- No contractor license for jobs of $1,000 or less. Class C starts above $1,000 per job.
- Journeyman: from 8 years of practical experience with no schooling, down to 4 years with 240 hours of vocational training, 2 years with a 2-year degree, or 1 year with a related engineering degree. Master: 1 year as a journeyman, 3 years with a residential HVAC license, or 9 years of experience.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- Class A needs $45,000 net worth and Class B needs $15,000, or either can post a $50,000 surety bond instead.
- Contractor licenses expire two years from the last day of the month they were issued. Renewal is $220 (C), $260 (B) or $270 (A) plus a $30 Recovery Fund assessment. HVAC tradesmen need 3 hours of approved continuing education on code updates in each two-year license term.
Do you need a state license in Virginia?
Virginia licenses HVAC work at the state level through the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
No contractor license for jobs of $1,000 or less. Class C starts above $1,000 per job.
Virginia license types for HVAC work
Virginia splits the work into 4 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 |
|---|---|
| HVA | Installing, altering, repairing or maintaining heating, ventilation and cooling systems, steam and hot water heaters |
| Journeyman HVAC tradesman | Individual HVAC mechanic license |
| Master HVAC tradesman | Required for the qualified individual of an HVA firm |
| Class A, B, C | Class C: over $1,000 to under $30,000 per job. Class B: $30,000 to under $150,000. Class A: $150,000 or more |
Steps to get licensed in Virginia
- Build experience and vocational training to qualify for the journeyman HVAC exam.
- Pass the journeyman exam through PSI, then qualify for and pass the master HVAC exam.
- Pick your firm class (A, B or C) based on job size and yearly volume.
- Have a member of management finish the 8-hour basic business course. For Class A or B, have a designated employee pass the board exam.
- For Class A or B, show the required net worth or post a $50,000 bond.
- Apply to the Board for Contractors with the HVA classification, naming the master as qualified individual.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Journeyman: from 8 years of practical experience with no schooling, down to 4 years with 240 hours of vocational training, 2 years with a 2-year degree, or 1 year with a related engineering degree. Master: 1 year as a journeyman, 3 years with a residential HVAC license, or 9 years of experience.
The license to apply for. Contractor license (Class A, B or C) with HVA classification, plus Master HVAC tradesman license.
Virginia HVAC exams
Trade exam. Yes. Journeyman and master HVAC tradesman exams are given by PSI. The exam fee is $100 for journeyman and $125 for master.
Business and law exam. Class A and B firms need a designated employee who passes a board exam. Every new firm needs 8 hours of pre-license basic business education, taken by a member of management (or, for Class A and B, the designated employee).
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 Virginia
The board lists 7 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 |
|---|---|
| Tradesman license, original | $150 |
| Journeyman tradesman exam (paid to PSI) | $100 |
| Master tradesman exam (paid to PSI) | $125 |
| Class C initial license | $235 |
| Class B initial license | $380 |
| Class A initial license | $400 |
| Recovery Fund assessment with initial license | $25 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. Class A needs $45,000 net worth and Class B needs $15,000, or either can post a $50,000 surety bond instead.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Contractor licenses expire two years from the last day of the month they were issued. Renewal is $220 (C), $260 (B) or $270 (A) plus a $30 Recovery Fund assessment. HVAC tradesmen need 3 hours of approved continuing education on code updates in each two-year license term.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Virginia
- The firm license and the tradesman license are separate. The firm needs a master HVAC tradesman as its qualified individual.
- Firms must report past-due debts and judgments for the past 5 years (Class A), 4 years (Class B) or 3 years (Class C).
- EPA Section 608 certification is a federal requirement for anyone who handles 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 Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for 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.