Georgia HVAC license requirements at a glance
- Issued by
- Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Conditioned Air Contractors (Secretary of State)
- License required
- Yes, contractor license to bid, contract, or install systems; technicians work under a licensed contractor
- Experience
- 4 years practical experience
- Exam
- Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor exam (PSI), 120 questions, 70% to pass
- State fees
- $100-110 application (sources differ, verify) plus $267 exam
- Renewal
- Every 2 years (renew by Nov 30 of odd years)
- Avg. GA HVAC salary
- $57,110/yr (2025)
- Federal
- EPA Section 608 required
How do you get an HVAC license in Georgia?
- Start working under a licensed Conditioned Air Contractor, no technician license required, and every year counts toward the experience requirement
- Obtain EPA Section 608 certification (Type II or higher), Georgia requires it as application documentation
- Complete a board-approved heat loss/gain and duct design course (Manuals N and Q, Carrier Design, or an approved equivalent)
- Gather three notarized references from architects, professional engineers, inspectors, or licensed Conditioned Air Contractors who worked directly with you, plus your background check
- Get board pre-approval, pass the PSI exam ($267, 120 questions, 70%) for your class, and submit the license application through the state portal
What license tiers does Georgia offer?
Georgia runs two contractor classes under the Conditioned Air program: Class I (restricted to 175,000 BTU heating and 60,000 BTU cooling, four years of experience) and Class II (unrestricted, five years). There is no state technician tier, techs work under a contractor. Education can substitute for part of the experience requirement in both classes, and the license covers the electrical connection between disconnect and equipment as part of the trade scope.
What is the Georgia HVAC exam like?
The exam runs through PSI with continuous testing available since late 2022, so you schedule when ready rather than waiting for exam windows. It is 120 questions in two parts, up to seven hours total, 70% to pass, covering mechanical code, refrigeration, duct design, and load calculations. Critical for 2026: exams administered on or after May 1, 2026 are based on the 2024 IMC and IFGC editions. Board pre-approval is required before you can sit.
How much does an HVAC license cost in Georgia?
Roughly $400-$500 to the state: the $267 PSI exam, a $100-$110 application fee (sources conflict on the exact figure, confirm with the board), background check, and notarized references. Add the board-approved design course, typically $250-$450 from Georgia providers. The experience years are paid work under a licensed contractor, so training debt stays minimal. Renewal is $75 biennially with 4 hours of CE per year.
How long does it take to become an HVAC tech in Georgia?
The clock is the 4 years of practical experience, paid full-time work under a licensed contractor. Georgia licenses HVAC at the contractor level through its Conditioned Air program: four years of experience qualifies you for the restricted Class I, five years for the unrestricted Class II, and technicians can start paid work immediately under a licensed contractor.
Is HVAC a good career in Georgia?
Georgia average from state wage data (2025 estimate). National median from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023). Verify current figures with BLS.
What does it take to start your own HVAC business in Georgia?
The Conditioned Air license is itself the authority to contract, but running a Georgia HVAC business adds the usual layers: local business licenses or occupational tax certificates in most cities and counties, general liability insurance, and workers comp as you hire. Georgia participates in license reciprocity agreements and accepts NASCLA-accredited examinations for related classifications, useful if you hold credentials in neighboring states.
What most guides get wrong about Georgia
Two traps catch Georgia applicants. First, the references: all three must be notarized and must come from an architect, professional engineer, city or county inspector, or licensed Conditioned Air Contractor who worked directly with you, generic character references get applications kicked back. Second, the code edition switch: as of May 1, 2026, the exam tests the 2024 IMC and IFGC, so anyone studying from older prep materials is preparing for a retired exam.
Georgia HVAC license: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Class I and Class II in Georgia?
Class I is restricted to systems up to 175,000 BTU of heating and 60,000 BTU (about 5 tons) of cooling, which covers most residential work, and requires four years of experience. Class II is unrestricted for any system size, including large commercial, and requires five years. Each complete system in an installation counts as its own job for classification purposes.
Can I do HVAC work in Georgia without a license?
As an employee of a licensed contractor earning wages, yes, for basic services. To bid, contract, perform full system installations, or run your own HVAC business, you must hold the Conditioned Air Contractor license. Georgia enforces this at the state level.
How much does a Georgia HVAC license cost?
Plan on roughly $400-$500 in state costs: the $267 PSI exam, an application fee of $100-$110, the background check, and notarization costs for your references. The board-approved design course adds several hundred dollars depending on provider. Renewal runs $75 per two-year cycle with four hours of continuing education per year.
Is the Georgia Conditioned Air exam hard?
It is one of the longer state exams: 120 questions across two parts with up to seven hours of testing time, requiring 70% to pass. Most candidates spend two to four months preparing. Note that starting May 1, 2026, the exam is based on the 2024 editions of the IMC and IFGC, so make sure your study materials match the current code editions.
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