Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) Division of Conditioned Air Contractors licenses HVAC contractors statewide under O.C.G.A. Title 43 Chapter 14. Georgia issues two conditioned air contractor classes — Class I (Restricted), which is limited to systems of 175,000 BTU/hour cooling and 175,000 BTU/hour heating or smaller, and Class II (Unrestricted), which authorizes any HVAC equipment with no capacity limit. All technicians who handle refrigerant must additionally hold the federal EPA Section 608 certification.

Regulatory Oversight

Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board (within the Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) (GA CILB) administers and enforces this credential under the authority of Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) Title 43 Chapter 14 (electrical, plumbing, conditioned air, low-voltage, utility); Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 121. The Georgia CILB licenses electrical contractors, plumbers, conditioned air contractors, low-voltage contractors, and utility contractors statewide. The Board adopts the National Electrical Code, International Plumbing Code, and International Mechanical Code by reference. General contractors are licensed by a separate body — the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (SLBRGC).

Official portal: https://sos.ga.gov/georgia-construction-industry-licensing-board
Address: 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, GA 31217
Phone: (478) 207-2440

Who May Apply

At a minimum the applicant has to be 21 years old and supply a valid Social Security Number. No Georgia residency requirement.

Good moral character

CILB conducts a fitness review on every applicant under O.C.G.A. §43-1-19.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history background check via the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Required Experience and Education

Eligibility requires three years of practical conditioned air installation, repair, and maintenance experience under the supervision of a licensed Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor, documented and independently verifiable. Payroll, tax, project, and supervisor records are the usual proof the board will accept.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Notarized employment affidavits from each supervising Conditioned Air Contractor
W-2 statements, pay stubs, or 1099 records covering the qualifying period
EPA Section 608 Technician Certification card (federal)

Education substitution

Georgia allows accredited HVAC trade school programs to substitute for up to one year of the three-year experience requirement.

Examination Requirements

PSI Services LLC (under contract to CILB) runs the examination for this credential. Issuance is contingent on passing every part below:

Business and Law — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%
Conditioned Air Contractor Trade Examination — International Mechanical Code, Georgia HVAC law — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $110 per part, paid to PSI on the day of testing.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be re-taken individually by paying a new $110 fee. Each passed part remains valid for two years.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

The cited materials impose no contractor license bond for this credential. Bear in mind that specific contracts, permits, or public works can still require their own bonds.

General liability

CILB requires Conditioned Air Contractor Class II applicants to carry commercial general liability of at least $500,000 per occurrence. Most commercial owners contractually require $1,000,000/$2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory in Georgia under O.C.G.A. §34-9-2 for any business with three or more employees.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$200
Examination	$220
Initial license	$200
Renewal (every 2 years)	$75

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor (Class I or Class II) comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $75. Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor licenses renew every two years on June 30 of even-numbered years.

Continuing education: Four hours of CILB-approved continuing education annually, covering International Mechanical Code updates and refrigerant safety.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Georgia HVAC Technician License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is not accepted by Georgia for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Alabama	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CILB–Alabama reciprocity for active conditioned air contractors.
Louisiana	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CILB–Louisiana reciprocity for active mechanical contractors.
North Carolina	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CILB–North Carolina reciprocity for active H-1, H-2, or H-3 contractors.
South Carolina	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CILB–South Carolina reciprocity for active mechanical contractors.
Tennessee	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CILB–Tennessee reciprocity for active mechanical contractors.

