Mississippi HVAC License Requirements

Official classification: Commercial HVAC Contractor (Mechanical Work – HVAC specialty) / Residential HVAC Contractor · Issued by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC).

❄️ HVACMS ✔ Verified 2026-10-01

In Mississippi, HVAC contractors must hold the Commercial HVAC Contractor (Mechanical Work – HVAC specialty) / Residential HVAC Contractor, issued by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC), 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 Mississippi

Follow these steps to earn your Commercial HVAC Contractor (Mechanical Work – HVAC specialty) / Residential HVAC Contractor. Every figure is verified against the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC); full detail for each step is further down the page.

Build the required experience. No fixed number of years is set by statute; the board weighs the qualifying party's experience and ability (Miss. Code 31-3-13), and that person must be regularly employed by the license holder.
Pass the Law & Business Management Exam and HVAC Specialty Trade Exam exams. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
Check the insurance rules. Liability: Commercial: $300,000 per occurrence / $600,000 aggregate general liability. Residential: general liability required (no minimum amount set). Property damage: Included in the general liability policy. Workers' compensation: Required under Mississippi law for employers with 5+ employees (Miss. Code 71-3-5).
Clear the background check. The board reviews each applicant's record — character, performance on prior contracts, and compliance with state law (Miss. Code 31-3-13).
Meet the credit / financial requirement. Commercial: a CPA-reviewed financial statement from the past 12 months showing net worth of at least $50,000 for the Mechanical Work major classification or $20,000 for a specialty. Residential: none specified.
Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) — $400 (commercial, one classification); $50 (residential); +$100 to add the HVAC specialty to an existing commercial license application fee, plus a Included in the application fee. For commercial applicants the statutes levy a $200 special privilege license tax (Miss. Code 31-3-17) and a $200 Construction Education Fund fee (31-3-14); the Board's fee schedule lists a $400 commercial application fee. license fee. Processing time: About a week once complete: fully completed applications (with passing exam scores) go to the Board for review weekly on Fridays, and approved licenses are issued the following Wednesday.
Keep the license active. Renewal: Annual (1 year). Continuing education: Commercial: none. Residential: 2 hours per year for licenses issued on or after July 1, 2015.

For the general path in every state, see the HVAC guide →

Mississippi HVAC contractor license lookup

To confirm an HVAC contractor is properly licensed in Mississippi — 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 search.msboc.us database →

License types

Commercial HVAC Contractor (Mechanical Work, HVAC specialty) — Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration with associated piping and ductwork on projects of $50,000 or more.
Residential HVAC Contractor — Residential HVAC; required for remodels over $10,000 or new construction over $50,000.
Related mechanical specialties — Ductwork, boiler installation and repair, refrigeration, and process piping — each its own exam under the Mechanical Work classification.

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	No fixed number of years is set by statute; the board weighs the qualifying party's experience and ability (Miss. Code 31-3-13), and that person must be regularly employed by the license holder.
Application fee	$400 (commercial, one classification); $50 (residential); +$100 to add the HVAC specialty to an existing commercial license
License fee	Included in the application fee. For commercial applicants the statutes levy a $200 special privilege license tax (Miss. Code 31-3-17) and a $200 Construction Education Fund fee (31-3-14); the Board's fee schedule lists a $400 commercial application fee.
Renewal fee	$400/year (commercial); $100/year (residential)
Renewal period	Annual (1 year)
Continuing education	Commercial: none. Residential: 2 hours per year for licenses issued on or after July 1, 2015.
Bond required	No state surety bond is required by the MSBOC. Some Mississippi municipalities require a local bond (amounts vary by city).
Liability insurance	Commercial: $300,000 per occurrence / $600,000 aggregate general liability. Residential: general liability required (no minimum amount set).
Property damage	Included in the general liability policy
Workers' comp	Required under Mississippi law for employers with 5+ employees (Miss. Code 71-3-5)
Background check	The board reviews each applicant's record — character, performance on prior contracts, and compliance with state law (Miss. Code 31-3-13).
Credit requirement	Commercial: a CPA-reviewed financial statement from the past 12 months showing net worth of at least $50,000 for the Mechanical Work major classification or $20,000 for a specialty. Residential: none specified.
Reciprocity	Trade-exam waivers only, not full reciprocity; every applicant still takes the Mississippi Business and Law exam. Listed for HVAC: Alabama Heating and Air, the Alabama General Contractors Board (can waive HVAC), Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board, South Carolina Residential Builders Commission (residential HVAC), and the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (all exams). MSBOC still accepts Louisiana passing exam scores to waive HVAC (not mechanical or plumbing), though the formal Louisiana agreement has ended.; Expedited licensure for military-trained applicants and spouses (Miss. Code 73-50-1).; Mississippi also recognizes occupational licenses from other states under the Universal Recognition of Occupational Licensure Act (Miss. Code 73-50-2). · compare all states
Processing time	About a week once complete: fully completed applications (with passing exam scores) go to the Board for review weekly on Fridays, and approved licenses are issued the following Wednesday.

