HVAC license requirements by state
What your state asks of a HVAC contractor before the first paid job. Pick a state below for the license and what it costs, the least insurance you must carry, whether you need a bond, when to charge sales tax, and the deadlines that protect your right to be paid.
| State | License you need | Insurance you must carry | Workers' comp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | R-39 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Including Solar (residential)Renews every two years | No state minimumcustomers usually ask for $1,000,000 | Requiredas soon as you regularly employ one worker |
| California | C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning ContractorRenews every two years for an active license | No state minimumcustomers usually ask for $1,000,000 | Requiredalways |
| Colorado | Heating and Ventilating Class A Supervisor Certificate (Denver)Renews every three years | No state minimumcustomers usually ask for $1,000,000 | Required |
| Florida | Certified Air Conditioning Contractor, Class ARenews biennial | $100,000plus $25,000 for property damage | Requiredas soon as you have one employee (the rule for construction trades) |
| Georgia | Conditioned Air Contractor Class I (restricted)Renews every two years | — | Requiredonce you regularly employ three or more people, full time or part time |
| Illinois | No state HVAC license | $100,000plus $50,000 for property damage | Required |
| Indiana | Heating and Cooling Contractor, Air Conditioning A (Indianapolis)Renews every two years | $500,000plus $100,000 for property damage | Requiredas soon as you have an employee |
| Maryland | ApprenticeRenews every two years | $300,000plus $100,000 for property damage | Required |
| Massachusetts | Refrigeration ApprenticeRenews tied to your birthday | No state minimumcustomers usually ask for $1,000,000 | Required |
| Michigan | Mechanical ContractorRenews every 3 years | No state minimumcustomers usually ask for $1,000,000 | Required |
| Missouri | Master Mechanical certificate (Springfield)Renews every year | No state minimumcustomers usually ask for $1,000,000 | Required |
| Nevada | C-21 Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning contractorRenews every two years | No state minimumcustomers usually ask for $1,000,000 | Required |
| New Jersey | Licensed Master HVACR ContractorRenews every two years | $500,000liability, at least | Requiredas soon as anyone other than the owner works for the business for pay |
| New York | No HVAC contractor license | $1,000,000liability, at least | Required |
| North Carolina | Heating Group No. 3 Contractor, Class IRenews annual | No state minimumcustomers usually ask for $1,000,000 | Requiredonce you have three or more employees on a regular basis |
| Ohio | HVAC Contractor (state license, also called a master license)Renews annual | $500,000liability, at least | Required |
| Oregon | CCB contractor license (the business license every contractor needs)Renews every two years | $300,000liability, at least | Requiredas soon as you pay one worker who is not an independent contractor |
| Pennsylvania | Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration, statewideRenews every two years | $50,000plus $50,000 for property damage | Requiredas soon as you have one employee, full time or part time |
| South Carolina | Mechanical Contractor, air conditioning (AC), heating (HT), packaged equipment and refrigeration classifications, Contractor's Licensing BoardRenews every two years | — | Requiredonly once you cross both thresholds |
| Tennessee | Contractor License, classification CMC-C (HVAC, Refrigeration and Gas Piping)Renews every two years | $100,000liability, at least | Requiredas soon as you have one employee |
| Texas | ACR Contractor, Class ARenews annual | $300,000for Class A; Class B is $100,000 | Your choicenot required in this state |
| Utah | HVAC Contractor (H100)Renews every two years | $1,000,000liability, at least | Requiredif you have employees |
| Virginia | Class A Contractor license, specialty Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVA)Renews not published | — | Requiredonce you regularly have more than two workers, part-time or full-time |
| Washington | Specialty Contractor Registration, HVAC/R classificationRenews every 2 years | $200,000plus $50,000 for property damage | Requiredas soon as you hire one employee |
| Wisconsin | HVAC Contractor (business registration)Renews every 4 years | No state minimumcustomers usually ask for $1,000,000 | Required |
A state appears here the day a person has checked every figure on its HVAC page. Not seeing yours yet? It is on the list.