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

To get an HVAC license in Georgia, you document four years of experience for the restricted Class I or five years for the unrestricted Class II, hold EPA Type II or higher refrigerant certification, finish a Board approved design course, and apply to the Division of Conditioned Air Contractors before you ever sit the exam. Georgia calls the credential a Conditioned Air Contractor license, and it is the only state license that covers heating and air conditioning work for pay anywhere in Georgia.

This guide walks the path in order: who needs the license, the two classes, the experience and education the Board counts, the EPA certification, the application steps, what it costs, the PSI exam, renewal and continuing education, and the business rule that decides whether your company can legally take the work. For the full picture across trades, start with the Georgia contractor license guide, and for every other state see how to get a contractor license in each state.

At a glance

Issuer: Division of Conditioned Air Contractors, Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board.

Classes: Class I (Restricted) covers systems up to 175,000 BTU of heating and 60,000 BTU of cooling; Class II (Unrestricted) has no size limit.

Experience: four years for Class I and five years for Class II, plus EPA certification and a Board approved load and duct design course.

Exam: PSI, 120 questions in seven hours, open book, a scaled score of 70 to pass, $267.

Upkeep: renew by November 30 of odd numbered years, with 4 hours of continuing education per year.

Who Needs a Georgia HVAC License, and What It Covers

Georgia does not set a dollar threshold for conditioned air work the way some states do for general contracting. The trigger is the work itself: if you install, repair, or service a heating or air conditioning system for pay, anywhere in Georgia, you need the Conditioned Air license. There is no small-job or handyman exemption for this trade.

Georgia law defines conditioned air contracting as the installation, repair, or service of conditioned air systems or conditioned air equipment (O.C.G.A. 43-14-2). Conditioned air equipment means heating and air conditioning equipment covered under the state codes, plus the natural gas piping system on the outlet side of the gas meter. The definition also reaches the wiring: work on the electrical connection between the disconnect and the equipment counts as conditioned air work, as does the circuit from the distribution panel to the equipment where the building's service is a single phase circuit not exceeding 200 amperes.

The license is statewide. A licensee may work throughout Georgia within the limits of the license, including inside cities like Chamblee, Atlanta, or Savannah, and a city or county generally may not pile its own HVAC licensing requirement on top of the state one, though local permits and inspections still apply. That is one reason searches for a "hvac contractor license chamblee" or any other Georgia city turn up the same state credential: there is no separate municipal HVAC license to get first.

Searching for a "warm air license" in Georgia? That is the older name. Heating contractors were once licensed by the State Board of Warm Air Heating Contractors before those licenses converted to Conditioned Air licenses, and every new entrant since has had to pass the state examination.

Effective July 1, 2026, Senate Bill 553 (Act 472) repealed and reenacted the chapter that governs this license, O.C.G.A. Chapter 43-14, restructuring it so electrical, plumbing, conditioned air, low voltage, and utility contracting each sit under their own dedicated section rather than several shared sections. That reenactment is now in force, and the citations in this guide reflect the current, renumbered chapter.

Class I vs Class II: Which Georgia HVAC License Do You Need?

Georgia issues two classes, and the difference is the size of the equipment you may work on.

Class I fits most residential and light commercial work, so a business built on houses and small commercial spaces usually targets it. Class II removes the ceiling: a Class II holder can work on any heating and cooling equipment, including large rooftop units, chillers, and steam systems, but applicants must document experience on installations that exceed the Class I limits.

This breakdown comes from Board Rule 121-3-.04, which also treats each complete system in a single installation as an individual job when the Board classifies your experience.

Experience, Education Credit and References

The Board counts experience gained through the direct installation of, and responsibility for, conditioned air systems of a type covered by the Georgia Heating and Air Conditioning Code, even if that code was not in effect where or when you did the work (Rule 121-3-.04).

Education can shorten the clock. A technical school diploma program in engineering or engineering technology may be credited as up to two years of experience. A vocational technical school certificate program may be credited as up to one year.

You also need three references on the Board's form from people who can attest to your conditioned air experience. Each must be an architect, a professional engineer, an inspector, or a licensed Conditioned Air Contractor, and each must list a registration or license number. The Board classifies any experience the rule does not list, and that decision is final, so keep verifiable records of your work history rather than vague claims.

EPA Section 608 Certification (and the "CFC License" Question)

Georgia requires evidence of EPA certification for both classes, and the Board specifies Type II or higher. Type II covers servicing or disposing of high pressure and very high pressure appliances; Universal covers all types of equipment.

