Georgia HVAC license requirements and insurance

Who it applies to

1Who needs a heating and air conditioning license in Georgia? What is this?

Conditioned Air Contractor Class I (restricted): anyone who contracts to install or service heating and cooling systems in Georgia, if the systems are small enough. This is the license most residential HVAC businesses run on.

License	Who needs it	What it covers
Conditioned Air Contractor Class I (restricted)	Anyone who contracts to install or service heating and cooling systems in Georgia, if the systems are small enough. This is the license most residential HVAC businesses run on.	Systems or equipment up to 175,000 BTU of heating and 60,000 BTU of cooling (about 5 tons). Each complete system in one installation is judged on its own.
Conditioned Air Contractor Class II (unrestricted)	Anyone who contracts for systems larger than the Class I limits, which means most commercial work	No limits

License

Who needs it

What it covers

Conditioned Air Contractor Class I (restricted)

Anyone who contracts to install or service heating and cooling systems in Georgia, if the systems are small enough. This is the license most residential HVAC businesses run on.

Systems or equipment up to 175,000 BTU of heating and 60,000 BTU of cooling (about 5 tons). Each complete system in one installation is judged on its own.

Conditioned Air Contractor Class II (unrestricted)

Anyone who contracts for systems larger than the Class I limits, which means most commercial work

No limits

Who runs it

2Who issues HVAC contractor licenses in Georgia? What is this?

Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Conditioned Air Contractors (run by the Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) issues HVAC licenses in Georgia.

See how this compares in every state: How to check a contractor's license, state by state

Name	Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Conditioned Air Contractors (run by the Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division)
Website	sos.ga.gov
Look up a license	goals.sos.ga.gov
The law	O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 14
The rulebook	Georgia Rules and Regulations, Department 121 (Chapters 121-2 to 121-6)

Applications, renewals, business registration, and the fee schedule are all inside the GOALS portal at goals.sos.ga.gov. The board no longer takes paper applications.

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Getting licensed

3How to become an HVAC contractor in Georgia What is this?

Georgia has 2 licenses that matter to an HVAC contractor: Conditioned Air Contractor Class I (restricted), Conditioned Air Contractor Class II (unrestricted). Each is below, with what you need before you apply.

License	Experience required	Training required	Exam
Conditioned Air Contractor Class I (restricted)	At least 4 years of conditioned air work covered by the Georgia Heating and Air Conditioning Code, plus EPA Section 608 certification. The 4 years break down as 2 years of residential installation as a lead mechanic, 1 year as a service technician, and 1 year of residential supervisory experience. A technical school engineering diploma can count for up to 2 years, and a vocational certificate for up to 1 year.	A board-approved heat loss and gain and duct design course (the FAQ names Manuals J and D, or AIR1060). After two failed exams you must finish a board-approved review course before a third try.	Yes, a board exam run by PSI. You need a score of 70.
Conditioned Air Contractor Class II (unrestricted)	At least 5 years of conditioned air work, plus EPA Section 608 certification. The 5 years break down as 2 years of installation as a lead mechanic (at least 1 of them on commercial work only), 1 year as a service technician or service supervisor, and 2 years of commercial supervisory experience. You must show work on systems above 175,000 BTU of heating and 60,000 BTU of cooling.	The board-approved heat loss and gain and duct design course (Manuals J and D), plus proof of Manuals N and Q or Carrier Design 1, 2, and 3	Yes, a board exam run by PSI. You need a score of 70.

License

Experience required

Training required

Exam

Conditioned Air Contractor Class I (restricted)

At least 4 years of conditioned air work covered by the Georgia Heating and Air Conditioning Code, plus EPA Section 608 certification. The 4 years break down as 2 years of residential installation as a lead mechanic, 1 year as a service technician, and 1 year of residential supervisory experience. A technical school engineering diploma can count for up to 2 years, and a vocational certificate for up to 1 year.