Georgia maintains bilateral mechanical reciprocity agreements with several southeastern states. NASCLA does not administer an HVAC examination.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares HVAC Technician license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Application Process, Step by Step

Choose Class I or Class II. Class I is limited to systems of 175,000 BTU/hour cooling and 175,000 BTU/hour heating or smaller. Class II authorizes any HVAC equipment with no capacity limit.
Document three years of qualifying HVAC experience. Work under a Georgia-licensed Conditioned Air Contractor. Up to one year may be substituted with accredited HVAC trade school credit.
Submit the CILB Conditioned Air Contractor application. File with the application fee, notarized employment affidavits, and proof of insurance.
Submit electronic fingerprints. GBI background check via a CILB-approved Livescan vendor.
Pass the Business and Law and Trade examinations. Schedule PSI exams after CILB approves the application. Score 70% on each part.
Hold federal EPA 608 Technician Certification. Anyone who maintains, services, repairs, or disposes of equipment that could release refrigerants must hold a current EPA Section 608 certification.
Receive the Conditioned Air Contractor license. CILB issues the wallet card after the exams are passed and all documentation is complete.

Document Checklist

The most critical documents or confirmations the applicant should have in hand before filing with GA CILB:

☐ CILB Conditioned Air Contractor application with $200 fee
☐ Notarized employment affidavits totaling three years of qualifying experience
☐ GBI background check via Livescan
☐ Certificate of Insurance — $500,000 general liability minimum (Class II)
☐ Current EPA Section 608 Technician Certification card

Recommended References

These are the preparation and reference materials tied to this credential — cited by the regulator or widely used by applicants. CLR earns nothing from listing them.

International Mechanical Code (IMC), Georgia adopted edition — International Code Council / Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Primary technical reference. Open-book at the PSI test center.
O.C.G.A. Title 43 Chapter 14 and Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 121 — State of Georgia. Licensing law and rules.
ACCA Manual J, Manual D, and Manual S — Air Conditioning Contractors of America. Industry-standard load calculation, duct design, and equipment selection references.
EPA Section 608 Technician Certification Manual — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Federal certification reference for refrigerant handling.

Frequent Application Errors

Drawn from the board instructions and sources cited on this page, the pitfalls below are the ones most likely to slow down or sink a Georgia HVAC Technician application.

Choosing the wrong class

A Class I contractor who installs a 200,000 BTU/hour rooftop unit is operating outside the licensed scope. Estimate the largest equipment likely to be installed and select Class II if any commercial work is anticipated.

Forgetting EPA 608 enforcement

A Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor license without EPA Section 608 certification on file for the technician handling refrigerants is a federal Clean Air Act violation.

Letting exam parts expire

Each passed exam part is valid for only two years. Candidates who pass Business and Law early and then delay the Trade exam can lose credit.

Missing the bilateral reciprocity opportunity

Active mechanical contractors from Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Tennessee may apply via reciprocity without retaking the Trade exam.

Forgetting annual continuing education

Georgia requires four hours of CE annually, not just every two years at renewal.

Other Georgia Trade Licenses

Should the HVAC Technician path not apply, these other Georgia trade guides from CLR may help:

Questions Applicants Ask

What is the difference between Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor Class I and Class II?

Class I (Restricted) is limited to systems of 175,000 BTU/hour cooling and 175,000 BTU/hour heating or smaller. Class II (Unrestricted) authorizes any HVAC equipment with no capacity limit and is required for most commercial work.

How many years of experience does Georgia require for a Conditioned Air Contractor license?

Three years of practical conditioned air installation, repair, and maintenance experience under a licensed Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor. Up to one year may be substituted with accredited HVAC trade school credit.

Do I need EPA 608 in addition to the Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor license?

Yes. The EPA Section 608 Technician Certification is a federal Clean Air Act requirement for any technician who handles refrigerants. It is enforced independently of CILB and applies in all 50 states.

Does Georgia reciprocate HVAC contractor credentials?

Yes. Georgia maintains bilateral mechanical reciprocity agreements with Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Active mechanical contractors in good standing in those states may apply for the Georgia credential without retaking the Trade exam.

How often does the Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor license renew?

Every two years on a fixed cycle ending June 30 of even-numbered years. Renewal requires the standard fee plus four hours of CILB-approved continuing education annually.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-05-27 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-25