Section 608 is a federal refrigerant credential under the Clean Air Act, not a Georgia license, and it does not expire once earned. It is also what most people mean when they search for a "CFC license": the EPA's technician certification originally targeted chlorofluorocarbon and other ozone depleting refrigerants, and today Section 608 is still the umbrella credential for handling regulated refrigerant, whatever the specific gas. If you are unsure how the state license and the federal credential fit together, read EPA 608 certification vs HVAC license.

Step by Step: The Georgia Application Order

The order matters. In Georgia you apply to the Board first, and the Board approves you to sit for the exam; you do not take the exam and then apply.

1. Choose your class. Match Class I or Class II to the equipment you plan to install, using the table above.
2. Document your experience. Build the four or five years the Board requires, with lead mechanic, service, and supervisory time broken out by year.
3. Finish the design course. Complete Manuals J and D (or AIR1060) through a Board approved provider; Class II applicants also complete Manuals N and Q or Carrier Design 1, 2 and 3.
4. Get EPA certified. Hold Type II or Universal Section 608 certification.
5. Gather your documents. Three reference forms, a background check, a secure and verifiable identity document, an affidavit of citizenship, proof of education if you claim it, and your course certificates.
6. Apply in GOALS. Submit the signed, notarized Conditioned Air license application with the $110 fee through the state's GOALS portal. The Board no longer accepts paper applications.
7. Wait for Board review. Staff generally process applications within 20 business days, the count restarts when you answer a deficiency letter, and an application with deficiencies not cured within 60 days may be withdrawn.
8. Schedule the exam. Once approved, you receive an Exam Approval Letter, valid for one year, with instructions for registering with PSI.
9. Pass the exam. PSI sends the Board an official score report, which can take up to six weeks to arrive.
10. Register the business. File the Business Registration application in GOALS to tie your license to the company. It carries no fee.

Want the Application Done for You?

Ten steps, a notarized state form, three reference letters, and a portal that bounces the whole file back on a small mistake. That is where most delays happen, not at the exam.

License Application Processing prepares and submits the Georgia state contractor license application for you: an eligibility audit before anything is filed, a document checklist so you are not chasing the pieces alone, every state form prepared and reviewed line by line, submission the way the Board requires, and the Board's follow-up questions answered and resubmitted until it decides.

It is a flat $999 per state application, paid up front. State fees, exam fees, background checks and fingerprinting are paid to the state, not to us. This does not promise approval, does not promise a timeline, and does not replace sitting your own PSI exam. Call 615-219-2110 to talk through your Georgia application.

The Georgia Conditioned Air Exam (PSI)

PSI gives both Conditioned Air exams as computer based tests, onsite at PSI test centers located throughout the Southeast, and only after the Board approves you.

• Time: seven hours, given in two parts of three and a half hours each, with a break between them.
• Passing score: a minimum final scaled score of 70 on each exam.
• Fee: $267 for the exam and $267 for a retake, paid to PSI.
• Rescheduling: you may reschedule once at no charge with at least two business days' notice; arriving more than 15 minutes late or not showing up forfeits the fee.

Open book, with limits. You may bring only the references on the Board's list, highlighted, underlined, or tabbed with permanent tabs, but no photocopies or handwritten notes. Since May 1, 2026, the exam has been based only on the 2024 Georgia Gas Code (the 2024 International Fuel Gas Code) and the 2024 Georgia Mechanical Code (the 2024 International Mechanical Code), each with Georgia amendments. The list also includes the Georgia State Electrical Code (2023 NEC), ACCA Manual J and Manual D, a refrigeration and air conditioning textbook, the Georgia business and law reference, and, for Class II only, a low pressure boilers text.

How hard is it? More than half of the scored questions sit in system design: load calculations, airflow, duct sizing, flue sizing, and equipment selection. Fail twice and you must complete a Board approved review course, at least six hours with an instructor, before a third attempt. Qualifying veterans may add five or ten points to their scores. For registration logistics across testing vendors, see how to schedule your contractor exam.

How Much Does an HVAC License Cost in Georgia?

The verifiable hard costs are the government and vendor fees. The Board publishes its full schedule on the GOALS fee schedule page, and PSI shows the exam fee when you schedule.

On top of that you pay for the Board approved design course, continuing education at renewal, and any insurance your contracts require. Fees are set by the Board and PSI and change; confirm them before you file.

If what you actually want is the application filed correctly the first time rather than a do-it-yourself GOALS submission, see the License Application Processing offer above; it is a flat $999 per state application, separate from every government fee in the table.

Bond, Insurance and Local Permits

Georgia's Construction Industry Licensing Board does not require a state-level surety bond to hold the Conditioned Air license itself. That is different from the county level: many Georgia counties require a contractor to file a bond, commonly around $10,000, with the probate court judge in the county where the work happens before a local permit or occupation tax certificate issues. Requirements vary by county, so confirm the current figure with the probate court or licensing office where you plan to work before you bid.

