🗺️ HVAC Licensing Requirements by State
Do You Need a License to Work in HVAC? Depends on the State.
Not all states treat HVAC the same way. Some require full contractor licenses with exams. Others only ask for EPA 608. Some cities have stricter rules than the state itself.
Below is a state-by-state breakdown of HVAC licensing requirements in the U.S. 👇
✅ STATES THAT REQUIRE STATE-LEVEL HVAC LICENSING
| State | License Type | Regulating Body / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | HVAC Contractor License | Alabama Board of Heating, AC & Refrigeration Contractors |
| Alaska | Mechanical Admin Cert | State of Alaska Dept. of Commerce |
| Arizona | C-39 or CR-39 License | Arizona Registrar of Contractors |
| Arkansas | HVACR License | Arkansas Dept. of Labor – HVACR Board |
| California | C-20 License | CSLB – Contractors State License Board. Must pass law & trade exams. |
| Connecticut | D/S License (Journeyman) | Department of Consumer Protection |
| Delaware | HVACR License | Division of Professional Regulation |
| Florida | Class A/B HVAC License | Florida DBPR. License required for jobs over $500 |
| Georgia | Conditioned Air License | Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board |
| Hawaii | C-52 License | Hawaii Department of Commerce |
| Idaho | HVAC Journeyman/Contractor | Idaho Division of Building Safety |
| Kentucky | HVAC Master/Journeyman | Dept. of Housing, Buildings and Construction |
| Louisiana | Mechanical Contractor | LA State Licensing Board for Contractors (for jobs $10,000+) |
| Maryland | HVACR License | Dept. of Labor, Licensing, & Regulation |
| Massachusetts | Refrigeration License | Required for >10 tons or >3 HP. Board of Examiners of Refrigeration |
| Mississippi | HVAC License | Required if work > $10,000. Mississippi State Board of Contractors |
| Nevada | C-21 License | Nevada State Contractors Board |
| New Mexico | MM-3 (Mechanical) | New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Dept. |
| North Carolina | H1, H2, H3 Class Licenses | State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler |
| Ohio | HVAC Contractor License | Only for commercial. Licensed by Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board |
| Oregon | LEB or HVAC Contractor | Requires Electrical & Business license through CCB |
| Rhode Island | Refrigeration Journeyman/Contractor | Dept. of Labor and Training |
| South Carolina | Mechanical Contractor | For commercial work > $5,000 |
| Tennessee | CMC or CMC-A License | TN Board for Licensing Contractors. Needed for jobs > $25,000 |
| Texas | Class A or B License | Texas Dept. of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) |
| Utah | S-350 HVAC License | Utah Division of Occupational & Professional Licensing |
| Virginia | HVAC Journeyman/Master | DPOR – Dept. of Professional & Occupational Regulation |
| Washington | Specialty Electrician 06A + Contractor License | Dept. of Labor & Industries (L&I) |
| West Virginia | HVAC Technician License | State Fire Marshal |
⚠️ STATES WITH LOCAL / CITY HVAC LICENSING ONLY
| State | State License? | Local / City Regulation |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | ❌ | No statewide license, but cities like Denver require licensing |
| Illinois | ❌ | Only Chicago and some counties require a refrigeration license |
| Kansas | ❌ | Regulated at the local/county level only |
| Missouri | ❌ | Cities like St. Louis and Kansas City require local licensing |
| Nebraska | ❌ | Local licenses may be required depending on city |
| New York | ❌ | No statewide license, but NYC and Long Island require refrigeration licensing |
| Pennsylvania | ❌ | Regulated at city level (e.g. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh) |
| South Dakota | ❌ | Local only. No statewide licensing required |
| Wyoming | ❌ | No state license, but local municipalities may require permits |
🚫 STATES WITH NO HVAC LICENSE REQUIRED (only EPA 608)
| State | Details |
|---|---|
| Indiana | Only EPA 608 needed. Local permits may apply. |
| Montana | No license for HVAC work. City-level rules may exist. |
| North Dakota | No license required. Voluntary registration available. |
| Wisconsin | HVAC license not required—except for refrigerant work (EPA 608 needed). |
⚙️ Common Requirements Across Most States
| Requirement | Applies Where? |
|---|---|
| EPA 608 Certification | ALL 50 STATES |
| Work Experience (2–5 yrs) | Most contractor licenses |
| Pass Trade + Business Exams | Many contractor-level licenses |
| Liability Insurance | Required to register a business |
| Bonding | Often required for contractors |
📌 California Spotlight – C-20 License
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| License Type | C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Contractor |
| Governing Agency | Contractors State License Board (CSLB) |
| Minimum Experience | 4 years journeyman-level experience in past 10 years |
| Exams Required | Trade + Business and Law |
| Bond & Insurance | $25k bond + workers comp if hiring employees |
| Project Threshold | Required for any HVAC job over $500 labor + materials |
💬 Final Advice:
Always check your specific city or county—many have permit rules or journeyman cards even if your state doesn’t.
For the latest info, we recommend visiting your state’s contractor licensing board or Department of Labor/Commerce.
📘 Want links to each state’s application site or downloadable forms? Let me know and I’ll build it out.