How To Get an HVAC License in Connecticut: Complete Guide

In Connecticut, the journey to becoming an HVAC contractor generally begins with trade school instruction and an apprenticeship. You can take a journeyperson HVAC license exam after completing a two-, three- or four-year course and apprenticeship. Journeypersons must work for two years to qualify for a contractor license. This guide can show you how to get an HVAC license in Connecticut.

Who Needs an HVAC License?

• Air conditioners, central air, and ductless cooling systems
• Boilers
• Fireplaces and chimneys
• Gas heating systems
• Ductwork and hoods
• Freezers and refrigeration appliances
• Commercial refrigeration systems and equipment

In Connecticut, licensed contractors can perform all types of work in their respective areas of focus. This includes designing, installing, maintaining, repairing, and replacing systems.

HVAC License Types in Connecticut

There are over 20 different HVAC licenses in Connecticut. The license you need to acquire depends on the area of HVAC work you wish to perform: heating, cooling, hearth products, fuel gas, or sheet metal work. The two main license types are journeyperson HVAC licenses and contractor licenses. These HVAC contractor licenses are divided into numerous categories:

• • B-1 Limited Gas and Oil Burner Contractor: The contractor is allowed to install, maintain and repair gas or oil burners for domestic and light commercial applications.
  • • B-3 Limited Gas and Oil Burner Contractor: A B-3 license allows qualified contractors to work with any size of gas or oil burners. These include all residential and commercial gas and oil systems.
    • • D-1 Limited Warm Air, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractor: The D-1 contractor license covers installing, servicing, repairing, and replacing many HVAC systems, such as air conditioning, refrigeration, and warm air units, but not oil burners. Contractors can install and perform work on HVAC conduits and pipes and interior/exterior pumps.
      • • D-3 Limited Cooling Contractor License: The contractor can install, replace, change, service or repair all refrigeration systems, both for home and commercial applications. This license includes refrigeration systems for special processes and food storage.
        • • G-1 Limited Heating, Piping, and Cooling Contractor: The G-1 license applies to gas appliances, piping systems, and accessories used with LP natural gas or gas containers.
          • • S-1 Unlimited Heating, Piping, and Cooling Contractor: As the name suggests, the S-1 license allows HVAC contractors to perform any type of heating, cooling, and piping work. There is no limit to the scope of the work for residential or commercial applications, including HVAC jobs for manufacturers, warehouses, and retail stores.
            • • S-3 Limited Heating, Piping, and Cooling Contractor: The contractor can work with oil burners, piping, pumps, devices, and accessories for boilers, heating systems, and steam conveyance equipment. This license excludes all sheet metal work, refrigeration systems, and air conditioning systems.
              • • S-5 Limited Heating, Hot Water, and Steam Contractor: With this license, contractors are allowed to work with hot water and steam heating systems, but with a few restrictions. The system can only have a maximum load of 500,000 BTUs and 15 pounds of steam pressure. The work can only be performed on buildings from one to three stories high.
                • • S-7 Limited Contractor: The S-7 covers the same work scope and limitations as the S-5 license, but additionally lets contractors install and service limited oil burners, gas burners, and gas piping.
                  • • S-9 Limited Heating Cooling Contractor: The contractor can perform the same work covered by the S-5 and S-7 licenses, as well as installing, servicing, and repairing cooling systems (max 35 tons) and LP gas systems with natural pas piping or gas containers.
                    • • SM-1 Limited Sheet Metal Contractor: The contractor can install, build, repair, change or replace ductwork systems of any kind, size, or building scope.
                      • • SM-3 Limited Sheet Metal Residential/Light Commercial Contractor: This license permits contractors to work with ductwork exclusively in residential and light commercial buildings that only have one air handling unit (max 35 tons) or blowers limited to 14,000 cubic feet per minute.
                        • • SM-5 Limited Sheet Metal Contractor Hood Systems: With an SM-5 license, contractors can build, install, change or repair hood ductwork systems, such as those used in restaurants.
                          • • HPG-1 Contractor: This license covers installing, repairing, and maintaining natural gas or propane fireplaces, log sets, stoves, and fireplace inserts, including venting and piping.

                            All of these licenses also have a journeyperson equivalent, such as the B-2 and B-4 Limited Gas and Oil Burner Journeyperson license. A professional with a journeyperson license is permitted to carry out the same activities as a contractor, but only while employed by a fully licensed contractor in the same field. The S-2 Unlimited Heating, Piping, and Cooling Journeyperson license are one of the most wide-ranging for journeyperson HVAC workers in Connecticut, allowing them to perform the same activities as S-1 Unlimited contractors while employed by a licensed contractor.

                            Connecticut HVAC License Requirements

                            To obtain a journeyperson license in Connecticut, it’s generally necessary to complete an accredited apprenticeship program. As an alternative, you can qualify if you have equivalent training and real-world experience. Before being licensed, you must pass the journeyperson license examination.

                            To become an HVAC contractor, you must have two years of experience as a licensed journeyperson in Connecticut. Then, you need to take a contractor license examination and gain a passing score on both portions.

                            Insurance Requirements

                            All businesses in Connecticut that have at least one employee are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance . HVAC companies are no exception. Workers’ comp covers accidents or injuries that happen on the job, including burns and impacts from falling objects.

                            While not legally required in Connecticut, liability insurance is recommended for HVAC contractors. This type of insurance covers property damage and injuries that happen on a worksite. When you carry adequate liability insurance, it puts customers at ease. Many potential clients only choose contractors that are fully licensed and insured.

                            Use the tool below to request a free commercial insurance quote from our partners.