- Contractor exams need two years as a licensed journeyperson or equivalent experience and training. The equivalency path for S-1 lists 576 classroom hours and 12,000 hours of on the job training.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every year. All heating, cooling and sheet metal licenses expire August 31. Check with the board on continuing education.
Do you need a state license in Connecticut?
Connecticut licenses HVAC work at the state level through the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Occupational and Professional Licensing Division. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Connecticut license types for HVAC work
Connecticut splits the work into 6 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 |
|---|---|
| S-1 Contractor | All heating, piping and cooling work |
| S-2 Journeyperson | All heating, piping and cooling work at the journeyperson level |
| D-1 Contractor | Warm air, air conditioning and refrigeration systems with their piping |
| S-3 Contractor | Heating, boilers and steam piping, no refrigeration |
| S-9 Contractor | Limited heating and cooling in smaller buildings, up to set size limits |
| B-1 and B-3 Contractor | Gas and oil burner work, B-1 limited by size, B-3 any size |
Steps to get licensed in Connecticut
- Pick the license type that fits your work, such as S-1 or D-1.
- Build the experience: two years as a licensed journeyperson, or document the classroom and on the job hours for the equivalency path.
- Apply to the Department of Consumer Protection and pay the $150 contractor application fee.
- Take the exam for your license type and pay the exam vendor its separate fee.
- Renew every year before your license expires on August 31.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Contractor exams need two years as a licensed journeyperson or equivalent experience and training. The equivalency path for S-1 lists 576 classroom hours and 12,000 hours of on the job training.
The license to apply for. S-1 Unlimited Heating, Piping and Cooling Contractor (or a limited contractor license such as D-1).
Connecticut HVAC exams
Trade exam. Yes. Every applicant takes an exam. The department points construction trade candidates to PSI bulletins, and the exam vendor charges its own fee at registration.
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 Connecticut
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 |
|---|---|
| Contractor application fee | $150 |
| Journeyperson application fee | $90 |
| Contractor renewal | $150 |
| Journeyperson renewal | $120 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year. All heating, cooling and sheet metal licenses expire August 31. Check with the board on continuing education.
Reciprocity. Connecticut has no reciprocal agreements with any other jurisdiction. Holders of an equivalent out of state license can apply through a separate equivalency path.
Good to know in Connecticut
- You usually hold a journeyperson license first, then qualify for the contractor exam.
- EPA Section 608 certification is a separate federal requirement for anyone handling refrigerant.
- Work covered by a trade license falls outside home improvement registration, so a heating and cooling license is what covers this work on homes.
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 Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Occupational and Professional Licensing Division 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.