How to get an HVAC contractor license in Mississippi: the official requirements
The Mechanical or HVAC Contractor License license, the experience and training it takes, the exam and how to apply, from the Mississippi State Board of Contractors.
In Mississippi, the statewide HVAC license is a contractor license, issued by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. A contractor's license from the Mississippi State Board of Contractors in the Mechanical major classification or the HVAC specialty classification (commercial), or the Residential HVAC classification. Mississippi's statewide HVAC license is a contractor license: contractors and subcontractors on commercial jobs above a set contract value need a commercial license, and subcontractors doing residential HVAC work need a license from the Board. The license is held by the business; its qualifying party takes the exams. Experience and training: You must show experience in the classification you apply for: list at least 3 completed jobs in that classification, and state the construction experience of the owner, officers and qualifying party. Licensing exam: Every applicant takes the Mississippi Law and Business Management exam. The Mechanical and HVAC classifications also require a trade exam; Residential HVAC requires the Residential HVAC exam, and Residential Mechanical requires both the residential HVAC and plumbing exams. All exams are administered by PSI and are open book. How to apply: Mail the commercial or residential application, the fee and the required documents to the Board before taking any exam. The Board reviews the application, sends you the PSI testing information and tells PSI you are eligible; after you pass and the application is complete, it goes to the Board for review.
Mississippi HVAC contractor license requirements
| Requirement | Mississippi |
|---|---|
| License you apply for | A contractor's license from the Mississippi State Board of Contractors in the Mechanical major classification or the HVAC specialty classification (commercial), or the Residential HVAC classification. Mississippi's statewide HVAC license is a contractor license: contractors and subcontractors on commercial jobs above a set contract value need a commercial license, and subcontractors doing residential HVAC work need a license from the Board. The license is held by the business; its qualifying party takes the exams. |
| Apprentice or trainee registration | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. |
| Experience and training | You must show experience in the classification you apply for: list at least 3 completed jobs in that classification, and state the construction experience of the owner, officers and qualifying party. |
| Classroom hours | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. |
| Licensing exam | Every applicant takes the Mississippi Law and Business Management exam. The Mechanical and HVAC classifications also require a trade exam; Residential HVAC requires the Residential HVAC exam, and Residential Mechanical requires both the residential HVAC and plumbing exams. All exams are administered by PSI and are open book. |
| How to apply | Mail the commercial or residential application, the fee and the required documents to the Board before taking any exam. The Board reviews the application, sends you the PSI testing information and tells PSI you are eligible; after you pass and the application is complete, it goes to the Board for review. |
| Background check | The application asks background questions that apply to everyone on it; a conviction does not by itself prevent a license, but failing to disclose one could lead to denial. |
| State fees | Commercial application: $400, including one trade classification. Residential application: $50, including one trade classification. Each additional trade classification: $100. Fees are non-refundable. |
| License term | One year from the date of issue; you renew the license every year. |
| Continuing education | For a residential license, each qualifying party completes two credit hours of continuing education taught by a Board-approved provider or instructor. |
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 Mississippi
- Choose the classification: Mechanical or HVAC on the commercial application, or Residential HVAC on the residential application.
- Gather proof of experience: list at least 3 completed jobs in the classification you are requesting.
- Mail the application, fee and required documents to the Board before you take any exam.
- Wait for PSI's confirmation that you are eligible, then schedule your exams.
- Pass the Law and Business Management exam and the HVAC or mechanical trade exam.
- After you pass, the Board reviews your complete application.
- Renew the license every year.
Go further
Requirements state by state.
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Open →ResumeHVAC technician resumeHow to present your experience and licenses.
Open →InterviewHVAC technician interview questionsWhat hiring managers ask.
Open →Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Everything on this page is free to use without buying anything.
Questions people ask
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How this page is built
Each fact on this page comes from the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (sources named below), read on the dates shown, with the exact wording we relied on kept on file. Requirements and fees change; the Mississippi State Board of 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.
- Mississippi State Board of Contractors, Apply For A License, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Mississippi State Board of Contractors, What You Need to Know About Testing: A Step-by-Step Guide, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Mississippi State Board of Contractors, Classifications, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Mississippi State Board of Contractors, Frequently Asked Questions, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Mississippi State Board of Contractors, Commercial Application (revised 2/2026), official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Mississippi State Board of Contractors, Residential Application (updated 4/2026), official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Mississippi State Board of Contractors, Continuing Education, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.