Alabama HVAC Contractor License — Requirements, Fees & Exam

Alabama licenses the contractor (the business and its qualifying individual), not individual HVAC technicians. 3,000 hours (Certified Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor - Active status), 4 hrs CE — verified from Alabama Board of Heating.

Source-verified

Requirements below are drawn from Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors (HACR Board) (official site) and last verified July 24, 2026. Boards change fees and rules often — confirm before acting.

Requirements at a glance

Who must be certified (the CONTRACTOR, through a person in responsible charge): Code of Ala. 1975, Section 34-31-24(a)(1): 'No person may advertise, solicit, bid, obtain permits, do business as, or perform the function of a certified contractor unless the person in responsible charge, is a certified contractor.' A 'certified heating and air conditioning contractor' is any person engaged in the business of heating and air conditioning contracting and installation or service and repair (Section 34-31-18(4)). Alabama licenses the CONTRACTING BUSINESS through one certified individual - the 'person in responsible charge' - and the certification is issued in that individual's name and includes the business name (Rule 440-X-3-.04(6)). A rank-and-file HVAC technician employed by a certified contractor does not personally hold the certificate; certification is required of the person in responsible charge for the business, and separately of realty-management companies that do HVAC/refrigeration work on others' property and of anyone doing duct cleaning, filter changing, or test-and-balance for others (Rule 440-X-3-.02). Doing business as, or performing the functions of, a certified contractor in violation of the chapter is a Class A misdemeanor (Section 34-31-32(a)).
Person in responsible charge: The person in responsible charge must direct the installation/service/repair projects and be a regularly employed person of the business - an actual W-2 employee (not an independent contractor) working an average of 30 or more hours per week - or an owner, partner or corporate officer (Rule 440-X-3-.09; Section 34-31-18(12),(13)). A business (partnership, corporation, business trust or other legal entity) applies for certification through its person in responsible charge, who must be legally qualified to act for the business in all HVAC/refrigeration matters. That person is treated by the Board as responsible for the related electrical work (circuit protection and wiring from the appliance to the means of disconnect) and gas piping (from the appliance to the means of disconnect) on covered equipment (Rule 440-X-3-.09(3),(4)).
Examination eligibility - 3,000 hours or approved curriculum: An applicant is eligible to stand for the certification examination only after completing 3,000 hours of work experience as defined by the Board, OR graduating from an approved heating, air conditioning or refrigeration curriculum (Code of Ala. 1975, Section 34-31-28(c)). The Board's application materials describe the 3,000 hours as about 18 months of experience gained under the supervision of a HACR licensee, evidenced by the Board's affidavit form plus a Form W-2; acceptance of experience is at the Board's discretion. A holder of a Board Apprentice Certificate provides the prior two years of apprenticeship certificates instead. The Board may require a background check before allowing an applicant to sit for examination (Rule 440-X-3-.14).
Performance bond ($20,000 for active certification): Every new heating and air conditioning, or refrigeration, contractor applicant for ACTIVE certification must provide a performance bond of $20,000 to the Board, and proof of bond may be required annually at renewal (Rule 440-X-3-.04(5), form BF-1). The statute authorizes the Board to require a performance bond not to exceed $25,000 per year for active certified contractors (Code of Ala. 1975, Section 34-31-30). Inactive certifications require no bond.
Continuing education (4 hours per year): Active certified contractors must complete continuing education to renew (Code of Ala. 1975, Section 34-31-26; Rule 440-X-4-.02). Per the Board's FAQ, every contractor must take 4 continuing education hours each year; a contractor may take up to 8 hours in a single year and carry over 4 of those hours to the next renewal cycle, with hours above 8 not carrying over. CE is not required for the first year a contractor holds a certification (Section 34-31-26(h); Rule 440-X-4-.02(4)), and inactive contractors 65 or older are exempt (Section 34-31-26(g)). Proof of compliance must be submitted before November 1 annually; failure to complete CE by November 1 prevents renewal, and a CE deficiency fee of $25 applies (Rule 440-X-4-.02(5),(11); 440-X-3-.10(1)(l)).
Citizenship / lawful presence: All applicants for examination, certification, and renewal must be U.S. citizens or, if not, persons legally present in the United States with appropriate federal documentation (Code of Ala. 1975, Section 34-31-27).
Certification number display: Every contractor certified under the chapter must display the certification number and company name on all vehicles used in HVAC/refrigeration contracting, on all forms of advertising (signs, billboards, business cards, website home pages, radio and television advertising), and on invoices, estimates, quotes and letterhead; certification numbers are not required on employee uniforms (Code of Ala. 1975, Section 34-31-24(a)(2); Board FAQ). A contractor may not permit another person to use his or her license (Section 34-31-24(a)(3)).
No further local testing; reciprocity: Counties, municipalities and other local entities are prohibited from requiring any further testing or other requirements of a state-certified contractor, subject only to local privilege, license or business fees (Code of Ala. 1975, Section 34-31-28(d)). Reciprocity is available to applicants holding a current, valid HVAC license (with an equivalent exam passed at 70% or higher and no disciplinary action) with one of the Board's reciprocal boards: the Mississippi State Board of Contractors, Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board, South Carolina Residential Builders Commission, South Carolina Contractor's Board, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board, or Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors. The Board's New License Application page states tenure conditions for some (South Carolina Residential Builders 5 years, Tennessee 3 years, Mississippi 1 year, Louisiana and West Virginia no waiting period); reciprocal applications cannot be processed online and require a $20,000 bond in the business name (Rule 440-X-3-.04(2)).

