HVAC Licenses, Certificates and Schools in Florida

| Last Updated: August 22, 2021
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Interested in becoming an HVAC professional in the state of Florida?

It is important to understand the licensing requirements and requirements and guidelines set forth by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, a division of the Florida’s Construction Industry Licensing Board. Here’s what you need to know about Florida HVAC certification and license regulations.

Florida HVAC Certification Programs

You can take a Florida HVAC certification program at a technical college or even a four-year public college that offers certificate and degree programs in air conditioning, refrigeration and heating systems technology.

Some Florida certification programs prepare students to serve as an assistant and are only one or two semesters in length. Other certification routes are two-year programs that cover a range of courses in HVAC subjects and prepare students specifically for the Florida HVAC certification exam.

HVAC Schools in Florida

You can started right now by filling out the form below to see FL HVAC schools near you:

Examples of Florida HVAC Certification Programs Include:

  • Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating Systems Assistant Certificate
  • Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating Systems Technician Certificate
  • Associate in Applied Science in Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating Systems Technology
  • Associate in Science in Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Systems Technologies

Getting an Additional NATE Certification

Technicians who are planning to work with ozone-depleting refrigerants also need to pass a separate certification program from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). You can take this exam through one of two certification organizations: HVAC Excellence or the North American Technician Excellence (NATE) organization Statistics show that 87% of clients prefer certified technicians. Passing the NATE tests demonstrates your knowledge in a specific subject area related to HVAC.

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It is not mandatory that you have your NATE certification in Florida, but it certainly can only help. There are a lot of different certifications an HVAC tech could receive in Florida. Certifications are a way of demonstrating to potential employers that you, as a technician, have the knowledge and understanding of specialized concepts. This will help make you a more valuable commodity when competing in the job market.

Types of Florida HVAC Licenses

The State of Florida recognizes the following types of Florida HVAC license options, and you can only qualify for each type when you meet certain criteria. Here’s a breakdown of different Florida HVAC licenses:

  • State Certified Class A Florida HVAC License
  • State Registered Class A Florida HVAC License
  • State Certified Class B HVAC License
  • State Registered Class B HVAC License

You can find out more about each one these licenses below.

State Certified Class A Florida HVAC License

Allows you to work anywhere in the state of Florida. You must have workers comp, pass the exam and meet educational and on-the-job requirements in order to qualify for this license. The exam fee is $355, while the certification and renewal fees are $125.

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State Registered Class A Florida HVAC License

Allows you to work in local areas where local requirements are met, and you can work on any size unit. You can contact the local government for details, but you do have to fill out a formal application. There is a $100 registration fee and a $100 renewal fee.

State Certified Class B HVAC License

You can work anywhere in the state but must have workers comp, pass an exam and meet other educational and job requirements. You are limited to working with cooling systems that are 20 tons or lighter, and heating systems that are 500,000 BTU and lower.

You must also be 18 and have a four-year accredited degree and one year of experience (or 2,000 hours of service), or four years of active experience before you pass a state exam. There is a $354 examination fee.

State Registered Class B HVAC License

You can only work in local areas where you meet local requirements, and are limited to working with cooling systems that are 20 tons or lighter, and heating systems that are 500,000 BTU and lower. You’ll need to contact your local government for details and submit a formal application for your license. There is a $100 registration fee and a $100 renewal fee.

Florida Contractor License Requirements

For each different license in the state of Florida there are different baseline requirements for eligibility. You must be at least 18 to apply for any of these.

Mechanical Contractors License

  1. At least 18 years old
  2. At least 4 years of experience
  3. Provide a credit report and financial statement from current year
  4. Net worth of $2,500 - $20,000
  5. General liability insurance: $100,000 for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage

A + B Air Conditioning Contractor’s License

  1. Sit for two exams in business/finance and your desired trade
  2. Provide a credit report and financial statement from current year
  3. Net worth of $2,500 - $20,000
  4. General liability insurance: $100,000 for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage

Note: Electrical Contractors will not sit for this exam as they have separate requirements for the state.

Individual Fees:

$249 From May 1st of an even year through August 31st of an odd year$309 From September 1st of an odd year through April 30th of an even year

Exam Process

For each different license or certification you will need to pass a written exam after your eligibility has been determined and your application has been accepted by the board. If you need help studying check out our practice tests here.

