- None stated. The state license does not cover residential buildings.
- Five years as a tradesperson in the trade, or three years of construction business experience as a registered engineer, or other experience the HVAC section accepts. Must be at least 18.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- Every year ($60) or every three years ($180). Ten hours of approved continuing education each year.
Do you need a state license in Ohio?
Ohio licenses some HVAC work at the state level and leaves the rest alone. Which side of that line a job falls on decides whether you need the state license.
None stated. The state license does not cover residential buildings.
Local building and health departments regulate residential contractors. They may also choose to require the state commercial license for residential work.
Ohio license types for HVAC work
Ohio 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, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Contractor | Commercial HVAC work |
| Refrigeration Contractor | Commercial refrigeration work |
| Hydronics Contractor | Commercial hydronic heating, licensed by the plumbing and hydronics section |
Steps to get licensed in Ohio
- Get five years of HVAC trade experience (or qualify as a registered engineer with three years of business experience).
- Apply to the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board to take the exam and pay the $25 fee.
- Pass the PSI HVAC trade exam and the business and law exam with 70 percent each.
- Get $500,000 in contractor liability insurance and pay the $25 license fee.
- Ask local building departments what they require for residential work.
- Renew every year or three years and take ten hours of continuing education a year.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Five years as a tradesperson in the trade, or three years of construction business experience as a registered engineer, or other experience the HVAC section accepts. Must be at least 18.
The license to apply for. HVAC Contractor (OCILB).
Ohio HVAC exams
Trade exam. Yes. The PSI licensing exam, with a trade part that must be passed with 70 percent.
Business and law exam. Yes. A business and law exam, passed with 70 percent. It stays valid for three years if you add another license.
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 Ohio
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 application | $25 |
| License issuance | $25 |
| Annual renewal | $60 |
| Three year renewal | $180 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Contractor liability insurance in your name, including completed operations, of at least $500,000.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year ($60) or every three years ($180). Ten hours of approved continuing education each year.
Reciprocity. Ohio can license contractors from a state whose requirements are substantially equal and that has a written reciprocity agreement with the board section. Check with the board for the current list.
Good to know in Ohio
- EPA Section 608 certification is a separate federal requirement for refrigerant handling.
- The license is issued to an individual, who can assign it to a business.
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 Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (Ohio Department of Commerce) and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
- Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board
- Ohio Rev. Code 4740.01 (definitions, residential excluded)
- Ohio Rev. Code 4740.02 (OCILB specialty sections)
- Ohio Rev. Code 4740.06 (license qualifications)
- Ohio Adm. Code 4101:16-2-09 (fees and insurance)
- Ohio Adm. Code chapter 4101:16-2 (exams, CE, reciprocity)
More for your trade: how HVAC companies run on Koira.