HVAC Contractor (Commercial)

HVAC contractors contract with clients to install, service or repair heating and air conditioning systems in residences and commercial establishments. In most states, only contractors require licenses, not those who work for them. In some states, licensing requirements differ based on the setting. Those with a residential license may work only on residential properties, while those with a commercial license may work on commercial properties. Other states require the same license regardless of the setting, and this report records that license in both settings. Many states have contract minimums before the contractor’s license applies. See Appendix B for details.

Thirty-seven states license HVAC contractors working on commercial properties. Twenty-six states require between two and six years of experience working under a licensed contractor. Rhode Island, the most burdensome state, requires eight years of experience. At the other end of the spectrum, seven states require no education or experience at all. On average, states require over three years (1,197 days) of education and experience, $400 in fees ($1,078 in Nevada), and about two exams. These high barriers give commercial HVAC contractors the sixth most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied.

Burden Rank	State	States Licensed	Fees	Estimated Calendar Days Lost	Education	Experience	Exams	Minimum Grade	Minimum Age
1	Rhode Island	37	$660.00	2,920	-	8 years	4	0	18
2	Iowa	37	$890.00	2,190	-	6 years	2	12	18
3	Idaho	37	$395.00	2,190	-	6 years	2	0	18
4	Maryland	37	$405.00	2,190	-	6 years	2	0	0
5	Delaware	37	$109.00	2,190	-	6 years	1	0	0
6	Virginia	37	$720.00	1,826	8 clock hours	5 years	2	0	18
7	Arkansas	37	$485.00	1,825	-	5 years	2	0	18
8	New Jersey	37	$331.00	1,825	-	5 years	2	0	18
9	Georgia	37	$297.00	1,829	24 clock hours	5 years	1	0	18
10	Ohio	37	$140.00	1,825	-	5 years	1	0	18
11	D C	37	$45.00	1,825	-	5 years	1	0	0
12	Connecticut	37	$465.00	1,561	-	4 years and 432 clock hours	3	0	18
13	Nevada	37	$1,078.25	1,460	-	4 years	2	0	18
14	California	37	$579.00	1,460	-	4 years	3	0	18
15	Kentucky	37	$505.83	1,460	-	4 years	3	0	18
16	Hawaii	37	$615.00	1,460	-	4 years	2	0	18
16	Oklahoma	37	$615.00	1,460	-	4 years	2	0	18
18	Florida	37	$364.00	1,460	-	4 years	2	0	18
19	New Mexico	37	$317.76	1,460	-	4 years	2	0	18
20	Oregon	37	$385.00	1,463	16 clock hours	4 years	1	0	18
21	Texas	37	$209.00	1,460	-	4 years	1	0	18
22	Alaska	37	$450.00	1,460	-	4 years	1	0	0
23	Michigan	37	$400.00	1,095	-	3 years	1	0	0
24	Massachusetts	37	$115.00	700	1000 clock hours	2000 clock hours	1	12	18
25	Arizona	37	$686.00	730	-	2 years	2	0	18
26	South Carolina	37	$385.00	730	-	2 years	3	0	0
27	Utah	37	$549.00	733	20 clock hours	2 years	2	0	0
28	North Carolina	37	$260.00	730	-	2 years	2	0	0
29	Alabama	37	$315.00	700	-	3000 clock hours	1	0	0
30	Mississippi	37	$640.00	67	-	3 jobs, contractors	2	0	0
31	Louisiana	37	$460.00	0	-	-	2	0	0
32	Tennessee	37	$360.00	0	-	-	2	0	0
33	West Virginia	37	$174.00	0	-	-	2	0	0
34	North Dakota	37	$125.00	0	-	-	0	0	18
35	Wisconsin	37	$175.00	0	-	-	0	0	0
36	Washington	37	$113.40	0	-	-	0	0	0
37	Nebraska	37	$0.00	0	-	-	0	0	0