Beyond that, your contracts, your clients, and often your bank will drive what general liability and workers' compensation coverage you actually need. The state license does not set a minimum insurance figure the way it sets the exam score or the experience years.

Renewal, Late Renewal and Continuing Education

Georgia Conditioned Air licenses renew every two years, by November 30 of odd numbered years, online through GOALS. The renewal window runs September through November, so the next deadline is November 30, 2027.

A late renewal period runs December 1 to December 31 of odd numbered years, with a late fee. A license not renewed by then lapses and needs a $310 reinstatement. If it has been lapsed three years or more, you must pass the exam again as well.

Continuing education:

• 4 hours per year, described by the Board as 8 hours per two year renewal.
• A licensee first licensed less than one year before renewal needs no CE; one licensed less than two years needs 4 hours.
• One CEU equals 10 hours of credit.
• Courses must cover safety, technological advances, business management, or government regulation, from schools, trade groups, public utilities, or equipment manufacturers. Courses a manufacturer runs to promote its own products do not count.
• Keep your completion records for at least five years; the Division may audit.
• Licensed professional engineers are exempt, and the Division may waive CE for hardship, disability, or illness.

Does Georgia Have HVAC License Reciprocity?

Not at this time. Reciprocity with other states is not offered at this time. The Board may sign written agreements with boards whose exams and requirements are substantially equal, but until one exists, an out of state HVAC contractor applies by examination like everyone else, through the same Class I or Class II path described above.

Who Needs the License, and Who Does Not

The license is for the person or company that contracts for the work. An employee of a licensed Conditioned Air Contractor who is paid only a salary or hourly wage is not a "conditioned air contractor" under the statute. Georgia law has long exempted several categories from the license requirement, including:

• A homeowner working in a residential dwelling the homeowner owns or occupies, in conformity with the chapter and local codes.
• Regular full time employees of an institution, manufacturer, or business working on the employer's own premises.
• Maintenance staff of a state, county, or city facility when the work is part of maintaining that facility.
• A subcontractor to a licensed Conditioned Air Contractor who installs, alters, or repairs only duct systems, control systems, or insulation. A subcontractor who performs a complete system installation must hold the license.

Propane dealers licensed by the Safety Fire Commissioner may service propane systems but may not install conditioned air or forced air heating systems without a license. An unlicensed person may not advertise as being in the business of a Conditioned Air Contractor, and a violation of the chapter is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both.

These exemptions are longstanding and are described in the Division's own how-to guide and FAQ; because the chapter that houses them was reenacted effective July 1, 2026, confirm the current exemption language with the Division before relying on it for a specific project rather than treating this list as the final word.

How a Georgia HVAC Company Stays Qualified

Here is the part that catches growing HVAC companies off guard. No partnership, LLC, or corporation may engage in conditioned air contracting in Georgia unless a licensed person is regularly connected with it and actually engaged in the business full time, a rule now written into the Division's own section of the reenacted chapter, O.C.G.A. 43-14-14.

The qualifying licensee must provide supervision during the contracted work and be able to respond in a timely manner to problems, may qualify only one business at a time, and during any hours the licensee works for another employer, the company cannot perform work that depends on that licensee's supervision (Rule 121-6-.01).

The company then displays the qualifier's number as its business registration number, for example "GA. REG. CN-555123," on both sides of its commercial vehicles in characters at least two inches high, on its advertising, and on its invoices and proposals (Rule 121-3-.05). When the qualifier leaves, the company must notify the Division immediately and must stop conditioned air contracting until a new licensee qualifies it and every display is updated. If the qualifier dies, partners, officers, and employees may keep working under that license for 90 days from the date of death.

A qualifying agent is a properly licensed professional who serves as the company's qualifier as a genuine, documented W-2 employee: a full time role with real supervision and real responsibility, the model Georgia's rule describes. The Licensing Company, founded by industry authorities Marshall Schofield and Jeremiah Jaskulski, places licensed Conditioned Air contractors in exactly that role. If your HVAC company needs a Georgia qualifier to take the work in front of you, here is how to hire a qualifying agent. Learn more about what a qualifying agent is, the HVAC contractor qualifying agent guide, and the Georgia qualifying agent guide.

If you cannot yet qualify on your own experience, a qualifying agent can hold the company's license while you build toward your own Class I or Class II credential. If you already hold a Georgia Conditioned Air license, you can put that credential to work in a real W-2 role as a company's qualifier. See how to become a qualifying agent.

