FLORIDA · hvac
Certified Class A Air-Conditioning Contractor (CAC)
Florida DBPR — Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) →Scope of Work
Florida licenses air-conditioning contractors through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation's Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB). A Certified Class A Air-Conditioning Contractor (CAC) has no capacity limit and may install, maintain, repair, fabricate, alter, extend, or design central air-conditioning, refrigeration, heating, and ventilating systems, including related ductwork, piping, insulation, pressure piping, pneumatic control piping, low-voltage control wiring, and power wiring on dedicated HVAC circuits. A Class B license (CAC with Class B designation) is limited to 25 tons of cooling and 500,000 BTU of heating in any one system per F.S. 489.105(3)(g). Neither class may work on gas fuel lines (except appliance changeouts), potable water lines, sanitary sewer lines, swimming pool piping, or building electrical power wiring. Source: F.S. 489.105 (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0489/Sections/0489.105.html).
Experience
Applicants must be at least 18, of good moral character, and document 4 years of active experience as a worker in the trade with at least 1 year as a foreman, or an approved combination of accredited college-level coursework and trade experience, per F.S. 489.111(2)(c). An active Class C certificate holder with at least 3 years in that classification may upgrade to Class B after passing the corresponding exam. Source: F.S. 489.111 (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0489/0489.html).
EXAMS
Applicants pass two exams: the DBPR Business and Finance exam and the Class A or Class B Air-Conditioning trade exam. Passing score is 70% per CILB rule. Exams are delivered through the DBPR-contracted testing vendor (currently Professional Testing, Inc. via Pearson VUE centers; verify current vendor on the CILB candidate information bulletin). Source: DBPR Construction Industry Licensing (https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/construction-industry/).
FEES
Application, examination, and initial licensure fees are set by CILB rule and change by rulemaking cycle; consult the current CILB fee schedule at https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/construction-industry/forms/ before applying. Separate fees apply to the Business and Finance exam, the trade exam, the application, and the initial license.
EPA 608 Federal
Anyone who maintains, services, repairs, or disposes of appliances containing regulated refrigerants must hold federal EPA Section 608 technician certification under 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F. Type I covers small appliances, Type II covers high- or very-high-pressure appliances, Type III covers low-pressure appliances, and Universal covers all categories. Section 608 certification is a federal requirement independent of the Florida contractor license. Source: EPA Section 608 (https://www.epa.gov/section608/section-608-technician-certification-requirements).
Insurance and Bonding
Certified contractors must show proof of public liability and property damage insurance and Florida workers' compensation coverage (or a valid exemption) at minimums set by CILB rule. Financial responsibility evidence is required at initial application and reviewed at renewal under F.S. 489.115.
Renewal and CE
Two-year renewal cycle per F.S. 489.115(4)(a). Licensees complete at least 14 classroom hours of continuing education each biennium, covering workers' compensation, business practices, workplace safety, laws and rules (minimum 1 hour), and, where applicable, wind mitigation methodologies. Source: F.S. 489.115 (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0489/Sections/0489.115.html).
Registered Contractor
Florida also issues Registered Air-Conditioning Contractor (RAC) licenses for applicants who hold a local competency card in one county or municipality. RAC licenses authorize work only within the jurisdiction that issued the competency card; they are not statewide. The Certified license (prefix C) is statewide; the Registered license (prefix R) is jurisdiction-limited.
Mechanical Contractor Note
A separate Certified Mechanical Contractor (CMC) license exists under F.S. 489.105(3)(h) and covers a broader scope including HVAC plus process piping, boilers, pressure vessels, and commercial refrigeration systems beyond the CAC scope. Contractors working on industrial process piping or large boiler installations should verify whether CMC is the appropriate credential.