Legal basis

Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors (HACR Board) administers HVAC contractor licensing in Alabama. Every figure below is verified against the board’s own official pages and dated. Who must personally hold a credential — the contractor, the business, or the individual worker — is set out under Requirements.

What it’s called

In Alabama the state HVAC credential is a ‘Certified Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor’ certification (and, for commercial refrigeration, a ‘Certified Refrigeration Contractor’ certification) issued by the Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors (the ‘HACR Board’). The statute uses ‘certification’ and ’license’ interchangeably (Code of Ala. 1975, Section 34-31-18(3)), so searchers see both ‘Alabama HVAC certification’ and ‘Alabama HVAC license.’ Common folk names - ‘HVAC license,’ ‘AC license,’ ‘air conditioning license,’ ‘heating and cooling license’ - all map to this certification. Note the credential structure: it is issued in the name of an individual (the ‘person in responsible charge’) who qualifies a contracting business, and a technician employed by a certified contractor does not personally hold it (Rule 440-X-3-.04(6); Section 34-31-24(a)(1)); there is no separate state journeyman or master HVAC license. Alabama also issues a distinct, standalone Duct Air Tightness Testing (DATT) Contractor Registration for energy-code duct-leakage testing (Rule 440-X-3-.15). Separately, EPA Section 608 refrigerant-handling certification is a FEDERAL credential held by the individual technician - it is not the Alabama certificate and does not substitute for it.

