HVAC License Requirements by State
Which states require an HVAC contractor license, and who issues it? Explore the map, then find your state in the table below with its licensing authority and renewal cadence. A free, regularly-checked reference for field-service owners.
Hover a state for details, or click it to jump to that state in the table.
General guidance, not legal advice. Licensing rules, dollar thresholds, and renewal periods change and often vary by city or county. Always confirm current requirements with your state or local licensing board before relying on them.
| State | Requirement | License | Renewal | Licensing authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Statewide | HVAC/R Certification (HACR Board) | Annual | Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors |
| Alaska | Statewide | Mechanical Contractor License | Every 2 years | Alaska Division of Corporations, Business & Professional Licensing |
| Arizona | Statewide | C-39/R-39 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractor | Every 2 years | Arizona Registrar of Contractors |
| Arkansas | Statewide | HVACR Contractor License (Class A-E) | Annual | Arkansas HVACR Licensing Board (Dept. of Labor & Licensing) |
| California | Statewide | C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating & A/C Contractor | Every 2 years | Contractors State License Board (CSLB) |
| Colorado | Local only | No statewide HVAC license - local only | N/A | Local city/county building departments (state DORA licenses only electricians & plumbers) |
| Connecticut | Statewide | S-1 Unlimited Heating, Piping & Cooling Contractor | Annual | CT Dept. of Consumer Protection (Heating/Cooling & Sheet Metal Board) |
| Delaware | Statewide | Master HVACR License | Every 2 years | Delaware Board of Plumbing, HVACR & Refrigeration Examiners (Div. of Professional Regulation) |
| District of Columbia | Statewide | Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Contractor/Mechanic License | Every 2 years | DC Board of Industrial Trades (Dept. of Licensing & Consumer Protection) |
| Florida | Statewide | Certified/Registered Mechanical Contractor (CMC) | Every 2 years | FL Dept. of Business & Professional Regulation (Construction Industry Licensing Board) |
| Georgia | Statewide | Conditioned Air Contractor (Class I/II) | Every 2 years | Georgia State Board of Conditioned Air Contractors (Secretary of State) |
| Hawaii | Statewide | C-52 Ventilating & Air Conditioning Contractor | Every 2 years | Hawaii Contractors License Board (Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs) |
| Idaho | Statewide | HVAC Contractor License | Annual | Idaho Division of Occupational & Professional Licenses (HVAC Board) |
| Illinois | Local only | No statewide HVAC license - local only | N/A | Local city/county building departments (state IDFPR licenses plumbers, not HVAC) |
| Indiana | Local only | No statewide HVAC license - local only | N/A | Local city/county building departments |
| Iowa | Statewide | HVAC-Refrigeration Contractor License | Every 3 years | Iowa Plumbing & Mechanical Systems Board (Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing) |
| Kansas | Local only | No statewide HVAC license - local only | N/A | Local city/county building departments (e.g., Sedgwick County / Wichita) |
| Kentucky | Statewide | Master HVAC Contractor License | Annual | Kentucky Dept. of Housing, Buildings & Construction (HBC) |
| Louisiana | Statewide | Mechanical (HVAC) Work Contractor License | Annual | Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) |
| Maine | Statewide | Fuel-specific technician licenses (oil, propane/natural gas, solid fuel) | Every 2 years | Maine Fuel Board (Office of Professional & Occupational Regulation) |
| Maryland | Statewide | Master HVACR Contractor License | Every 2 years | Maryland Board of HVACR Contractors (Dept. of Labor) |
| Massachusetts | Statewide | Refrigeration Technician/Contractor License (plus gas fitting & sheet metal) | Varies | MA Division of Occupational Licensure (Bureau of Pipefitters, Refrigeration Technicians & Sprinkler Fitters) |
| Michigan | Statewide | Mechanical Contractor License | Every 3 years | MI Dept. of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs (Bureau of Construction Codes) |
| Minnesota | Local only | No statewide HVAC license - local only | N/A | Local city building departments; MN Dept. of Labor & Industry (bond) |
| Mississippi | Statewide | Mechanical Contractor License | Annual | Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) |
| Missouri | Local only | No statewide HVAC license - local only | N/A | Local city/county building departments (e.g., St. Louis, Kansas City) |
| Montana | None | No HVAC license - contractor registration only | N/A | Montana Dept. of Labor & Industry (contractor registration) |
| Nebraska | Local only | No statewide HVAC license - local only | N/A | Local city building departments (e.g., Omaha, Lincoln); NE Dept. of Labor (contractor registration) |
| Nevada | Statewide | C-21 Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Contractor | Every 2 years | Nevada State Contractors Board |
| New Hampshire | Local only | No statewide HVAC contractor license (gas fitters licensed) | N/A | Local municipalities; NH Dept. of Safety (fuel gas fitter licensing) |
| New Jersey | Statewide | Master HVACR Contractor License | Every 2 years | NJ State Board of Examiners of HVACR Contractors |
