Guides · Paperwork and licenses
The Florida HVAC license
Yes. HVAC is state-regulated and, unlike other trades, here you have to pick **between two classes of license**. That choice decides which jobs you can take for years, so it's worth understanding before paying for an exam.
Updated 2026-09-15
Class A and Class B: the 25-ton ceiling
Class A has no limit. It covers air conditioning, refrigeration and heating equipment of any size and capacity.
Class B is capped at systems up to 25 tons of cooling and 500,000 BTU per hour of heating.
For houses, Class B is plenty: a normal residential system doesn't come near that ceiling. The problem shows up the day a commercial contract arrives — a restaurant, a warehouse, an office building — and you have to say no, or hand it to someone else.
The Class A exam is longer (7.5 hours and 130 questions, against 5 hours and 80 for Class B), but it's the same investment in years of experience. Anyone who intends to touch commercial work at some point usually comes out ahead going Class A from the start.
What the state asks for, in both classes
Four years of experience, including the mandatory foreman year. A four-year college degree in a construction-related field plus one year of experience in the category also works, as does a combination of coursework and experience totaling four years.
Two exams: business and finance, and trade knowledge. The finance one covers contracts, financial management and the applicable laws; the trade one covers the technical side.
Financial responsibility, normally shown with a FICO credit score of 660 or higher. Below that, the usual route is a 14-hour financial responsibility course or a bond.
Insurance: at least $100,000 liability and $25,000 property damage.
The credit score, which catches people out
The state looking at your credit history to grant a trade license isn't intuitive, and it stalls a lot of applications. The reasoning is that a contractor who can't pay suppliers leaves jobs half-finished.
If the score is under 660, the 14-hour course is the way through, and it isn't a formality: it's worth starting before the rest of the paperwork is ready, so it isn't the last thing holding everything up.
doubts
What people usually ask
Can I install a mini split without a license?
No. Florida sets no dollar or equipment-size threshold below which installation falls outside the rules. A residential mini split counts the same.
Can I start with Class B and move up?
Yes, you can apply for Class A later, but it means sitting the longer exam. Anyone who already knows they want commercial work saves a step by going straight there.
Do I also need an EPA certification?
The federal certification for handling refrigerants is separate from the state contractor license, and you need both. One lets you contract; the other lets you touch refrigerant.
Can I work under my boss's license?
As their employee, yes. To contract directly with customers, pull permits and get paid on your own, you need your own. Sources: [DBPR / CILB](https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/construction-industry/), [NEXT Insurance](https://www.nextinsurance.com/blog/how-to-get-an-hvac-license-in-florida/), [1 Exam Prep](https://1examprep.com/blogs/news-insight/ultimate-guide-to-florida-air-conditioning-licenses-class-a-class-b-and-mechanical-contractors-uncovered).