Mechanical Contractor’s License Exam

  • The exam is taken in two 4.5 hour sections, one taken in the morning and the other at night
  • You need at least a 70% to pass
  • The exam fee is $135
  • The test is taken onsite at the date and location selected on your application

A + B Air Conditioning Contractor’s License

The exam is taken in two 4.5 hour sections, one taken in the morning and the other at night

  • You need at least a 70% to pass
  • The exam fee is $135
  • The test is taken onsite at the date and location selected on your application
  • You will need 14 hours of continued education to acquire and maintain this license

NATE Exam

  • Choose your technician type whether it be installation or service.
  • Identify which specialty exam you would like to take in addition to the core exam
  • Register for a testing session in your area
  • It is $95 to maintain a 5-year certification

Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, HVAC Technicians earn a median income of $43,640 annually. The top 10 percent of technicians earn over $68,000 as their yearly salary. Jobs available in Florida are predicted to increase by over 30% in the coming years.

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There are over 1,000 open and available  jobs in the state of Florida right now!Some of the cities where an HVAC career pays the highest are Boca Raton ($42,389), Miami ($42,236), Fort Lauderdale ($41,578), Hollywood and Pompano Beach (both around $41,578).

Conclusion

Getting your hands on experience and a good HVAC education in the classroom, online training or from apprenticeships is crucial to a successful career. Getting certified is the next step. Once you know which field or fields you would like to specialize in, you can gain further licensure and certifications. Getting your license or getting certified can help you have better job security, better pay, and more options for the future.

Looking For Information On Nearby States?

You might also be interested in HVAC licensing requirements in bordering states:

