This guide shows how HVAC technicians and contractors get licensed or registered in five states. The states are Arizona, Washington, Texas, Florida and Ohio. We used state laws, rules and licensing agency pages. Arizona licenses the business through a qualifying party. Texas licenses contractors and also registers technicians. Ohio's state board regulates commercial contractors.
To look up a contractor's license, see our guide to checking an HVAC contractor's license. For federal Section 608 refrigerant certification, see our A2L refrigerant transition guide.
| State | Who the state licenses or registers | Experience (one route) | Exams | Fees we found |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Contracting businesses, through a qualifying party (Arizona Registrar of Contractors) | R-39R: 4 years minimum | Statutes and Rules Exam (may be waived for a qualifying party named in the past five years) and a trade exam | $720 for a new specialty residential (R) license, for two years (fees effective July 1, 2014) |
| Washington | Construction contractors register with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries; HVAC electrical work may need an electrician certificate | We did not find the 06A certificate's minimum hours | We found no state HVAC contractor exam | We did not check |
| Texas | Technicians register or certify; contractors are licensed (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation) | Contractor: 48 months under a licensed contractor in the past 72 months | We did not check exam details | Technician registration $20; certified technician $50; contractor license $115 |
| Florida | Contractors, either certified (statewide) or registered (local jurisdictions) | 4 years of active experience, at least 1 as a foreman | Exams run by Professional Testing, Inc. | Renewal $205 (+$50 per qualified business); we did not check application fees |
| Ohio | Commercial HVAC contractors (Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board) | 5 years as a tradesperson in the trade | PSI licensing examination | We did not check |
From state statutes, rules and agency pages.
Arizona HVAC contractor licensing
Under A.R.S. 32-1151, it is against the law to act as a contractor without a contractor's license in good standing. This does not apply if the chapter exempts the person or business.
The Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC) licenses the business through a qualifying party. Its license classifications page lists who may apply for a contractor's license. A sole proprietorship (individual), a partnership, a limited liability company or a corporation may apply. The business must have a regularly employed person who serves as the qualifying party. That person must have the needed experience, knowledge and skills. The page adds that everyone listed on the application must be 18 or older.
ROC's R-39 class is named Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Including Solar. ROC says it lets the licensee install and repair comfort air conditioning systems. These include refrigeration, evaporative cooling, ventilating, and heating with or without solar equipment. ROC says a new circuit may be added to an existing panel if needed. But the class does not include installing a new service panel or sub-panel.
ROC's License Classification Requirements PDF lists the R-39R class, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration. It sets at least 4 years of experience. It also requires the Statutes and Rules Exam and a trade exam. The PDF's file name carries the date 6.8.20. The PDF says the Statutes and Rules Exam is not optional, but the Registrar may waive it if the proposed qualifying party has been named as a qualifying party on an Arizona ROC license at any time during the past five years.
ROC's fees page lists $720 for a new specialty residential (R) license. The total is made up of an $80 application fee, a $270 license fee and a $370 recovery fund assessment. ROC says these fees are for a two-year license. The page lists them as effective July 1, 2014. We did not find exam fees on the ROC pages we read.
On the ROC pages we read, ROC licenses businesses through a qualifying party. We did not find a separate Arizona state license for individual HVAC technicians on those pages. We also did not find a page saying technicians need none.
Washington HVAC contractor registration and electrical certificates
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) says Washington State requires all construction contractors to register with L&I. It says state law also requires them to be bonded and insured to protect the public.
Washington's contractor rules define an HVAC/R specialty. WAC 296-200A-016 says a contractor in this specialty makes, installs, services and maintains equipment to heat and cool indoor air. It adds that this work may also require electrical licensing under chapter 19.28 RCW, plumber certification under chapter 18.106 RCW, or both.
L&I issues electrician certificates of competency. WAC 296-46B-940 lists HVAC/refrigeration (06A) and HVAC/refrigeration - Restricted (06B) among the specialty certificates. Under WAC 296-46B-920, "The (06A) specialty is not limited by voltage, phase, or amperage." The same rule covers electrical trainees who are not supervised. It says they cannot install, repair, replace or maintain any part of a HVAC/refrigeration system that contains any circuit rated over 600 volts. This applies whether the circuit is energized or deenergized.
We did not find the minimum work hours for the 06A certificate in the rule text we checked. We also found no state HVAC contractor exam in the Washington pages we read.
