How to get an HVAC license in Georgia

Licensing office Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Conditioned Air Contractors (Secretary of State) [6][12]

The license pathway in Georgia

1. 1

   HVAC employee (no state license)

   Georgia has no apprentice or technician HVAC license. The law expects each company office to have a licensed contractor supervising employees' installation and service work, and the experience it counts includes years as a lead mechanic and service technician. To handle refrigerant you need EPA Section 608 certification. [1][4]

2. 2

   Conditioned Air Contractor Class I (Restricted)

   • 4 years of experience
   • Board-approved heat loss/gain and duct design course (Board FAQ: Manual J and D)
   • Yes, PSI, open book (listed references only), 100 scored questions, 70 to pass
   • $110 application
   • Every 2 years (odd years); 4 hours CE per year

   Residential and light commercial: air conditioning and heat pumps up to 60,000 BTU of cooling and gas heat up to 175,000 BTU. Experience must include 2 years as a residential lead installer, 1 year as a service technician and 1 year of residential supervision, plus EPA 608 Type II certification. [1][3][6][7][8]

3. 3

   Conditioned Air Contractor Class II (Unrestricted)

   • 5 years of experience
   • Heat loss/gain and duct design course (Board FAQ: Manual J and D plus Manual N and Q, or Carrier Design 1, 2 and 3)
   • Yes, PSI, open book (listed references only), 100 scored questions, 70 to pass
   • $110 application
   • Every 2 years (odd years); 4 hours CE per year

   No limit on project size or equipment type, except boilers. Experience must include 2 years as a lead installer (at least 1 commercial, on systems above the Class I limits), 1 year in service and 2 years of commercial supervision, plus EPA 608 Type II and Type III certification. [1][3][6][7][8]

Who needs a conditioned air license in Georgia

Georgia law calls HVAC work conditioned air contracting: installing, repairing or servicing conditioned air systems or equipment. Under the 2026 law, that includes the electrical circuit from the panel to the equipment when the building's service is single-phase and not over 200 amps. Conditioned air equipment also covers the fuel gas piping on the outlet side of the gas meter.

Anyone who does, bids for or offers this work under a contract needs a license from the Division of Conditioned Air Contractors. A company can do it only if a licensed person works with it full time, and each branch office needs a licensee who supervises the employees' work there. Regular full-time employees working on their own employer's premises are exempt.

If you work under a licensed conditioned air contractor's contract, you don't need this license just to install duct systems, controls or insulation, but you do need it to install or repair a complete system. The 2025 version of the law said an employee paid only a salary or hourly wage wasn't a "conditioned air contractor"; the 2026 rewrite doesn't repeat that sentence, so if you plan to work as an HVAC technician, confirm with the Division.

You may not legally do licensed work until you hold an active license. [1][5][6]

Class I vs. Class II and the experience you need

• Class I (Restricted): the law calls it a "Residential and Light Commercial" license for air conditioning and heat pump systems of 60,000 BTU of cooling or less and gas heating of 175,000 BTU or less. The experience it lists is 2 years of residential installation as a lead mechanic, 1 year as a service technician and 1 year of residential supervisory experience: 4 years in all. You also need EPA 608 Type II and a Board-approved heat loss and gain and duct design course.
• Class II (Unrestricted): residential and commercial work "without limitations or restrictions on project size or equipment types," except boilers, which the Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner licenses. You need 5 years: 2 years of commercial supervisory experience, 1 year as a service technician or service supervisor, and 2 years of installation as a lead mechanic, at least 1 of them commercial, on systems above 175,000 BTU of heating and 60,000 BTU of cooling. You also need EPA 608 Type II and Type III and the design course.

Schooling can count, based on the class time you completed: up to 2 years for a technical school or college diploma in air conditioning technology, engineering or engineering technology, or up to 1 year for a vocational-technical certificate.

The law asks for a signed affidavit from an architect, professional engineer, building official or inspector, or licensed conditioned air contractor who supervised or oversaw your work, one from each such person. The Board's rule, not yet updated, still asks for three references from the same kinds of people. [1][3]

The exam

Once the Board approves your application, you register with PSI, the state's testing vendor. The approval letter is valid for one year.

The exam has two parts, each 3.5 hours, with a break between. It has 100 scored questions plus 20 unscored "beta" questions. You may bring only the references on the Board's list, such as the Georgia Mechanical and Gas Codes, Manuals J and D, and a refrigeration textbook. Notes and photocopies aren't allowed, but tabs and highlighting are. Since May 1, 2026 the exam uses the 2024 Georgia Mechanical and Gas Codes.

The passing score is a scaled 70, the minimum the law sets. If you fail twice, you must finish a Board-approved review course before a third try. See the PSI candidate handbook for the full reference list. [1][3][7][8]

Fees, renewal and continuing education

• Application by exam (Class I or II): $110.
• Business registration: no fee.
• Reinstatement (lapsed less than 3 years): $310. Lapsed 3 years or more: $310 and, per the Board's guide, you must pass the exam again (the 2026 law says the extra requirements "may include" a new exam).
• Renewal: licenses last two years; renew online in GOALS by November 30 of odd-numbered years, with a late period from December 1 to 31 (the law allows up to 31 days).
• Continuing education: the 2026 law leaves the number of hours to the Division and says hours can't carry over. The Board's FAQ says 4 hours each year (8 per renewal), and licensed professional engineers are exempt.

