United States · Licensing examWho issues an HVAC contractor license?
| State | License | Size limit | Exams |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | C-20 (CSLB) | None stated | Law and Business plus C-20 trade |
| Florida | Class A or B air conditioning, or mechanical (DBPR) | Class B: 25 tons cooling, 500,000 Btu heating per system | Business and Finance plus Trade Knowledge |
| Texas | Air conditioning and refrigeration, Class A or B (TDLR) | Class B: 25 tons cooling, 1.5 million Btu/hr heating | PSI endorsement exam |
| West Virginia | HVAC classification | None stated | Contractor Licensing Act plus HVAC |
California's C-20 covers warm-air heating, heat pumps for water heating, ventilating systems and air conditioning, with their ducts, registers, flues, controls and filters, including solar-powered systems. Florida's mechanical license covers the same systems plus boilers, pressure vessels and much of the piping.
Texas HVAC contractor license exam
TDLR wants at least 48 months of air conditioning and refrigeration work in the last 72, under a licensed contractor. Or you can hold a technician certification for the past 12 months plus 36 months of experience in the last 48. You apply with the $115 fee, TDLR approves you, and PSI emails your eligibility notice.
You choose an endorsement: Environmental Air Conditioning, Commercial Refrigeration, or Process Cooling or Heating. The written exams are TX Environmental Air A or B and TX Commercial Refrigeration A or B. PSI's candidate bulletin has the question count, time and passing score. You also carry liability insurance:
| Coverage | Class A | Class B |
|---|---|---|
| Per occurrence | $300,000 | $100,000 |
| Aggregate | $600,000 | $200,000 |
| Products and completed work | $300,000 | $100,000 |
What an HVAC contractor exam covers
West Virginia's HVAC exam is 80 questions in 3 hours, open book, and its outline gives a feel for the trade side:
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| General knowledge | 30 |
| Controls | 10 |
| Ducting and insulation | 10 |
| Equipment | 10 |
| Load calculations | 6 |
| Piping | 6 |
| Code requirements | 4 |
| Safety (OSHA) | 4 |
In Florida, the Air A and Mechanical trade exams last 7.5 hours, longer than the other trades.
Contractor license or technician license?
They're different. The contractor license is for the business that bids and contracts. West Virginia also certifies HVAC technicians, with a separate bulletin and application, and Texas has a certified technician exam of its own. In Texas, a technician certification can count toward the experience for the contractor license.
Sources: CSLB · Florida Statutes · Florida DBPR and Professional Testing and 5 more. Checked October 2026.
- CSLB: C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning ↗
- Florida Statutes (2026): Section 489.105 ↗
- Florida DBPR and Professional Testing: Examination Registration Instructions (revised 08/01/2024) ↗
- TDLR: Air conditioning and refrigeration ↗
- TDLR: Apply for a contractor license ↗
- TDLR: Exam information ↗
- Prov: West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board Candidate Bulletin (2026.05.07) ↗
- WV Contractor Licensing Board: Forms and resources ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.
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