) has the highest burden in Iowa. Iowa requires $434 in fees, 2 exams, 6 years experience, and no education.
Where is a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) the least regulated?
Out of the 37 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) has the lowest burden in Nebraska. Nebraska requires $0 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no education.
Where is a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) license the most expensive?
An occupational license for a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) costs the most in Nevada. Nevada requires $1040 in fees, 2 exams, 4 years experience, and no education.
Where is a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) license the least expensive?
An occupational license for a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (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 Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) license?
An occupational license for a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) takes the longest to obtain in Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Idaho, Maryland.It takes 2190 days (6 years).
Where is it fastest to obtain a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) license?
An occupational license for a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) takes the least time to obtain in North Dakota, Nebraska, Tennessee, Washington, Wisconsin (0 days).
What states require exams for a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) license?
To obtain an occupational license for a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) there is at least one exam required in: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia. New Mexico requires 4 exams.
Thirty-seven states license HVAC sheet metal contractors working on commercial properties. Twenty-eight states require between two and six years of experience working under a licensed contractor. Mississippi requires completion of three contracted jobs. Seven states require no education or experience. On average, states require over three years (1,215 days) of education and experience, $394 in fees ($1,078 in Nevada), and about two exams. These high barriers give commercial HVAC sheet metal contractors the fifth 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| Burden Rank | State | Occupations Licensed | Fees | Estimated Calendar Days Lost | Education | Experience | Exams | Minimum Grade | Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Alaska | 64 | $850 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Alabama | 63 | $340 | 700 | None | 3000 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Arkansas | 72 | $535 | 730 | None | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 24 | Arizona | 68 | $696 | 730 | None | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 15 | California | 75 | $579 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | Connecticut | 65 | $705 | 2190 | None | 6 years | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | 61 | $45 | 1825 | None | 5 years | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Delaware | 42 | $153 | 2190 | None | 6 years | 1 | 0 | 16 |
| 20 | Florida | 55 | $364 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 11 | Georgia | 41 | $297 | 1829 | 24 clock hours | 5 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 16 | Hawaii | 64 | $694 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 1 | Iowa | 71 | $434 | 2190 | None | 6 years | 2 | 12 | 18 |
| 3 | Idaho | 66 | $355 | 2190 | None | 6 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 18 | Kentucky | 38 | $406 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 31 | Louisiana | 77 | $400 | 0.20 | 1 clock hours | None | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 50 | $400 | 1825 | None | 5 years | 1 | 12 | 17 |
| 5 | Maryland | 58 | $155 | 2190 | None | 6 years | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Michigan | 48 | $200 | 1095 | None | 3 years | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Mississippi | 65 | $640 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | North Carolina | 66 | $280 | 730 | None | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 33 | North Dakota | 65 | $100 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 37 | Nebraska | 61 | $0 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | New Jersey | 54 | $331 | 1825 | None | 5 years | 2 | 0 | 21 |
| 13 | New Mexico | 66 | $537 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 4 | 0 | 18 |
| 14 | Nevada | 75 | $1,040 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 10 | Ohio | 40 | $210 | 1825 | None | 5 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | 42 | $615 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 19 |
| 21 | Oregon | 69 | $310 | 1463 | 16 clock hours | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 70 | $510 | 1825 | None | 5 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 27 | South Carolina | 60 | $310 | 730 | None | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Tennessee | 69 | $364 | 0 | None | None | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Texas | 38 | $209 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 34 | Utah | 64 | $405 | 4 | 25 clock hours | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Virginia | 72 | $720 | 1826 | 8 clock hours | 5 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 36 | Washington | 76 | $118 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | 42 | $175 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | West Virginia | 67 | $296 | 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