Florida HVAC License Guide,
DBPR Class A & Class B 2026

Individual technicians do not hold a statewide license, Florida regulates HVAC at the contractor level. You can legally install and service systems as an employee of a licensed Class A or Class B Air-Conditioning Contractor. What every tech personally needs is federal EPA Section 608 certification to handle refrigerants, and in some counties a local journeyman competency card to work unsupervised on permitted jobs.

Scope, not difficulty of entry: a Class B contractor may work on systems up to 25 tons of cooling and 500,000 BTU of heating per unit, which covers nearly all residential and light-commercial work, while a Class A contractor has no size limits and can take large commercial and industrial plants. Experience requirements, fees and the Business & Finance exam are the same, only the Trade exam differs.

A certified contractor has passed the state exams and can contract anywhere in Florida. A registered contractor instead holds a local competency card (issued by a city or county) that DBPR registers, and may only contract within the jurisdictions that issued the card. Certification is the more portable and more common path for new applicants; registration mainly serves contractors staying in one county.

Plan on roughly $550-$650: $135 exam registration plus $80 each for the Trade and Business & Finance exams ($295 total), and a DBPR application fee of about $249 (it drops to ~$149 in the second half of the biennial cycle). Add a credit report, fingerprinting, insurance, and later a ~$209 renewal every two years plus 14 hours of continuing education.

The CILB accepts three routes: four years of verifiable trade experience including at least one year as a foreman; a four-year degree in a construction-related field plus one year of experience; or a combination of college credits and experience totaling four years. Experience is documented with employer affidavits and payroll records, and the board can audit any claim.

Two computer-based exams through Professional Testing, Inc.: the Trade exam for your class (Class A or Class B Air) and the Florida Business & Finance exam. Both are open book with approved references that may be tabbed and highlighted, and both require 70% to pass. Registration is $135 plus $80 per exam, and passing scores remain valid for four years while you complete the application.

No, they're independent requirements. EPA Section 608 is a federal certification (Type I, II, III or Universal) required of any individual who services equipment containing regulated refrigerants, anywhere in the U.S. The Florida Air-Conditioning Contractor license is a state business credential for contracting HVAC work. A contractor needs both; a technician working under a contractor still personally needs EPA 608.

Florida requires certified contractor applicants to demonstrate financial responsibility, normally with a credit report showing a FICO score of 660 or better. If your score is lower, you can satisfy the rule by completing a board-approved 14-hour financial responsibility course or by posting a licensing bond. You'll also carry general liability insurance and workers' comp (or an exemption) before the license activates.

Use the free DBPR 'Verify a License' search at myfloridalicense.com, search by name, license number or city to see the license class, status and expiration. Certified Air-Conditioning Contractor numbers start with CAC. Employers and homeowners should confirm an active license before any permitted HVAC work; GlobalCybers verifies every candidate's credentials before placement.