Do HVAC techs need a license in Florida? What to verify before you hire

Does a tech need their own license to work for my company?

Usually not. Under s. 489.103(2), Florida Statutes, an employee of a licensed contractor is exempt from holding a separate contractor license while working within the scope of the employer’s license and with the employer’s knowledge. The exemption has conditions: the worker must be a real employee, paid by you, supervised, and covered by your tax withholding and workers’ comp. A 1099 "sub" running your calls does not fit that description, which is one reason misclassification is a licensing problem as well as a tax problem.

The contractor license itself belongs to your company’s qualifier, the licensed individual the business operates under. That is why losing a qualifier can stop a company from pulling permits, and why licensed qualifiers are some of the most sought-after people in the candidate pool.

What is the difference between certified and registered contractors in Florida?

Florida issues two kinds of contractor licenses, defined in s. 489.105. The difference decides where the license works, which matters when you hire a qualifier or a senior tech who may become one.

To confirm any contractor license, search the holder on the DBPR licensing portal before you rely on it.

Do HVAC techs need EPA 608 certification?

Yes, if they handle refrigerant. The EPA Section 608 rules require certification for technicians who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of equipment that could release refrigerant into the atmosphere. There are four types:

• Type I: small appliances, such as window units and domestic refrigerators.
• Type II: high-pressure equipment, which covers most residential and light commercial split systems.
• Type III: low-pressure equipment, such as many chillers.
• Universal: all three, and the credential most residential service roles should require.

Section 608 certifications do not expire, so an old card is still valid. Apprentices are exempt only while they are closely and continually supervised by a certified technician, which means an uncertified helper cannot run refrigerant work solo. Newer A2L low-GWP refrigerants add their own safety training: NATE offers a low-GWP exam and ACCA runs an A2L safety course, and EPA 608 by itself does not cover that training.

How do county journeyman cards work around Tampa Bay?

Journeyman licenses are issued by counties and cities, not the state. Under s. 489.1455, localities may issue journeyman licenses in the plumbing, pipe fitting, mechanical, and HVAC trades, and each locality must recognize journeyman licenses issued by any other Florida locality. The statute sets the baseline: a passing exam score of at least 75%, plus an apprenticeship or 12,000 hours of on-the-job experience. Local registration steps still differ:

Sources: Hillsborough County and Pinellas County. For any tech moving between counties, the practical question is whether their existing card has been presented and registered where your trucks actually work.

What changes during hurricane season?

Unlicensed contracting is always illegal in Florida, but during a governor-declared state of emergency it becomes a third-degree felony under s. 489.127. Every major storm brings out-of-area operators and unlicensed crews looking for fast work, and every storm brings pressure to staff up quickly. Hiring through a shortcut that puts an unlicensed person on a job under your name is the wrong time to save a week.

Five checks to run before you make an offer

• EPA 608: ask for the card and confirm the type covers the equipment your techs service; Universal for residential service roles.
• Journeyman card: confirm which county issued it and that it is registered where your trucks work, especially if they cross into Pinellas.
• Qualifier candidates: search the license on the DBPR portal and confirm certified versus registered status and class.
• Driving record: most service roles run a company vehicle, so check the motor vehicle record against your insurer’s rules before the offer, not after.
• Employment status: put the hire on payroll with workers’ comp coverage, which is what keeps them inside your license exemption.

We run these checks on every candidate we submit, which is part of how we recruit HVAC techs and why verification is built into our fees rather than billed on top.

Sources and limits

Statutes are cited from the Florida Senate’s 2025 statute pages, which note that their text is unofficial; confirm against the official Florida Statutes for anything contractual. EPA rules are from the agency’s Section 608 certification page (updated July 2026). County details are from Hillsborough and Pinellas county pages. This page is general information for employers, not legal advice.

Common questions