A board-approved heat loss and gain and duct design course (the FAQ names Manuals J and D, or AIR1060). After two failed exams you must finish a board-approved review course before a third try.

Yes, a board exam run by PSI. You need a score of 70.

Conditioned Air Contractor Class II (unrestricted)

At least 5 years of conditioned air work, plus EPA Section 608 certification. The 5 years break down as 2 years of installation as a lead mechanic (at least 1 of them on commercial work only), 1 year as a service technician or service supervisor, and 2 years of commercial supervisory experience. You must show work on systems above 175,000 BTU of heating and 60,000 BTU of cooling.

The board-approved heat loss and gain and duct design course (Manuals J and D), plus proof of Manuals N and Q or Carrier Design 1, 2, and 3

Yes, a board exam run by PSI. You need a score of 70.

What it costs

4How much does an HVAC license cost in Georgia? What is this?

The government fees on this page add up to about 40 in Georgia. Add insurance, tools, and a vehicle to get the real number.

License	Application	Exam	Renewal	Late renewal	Getting a lapsed license back	Processing fee	Applying with another state's license	Getting a lapsed license back, after 3 years	What else reinstatement needs
Conditioned Air Contractor Class I (restricted)	$100	null	$100	$100	$300	$10	$30	$300	The fee is $300 whether the license lapsed recently or more than 3 years ago. Lapsed more than 3 years, you also have to sit the exam again.
Conditioned Air Contractor Class II (unrestricted)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Added up

Government fees, added up	40

Government fees only. Does not include the PSI exam fee, the EPA Section 608 test, the Manuals J and D course, insurance premiums, tools, a vehicle, truck lettering, city permits, or the trade name filing at the county court.

Our estimate

Insurance

5How much HVAC insurance do you need in Georgia? What is this?

What Georgia requires you to carry before you work.

Minimum liability insurance	Not listed yet
Type of policy	None found. The board rules (Department 121), the conditioned air FAQ, and O.C.G.A. 43-14-8 do not ask for liability insurance to get or keep the license or to register the company.
Who this applies to	Not applicable at state level. Cities and counties may ask for a certificate before they issue permits, and most customers and builders will ask for it.
Who must be named on the certificate	Not applicable
Why other websites say a different number	Several non-government websites say Georgia conditioned air contractors must carry general liability insurance. No official page we read says so. The business registration form may ask for it. Ask the board before you rely on it.
Workers' comp required?	Yes, once you regularly employ three or more people, full time or part time
Who can opt out	If your company is a corporation or LLC, officers and members count toward the three even if they opt out. Up to five officers or members can opt themselves out by filing Form WC-10 with their insurance company. A sole proprietor or partner is treated as an employer, not an employee, and is not covered unless they ask the insurer in writing. No state fee for the WC-10 was listed.
Workers' comp: if you skip it	Civil penalties of $500 to $5,000 per occurrence for failing to carry coverage, and possible criminal charges

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Money checks

6Does Georgia check your credit for an HVAC contractor license? What is this?

Georgia does not check your credit for this license.

Credit score you need	None. The board rules and the licensing law do not ask for a credit check, net worth, or a financial statement for a conditioned air license.
If your score is lower	Not applicable

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Bonds

7Does an HVAC contractor need a bond in Georgia? What is this?

Georgia does not require a state bond for this license. Some cities ask for one before they issue permits.

Does the state require a bond?	No
Amount	Not listed yet

The state does not ask for a bond (a promise, backed by an insurance company, that customers can be paid if you do not finish the job) to hold a conditioned air license. One exception is tax, not licensing. A contractor with no business location in Georgia must post a tax bond of 10 percent of any contract over $10,000 with the Department of Revenue. Cities may also ask for a bond before they let you pull permits, so check with your city.

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·2 official pages

Federal rules

8Federal rules that also apply What is this?

Rules from the US government that apply to an HVAC contractor in Georgia on top of the state's own.

