
To work as a HVAC technician in Florida you need to acquire a HVAC license that is issued by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which is a division of the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board.
This article will supply you with information on how to attain HVAC certification and license.
Page Navigation
- Salary
- Certification Programs
- Schools
- Additional NATE Certification
- Types of Licenses
- State Certified Class A Florida HVAC License
- State Registered Class A Florida HVAC license
- State Certified Class B Florida HVAC License
- State Registered Class B Florida HVAC License
- Contractor License
- Exam
- Mechanical Contractor’s License Exam
- A + B Air Conditioning Contractor’s License
- NATE Exam
- Conclusion
- HVAC Schools by City
Salary
The demand for HVA technicians is expected to rise by a whopping 30%. The annual median income of a HVAC technician in Florida is $43,640.
If you have additional skills, certifications, and licenses you may earn over $68,000. Here is a table of salaries in ten largest cities in Florida:
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of HVAC Techs in Florida
City Name | Salary |
---|---|
Jacksonville | $44,838 |
Miami | $45,547 |
Tampa | $44,906 |
St. Petersburg | $44,485 |
Hialeah | $45,139 |
Orlando | $44,387 |
Fort Lauderdale | $45,895 |
Tallahassee | $42,382 |
Hollywood | $45,895 |
Pembroke Pines | $45,083 |
Certification Programs
HVAC certification programs are available at technical colleges and four-year public collages that have certificate and degree programs that deal with air conditioning, refrigeration, and heating systems technology.
There is a possibility to become an assistant only by completing a two semester certification program.
Other courses usually last two years, and prepare the students for he Florida HVAC exam and cover a wide range of subjects in HVAC.
Schools
Since education and training is important for becoming a HVAC technician what better way to prepare for the exams, as well as the job itself than completing an official HVAC training.
Here is a list of schools that offer HVAC training in Florida:
60 HVAC Schools in Florida
School Name | Address |
---|---|
Ashworth College | Online Training for HVAC | 6625 The Corners Pkwy NW #500, Norcross, GA 30092 |
Florida Career College | 3750 West 18th Ave., Hialeah, FL 33012 |
Florida Career College | 6600 Youngerman Circle, Jacksonville, FL 32244 |
Florida Career College - Kendall | 11731 Mills Drive Bldg #2, Miami, FL 33183 |
Florida Career College - Lauderdale Lakes | 3383 North State Road 7, Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319 |
Florida Career College - Margate | 3271 N State Road 7, Margate, FL 33063 |
Florida Career College – Tampa | 9950 Princess Palm Ave, Tampa, FL 33619 |
Florida Career College - West Palm Beach | 6058 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33417 |
Florida Career College/Anthem – Orlando | 989 North Semoran Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32807 |
Lincoln College of Technology - HVAC Career Training | West Palm Beach, FL 11111 |
Academy of Construction Technologies Inc. | PO Box 592744, Orlando, FL 32859 |
Advanced Tech Center | 1770 Technology Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 11111 |
Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Pipefitting Education Center | 13201 NW 45th Avenue, Miami, FL 33054 |
Atlantic Tech Center | 4700 Coconut Creek Parkway, Coconut Creek, FL 33063 |
Brevard Community College | 1519 Clearlake Road, Cocoa, FL 32922 |
Cam Technical School of Construction | 16114 N Florida Avenue, Tampa, FL 33549 |
Central Florida Community College | 3001 SW College Road, Ocala, FL 34474 |
Daytona Beach Community College | 1200 International Speed Blvd., Dayton Beach, FL 32120 |
DE Erwin Technical Center | 2010 E. Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa, FL 33610 |
Everest Institute | Train to be an HVAC Technician | 111 NW 183rd St # 200, Miami, Orange Park and Tampa, FL 33169 |
First Coast Tech Institute | 980 Collins Avenue, St Augustine, FL 32084 |
Florida Community College @ Jacksonville | 101 W. State Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202 |
