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Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) Occupational Licensing

License required in 36 states

9th most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations

Average Fee for License:$373

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 (Residential) Licensing Overview

Thirty-six states (more than half of states) require a licence to work as a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential). On average, these laws require $373 in fees, 1,016 days of education and about 1 exam. Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) Licenses have the 9th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. Fees for a license exceed $1000 in Nevada.

Where is a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) the most regulated?

Out of the 36 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) 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 (Residential) the least regulated?

Out of the 36 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) 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 (Residential) license the most expensive?

An occupational license for a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) 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 (Residential) license the least expensive?

An occupational license for a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (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 Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) license?

An occupational license for a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) takes the longest to obtain in Delaware, Iowa, Idaho, Maryland.It takes 2190 days (6 years).

Where is it fastest to obtain a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) license?

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

What states require exams for a Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) license?

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

Thirty-six states license HVAC sheet metal contractors working on residential properties. On average, states require close to three years (1,026 days) of education and experience, $384 in fees, and about two exams. All in all, 31 require at least one exam (New Mexico requires four). These requirements rank as the ninth most burdensome.

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
23 Alaska 64 $850 730 None 2 years 1 0 0
24 Arkansas 72 $305 730 None 2 years 1 0 18
21 Arizona 68 $596 730 None 2 years 2 0 18
12 California 75 $579 1460 None 4 years 3 0 18
11 Connecticut 65 $705 1460 None 4 years 3 0 18
8 District of Columbia 61 $45 1825 None 5 years 1 0 0
3 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
13 Hawaii 64 $694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
1 Iowa 71 $434 2190 None 6 years 2 12 18
2 Idaho 66 $355 2190 None 6 years 2 0 18
15 Kentucky 38 $406 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
32 Louisiana 77 $255 0 None None 0 0 0
19 Massachusetts 50 $400 1095 None 3 years 1 12 17
4 Maryland 58 $155 2190 None 6 years 2 0 0
20 Michigan 48 $200 1095 None 3 years 1 0 0
27 Mississippi 65 $290 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
22 North Carolina 66 $280 730 None 2 years 2 0 18
30 North Dakota 65 $100 0 None None 0 0 18
36 Nebraska 61 $0 0 None None 0 0 0
7 New Jersey 54 $331 1825 None 5 years 2 0 21
10 New Mexico 66 $537 1460 None 4 years 4 0 18
9 Nevada 75 $1,040 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
14 Oklahoma 42 $615 1460 None 4 years 2 0 19
28 Oregon 69 $310 3 16 clock hours None 1 0 18
35 Pennsylvania 50 $50 0 None None 0 0 0
6 Rhode Island 70 $468 1825 None 5 years 2 0 18
26 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
5 Virginia 72 $720 1826 8 clock hours 5 years 2 0 18
34 Washington 76 $118 0 None None 0 0 0
33 Wisconsin 42 $175 0 None None 0 0 0
25 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