EPA refrigerant certification	Anyone who services, repairs, maintains, or disposes of equipment that could release refrigerant must hold EPA Section 608 certification. Type I covers small appliances, Type II high-pressure systems such as residential split systems, Type III low-pressure chillers, and Universal covers all three. The certification does not expire. Georgia also requires proof of it in the state license application.
Who runs the test	An EPA-approved certifying organization. Each one sets its own price, so compare two or three before you book

EPA refrigerant certification

Anyone who services, repairs, maintains, or disposes of equipment that could release refrigerant must hold EPA Section 608 certification.
Type I covers small appliances, Type II high-pressure systems such as residential split systems, Type III low-pressure chillers, and Universal covers all three.
The certification does not expire.
Georgia also requires proof of it in the state license application.

Who runs the test

An EPA-approved certifying organization. Each one sets its own price, so compare two or three before you book

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Showing your number

9Where must a Georgia HVAC contractor show the license number? What is this?

In Georgia: since December 1, 2021, your company's registration number must appear in the form "GA. REG. CN-555123" (the qualifying licensee's number with its CN or CR prefix). It must be on both sides of every vehicle used only for the business, in letters at least 2 inches high. It must be in every ad in the yellow pages beyond a standard listing, in newspapers, and in any printed matter offering your services to the public. It must be on every invoice and proposal form.

The rule	Since December 1, 2021, your company's registration number must appear in the form "GA. REG. CN-555123" (the qualifying licensee's number with its CN or CR prefix). It must be on both sides of every vehicle used only for the business, in letters at least 2 inches high. It must be in every ad in the yellow pages beyond a standard listing, in newspapers, and in any printed matter offering your services to the public. It must be on every invoice and proposal form.
If you forget	The rule does not name a penalty. A violation of board rules is grounds for discipline against the license under O.C.G.A. 43-14-6.

The rule

Since December 1, 2021, your company's registration number must appear in the form "GA.
REG.
CN-555123" (the qualifying licensee's number with its CN or CR prefix).
It must be on both sides of every vehicle used only for the business, in letters at least 2 inches high.
It must be in every ad in the yellow pages beyond a standard listing, in newspapers, and in any printed matter offering your services to the public.
It must be on every invoice and proposal form.

If you forget

The rule does not name a penalty. A violation of board rules is grounds for discipline against the license under O.C.G.A. 43-14-6.

Checked by a person against the official page·rules.sos.ga.gov

Tax

10Does an HVAC contractor charge sales tax on labor in Georgia? What is this?

In Georgia, no sales tax on repair or installation labor if you list it as a separate line on the invoice. If you lump labor and parts into one price, the whole amount can be taxed. The rest of the rules are below.

See how this compares in every state: Can you charge sales tax on labor? The rule in 25 states

Central systems and furnaces	Count as part of the building. You pay sales tax when you buy the unit, ductwork, and parts, and you charge the customer no tax on them. You cannot buy them tax-free with a resale certificate.
Window and portable units	Anything held in place only by gravity or a plug stays personal property after you install it. You can buy it tax-free for resale (Form ST-5) and must charge the customer sales tax on the price of the unit. Installation labor on it is still tax-free if listed separately.
Labor	No sales tax on repair or installation labor if you list it as a separate line on the invoice. If you lump labor and parts into one price, the whole amount can be taxed.
Homes versus businesses	No difference. Georgia looks at whether the item becomes part of the building, not at what kind of building it is.
New buildings versus repairs	No difference for parts that become part of the building. You pay tax when you buy them either way.
Registering and filing	Every contractor must register for a sales and use tax number in the Georgia Tax Center and file a return every month, even in months with no sales.
Use tax	If you buy equipment where the rate is lower than the rate where the job is, you owe the difference as use tax. If you paid more, there is no refund.
Tax rate	4 percent state, plus local rates. Most counties total 7 to 9 percent.