The Secretary of State keeps a current fee schedule; PSI's exam fee is separate. [1][6][7]

Apprenticeships and training in Georgia

Georgia's law asks for experience as a lead mechanic, a service technician and a supervisor, plus an EPA certification and a duct design course.

• United Association (UA) local unions run registered apprenticeships that include HVACR; they typically last five years.
• The U.S. Department of Labor's Apprenticeship Job Finder lists open apprenticeship jobs from employers.
• A vocational-technical certificate can count for up to 1 year of the experience requirement, and a technical diploma in air conditioning technology, engineering or engineering technology for up to 2.

[1][9][10]

If you're licensed in another state

The 2026 law lets the Division, at its discretion, license you without the exam if your state's requirements are "substantially equal" to Georgia's, you have been "principally engaged" in the work for at least 2 years right before you apply, and your state gives Georgia licensees the same privilege. But the Board's FAQ says: "Reciprocity with other states is not offered at this time." Board rules allow the Divisions to sign written reciprocity agreements, but none is currently offered for conditioned air. Plan to apply by examination, and confirm with the Board.

Military members and veterans may qualify for exam preference points or faster processing. The 2026 law also has a committee that decides which military specialties meet the requirements for a Class I license, with expedited licensing for applicants who apply within two years of discharge. [1][6][7][11]

EPA Section 608: the federal certification you'll need

Georgia's 2026 law makes EPA Section 608 Type II certification a requirement for Class I, and Type II and Type III for Class II. Federal rules require it anyway: technicians who maintain, service, repair or dispose of equipment that could release refrigerant must be certified under Section 608. It's earned by passing an EPA-approved test, and it doesn't expire.

Read our EPA 608 certification guide for the four types and how the test works. [1][4]

Recent law changes: SB 125 (2025) and Act 472 (2026)

In 2026 Georgia repealed and rewrote the whole law for electrical, plumbing, conditioned air, low voltage and utility contractors (Chapter 14 of Title 43 of the Georgia Code). The bill was Senate Bill 553, signed May 11, 2026 as Act 472, and it took effect July 1, 2026. For conditioned air it wrote each class's scope and experience mix into the law, required EPA 608 Type II (Class I) or Type II and Type III (Class II), replaced references with experience affidavits, counted a year of full-time experience as at least 2,000 hours, and left continuing-education hours to the Division.

As of October 10, 2026, the Board's rule (Rule 121-3-.04), FAQ and how-to guide still show the older wording, such as three references and "Type II or higher." Where they differ from the law, confirm with the Division.

The year before, Senate Bill 125 (2025) had spelled out the electrical work included in conditioned air contracting and changed the continuing-education wording from "not more than" to "not less than" four hours a year. [1][2][3][5][6][7]

Steps to get licensed in Georgia

1. Get EPA Section 608 certification

   The 2026 law requires EPA Section 608 Type II certification for Class I and Type II and Type III for Class II (the Board's FAQ still says "Type II or higher"). Federal law requires it to handle refrigerant anyway. See our EPA 608 guide. [1][4][7]

2. Build the experience

   Build 4 years of experience for Class I or 5 for Class II, in the specific mix of lead installer, service and supervisory roles the law lists. Full-time experience means at least 2,000 hours in a year. [1][3]

3. Take the required design courses

   Complete a Board-approved heat loss/gain and duct design course. The Board's FAQ asks for Manual J and D (Class I) and, for Class II, also Manual N and Q or Carrier Design 1-3. [1][6][7]

4. Apply in GOALS

   Create an account in the Secretary of State's GOALS portal and file the Licensure by Examination application with the $110 fee, a background check and your certificates. See the how-to guide. The 2026 law asks for signed experience affidavits from the people who supervised you; the Board's checklist still asks for three references, so confirm which it wants. [1][3][6]

5. Pass the PSI exam

   After the Board approves you, PSI sends instructions to register. The approval letter is good for one year, and you need a scaled score of 70. [7][8]

6. Register your business

   File a Business Registration (no fee) to link your license to a company, and show the GA. REG. number on vehicles, ads and invoices. [1][6][13]

Where to get the hours

Programs that train HVAC technicians in or for Georgia, from their own official pages. Listed by type, not ranked.

• Union

  United Association (UA) pipe trades apprenticeships

  The UA's registered apprenticeships include an HVACR track and typically last five years, with paid work plus classroom training. Find a local union through the UA. [9]

• Other

  Apprenticeship.gov Job Finder

  The U.S. Department of Labor's search tool for open apprenticeship jobs by occupation and location, including Georgia. [10]

Licensed in another state?

Questions people ask