What a Mississippi hvac license costs

Application fee	$400 (commercial, one classification); $50 (residential); +$100 to add the HVAC specialty to an existing commercial license.
License fee	Included in the application fee. For commercial applicants the statutes levy a $200 special privilege license tax (Miss. Code 31-3-17) and a $200 Construction Education Fund fee (31-3-14); the Board's fee schedule lists a $400 commercial application fee.
Law & Business Management Exam	$120 per exam portion ($240 when registering for two portions together), paid to PSI.
HVAC Specialty Trade Exam	$120 per exam portion ($240 when registering for two portions together), paid to PSI.
Surety bond	No state surety bond is required by the MSBOC. Some Mississippi municipalities require a local bond (amounts vary by city).
Renewal fee	$400/year (commercial); $100/year (residential).
Renewal period	Annual (1 year).

Exams

Law & Business Management Exam	Provider: PSI (open book) · Passing: 70% · Fee: $120 per exam portion ($240 when registering for two portions together), paid to PSI
HVAC Specialty Trade Exam	Provider: PSI (open book) · Passing: 70% · Fee: $120 per exam portion ($240 when registering for two portions together), paid to PSI

Renewing a Mississippi HVAC contractor license

The Commercial HVAC Contractor (Mechanical Work – HVAC specialty) / Residential HVAC Contractor renews on a fixed cycle set by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC). Finish the continuing-education requirement before you file — boards generally will not process a renewal without it. Late and lapsed renewals are handled differently by every board, so check the renewal page linked below before the deadline passes.

Renewal period	Annual (1 year)
Renewal fee	$400/year (commercial); $100/year (residential)
Continuing education	Commercial: none. Residential: 2 hours per year for licenses issued on or after July 1, 2015.
Where to renew	Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC)

Local / municipal notes

Mississippi licenses HVAC/mechanical CONTRACTORS through the MSBOC (commercial $50,000+; residential remodel over $10,000 / new construction over $50,000). EPA Section 608 certification is a separate federal requirement for anyone handling refrigerants. Individual journeyman/master credentials, where required, are issued locally.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Mississippi hvac license cost?

Application: $400 (commercial, one classification); $50 (residential); +$100 to add the HVAC specialty to an existing commercial license. License: Included in the application fee. For commercial applicants the statutes levy a $200 special privilege license tax (Miss. Code 31-3-17) and a $200 Construction Education Fund fee (31-3-14); the Board's fee schedule lists a $400 commercial application fee. Renewal: $400/year (commercial); $100/year (residential).

How do I look up a hvac license in Mississippi?

Search the official license database at search.msboc.us. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do hvacs in Mississippi need a surety bond?

No state surety bond is required by the MSBOC. Some Mississippi municipalities require a local bond (amounts vary by city).

What experience is required for a Mississippi hvac license?

No fixed number of years is set by statute; the board weighs the qualifying party's experience and ability (Miss. Code 31-3-13), and that person must be regularly employed by the license holder.

Is insurance required for hvacs in Mississippi?

Liability: Commercial: $300,000 per occurrence / $600,000 aggregate general liability. Residential: general liability required (no minimum amount set). Property damage: Included in the general liability policy. Workers' compensation: Required under Mississippi law for employers with 5+ employees (Miss. Code 71-3-5).

How long does it take to get a Mississippi hvac license?

Processing time: About a week once complete: fully completed applications (with passing exam scores) go to the Board for review weekly on Fridays, and approved licenses are issued the following Wednesday.

Is a background check required for hvacs in Mississippi?

Background check: The board reviews each applicant's record — character, performance on prior contracts, and compliance with state law (Miss. Code 31-3-13).

Is there a credit or financial requirement for a Mississippi hvac license?

Credit requirement: Commercial: a CPA-reviewed financial statement from the past 12 months showing net worth of at least $50,000 for the Mechanical Work major classification or $20,000 for a specialty. Residential: none specified.

How often must a Mississippi hvac license be renewed?

Annual (1 year). Continuing education: Commercial: none. Residential: 2 hours per year for licenses issued on or after July 1, 2015.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-10-01 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) before applying. This is not legal advice.