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·4 official pages

Getting paid

11Getting paid: lien and notice deadlines for a Georgia HVAC contractor What is this?

If you are not paid in Georgia, a lien on the property is your backstop, but only if your notice goes out on time: within 30 days of the Notice of Commencement being filed or 30 days after your first day of labor or delivery, whichever is later (first delivery on March 1 with the Notice of Commencement already filed means notice by March 31). Send it to the owner and to the contractor.

The order things have to happen in, counted in days

Day 0
Your first day on the job
The clock starts here.
Day 90
File your lien
Within 90 days after your last day of work (last day on June 1 means the lien is filed by August 30). File it with the superior court clerk in the county where the property is.

Each day count is counted from the day the rule beside it names, which is not always the same day. Read the sentence under each one.

Who has to send a notice	Anyone who was not hired by the general contractor directly, such as a sub of a sub or an equipment supplier, and only when a Notice of Commencement (a form the owner or contractor files with the county superior court clerk at the start of a job) was filed. If no Notice of Commencement was filed, the Notice to Contractor rule does not apply.
Send your notice to the contractor by	Within 30 days of the Notice of Commencement being filed or 30 days after your first day of labor or delivery, whichever is later (first delivery on March 1 with the Notice of Commencement already filed means notice by March 31). Send it to the owner and to the contractor.
File your lien by	Within 90 days after your last day of work (last day on June 1 means the lien is filed by August 30). File it with the superior court clerk in the county where the property is.
Copy to the owner	Within two business days after you file the lien, send a copy to the owner.
File a lawsuit by	You must sue to collect within 365 days of filing the lien, and file a notice of that lawsuit with the clerk within 30 days of starting it.

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Keeping it

12How do you renew an HVAC license in Georgia? What is this?

The Conditioned Air Contractor Class I (restricted) renews every two years, by November 30 of odd-numbered years (renewal window September to November, late renewal December 1 to 31). You need 4 hours of training each year.

License	Renewal	Training hours each year
Conditioned Air Contractor Class I (restricted)	Every two years, by November 30 of odd-numbered years (renewal window September to November, late renewal December 1 to 31)	—
Conditioned Air Contractor Class II (unrestricted)	Every two years, by November 30 of odd-numbered years (late renewal December 1 to 31)	—

License

Renewal

Training hours each year

Conditioned Air Contractor Class I (restricted)

Every two years, by November 30 of odd-numbered years (renewal window September to November, late renewal December 1 to 31)

—

Conditioned Air Contractor Class II (unrestricted)

Every two years, by November 30 of odd-numbered years (late renewal December 1 to 31)

—

Renewal fees are in what the license costs. The official page for each license is linked under how you get it.

Watch out

13What catches people out in Georgia What is this?

The things people get wrong or do not expect about Georgia, in a few sentences.

Georgia calls the trade "conditioned air contracting". A Class I license stops at 175,000 BTU of heating and 60,000 BTU of cooling (5 tons), and each complete system in one installation counts as its own job for that limit.
EPA Section 608 certification is written into the state experience rule. You must show it in your license application, not just carry it on the job.
Since December 1, 2021, every conditioned air company must show its registration number as "GA. REG. CN-" plus the qualifying licensee's number on both sides of every work truck in letters at least 2 inches high, in ads, and on every invoice and proposal. Plumbers have no such rule.
HVAC licenses renew by November 30 of odd-numbered years. Plumbing licenses renew in even years. A person who holds both renews in different years.
The board rules, the conditioned air FAQ, and the licensing law do not ask for liability insurance or a bond to hold the license. Several websites say otherwise, and no official source gives a figure.
A central furnace or air handler is part of the building for sales tax. You pay tax when you buy it and charge the customer none. A window unit stays personal property. You buy it for resale and charge the customer tax on it. Labor is tax-free only when it is its own line on the invoice.

Still being checked

·5 official pages

14Where these numbers come from

The labels under each table are explained on how to read a page.