How to get an HVAC contractor license in Georgia: the official requirements
The Conditioned Air Contractor License (Class I Restricted or Class II Non-restricted) license, the experience and training it takes, the exam and how to apply, from the Georgia State Board of Conditioned Air Contractors.
In Georgia, the statewide HVAC license is a contractor license, issued by the Georgia State Board of Conditioned Air Contractors. Georgia's state HVAC license is the Conditioned Air Contractor license: Class I (restricted to systems not exceeding 175,000 BTU of heating and 60,000 BTU of cooling) or Class II (unrestricted). You submit a completed application, meet the experience requirement, score at least 70 on the examination and pay the Board's fees. You may not legally perform services until you hold an active license. Experience and training: Four years of conditioned air experience for Class I and five years for Class II. Class I: two years of residential installation as a lead mechanic, one year as a service technician, one year of residential supervisory experience, EPA certification and a Board-approved heat loss and gain and duct design course. Class II adds commercial installation and two years of commercial supervisory experience. A technical school engineering diploma can count for up to two years and a vocational-technical certificate for up to one year. Three references (architect, professional engineer, inspector or licensed conditioned air contractor) attest to your experience. Licensing exam: The Conditioned Air examination (minimum score 70), taken through the testing vendor PSI after the Board approves you; exam approval letters are valid for one year. If you fail twice, you must complete a Board-approved review course before testing again. How to apply: Create an account in GOALS, choose the license type, complete the online application (Licensure by Examination), upload the required documents and pay the fee. You need Board approval to sit for the exam. Reciprocity with other states is not offered.
Georgia HVAC contractor license requirements
| Requirement | Georgia |
|---|---|
| License you apply for | Georgia's state HVAC license is the Conditioned Air Contractor license: Class I (restricted to systems not exceeding 175,000 BTU of heating and 60,000 BTU of cooling) or Class II (unrestricted). You submit a completed application, meet the experience requirement, score at least 70 on the examination and pay the Board's fees. You may not legally perform services until you hold an active license. |
| Apprentice or trainee registration | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Georgia State Board of Conditioned Air Contractors. |
| Experience and training | Four years of conditioned air experience for Class I and five years for Class II. Class I: two years of residential installation as a lead mechanic, one year as a service technician, one year of residential supervisory experience, EPA certification and a Board-approved heat loss and gain and duct design course. Class II adds commercial installation and two years of commercial supervisory experience. A technical school engineering diploma can count for up to two years and a vocational-technical certificate for up to one year. Three references (architect, professional engineer, inspector or licensed conditioned air contractor) attest to your experience. |
| Classroom hours | A Board-approved course is required: Manuals J and D (or AIR1060) for every applicant, plus Manuals N and Q or Carrier Design 1, 2 and 3 for non-restricted applicants. |
| Licensing exam | The Conditioned Air examination (minimum score 70), taken through the testing vendor PSI after the Board approves you; exam approval letters are valid for one year. If you fail twice, you must complete a Board-approved review course before testing again. |
| How to apply | Create an account in GOALS, choose the license type, complete the online application (Licensure by Examination), upload the required documents and pay the fee. You need Board approval to sit for the exam. Reciprocity with other states is not offered. |
| Background check | A background check from your local law enforcement agency is submitted with the application. |
| State fees | Application: $110 (restricted or non-restricted license by examination). |
| License term | Two years; licenses renew online by November 30 of odd-numbered years, with a late renewal period December 1 to 31. |
| Continuing education | Four hours of continuing education per year (8 hours per renewal). |
Where the official source we read does not state something, the table says so rather than guessing. Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools, apprenticeship programs, fingerprint vendors and application portals are not included.
This page covers the HVAC license issued by the state. Cities and counties can have their own registration, permit or license rules; ask the local building department where you will work.
How to get licensed in Georgia
- Build four years (Class I) or five years (Class II) of conditioned air experience, including lead mechanic, service technician and supervisory time.
- Complete the Board-approved heat loss and gain and duct design course (Manuals J and D, or AIR1060).
- Apply through GOALS with your references, background check, documents and the $110 fee.
- After Board approval, register with PSI and pass the exam with a score of at least 70.
- Renew online by November 30 of odd-numbered years, with 4 hours of continuing education each year.
Go further
Requirements state by state.
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Questions people ask
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How this page is built
Each fact on this page comes from the Georgia State Board of Conditioned Air Contractors and the rules it publishes (sources named below), read on the dates shown, with the exact wording we relied on kept on file. Requirements and fees change; the Georgia State Board of Conditioned Air Contractors's current instructions govern. We re-read each state's sources every six months (next review by May 10, 2027).
- Not legal advice.
- Licensing rules can change. Verify current requirements with the issuing agency.
- Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools, apprenticeship programs, fingerprint vendors and application portals are not included.
- This page covers the HVAC license issued by the state. Cities and counties can have their own registration, permit or license rules; ask the local building department where you will work.
- This page covers the contractor license named above. Specialty, limited and out-of-state (reciprocity) licenses have their own rules.
- Georgia Secretary of State, How to Guide: Conditioned Air Contractor, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Georgia Secretary of State, Board of Conditioned Air FAQ, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Rules of the State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Chapter 121-3 Application for Licensure (Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia), official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Rules of the State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Chapter 121-4 License Issuance, Renewal, Reinstatement, Expiration, and Activation (Georgia Secretary of State), official source, read Nov 9, 2026.