Florida is renowned for its year-round favorable temperatures and frequent sunny days. However, summers in Florida can be extremely hot and the average temperature throughout the state during this time can reach up into the 90s and even lower 100s. Thus, professionals with a Florida HVAC license are an absolute necessity for the state and are in constant demand.
Those looking to work as HVAC contractors in Florida must obtain licensure prior to performing work. HVAC licenses in Florida are issued by the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation and there are several work and educational requirements that must be met before obtaining a license.
Individuals looking to work as HVAC technicians in Florida are not required to obtain licensure.
Florida HVAC License Requirements
Florida offers four main HVAC license options that fall under a certified class or a registered class. Certified classes require individuals to pass an exam and allows HVAC contractors to work anywhere within the state of Florida. Registered classes require HVAC contractors to pass a local competency exam and they are limited to working only within a certain locality.
State Certified Class A Florida HVAC License
The first major HVAC license for HVAC contractors is the State Certified Class A Florida HVAC License which allows HVAC professionals to work anywhere within the state. In order to obtain this license individuals must obtain workers compensation, pass the licensing exam and meet both educational and professional experience requirements. The exam has a fee of $355 and there is also a $125 fee certification and renewal.
State Registered Class A Florida HVAC License
The second major HVAC license for HVAC contractors is the State Registered Class A Florida HVAC License which only allows HVAC professionals to work in areas where local requirements are met. In order to obtain this license individuals must submit a formal application as well as pay a $100 registration fee and a $100 renewal fee.
State Certified Class B HVAC License
The third major HVAC license for HVAC contractors is the State Certified Class B HVAC License which is the same as the State Certified Class A Florida HVAC License in respect to its basic requirements. However, unlike Class A, Class B limits workers to performing on cooling systems that are 20 tons or lighter and heating systems that are 500,000 BTU and lower. Individuals that wish to obtain this license must also have a four-year degree along with one year of work-related experience, however they may substitute this requirement with 2,000 hours of service or four years of active experience. The exam fee is $354.
State Registered Class B HVAC License
The fourth major HVAC license for HVAC contractors is the State Registered Class B HVAC License. Similar to the State Registered Class A Florida HVAC License, HVAC professionals are limited to working on projects in local areas where requirements are met but they are additionally limited performing on cooling systems no greater than 20 tons and heating systems no more than 500,000 BTU. Individuals must submit a formal application as well as pay the fees for registration and renewal. Both the registration fee and the renewal fee are $100 each.
Florida HVAC Education
Florida offers numerous programs in HVAC education ranging from certificate programs to bachelor and master level degrees. The length of time for these programs generally ranges from 2 semesters to four years depending on what type of education the HVAC professional obtains. Over 40 colleges in Florida offer HVAC training and education. Some of the most well-known programs can be found at Daytona State College, Eastern Florida State College, Florida State College of Jacksonville, Hillsborough Community College, Indian River State College, Miami Dade College, Palm Beach State College, Pensacola State College, Santa Fe College, and Seminole State College of Florida.
Florida HVAC License Exam
Those looking to obtain a Florida HVAC license must pass two exams.
The first exam is the Class A Air Conditioning Exam or the Class B Air Conditioning Exam.
HVAC contractors that take the Class A Air Conditioning Exam are required to take an all-day, 130 question exam which has a morning session and an afternoon session.
HVAC contractors that take the Class B Air Conditioning Exam must answer 80 questions and the exam is open book.
The second exam that HVAC contractors must take is the Business and Finance Exam which takes 6.5 hours and has 120 questions. This exam covers topics in business, administration, management, accounting, human resources, and regulations.
Additional Requirements
Individuals that wish to work as HVAC professionals must also meet additional requirements before obtaining licensure. These requirements include documenting four years of experience, providing a current credit report and financial statement that documents having a net worth of $2,500 – $20,000, and obtaining general liability insurance which covers $100,000 for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage.
Florida HVAC Salary
The average salary for professionals with a Florida HVAC license is reported to be around $43,000 annually with a typical range of $38,000 to $49,000. The cities in Florida that pay the highest rates for HVAC professionals include Boca Raton, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Pompano Beach.