Related Georgia and Neighboring State Guides

• Georgia electrician license and Georgia plumbing license, sister divisions of the same Board.
• Georgia general contractor license.
• Georgia contractor license law changes for 2026.
• Neighboring states: Florida HVAC license, Alabama HVAC license, Tennessee HVAC license, and South Carolina HVAC license.

Georgia HVAC License FAQ

How do I get an HVAC license in Georgia? Document four years of experience for Class I or five for Class II, hold EPA Type II or higher certification, and finish the Board approved design course. Apply through GOALS with the $110 Conditioned Air application fee, and once the Board approves you, pass the PSI exam with a scaled score of 70.

How much does it cost to get an HVAC license in Georgia? The Board's Conditioned Air application fee is $110 and the PSI exam is $267, with the same $267 for a retake. Add the design course, continuing education, and any insurance or county bond your business carries. Confirm current fees on the GOALS fee schedule before you file.

What is the difference between Class I and Class II? Class I (Restricted) caps you at 175,000 BTU of heating and 60,000 BTU of cooling, which covers most residential and light commercial work. Class II (Unrestricted) has no size limit and requires five years of experience, including commercial installation and supervision.

Is the Georgia HVAC exam in person? Yes. PSI gives both Conditioned Air exams onsite, as computer based tests at PSI test centers located throughout the Southeast. You schedule only after the Board sends your Exam Approval Letter.

How hard is the Georgia Conditioned Air exam? It is 120 questions over seven hours, 20 of them unscored pretest items, and 55 of the 100 scored questions are system design. It is open book, but only with the Board's listed references. Fail twice and you must take a Board approved review course, at least six hours with an instructor, before a third attempt.

Is a CFC license the same as a Georgia HVAC license? No. What people usually mean by a "CFC license" is the federal EPA Section 608 technician certification for handling regulated refrigerant. Georgia requires Type II or higher Section 608 certification as part of the state Conditioned Air license, but the two are separate credentials from separate agencies.

Do I need a separate HVAC license for a specific Georgia city, like Chamblee or Atlanta? No. The Conditioned Air license is statewide, and Georgia cities generally do not add their own HVAC licensing requirement on top of it, though you still need local permits and inspections for the work itself.

Does Georgia offer HVAC reciprocity? Not at this time. Out of state contractors apply by examination, through the same Class I or Class II process described in this guide.

Does Georgia require continuing education for HVAC? Yes, 4 hours per year, reported at renewal every two years by November 30 of odd numbered years.

How long does it take to get licensed? After four or five years of experience, allow about 20 business days for Board review, up to one year to test on the approval letter, and up to six weeks for PSI's score report to reach the Board.

My company won the bid but nobody holds the license. What now? Georgia requires a licensed person regularly connected with a company full time before it can do conditioned air contracting. Talk to us about hiring a qualifier, or let License Application Processing file the individual application for the person who will hold it.

Talk to a Georgia Licensing Specialist

The license path is clear: experience, EPA certification, a GOALS application, the PSI exam, and a business registration. The strategic decision is who qualifies your company, because that is what lets the business bid, pull permits, and grow.

If you want the application itself handled, License Application Processing files it for a flat $999 per state application. If the gap is a qualified person on staff, call The Licensing Company at 615-219-2110 or start at hire a qualifying agent. We will walk through your class, your timeline, and the Georgia qualifier rules with you.

Sources

• Georgia State Board of Conditioned Air Contractors, retrieved 2026-10-05
• How to Guide: Conditioned Air Contractor, Georgia Secretary of State, retrieved 2026-10-05
• Board of Conditioned Air FAQ, Georgia Secretary of State, retrieved 2026-10-05
• PSI, Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board available tests, retrieved 2026-10-05
• PSI Candidate Information Handbook, Division of Conditioned Air Contractors, retrieved 2026-10-05
• Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 121-3, Application for Licensure, retrieved 2026-10-05
• Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 121-4, License Renewal, Reinstatement and Continuing Education, retrieved 2026-10-05
• Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 121-2, Examinations and Reciprocity, retrieved 2026-10-05
• Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 121-6, Business Registration, retrieved 2026-10-05
• O.C.G.A. 43-14-2, Definitions, 2025 Georgia Code, retrieved 2026-10-05
• O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 14, State Construction Industry Licensing Board, effective July 1, 2026, retrieved 2026-10-05
• Georgia Senate Bill 553 (Act 472), 2026 signed legislation, retrieved 2026-10-05
• EPA Section 608 Technician Certification Requirements, retrieved 2026-10-05
• License Application Processing, retrieved 2026-10-05

Fees, exams, and licensing rules are set by the Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, the General Assembly, and PSI, and they change. Confirm current requirements with the Division of Conditioned Air Contractors before filing.