How to Get an HVAC License in Georgia (2026 Conditioned Air Guide)

If you install or service heating and air systems in Georgia for pay, you need a state Conditioned Air Contractor license. Georgia handles HVAC licensing through the Division of Conditioned Air Contractors, one of the boards under the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board (overseen by the Georgia Secretary of State's office). This guide walks through exactly how to get licensed in 2026, the two license classes, the experience you need, the federal certification that's required alongside it, the PSI exam, real fees, and the one structural rule that decides whether your company can legally hold the license at all.

Class I vs Class II: pick your lane

Georgia issues two classes of Conditioned Air Contractor license, and the difference is the size of the equipment you're allowed to touch:

Class I (Restricted), Limited to systems or equipment not exceeding 175,000 BTU of heating and 60,000 BTU of cooling. This covers most residential and light-commercial work. If your business is houses and small commercial spaces, Class I is likely your target.

Class II (Unrestricted), No limitation on system size. A Class II holder can work on any heating and cooling equipment, including the large rooftop units and chillers found on big commercial buildings. If you want to bid commercial HVAC without a ceiling, you need Class II.

Choosing the right class up front matters, because the experience requirements differ significantly.

Step 1: Meet the experience requirements

Georgia wants documented, real-world HVAC experience, and the bar is higher for the unrestricted class.

For a Class I license, applicants must generally document:

• Two years of residential installation experience as a lead mechanic,
• One year as a service technician (which must include holding an EPA license),
• One year of residential supervisory experience, and
• Completion of a board-approved heat loss/heat gain and duct design course.

For a Class II license, applicants must document a minimum of five years of experience, including installations of conditioned air systems exceeding the Class I BTU limits, with specific commercial experience.

Keep verifiable records of your work history, the board reviews it, and vague claims slow your application down.

Step 2: Get your EPA 608 certification

Before you can do most HVAC work involving refrigerants, federal law requires EPA Section 608 certification. This is a federal credential for handling refrigerants, it is not a Georgia license, and it never expires, but it's a prerequisite that feeds into your Georgia experience requirements (the service-tech year for Class I explicitly requires an EPA license). If you're fuzzy on how the federal cert and the state license differ, read EPA 608 certification vs HVAC license.

Step 3: Pass the PSI exam

Georgia's Conditioned Air contractor exam is administered by PSI at test centers around the state. Key facts as of this run:

• The exam is 120 questions, you have seven hours, and you must score at least 70% to pass.
• It covers the International Mechanical Code (IMC) plus a block of questions on regulations, laws, and administrative functions.
• Starting May 1, 2026, the exams are based on the 2024 editions of the IFGC and IMC, make sure you're working from current code references.
• The exam fee is $267 as of this run.

Exam fees, formats, and code editions are set by the testing vendor (PSI) and the board, and are subject to change, confirm the current details in the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin before scheduling. For registration logistics across testing vendors, see how to schedule your contractor exam. (This is licensing process information, we don't provide or endorse exam-prep study products.)

Step 4: Apply and pay the fees

With experience documented, EPA 608 in hand, and the exam passed, you submit your application to the Division of Conditioned Air Contractors. As of this run, the application fee is $110. Government fees are set by the board and subject to change, verify the current amount with the Georgia Secretary of State's office before applying.

Step 5: Keep it active, renewal and continuing education

Georgia Conditioned Air licenses renew on a two-year cycle, by November 30 of odd-numbered years, with the renewal window typically running September through November. Georgia also requires continuing education, generally at least 4 hours annually from approved providers, documented at renewal. Confirm current CE rules and renewal fees with the board, as these are periodically updated.

How much does an HVAC license cost in Georgia?

The verifiable hard costs are the government and vendor fees: the PSI exam ($267 as of this run) and the application fee ($110). On top of that you'll have the cost of the board-approved duct-design course (Class I), continuing-education courses at renewal, and any insurance and bonding your business requires. All fees are set by the board or testing vendor and subject to change, verify before you rely on them.

There's no single "price to get licensed," because the real cost depends on your class, your experience path, and how you structure the business. If you want a clear, situation-specific breakdown, request a consultation.

The rule that decides if your company can hold the license

Here's the part that catches growing HVAC companies off guard: in Georgia, the Conditioned Air license is tied to a qualifying agent, a licensed individual who takes responsibility for the company's HVAC work. A company doesn't get the license in the abstract; a qualified person stands behind it. If the person who holds your license leaves, your company can lose its ability to bid and pull permits overnight.

This is the same structure across the trades. A qualifying agent is a properly licensed professional who serves as the company's qualifier as a genuine, documented W-2 employee, a real role with real responsibility, never a rented license or a percentage-of-the-job arrangement. For the HVAC-specific version of this role, see the HVAC contractor qualifying agent guide, and for Georgia specifics, the Georgia qualifying agent guide.

If you already hold a Conditioned Air license, that credential can become a source of income, learn how to become a qualifying agent. And if you run an HVAC company that needs a qualifier to legally take the work in front of you, here's how to hire a qualifying agent.

Georgia HVAC licensing FAQ

What's the difference between Class I and Class II? Class I (restricted) caps you at 175,000 BTU heating / 60,000 BTU cooling, mostly residential and light commercial. Class II (unrestricted) has no size limit and covers full commercial work.

Do I need EPA 608 to get a Georgia HVAC license? EPA 608 is a separate federal refrigerant-handling certification that's effectively required for the work and is built into Georgia's Class I experience requirements. It is not the state license itself.

Who administers the Georgia HVAC exam? PSI. It's 120 questions, seven hours, 70% to pass, based on the IMC/IFGC (2024 editions as of May 1, 2026).

Does Georgia require continuing education for HVAC? Yes, generally at least 4 hours annually from approved providers, documented at renewal (every two years by November 30 of odd years). Verify current rules with the board.

My company won the bid but nobody holds the license. What now? The license must be held by a qualifying agent. Talk to us about hiring a qualifier.

Bottom line

Getting an HVAC license in Georgia is a clear path: document your experience, hold your EPA 608, pass the PSI Conditioned Air exam, and apply to the Division of Conditioned Air Contractors for Class I or Class II. The strategic decision is who qualifies the license for your company, because that's what actually lets the business bid, pull permits, and grow. If that person isn't on your team yet, a qualifying agent is the fastest legal way to keep moving. Explore your options.