Florida HVAC License Requirements

Official classification: Air Conditioning Contractor (Class A / Class B) · Issued by the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), under DBPR.

❄️ HVACFL ✔ Verified 2026-06-19

In Florida, HVAC contractors must hold the Air Conditioning Contractor (Class A / Class B), issued by the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), under DBPR, and no state surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.

How to become a licensed HVAC contractor in Florida

Follow these steps to earn your Air Conditioning Contractor (Class A / Class B). Every figure is verified against the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), under DBPR; full detail for each step is further down the page.

Build the required experience. 4 years of field experience, at least 1 of which must be supervisory. Up to 3 years may be substituted by military service or qualifying college credit. Upgrade paths: Class B to Class A requires 1 year of active certification.
Pass the Air Conditioning Contractor Exam — Trade Knowledge + Business & Finance (open-book) exam. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
Secure your surety bond. Florida requires No surety bond if the applicant meets the financial-responsibility rule (FICO 660+, Rule 61G4-15.006); applicants below 660 instead complete a Board-approved 14-hour financial-responsibility course. Separately, a business that qualifies through a financially responsible officer must post a $100,000 bond or irrevocable letter of credit (Rule 61G4-15.0021(2)).
Line up insurance. You'll need liability insurance ($100,000 minimum public liability), and workers' compensation coverage.
Clear the background check. Electronic fingerprints via an FDLE-approved Livescan provider.
Meet the credit / financial requirement. FICO-derived score of 660+ (or complete a board-approved 14-hour financial-responsibility course).
Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), under DBPR — $149 (Sep 1 of an odd year – Apr 30 of an even year) / $249 (May 1 of an even year – Aug 31 of an odd year) application fee, plus a Included in the application/certification fee license fee. Processing time: Variable via the DBPR online portal.
Keep the license active. Renew every 2 years (Certified expire Aug 31 of even years; Registered Aug 31 of odd years), completing 14 hours per biennium (F.S. 489.115), including 1 hr Florida laws & rules and 2 hrs Florida Building Code.

Florida HVAC contractor license lookup

To confirm an HVAC contractor is properly licensed in Florida — or to check the status of your own license — search the issuing agency's official license database. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Verify a license now: Search the official myfloridalicense.com database →

License types

Certified Class A Air Conditioning Contractor — Unlimited capacity; install, maintain, repair, fabricate, alter and design air-conditioning, refrigeration, heating and ventilation systems of any size. Statewide. Excludes interior fuel-gas lines, potable water and sanitary lines, and electrical power wiring.
Certified Class B Air Conditioning Contractor — Limited to systems of 25 tons of cooling and 500,000 BTU of heating in any single system. Same trade exclusions as Class A. Statewide.
Registered Class A / B — Same capacity limits as the certified equivalents but valid only in the county/municipality of registration.

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	4 years of field experience, at least 1 of which must be supervisory. Up to 3 years may be substituted by military service or qualifying college credit. Upgrade paths: Class B to Class A requires 1 year of active certification.
Application fee	$149 (Sep 1 of an odd year – Apr 30 of an even year) / $249 (May 1 of an even year – Aug 31 of an odd year)
License fee	Included in the application/certification fee
Renewal fee	$209 biennial (active), plus $50 per qualifying business entity
Renewal period	Every 2 years (Certified expire Aug 31 of even years; Registered Aug 31 of odd years)
Continuing education	14 hours per biennium (F.S. 489.115), including 1 hr Florida laws & rules and 2 hrs Florida Building Code.
Bond required	No surety bond if the applicant meets the financial-responsibility rule (FICO 660+, Rule 61G4-15.006); applicants below 660 instead complete a Board-approved 14-hour financial-responsibility course. Separately, a business that qualifies through a financially responsible officer must post a $100,000 bond or irrevocable letter of credit (Rule 61G4-15.0021(2)).
Liability insurance	$100,000 minimum public liability
Property damage	$25,000 minimum property damage
Workers' comp	Required, or file a statutory exemption within 30 days of license issuance (Ch. 440, F.S.).
Background check	Electronic fingerprints via an FDLE-approved Livescan provider.
Credit requirement	FICO-derived score of 660+ (or complete a board-approved 14-hour financial-responsibility course).
Reciprocity	Endorsement (DBPR CILB 10) for active equivalent out-of-state license holders; Substantially-equivalent-exam pathway
Processing time	Variable via the DBPR online portal

Exams

Air Conditioning Contractor Exam — Trade Knowledge + Business & Finance (open-book)	Provider: Pearson VUE (for CILB) · Passing: Not publicly disclosed · Fee: $135 CILB scheduling fee + $80 per section

Preparing for the HVAC exam? State-specific contractor exam-prep courses help you pass the first time. Start exam prep →

Local / municipal notes

Certified is statewide; Registered is county/municipality-specific. EPA Section 608 certification is separately required nationwide to handle refrigerants.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Florida hvac license cost?

Application: $149 (Sep 1 of an odd year – Apr 30 of an even year) / $249 (May 1 of an even year – Aug 31 of an odd year). License: Included in the application/certification fee. Renewal: $209 biennial (active), plus $50 per qualifying business entity.

How do I look up a hvac license in Florida?

Search the official license database at myfloridalicense.com. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do hvacs in Florida need a surety bond?

No surety bond if the applicant meets the financial-responsibility rule (FICO 660+, Rule 61G4-15.006); applicants below 660 instead complete a Board-approved 14-hour financial-responsibility course. Separately, a business that qualifies through a financially responsible officer must post a $100,000 bond or irrevocable letter of credit (Rule 61G4-15.0021(2)).

What experience is required for a Florida hvac license?

4 years of field experience, at least 1 of which must be supervisory. Up to 3 years may be substituted by military service or qualifying college credit. Upgrade paths: Class B to Class A requires 1 year of active certification.

Is insurance required for hvacs in Florida?

Liability: $100,000 minimum public liability Workers' compensation: Required, or file a statutory exemption within 30 days of license issuance (Ch. 440, F.S.).

How often must a Florida hvac license be renewed?

Every 2 years (Certified expire Aug 31 of even years; Registered Aug 31 of odd years). Continuing education: 14 hours per biennium (F.S. 489.115), including 1 hr Florida laws & rules and 2 hrs Florida Building Code.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-06-19 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), under DBPR before applying. This is not legal advice.