Florida HVAC Schools

School Name
Address
Phone
Recent Graduates
Florida Career College-Miami1321 SW 107 Ave Ste 201B Miami, FL 33174954-400-2000
403
South Florida Institute of Technology720 NW 27th Avenue, 2nd Floor Miami, FL 33125305-649-2050
243
College of Business and Technology-Hialeah935 West 49 Street # 203 Hialeah, FL 33012305-273-4499-300
135
College of Business and Technology-Flagler8230 W Flagler St. Miami, FL 33144305-273-4499-200
129
Everest University-Tampa3319 W Hillsborough Ave Tampa, FL 33614813-879-6000
109
Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg901 34th St S Saint Petersburg, FL 33711-2209727-893-2500-2520
73
Atlantic Technical College4700 Coconut Creek Parkway Coconut Creek, FL 33063-3902754-321-5100
67
Everest University-Orange Park805 Wells Rd Orange Park, FL 32073904-264-9122
66
Florida Technical College12900 Challenger Parkway Orlando, FL 32826407-447-7300
54
Everest Institute-North Miami111 NW 183rd St, Ste 200 Miami, FL 33169-4538305-949-9500
46
Sheridan Technical College5400 Sheridan St Hollywood, FL 33021754-321-5400
46
Florida State College at Jacksonville501 W State St Jacksonville, FL 32202904-359-5433
43
Indian River State College3209 Virginia Ave Fort Pierce, FL 34981-5596772-462-4772
38
Manatee Technical Institute6305 State Rd 70 East Bradenton, FL 34203941-751-7900-1001
37
D G Erwin Technical Center2010 E. Hillsborough Avenue Tampa, FL 33610813-769-5180
36
Palm Beach State College4200 Congress Ave Lake Worth, FL 33461-4796561-967-7222
36
Traviss Career Center3225 Winter Lake Rd Lakeland, FL 33803863-499-2700
35
Eastern Florida State College1519 Clearlake Rd Cocoa, FL 32922321-632-1111
35
Lively Technical Center500 N Appleyard Dr Tallahassee, FL 32304-2895850-487-7555
32
Fort Myers Institute of Technology3800 Michigan Ave Fort Myers, FL 33916-2204239-334-4544-208
32
Technical Education Center-Osceola501 Simpson Rd Kissimmee, FL 34744407-344-5080
31
Southern Technical College1485 Florida Mall Avenue Orlando, FL 32809407-671-9922-220
30
Daytona State College1200 W. International Speedway Blvd. Daytona Beach, FL 32114386-506-3000
30
Radford M Locklin Technical Center5330 Berryhill Rd Milton, FL 32570-8188850-983-5700
28
Futura Career Institute4512 West 12th Avenue Hialeah, FL 33012-3325305-825-7660
28
Seminole State College of Florida100 Weldon Blvd Sanford, FL 32773-6199407-708-4722
27
First Coast Technical College2980 Collins Ave Saint Augustine, FL 32084-1919904-824-4401
25
Lincoln College of Technology-West Palm Beach2410 Metrocentre Blvd West Palm Beach, FL 33407561-842-8324-46200
24
Santa Fe College3000 Northwest 83rd Street Gainesville, FL 32606-6210352-395-5000
21
Mid Florida Tech2900 West Oak Ridge Road Orlando, FL 32809407-251-6047-0
21
Centura Institute6359 Edgewater Drive Orlando, FL 32810407-275-9696
20
Robert Morgan Educational Center18180 SW 122nd Ave Miami, FL 33177305-253-9920
18
Fortis Institute-Pensacola4081 E Olive Rd Ste B Pensacola, FL 32514850-476-7607
17
Indian River State College3209 Virginia Ave Fort Pierce, FL 34981-5596772-462-4772
16
Fortis College-Largo6565 Ulmerton Road Largo, FL 33771727-531-5900-3411
15
Fortis Institute-Port Saint Lucie9022 South US Highway 1 Port Saint Lucie, FL 34952772-221-9799
15
Ridge Career Center7700 State Rd 544 Winter Haven, FL 33881-9518863-419-3060
14
Fortis Institute-Jacksonville5995-2 University Blvd West Jacksonville, FL 32216904-443-6300
14
College of Central Florida3001 SW College Rd Ocala, FL 34474352-873-5800
13
Westside Tech955 E Story Rd Winter Garden, FL 34787-3733407-905-2018
12
Walton Career Development Center761 N 20th St Defuniak Springs, FL 32433850-892-1241
11
Lincoln College of Technology-West Palm Beach2410 Metrocentre Blvd West Palm Beach, FL 33407561-842-8324-46200
11
Tom P Haney Technical Center3016 Hwy 77 Panama City, FL 32405850-767-5500
11
Withlacoochee Technical Institute1201 W Main St Inverness, FL 34450-4696352-726-2430
11
Pensacola State College1000 College Blvd Pensacola, FL 32504-8998850-484-1000
10
South Florida State College600 W College Dr Avon Park, FL 33825-9356863-453-6661
9
Marchman Technical Education Center7825 Campus Dr. New Port Richey, FL 34653727-774-1700
8
Fortis Institute-Mulberry5925 Imperial Parkway, Suite 200 Mulberry, FL 33860863-646-1400
8
CHOICE High School and Technical Center1976 Lewis Turner Blvd Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547850-833-3500
7
Lake Technical College2001 Kurt Street Eustis, FL 32726352-589-2250-1800
6
Suncoast Technical College4748 Beneva Rd Sarasota, FL 34233-1798941-924-1365
6
Miami Lakes Educational Center5780 NW 158th St Miami Lakes, FL 33014305-557-1100-2254
4
Fortis Institute-Fort Lauderdale4850 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Suite 224 Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33313954-587-7100-6524
3
Florida Gateway CollegeHighway 90 East Lake City, FL 32025-2007386-752-1822
3
Florida State College at Jacksonville501 W State St Jacksonville, FL 32202904-359-5433
3
Flagler Technical Institute3535 Old Kings Road North Palm Coast, FL 32137-4714386-446-7612
3
Lindsey Hopkins Technical Education Center750 NW 20 Street Miami, FL 33127305-324-6070-7006
2
M-DCPS The English Center3501 SW 28 St. Miami, FL 33133-2703305-445-7731-0
2
Hillsborough Community College39 Columbia Drive Tampa, FL 33606-3584813-253-7000
1
George Stone Technical Center2400 Longleaf Dr Pensacola, FL 32526-8922850-941-6200
1
Miami Dade College300 NE 2nd Avenue Miami, FL 33132-2204305-237-8888
0
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My name is Bob Wells and I am a retired HVAC tech from Washington state. I am currently retired and no longer do much with HVAC, however, I feel like I have a lot of knowledge in the subject and I wanted to create a website where I could talk about what I've learned and help upcoming HVAC techs. Find more info about me and HVAC Training 101.