Fortis Institute & Fortis College | HVAC Training | 7 Locations in Florida | 7 Locations in Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Largo, Mulberry, Palm Springs, Pensacola & Port St. Lucie, FL 33313 |
G. Stone Area Vocational Tech Center | 2400 Longleaf Drive, Pensacola, FL 32526 |
Gold Coast School of Construction | 6600 SW 57th Avenue #500, Miami, FL 33143 |
Henry W Brewster Technical Center | 2222 N Tampa Street, Tampa, FL 33602 |
HVAC Career Training Center | Multiple Locations in Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Boynton Beach, W. Palm Beach, Coral Springs, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, FL 33601 |
hvacredu.net (Online Training) | P.O. Box 77, Heron, MT 59844 |
Indian River Community College | 3209 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce, FL 34981 |
Lake City Community College | 149 SE College Place, Lake City, FL 32025 |
Lee County High Tech Center | 3800 Michigan Avenue, Fort Myers, FL 33916 |
Lindsey Hopkins Technical Education Center | 750 NW 20th Street, Miami, FL 33127 |
Lively Technical Center | 500 North Appleyard Drive, Tallhassee, FL 32304 |
Locklin Technical Center | 5330 Berryhill Road, Milton, FL 32570 |
Manatee Technical Institute | 5603 34th Street West, Bradenton, FL 34210 |
Marchman Educational Center | 7825 Campus Drive, New Port Richey, FL 34653 |
Miami Central Senior High School | 1781 NW 95 Street, Miami, FL 33033 |
Miami Lakes Educational Center | 5780 NW 158th Street, Miami Lakes, FL 33014 |
Mid Florida Tech | 2900 West Oak Ridge, Orlando, FL 32809 |
Northeast High School | 1717 54th Avenue North, St Petersburg, FL 33714 |
Okaloosa Applied Tech Center | 1976 Lewis Turner Blvd., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 |
Palm Beach Community College | 4200 Congress Avenue, Lake Worth, FL 33461 |
Pinellas Tech'l Education Center-St. Petersburg Campus | 901 34th St. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33711 |
Pinellas Technical Education Center-Clearwater | 6100 154th Ave North, Clearwater, FL 33760 |
Ridge Career Center | 7700 State Road 544, Winter Haven, FL 33881 |
Robert Morgan Educational Center | 18180 SW 122nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33177 |
Saint Johns River Community College | 5001 St. Johns Avenue, Palatka, FL 32177 |
Santa Fe Community College/NW Campus | 3000 NW 83rd Street, Gainesville, FL 32606 |
Sarasota County Technical Institute | 4748 Beneva Road, Sarasota, FL 34233 |
Seminole Community College | 100 Weldon Blvd., Sanford, FL 32773 |
Sheridan Technical | 5400 Sheridan Street, Hollywood, FL 33201 |
South Florida Community College | 600 W. College Drive, Avon Park, FL 33825 |
Tallahassee Community College | 444 Appleyard Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32304 |
Technical Education Center-Osceola | 501 Simpson Road, Kissimmee, FL 34744 |
Traviss Career Center | 3225 Winter Lake Road, Lakeland, FL 33803 |
University of Central Florida | Millican Hall, Suite 230, Orlando, FL 32816 |
University of Florida | Frazier Rogers Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611 |
Washington-Holmes Technical Center | 757 Hoyt Street, Chipley, FL 32428 |
Westside Tech | 955 East Story Road, Winter Garden, FL 32547 |
Withlacoochee Technical Institute | 1201 W. Main Street, Inverness, FL 34450 |
Examples of HVAC Programs are the following:
- Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating Systems Assistant Certificate
- Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating Systems Technician Certificate
- Associate in Applied Science in Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating Systems Technology
- Associate in Science in Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Systems Technologies
Additional NATE Certification
Separate certification program from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) needs to be passed in order to have permission to work with ozone-depleting refrigerants.
There are two certification organizations that provide this exam – HVAC Excellenceor the North American Technician Excellence (NATE) organization.
If you pass the NATE tests, it serves as proof of your knowledge in specific HVAC related subject.
