StateLicensed

HVAC Technician License Requirements in Alabama

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$720
Exam
Heating & Air Conditioning Contractors Examination, Refrigeration Contractors Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 1 year
Issuing board
Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors (HACR)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. No statewide minimum age or fingerprint/background-check requirement for HACR contractor licensure was found in the Board's published materials; applicants must instead document qualifying experience (apprenticeship certificates, approved-curriculum transcripts, or 3,000 hours of supervised work) and a business name/entity for Active status. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete the required training. Alabama does not license individual HVAC technicians; the HACR Board licenses HVAC and refrigeration CONTRACTORS. An unlicensed worker may perform HVAC/refrigeration work only as a registered Apprentice under the direct supervision of a HACR-licensed contractor. To qualify for the Contractor exam, an applicant must show one of: two years of apprenticeship certificates, graduation transcripts from an approved curriculum, or 3,000 hours (about 18 months) of supervised work experience under a HACR licensee. No fixed statewide classroom-hour figure is published because the pathways are experience/apprenticeship based rather than a set training-hour count. [1]

  3. 3

    Heating & Air Conditioning Contractors Examination

    Pass the Heating & Air Conditioning Contractors Examination (fee: $175). 80 questions, 4-hour time limit, 70% passing score This is the contractor-level qualifying exam; Alabama has no separate individual-technician exam. The $175 exam fee covers scheduling with ProV after the Board approves the applicant to test. [2]

  4. 4

    Refrigeration Contractors Examination

    Pass the Refrigeration Contractors Examination (fee: $175). 60 questions, 3-hour time limit, 70% passing score Separate track from the Heating & Air Conditioning exam; a contractor may hold HVAC, Refrigeration, or both classifications. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors (HACR) with the $150 application fee. Typical processing time: Applications must be received at least 10 working days before the next scheduled Board meeting. [2]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors (HACR) issues your Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor License for Alabama.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] $150
License fee [2] $220
Renewal fee [2] $220
Heating & Air Conditioning Contractors Examination [2] $175
Refrigeration Contractors Examination [2] $175
Inactive license (annual) [2] $110
Reciprocity processing fee [2] $220

$150 is the exam-application processing fee; the $220 Active License fee is charged annually (both for initial issuance and each yearly renewal, since Alabama HACR licenses expire and renew every year). A $20,000 performance bond is also required for Active status but is not a fee paid to the Board. No separate one-time 'application' fee beyond the exam-processing fee was found.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 1 year. 4 continuing education hours required per cycle.

HACR contractor licenses renew annually by December 31; 4 continuing-education hours must be completed each year (deadline November 1). Up to 8 CE hours may be taken in one year with 4 carrying over to the next cycle.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Alabama offers reciprocal licensure to contractors holding a current, valid license from Mississippi, Tennessee, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia, or Louisiana with an equivalent exam score of at least 70%; the reciprocity processing fee is $220.

6 state-approved training providers in Alabama — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $150
  • $220
  • $175
  • $175
Total$720

Frequently asked questions

Does Alabama license individual HVAC technicians?

No. Alabama licenses HVAC and refrigeration CONTRACTORS through the HACR Board. Individuals who are not yet licensed contractors work as registered Apprentices under the direct supervision of a licensed HACR contractor.

How do I qualify to sit for the HACR contractor exam?

You need one of: two years of apprenticeship certificates, graduation from an approved training curriculum, or 3,000 hours (about 18 months) of supervised work experience under a HACR-licensed contractor.

Who administers the Alabama HACR contractor exam?

ProV, Inc. administers the Heating & Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor exams on behalf of the HACR Board once the Board approves an applicant to test.

How often do HACR licenses renew and how much continuing education is required?

HACR contractor licenses renew annually by December 31, and licensees must complete 4 continuing-education hours each year, with a completion deadline of November 1.

Can an out-of-state HVAC contractor get an Alabama license without retaking the exam?

Alabama offers reciprocity to contractors currently licensed in Mississippi, Tennessee, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia, or Louisiana who scored at least 70% on their home-state exam; the reciprocity processing fee is $220.

Sources

  1. [1] hacr.alabama.gov/new-license-application/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] hacr.alabama.gov/how-to-get-licensed/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] hacr.alabama.gov/faq/how-many-continuing-education-hours-do-i-need-each-year/ — accessed 2026-07-12