License types & fees

Type	Experience	Exam	Fee
Certified Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor - Active status	Before sitting for the examination the applicant must be eligible under Code of Ala. 1975, Section 34-31-28(c): completed 3,000 hours of work experience as defined by the Board (the Board's application describes this as roughly 18 months gained under the supervision of a HACR licensee, documented by an affidavit plus a Form W-2), OR be a graduate of an approved heating, air conditioning or refrigeration curriculum. Holders of a Board-issued Apprentice Certificate submit copies of their apprenticeship certificates for the prior two years instead. Alabama certifies the CONTRACTOR through a designated 'person in responsible charge' (an individual), not each technician; the certificate issues in that individual's name and lists the business (Rule 440-X-3-.04(6)).	Pass the Board's written Heating and Air Conditioning Contractors prelicensure examination. An applicant who fails the first written exam may request an equivalent practical examination, held within six months of the failed exam (Code of Ala. 1975, Section 34-31-28(a); Rule 440-X-3-.07). The Board publishes the written-exam fee ($175) and a separate practical-exam fee ($375) but does not publish the question count or time limit on its live pages, so those are omitted here rather than guessed.	Written examination fee $175 (Rule 440-X-3-.10(1)(a)). Initial certification fee for an ACTIVE heating and air conditioning license $220, and the annual renewal fee is also $220 (Rule 440-X-3-.10(1)(c),(d)). Active status also requires a business name and a $20,000 performance bond (Rule 440-X-3-.04(5); the statute caps the bond at $25,000, Section 34-31-30). Exam fees are in addition to certification/renewal fees (Rule 440-X-3-.10(2)).
Certified Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor - Inactive status	Same examination eligibility as the active license (3,000 hours or approved curriculum; Section 34-31-28(c)). Inactive status is for an individual who holds the certification but does NOT perform HVAC installation, service or repair; no performance bond is required. An inactive holder cannot practice or obtain local licenses/permits until returning to active status and meeting all active requirements (Rule 440-X-3-.10).	Same written Heating and Air Conditioning Contractors examination (or the equivalent practical exam) as the active license.	Initial certification fee for an INACTIVE heating and air conditioning license $110, and the annual renewal fee is also $110 (Rule 440-X-3-.10(1)(g),(h)). No bond. A building official or mechanical inspector who holds ICC mechanical-inspector certification may have the inactive-certification fee waived (Rule 440-X-3-.13; Section 34-31-25).
Certified Refrigeration Contractor (Active or Inactive status)	Separate classification for commercial refrigeration work - the use of mechanical or absorption equipment to control temperature/humidity to satisfy the intended use of a space other than for human comfort (walk-in and reach-in coolers, commercial refrigerators, refrigerated storage) (Code of Ala. 1975, Section 34-31-18(10),(11)). Same 3,000-hour / approved-curriculum eligibility to sit for the refrigeration examination.	Pass the Board's written Refrigeration Contractors prelicensure examination (equivalent practical exam available on the same terms after a first failure).	Written examination fee $175. ACTIVE refrigeration license: $220 initial and $220 annual renewal, plus a $20,000 performance bond (Rule 440-X-3-.10(1)(e),(f); 440-X-3-.04(5)). INACTIVE refrigeration license: $110 initial and $110 annual renewal, no bond (Rule 440-X-3-.10(1)(i),(j)).
Duct Air Tightness Testing (DATT) Contractor Registration	A separate, standalone registration (not a certified-contractor license) for individuals who perform duct leakage/tightness testing in conjunction with energy-code compliance (International Energy Conservation Code / Alabama Residential Energy Code). The registrant is NOT required to become a certified HVAC contractor but must first complete one approved program: the Home Builders Association of Alabama Qualified Credentialed Air Tightness Verifier (or equivalent), the Building Performance Institute Building Analyst (BPI Energy Auditor), or the RESNET Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Rater training (Rule 440-X-3-.15; Code of Ala. 1975, Section 34-31-24(b)).	No prelicensure exam; qualification is by completing one of the three approved air-tightness training programs above.	Duct Air Tightness Testing Contractor Registration fee $50, renewed annually by December 31, with a $50 late fee (Rule 440-X-3-.10(1)(r),(s); Section 34-31-24(b)).

Who does NOT need this license — exemptions

Alabama certifies HVAC and refrigeration CONTRACTORS through a ‘person in responsible charge’ (Code of Ala. 1975, Section 34-31-24(a)(1)), and the exemptions from that certification requirement sit in both the statute and the Board’s rules. STATUTORY EXEMPTIONS (Code of Ala. 1975, Section 34-31-28): (e) LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS BOARD LICENSEES - individuals licensed by the Alabama Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board are exempt from this chapter as to heating, air conditioning and refrigeration when (1) ‘Engaged in the installation, repair, or replacement of a liquefied petroleum gas appliance so long as the appliance is not connected to a refrigeration system, provided that the individuals may engage in the replacement or repair of a liquefied petroleum gas central heating unit when it is combined with an air conditioning unit,’ and (2) ‘Engaged in the installation of a venting system required for a vented-type liquefied petroleum gas appliance.’ (f) THE CHAPTER DOES NOT APPLY TO: (1) ‘An authorized employee of the United States, this state, or any municipality, county, or other political subdivision, if the employee does not hold himself or herself out for hire or otherwise engage in contracting except in accordance with his or her employment’; (2) ‘Any mobile home or manufactured structure that is installed, inspected, or regulated by the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission; however, the repair, servicing of a heating and air conditioning system, or the installation of a new heating and air conditioning system in a previously inspected manufactured structure is subject to this chapter’; (3) ‘Individuals performing work on motor vehicles, residential refrigerators, or ice machines’; (4) ‘Household appliances’; (5) ‘Farm equipment’; (6) ‘Poultry operations whether engaged in hatching, primary processing, or further processing of chicken, turkey, or other fowl.’ RULE EXEMPTIONS (Ala. Admin. Code r. 440-X-3-.05) - ‘The licensing requirements for certified contractors do not apply to the following’: (1) ‘Retail sellers of heating, air conditioning or refrigeration systems who do not provide installation, nor contracting for the installation, service, or repair of said systems’; (2) ‘Heating and air conditioning, or refrigeration installation, service or repair work performed by an owner of a building that is the real property of said owner’; (3) ‘Heating and air conditioning, or refrigeration installation, or service and repair, performed by anyone who is regularly employed as a maintenance person incidental to and in connection with the business in which he or she is employed, provided said heating and air conditioning work is done on the premises of said owner, and repairperson does not engage in heating and air conditioning work for others’; (4) a certified contractor who bids installation work and obtains the permits ‘may subcontract the installation of duct work only to an uncertified person who is performing the work under the supervision of the certified contractor as the person in responsible charge … This exemption does not apply to design and installation of duct work not performed under the responsible supervision of a certified contractor.’ SCOPE CARVE-OUT IN THE DEFINITION: ‘heating and air conditioning system’ expressly excludes window units and automotive or farm-implement type heating/air conditioning equipment (Section 34-31-18(7)). RELATED (not an exemption from certification, a fee waiver): building officials and mechanical inspectors who hold ICC mechanical-inspector certification may have the inactive-certification fee waived (Rule 440-X-3-.13). Sources searched for exemptions: the statute (Code of Ala. 1975, Title 34, Chapter 31, esp. Section 34-31-28), the Board’s administrative rules (Ala. Admin. Code Chapter 440-X-3, esp. Rule .05), and the Board’s FAQ; no additional exemptions were found on those sources.

