Licensed air conditioning contractors are always in high demand in the state of Florida. After all, it is called the Sunshine State for a reason.
There are several types of air conditioning contractor licenses that you can earn. In this article we will dive into the differences between them and how you can complete all the steps necessary to earn your HVAC license in Florida.
Your can trust Gold Coast Construction and our Florida HVAC courses to get you licensed and ready for your new career!
Common Florida A/C contractor license types:
The most popular air conditioning contractor license categories are A/C – Mechanical, A/C-(A), and AC-(B). The distinction between them comes down to the size and types of air conditioning units a licensee can install and service.
- Mechanical A/C – qualified to work on medical gas, fuel gas, and A/C units over 25 tons cooling.
- A/C – (A) Contractor – qualified to work on units over 25 tons cooling, and over 500,000 BTU heating.
- A/C- (B) Contractor – qualified to work on units up to 25 tons cooling, and up to 500,000 BTU heating.
The highest certification of the three is a licensed Mechanical A/C contractor which allows for expanded work on the largest units, coolers, boilers, and the surrounding components such as the plumbing and ducting needed to allow them to operate.
The A/C – (A) and AC – (B) licenses are the most common and still allow for a substantial amount of commercial as well as residential air conditioning work. However, it is important to note the size and specifications of the units as the proper license must be held based on the cooling tons and heating units.
As far as earning your (A) or (B) license is concerned, the only difference is a longer and more intensive trade knowledge portion of the state exam for anyone achieving their class (A) vs a class (B) license.
HVAC License Requirements for Florida
A valid license is required in Florida to perform any heating, A/C, and refrigeration work. For the A and B contractor licenses, you can earn your license and work anywhere in the state with a State Certified License by passing the Florida license exam.
You can also work as a State Registered HVAC licensed contractor by passing a particular locality’s exam and working only in that region. Each Florida county has its own requirements when it comes to earning your HVAC license.
HVAC license requirements include:
- Must be 18 years of age
- Have a high school degree or GED
- Submit to a criminal background check
- Have good credit: applicants will be subject to a credit report on both the applicant and the business with a preferred FICO score of a 660 or above.
- If you do not meet the 660 FICO score, you CAN still get your license by posting a licensing bond.
- Four years of proven A/C construction experience.
- You do not have to have the necessary experience before you take the exam.
- Pass the trade knowledge and a business and finance exam
- Obtain $100,000 in general liability insurance and $25,000 in property damage coverage
The test scores are valid for 4 years meaning you have 4 years to gain the required experience after passing the state exam.
Continuing Education Requirements: To renew your HVAC license in Florida, you must complete 14 hours of continuing education every two years.
FL HVAC Experience Requirements
Any of the following will satisfy the state requirements when it comes to work experience:
- 2 years of experience as a worker, 1 year as a foreman, and 1 year of college credits
- 1 year of experience as a worker, 1 year as a foreman, and 2 years of college credits
- 1 year of experience as a foreman and at least 3 years of college credits
- 4 years of apprenticeship experience with at least 1 of those years as a foreman
- A bachelor’s degree in a related field and 1 year or 2,000 hours of experience
HVAC Licensing Exam
Once you have taken any Florida HVAC prep courses and acquired the education you need, your next step is to pass your exam with at least 70%. The exams are open-book, consisting of multiple-choice questions and take 4 hours and 45 minutes to complete.
Once you pass your exam you can apply for your Florida contractors license through the DBPR website.
How much does it cost to get a Florida HVAC license?
A registered contractor license will cost $309 (if you apply between May 1 of an odd year and Aug 31 of an even year) or $209 (if you apply between Sept 1 of an even year and Apr30 of an odd year).
For a certified contractor, the fee is $249 (if you apply between May 1 of an even year and Aug 31 of an odd year) or $149 (if you apply between Sept1 of an odd year and Apr 30 of an even year).
For either type of license, the renewal fee, due every two years on Aug 31, is $209.
Gold Coast Florida HVAC Program Overview
Gold Coast’s exam prep program is divided into modules to make it easy to gain the knowledge you need to pass your licensing exam. These modules will focus on A/C trade knowledge as well as business and finance (both areas that will be tested on the licensing exam). By breaking up the material into smaller chunks, students can better absorb the information related to each topic.
Gold Coast’s experienced instructors will help you navigate the books giving you the knowledge and confidence needed to pass the open book state exam. The key is to be familiar with the content and its location so that you can quickly reference the answers to the questions you face.
If you are committed to getting your license, come see why graduates stand behind the motto that at Gold Coast, “The Proof is in the Passing!”
Thinking about getting your A/C License?
Gold Coast School of Construction has been helping students achieve professional licenses since 1970. The air conditioning contractor program will help you get licensed and well on your way to success out in the field. Learn more about how our Florida HVAC course works, or contact a helpful career counselor at 1-800-732-9140.