HVAC technicians can receive many different certifications in Florida. NATE certificate is not obligatory, but it is beneficial.
All certifications display your knowledge and understanding regarding specialized concepts. This will give you an edge on the labor market.
Types of Licenses
Essentially there are four different HVAC licenses in Florida. Those are the following:
- State Certified Class A Florida HVAC License
- State Registered Class A Florida HVAC License
- State Certified Class B HVAC License
- State Registered Class B HVAC License
You can apply for a license only in each type if you meet certain criteria.
State Certified Class A Florida HVAC License
The holder of this license can work across Florida.
In order to eligible for this license you must workers comp, pass the exam, and fulfill the educational and n-the-job requirements.
You need to pay a fee of $355 to take the exam for this license.
You will also have to renew your license. The fee for a renewal is $100.
State Registered Class A Florida HVAC license
The holder of this license can work in the local areas, where they meet the local requirements.
You will have to fill out a formal application. To register for the exam, you have to pay a fee of $100.
The fee is the same if you wish to renew your license. You can contact the local government if you want to receive more information.
State Certified Class B Florida HVAC License
If you hold this license you will be limited to working on cooling systems that are 20 tons or lighter and heating systems that are 500,000 BTU and lower.
However, you will be able to work anywhere in Florida.
To acquire the license you will have to pass the exam, have workers comp, meet the educational, and job requirements.
You will also have to be of at least 18 years of age, and have a four-year accredited degree and one year of experience (or 2,000 hours of service), or four years of active experience to be eligible for taking the exam.
The fee you have to pay in the application process is $354.
State Registered Class B Florida HVAC License
Just like with the State Certified Class B HVAC license, you will be able to work only with cooling systems that are 20 tons or lighter and heating systems that are 500,000 BTU and lower.
However, you will be only able to work in the local areas where you meet the local requirements.
The fee that you have to pay for taking the exam is $100. The fee is the same if you wish to renew your license.
Contractor License
There are two different Contractor licenses. No matter which license you opt for you must meet the basic requirements and be at least 18 years of age. The requirements are the following:
Mechanical Contractors License
- At least 18 years old
- At least 4 years of experience
- Provide a credit report and financial statement from current year
- Net worth of $2,500 – $20,000
- General liability insurance: $100,000 for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage
A + B Air Conditioning Contractor’s License - Sit for two exams in business/finance and your desired trade
- Provide a credit report and financial statement from current year
- Net worth of $2,500 – $20,000
- General liability insurance: $100,000 for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage.
If you are an Electrical Contractor, then you don’t have to take this exam.
If you apply for the exam from May 1st of an even year through August 31st, the fee you will need to pay is $249.
However, if you apply for the exam from September 1st of an odd year through April 30th of an even year, the fee is $309.
Exam
Tests are written in nature, and for each different type of a license of certification the test is unique.
Once the board has approved your application, you can sit for the exam.
Mechanical Contractor’s License Exam
The test has two sections, and you will have 4.5 hours at your disposal for each section.
You can take one test in the morning and the other at night. To pass the exam you must have at least 70% correct answers.
The location will be selected for you based on your application. Prior to the exam, you will have to pay a fee of $135.
A + B Air Conditioning Contractor’s License
This exam also has two sections. To complete each section you will have 4.5 hours at your disposal.
One test is taken in the morning and the other at night. You will have to have at least 70% correct answers in order to pass the exam.
The test is done at one of the locations that will be selected for you based on your application.
Prior to the exam you will have to pay a fee of $135.
To acquire and to maintain this license you will need to have 14 hours of continued education.
NATE Exam
You will need to register for this exam when it is held in your area.
Also, you would be best advised to think thoroughly before selecting whether your technician type will be (installation or service), as well as which specialty exam you would like to take in addition to your core exam.
The maintenance of a 5-year certification fee is $95.
Conclusion
If you wish to have a good career in the HVAC industry, and a well-paid one at that, then education is crucial.
After that you will need to get certified, and once you have chosen a field of specialty you can attain licenses for these fields as well.