Fees

Fees are set by Board rule 440-X-3-.10, effective October 14, 2024 (the rule chapter was last revised July 14, 2025). Certificate and renewal charges are capped by statute at $250 (Code of Ala. 1975, Section 34-31-25); examination fees are separately authorized under Section 34-31-29(c) based on the actual cost of administering the examinations. Written examination fee $175; practical examination fee $375. ACTIVE heating and air conditioning license: $220 initial certification and $220 annual renewal. ACTIVE refrigeration license: $220 initial and $220 annual renewal. INACTIVE heating and air conditioning (or refrigeration) license: $110 initial and $110 annual renewal. Late fee for a renewal received after December 31: $250. Other charges: continuing-education deficiency fee $25, dishonored-check fee $30, Duct Air Tightness Testing Contractor Registration $50 (and $50 late fee), printed certification card $25. Examination fees are in addition to certification and renewal fees. Active certification also requires a $20,000 performance bond (not a Board fee). Note on sources: the Board’s fee-schedule rule (440-X-3-.10) and its ‘How to Get Licensed’ page both state these figures; an older Board page (‘New License Application’) still lists a superseded $150 examination fee, $190/$95 active/inactive fees and a $15,000 bond - the rule-backed October-2024 figures ($175 exam, $220/$110, $20,000 bond) are the operative ones.

Exam

Every prospective certified contractor must pass a written prelicensure examination before the Board - the Heating and Air Conditioning Contractors examination for HVAC work, or the Refrigeration Contractors examination for commercial refrigeration (Code of Ala. 1975, Section 34-31-28(a); Rule 440-X-3-.04). Eligibility to sit for the exam requires 3,000 hours of Board-defined work experience or graduation from an approved HVAC/refrigeration curriculum (Section 34-31-28(c)). The written examination fee is $175, paid to the State of Alabama (Rule 440-X-3-.10(1)(a)); an applicant who fails the written exam the first time may request an equivalent practical examination, held within six months of the failed exam, for a $375 practical-examination fee (Section 34-31-28(a); Rule 440-X-3-.07, 440-X-3-.10(1)(b)). The Board does not publish the question count or the exam time limit on its live pages, so those are omitted here rather than guessed. Reciprocity can substitute for examination for holders of a qualifying license in a reciprocal state (Mississippi, Tennessee, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia or Louisiana) who passed an equivalent exam at 70% or higher.

Renewal & continuing education

Annual. A license is current only during the calendar year in which it is issued and expires on December 31; it automatically lapses at 11:59 pm on December 31 if not renewed (Rule 440-X-3-.02(1)). A contractor whose certification lapses has until 11:59 pm on December 31 of the following calendar year to renew late, with a $250 late fee and no additional testing; a contractor who remains unlicensed for a full calendar year (365 days) or more is considered expired and must re-sit and pass the written prelicensure examination as a new applicant (Rule 440-X-3-.06; Section 34-31-32(b)). Proof of continuing-education compliance must be submitted before November 1 or renewal is blocked (Rule 440-X-4-.02(5)). 4 hours per year. Every active certified contractor must complete 4 continuing-education hours each year; up to 8 hours may be taken in a single year, with up to 4 hours carried over to the next renewal cycle (hours above 8 do not carry over) (Board FAQ; Code of Ala. 1975, Section 34-31-26; Rule 440-X-4-.02). Continuing education is not required during the first year a contractor holds a certification (Section 34-31-26(h); Rule 440-X-4-.02(4)), and inactive contractors aged 65 or older are exempt (Section 34-31-26(g)). CE hours are awarded in two-hour increments, and proof of compliance must reach the Board before November 1 annually; a $25 continuing-education deficiency fee applies (Rule 440-X-4-.02; 440-X-3-.10(1)(l)).

