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. Like many things, there are several types of air conditioning contractor licenses that can be achieved. In this article we will dive into the differences between them so that if you are considering becoming licensed, you set your path towards the proper license for the type of work that you want to be able to do.
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.
Based on the above, you can probably guess that 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 achieving 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
- Must be 18 years of age
- Not have any unpaid debts to society related to a criminal background
- Credit worthy. (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.
- The test scores are valid for 4 years meaning you have 4 years to gain the required experience after passing the state exam.
- Note: 3 years of any accredited college credits can be used in place of construction experience regardless of the subject matter/courses.
- You do not have to have the necessary experience before you take the exam.
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. Click here to learn more about how the program works, or contact a helpful career counselor at 1-800-732-9140.
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 industry 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!”