The HVAC industry in Georgia is an exciting and rewarding one, thanks to Georgia’s climate. There is plenty of demand for HVAC talented technicians. Since 1949, all the HVAC technicians have needed to have an HVAC license to work in that field.
Are there types of HVAC licenses?
There are different types of licenses in Georgia, so here they are:
- Firstly, Class I: This type of license is called a restricted one, as it puts limits on the work that a home service talented professional can do. This kind of technician can work only on cooling units of less than 60,000 BTU and heating units of less than 175,000 BTU. And for these technicians, the average salary is $35,000.
- Secondly, Class II: This type of license is called unrestricted, as individuals with this type of license can work on any type of HVAC equipment. And for the people obtaining this type of license, the annual salary is about $50,000.
- Thirdly, NATE Certification: This type of license is not Georgia’s required license. So this is a Certification by the North American Technical Excellence, which requires extra training and proves your skills. This can also increase your salary expectations by about $10,000.
- Fourthly, EPA Certification: This is a Certification, that any technician, handling refrigerants, has to take a short exam and pass a test from the Environmental Protection Agency. So when you get this refrigeration license, you do not need to renew it.
How much does it cost to obtain an HVAC license in Georgia?
In order to get a Georgia HVAC license, you need to pay different fees. So here they are:
- Firstly, you need to pay a $30 application fee to get approval for your license
- Secondly, you have to pay a $240 fee to take the exam
- Thirdly, you have to pay a $25 fee to get your EPA certification
- And lastly, you need to pay a $100-$200 underwriting fee for a $10,000 surety bond
How to get an HVAC license in Georgia?
In order to get an HVAC license in Georgia, there is a basic educational requirement. One of the requirements is having a high school diploma or GED. If you want, you can attend trade schools like Fortis College, Interactive College of Technology, or Lincoln College of Technology, but this type of education is not required. Instead, experience is the main requirement to obtain a Georgia HVAC license.
- The applicants, who want to get Class I, must have four years of experience working with HVAC units.
- But Class II applicants must have five years of experience, which include working with bigger heating and cooling systems, two years of installation, and two years of commercial supervisory experience.
To get an engineering degree from a technical school can count as two years of experience for both classes. And one year of experience can be counted for completing a certification program.
The application process
So when you have the experience, the next step is applying for the license. You have to apply with the State Construction Industry Licensing Board. This kind of application verifies your right insurance and runs background checks to see that you do not have a criminal history.
To apply, you have to call the state of Georgia 1-478-207-2440. You have to submit the application to the Board at least 60 days before the next scheduled exam date. And the applicants will receive an approval letter approximately 30 days prior to the exam. You will wait approximately six weeks in order to receive your HVAC license.
The Georgia HVAC license exam
The next step after the application is the test. You need to pass the Georgia HVAC licensing exam. The exam contains 100 questions, and to complete it, you have seven hours to do it. If you do not pass the test, you have a chance to retake it. You must have 70% right answers in order to pass it.
Do you need to renew your HVAC license?
You have to renew all your licenses in George with the licensing board every two years. And you have to pay $75,00 for the renewal and take four hours of continuing education courses. You can use your license to work in Louisiana, South Carolina, and Texas, as Georgia has agreements with those states.