Seattle's refrigeration licensing page describes a license for refrigeration and AC contractors. It says this license lets your business install, repair or alter refrigeration or air conditioning equipment. It also says you must name an employee with a journeyman refrigeration mechanic license to do the work. We did not check other cities' rules.
Texas HVAC technician registration and contractor licensing
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) has rules for people who help licensed AC and refrigeration contractors. It says anyone who assists such a contractor with maintenance or repair work "must register as a technician." TDLR says technicians must work under a licensed contractor's supervision. It also says they may not advertise AC and refrigeration services. The $20 application fee is not refundable. Applicants must be at least 16. A registration is valid for 1 year from the date it is issued.
TDLR also offers a certified technician status, which it calls voluntary. TDLR says you may qualify for technician certification by proving 24 months of AC and refrigeration-related work. That work must be under the supervision of a licensed AC and refrigeration contractor. The same page also accepts a department-approved program of 2,000 hours of combined instruction and practical experience. The application fee is $50. Applicants must be at least 18.
For a contractor license, TDLR requires one of these experience records:
- At least 48 months of practical experience under the supervision of a licensed contractor in the past 72 months
- A technician certification held for the past 12 months, plus at least 36 months of supervised practical experience in the past 48 months
TDLR also lists exceptions to the experience rule. One is a degree, diploma or certification in AC and refrigeration. Another is being a licensed engineer or holding a mechanical engineering degree. Military training is also on the list.
The contractor application fee is $115. Licenses are valid for 1 year from the date of issue. Applicants must be at least 18. TDLR says a Class A license lets you work on any size unit. It says a Class B license lets you work on cooling systems of 25 tons and under. Class B also covers heating systems of 1.5 million BTUs/hour and under. We did not check exam fees or pass rates.
| Texas step | What TDLR requires | Fee | Valid for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered technician | Assist a licensed contractor; age 16 or older | $20 | 1 year |
| Certified technician (voluntary) | 24 months of supervised work, or a 2,000-hour approved program; age 18 or older | $50 | 1 year (TDLR's certification page) |
| Contractor license, Class A or B | 48 months of supervised experience in the past 72, or 12 months certified plus 36 months in the past 48; age 18 or older | $115 | 1 year |
From TDLR pages.
Florida HVAC contractor licensing
Florida's Construction Industry Licensing Board licenses contractors in two ways. The board is run through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). DBPR says a certified contractor may contract anywhere in the state without having to meet local competency rules. It says registered contractors may contract only in the local jurisdictions where they are registered. A certified contractor's occupation code begins with C. A registered contractor's code begins with R.
DBPR limits a class B air-conditioning contractor to 25 tons of cooling and 500,000 BTU of heating in any one system. One experience route in Fla. Stat. 489.111 requires at least 4 years of active experience in total. At least 1 year of it must be as a foreman.
DBPR says it has contracted with Professional Testing, Inc. to register candidates and to develop and score the board's professional exams. DBPR lists 14 hours of continuing education per renewal for Class A, B and C air conditioning contractors. The 14 hours include at least 1 hour each of specialized or advanced module, workplace safety, business practices, workers' compensation, and laws and rules. The renewal fee is $205, plus $50 per qualified business. Registered licenses renew on August 31 of odd years. Certified licenses renew on August 31 of even years.
We did not check Florida's application or exam fees. The Florida pages we read describe contractor licenses, not a license for individual technicians. We did not check local requirements such as Jacksonville's.
Ohio HVAC contractor licensing
The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) licenses HVAC and other trade contractors who pass the PSI licensing exam. Ohio's Department of Commerce says the board regulates commercial contractors in the five specialty trades it lists.
Ohio Revised Code 4740.06 lists ways to qualify for the license exam. One way is to have been a tradesperson in that type of licensed trade for at least five years. Those years must come right before the date the application is filed. The same division accepts a currently registered Ohio engineer with three years of business experience in the trade. It also accepts other experience that the board's matching specialty section finds acceptable.
A Department of Commerce page dated February 28, 2025 covers residential work. It says residential contractors are not required to be licensed in Ohio. The OCILB page adds that local building and health departments regulate residential contractors. It says the law also lets these departments require a state commercial license for residential work.
We did not check OCILB fees or exam details. We did not check the City of Columbus's requirements. The Ohio pages we read do not describe a license for individual technicians.
For pay and job projections in the trade, see our guides to HVAC technician pay and the HVAC job outlook.