How to apply

Applications are handled by Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors (HACR Board). Start at the official application page .

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a license to do HVAC work in Alabama?

Yes. Alabama certifies HVAC and commercial-refrigeration contractors statewide through the Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors (HACR Board). No person may advertise, bid, obtain permits, do business as, or perform the function of a certified contractor unless the ‘person in responsible charge’ for the business is a certified contractor (Code of Ala. 1975, Section 34-31-24(a)(1)). Alabama licenses the contracting business through that one certified individual, so a technician employed by a certified contractor does not personally hold the certificate - but a regularly employed maintenance person is exempt only when the work is incidental to the employer’s own business, on the employer’s premises, and not performed for others (Rule 440-X-3-.05). Doing business as a certified contractor without certification is a Class A misdemeanor (Section 34-31-32(a)).

What is the Alabama HVAC credential actually called?

It is a ‘Certified Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor’ certification (or, for refrigeration work, a ‘Certified Refrigeration Contractor’ certification) issued by the HACR Board. Alabama’s statute uses ‘certification’ and ’license’ interchangeably (Section 34-31-18(3)). The certificate is issued in the name of the individual person in responsible charge and lists the business (Rule 440-X-3-.04(6)). There is no separate ‘journeyman’ or ‘master’ HVAC license, and EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification is a federal credential, not the Alabama certificate.

How much does an Alabama HVAC contractor certification cost?

The written examination fee is $175. An ACTIVE heating and air conditioning (or refrigeration) certification costs $220 to obtain and $220 a year to renew, and requires a business name plus a $20,000 performance bond. An INACTIVE certification - for someone who holds the credential but does not perform work - is $110 to obtain and $110 a year to renew, with no bond. A late renewal (after December 31) costs an extra $250. These are the Board’s current fees under Rule 440-X-3-.10, effective October 14, 2024; an older Board web page still shows superseded figures ($150 exam, $190/$95, $15,000 bond).

What do you need to qualify for the Alabama HVAC exam?

You must be eligible before you can sit the written prelicensure examination: either 3,000 hours of Board-defined work experience (about 18 months gained under the supervision of a HACR licensee, documented by affidavit and a Form W-2) or graduation from an approved HVAC/refrigeration curriculum (Code of Ala. 1975, Section 34-31-28(c)). Applicants who already hold a Board Apprentice Certificate submit the prior two years of apprenticeship certificates instead. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawfully present (Section 34-31-27), and the Board may require a background check before examination (Rule 440-X-3-.14). If you fail the written exam the first time, you may request an equivalent practical exam within six months ($375).

Does Alabama require continuing education for HVAC contractors?

Yes - 4 continuing-education hours each year to renew an active certification. You may take up to 8 hours in a year and carry over up to 4 to the next cycle (hours above 8 do not carry over). CE is not required in your first year of certification, and inactive contractors aged 65 or older are exempt. Proof of CE must reach the Board before November 1 or your renewal is blocked, and a $25 CE deficiency fee applies (Code of Ala. 1975, Section 34-31-26; Rule 440-X-4-.02; Board FAQ).

Who does NOT need an Alabama HVAC certification?

Alabama’s certification requirement does not reach several situations. By rule (440-X-3-.05): retail sellers who do not install or contract for installation/service/repair; owners doing HVAC/refrigeration work on their own real property; a regularly employed maintenance person doing incidental work on the employer’s premises who does not do HVAC for others; and an uncertified duct-work subcontractor working under a certified contractor’s supervision. By statute (Section 34-31-28): Alabama Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board licensees for certain LP-gas appliance work; authorized government employees not working for hire; manufactured-housing structures regulated by the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission (though repairing, servicing or installing a new HVAC system in an already-inspected manufactured structure IS covered); and work on motor vehicles, residential refrigerators, ice machines, household appliances, farm equipment, and poultry operations. The definition of ‘heating and air conditioning system’ also excludes window units and automotive/farm-implement equipment (Section 34-31-18(7)).

See every license and certification LicensingAtlas covers in Alabama.

Sources & verification

Last verified against these sources: July 24, 2026.

LicensingAtlas states licensing and certification requirements categorically from official sources. It is a reference, not legal or career advice, and requirements change frequently — confirm details with the issuing board before you act.