- None stated. The board says even duct cleaning, filter changes and equipment cleaning need certification.
- One of these to sit for the exam: two or more calendar years as a board-registered apprentice, two years of work in the trade within the last five years backed by employer affidavits, 3,000 hours of coursework or experience, or graduating from an approved HVAC or refrigeration program.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- A $20,000 performance bond naming the board is required for active status.
- Every year by December 31. Four hours of approved continuing education each year.
Do you need a state license in Alabama?
Alabama licenses HVAC work at the state level through the Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
None stated. The board says even duct cleaning, filter changes and equipment cleaning need certification.
Alabama license types for HVAC work
Alabama splits the work into 3 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor | Install, service and repair heating and air conditioning systems |
| Refrigeration Contractor | Install, service and repair commercial refrigeration equipment |
| Inactive status | Holds the certification but does not do the work |
Steps to get licensed in Alabama
- Qualify through apprenticeship, documented experience, 3,000 training hours, or an approved school program.
- Submit the online exam application to the board and pay the $175 exam fee.
- Pass the Heating and Air Conditioning exam, the Refrigeration exam, or both, within one year of approval.
- Choose active status, post the $20,000 performance bond and pay the $220 license fee.
- Put your certification number on your vehicles, ads and paperwork.
- Complete four hours of continuing education and renew by December 31 each year.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. One of these to sit for the exam: two or more calendar years as a board-registered apprentice, two years of work in the trade within the last five years backed by employer affidavits, 3,000 hours of coursework or experience, or graduating from an approved HVAC or refrigeration program.
The license to apply for. Certified Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor.
Alabama HVAC exams
Trade exam. Yes. An open-book exam for Heating and Air Conditioning or for Refrigeration.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Separate from any state license, the EPA requires Section 608 certification for anyone who works on equipment with refrigerant. It is federal and applies in every state.
What it costs in Alabama
The board lists 4 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Exam fee (per exam) | $175 |
| Active certification, yearly | $220 |
| Inactive certification, yearly | $110 |
| Reciprocity processing | $220 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. A $20,000 performance bond naming the board is required for active status.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year by December 31. Four hours of approved continuing education each year.
Reciprocity. Available if you passed an equivalent exam with a score of at least 70 percent and hold a current license from a reciprocal board in Mississippi, Tennessee, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia or Louisiana.
Good to know in Alabama
- Your certification number must appear on vehicles, ads, websites, invoices, estimates and letterhead.
- If a certification is not renewed within one year after it lapses, it expires and you must apply to take the exam again.
- EPA Section 608 certification is a separate federal requirement for anyone handling refrigerant.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for HVAC repair near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how HVAC companies run on Koira.