| New Mexico | Statewide | MM-98 Mechanical (HVAC) Contractor License | Every 3 years | NM Regulation & Licensing Dept., Construction Industries Division |
| New York | Local only | No statewide HVAC license - local only | N/A | Local city/county authorities (e.g., NYC Dept. of Buildings) |
| North Carolina | Statewide | Heating (H-1/H-2/H-3) Contractor License | Annual | NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors |
| North Dakota | Local only | No statewide HVAC license - local only | N/A | Local municipalities (e.g., Fargo, Bismarck); ND Secretary of State (contractor license) |
| Ohio | Statewide | HVAC Contractor License (commercial) | Every 2 years | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) |
| Oklahoma | Statewide | Mechanical Contractor License | Every 3 years | Oklahoma Construction Industries Board (CIB) |
| Oregon | Statewide | HVAC/R Specialty Contractor (CCB) + BCD trade license | Every 2 years | Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) |
| Pennsylvania | Local only | No statewide HVAC license - local only | N/A | Local municipalities (e.g., Philadelphia, Pittsburgh); PA Attorney General (HIC registration) |
| Rhode Island | Statewide | Refrigeration/Mechanical License + Contractor Registration | Every 2 years | RI Dept. of Labor & Training, Division of Professional Regulation |
| South Carolina | Statewide | Residential Specialty HVAC (RBH) / Mechanical Contractor | Every 2 years | SC Dept. of Labor, Licensing & Regulation (Residential Builders Commission / Contractor's Board) |
| South Dakota | Local only | No statewide HVAC license - local only | N/A | Local municipalities (e.g., Sioux Falls, Rapid City); state licenses only plumbers & electricians |
| Tennessee | Statewide | Mechanical Contractor License (CMC) | Every 2 years | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors |
| Texas | Statewide | Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractor (Class A/B) | Annual | Texas Dept. of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR) |
| Utah | Statewide | S350/H100 HVAC Qualifier & Contractor License | Every 2 years | Utah Division of Occupational & Professional Licensing (DOPL) |
| Vermont | Local only | No statewide HVAC license - local only | N/A | Local municipalities (most require only permits); optional state Electrical Specialist license |
| Virginia | Statewide | HVAC Contractor (Class A/B/C) + HVAC Tradesman | Every 2 years | Virginia Dept. of Professional & Occupational Regulation (DPOR) |
| Washington | Statewide | Specialty Contractor Registration + 06A Electrical (HVAC/Refrigeration) Certification | Every 2 years | Washington State Dept. of Labor & Industries (L&I) |
| West Virginia | Statewide | HVAC Technician Certification + HVAC Contractor License | Annual | WV Division of Labor (Contractor Licensing Board) |
| Wisconsin | Statewide | HVAC Contractor & Qualifier Credential | Every 2 years | WI Dept. of Safety & Professional Services (DSPS) |
| Wyoming | Local only | No statewide HVAC license - local only | N/A | Local city building departments (e.g., Cheyenne, Casper) |
No states match that search.
The license you forget is the one that stops a job
EPA 608 gets all the attention because it’s federal and everyone tests for it once. But 608 never expires. The credentials that actually lapse are the state and local licenses stacked on top of it. Those renew on their own calendars, with notices that go to inboxes nobody checks, and you find out one expired when a permit gets rejected or an inspector asks for a number that’s no longer valid.
Knowing what your state requires is step one. Step two is making sure the renewal never sneaks up on you. Log every tech’s license in the free HVAC credential & permit tracker, or read the HVAC Compliance Handbook for the full four-layer picture.
PocketTech’s compliance tracking watches every license and cert for you and emails the tech and the office at 90, 30, 7, and 0 days, so a lapse can’t stall a job.
HVAC licensing FAQ
Do all states require an HVAC license?
No. Roughly two-thirds of states issue a statewide HVAC, mechanical, or specialty-trade contractor license, while others leave it to cities and counties or don’t require an HVAC-specific license at all. Use the map and table above to check your state, then confirm with the linked licensing authority, because the rules change.
Is EPA 608 the same as a state HVAC license?
No, they’re two different things. EPA Section 608 is a federal certification anyone handling refrigerant must hold, and it doesn’t expire. A state HVAC/mechanical license is separate, issued by your state or locality, and almost always does expire and renew. You typically need both.
What happens if I do HVAC work without the required license?
In states that require a license, unlicensed work can void the permit, fail inspection, trigger fines, void manufacturer warranties, and give the customer grounds to withhold payment. The lapse is usually accidental (a renewal that slipped), which is exactly why it’s worth tracking automatically.
Is this list legal advice?
No. This is general guidance compiled from public sources to help you find the right authority quickly. Licensing rules, thresholds, and renewal periods change often and vary by locality. Always verify current requirements with your state or local licensing board before you rely on them.
Related: the HVAC Compliance Handbook · EPA 608 certification types · credential & permit tracker.