Florida HVAC Air Conditioning A Contractor Exam Prep

License Scope

A "class A air-conditioning contractor" means a contractor whose services are unlimited in the execution of contracts requiring the experience, knowledge, and skill to install, maintain, repair, fabricate, alter, extend, or design central air-conditioning, refrigeration, heating, and ventilating systems. Class A Contractors may also execute contracts requiring experience in the installation, maintenance, repair, fabrication, alteration, extension or design of duct work in connection with a complete system but only to the extent that such duct work is performed by the contractor as is necessary to complete an air-distribution system, boiler and unfired pressure vessel systems, and all appurtenances, apparatus, or equipment used in connection with them. A "class A air-conditioning contractor" shall not perform any work such as liquefied petroleum or natural gas fuel lines within buildings, potable water lines or connections, sanitary sewer lines, swimming pool piping and filters, or electrical power wiring.

Method of Qualification

In order to earn your HVAC license, you must meet the following qualifications.

(a) – Is 18 years of age,
(b) – Is of good moral character, and
(c) – Meets eligibility requirements according to one of the following criteria:

1. Has a total of at least 4 years of active experience as a worker who has learned the trade by serving an apprenticeship as a skilled worker who is able to command the rate of a mechanic in the particular trade or as a foreman who is in charge of a group of workers and usually is responsible to a superintendent or a contractor or his or her equivalent, provided, however, that at least 1 year of active experience shall be as a foreman.
2. Has received a baccalaureate degree from an accredited 4-year college in the appropriate field of engineering, architecture, or building construction and has 1 year of proven experience in the category in which the person seeks to qualify. For the purpose of this part, a minimum of 2,000 person-hours shall be used in determining full-time equivalency.
3. Has a combination of not less than 1 year of experience as a foreman and not less than 3 years of credits for any accredited college-level courses; has a combination of not less than 1 year of experience as a skilled worker, 1 year of experience as a foreman, and not less than 2 years of credits for any accredited college-level courses; or has a combination of not less than 2 years of experience as a skilled worker, 1 year of experience as a foreman, and not less than 1 year of credits for any accredited college-level courses. All junior college or community college-level courses shall be considered accredited college-level courses.
4. An active certified air-conditioning Class C contractor is eligible to take the air-conditioning Class B contractors' examination if he or she possesses a minimum of 4 years of proven experience in the classification in which he or she is certified.
5. An active certified air-conditioning Class B contractor is eligible to take the air-conditioning Class A contractors' examination if he or she possesses a minimum of 1 year of proven experience in the classification in which he or she is certified.

Licensing Steps

Step 1. Register for one of our comprehensive exam preparation courses, and select the exam ready book purchase option.  Please note: You are allowed to use the exam ready books at the open-book Florida contractors State exam!

Step 2. Register for your Florida contractors State exam. Let us help you with your exam registration - telephone CEI at: 800-423-7058. If you are confident with the required registration process and steps then you can register through Professional Testing Inc. at: www.floridaexam.com.

Step 3. Prepare for and pass your exam.

Step 4. Mail application with your passing exam scores to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. You will receive your license within approximately 60 days after submitting the completed application.

For detailed information please visit the State of Florida website.

Exam Details - What to Expect

The Applicant will be required to pass 2 separate exams with a score of 70% or higher.

• Business & Finance Exam – 6.5 hour computer-based exam
• Trade Knowledge Exam - 7.5 hour computer-based exam

Both exams are open-book, multiple-choice, and timed.

Reference books should be brought to both open book exams. Permanent book tabs and highlighting in books is allowed for the examinations.

Business & Finance Exam

The Business and Finance Examination consists of 120 questions. Candidates are allowed 6 ½ hours (390 minutes) of time to complete the examination.

Trade Knowledge Exam

The trade knowledge exam consists of 130 questions. Candidates are allowed 7 ½ hours (450 minutes) of time to complete the examination.

Preparing for Your Exam

Applicants will need to get familiar with all of their exam books. Applicants must know how to properly read the test questions and quickly locate the answers. Knowing which books to use for each content area is essential to passing the exam. A quality exam preparation class is the best way to prepare for the exam. We recommend either the Pro Pack or the Power Pack to prepare for your exam.

100% One Year Course Guarantee

Students receive access to their course for a full year from the date of their registration!

EXAM READY BOOKS (Highlighted & Tabbed for the Exam) 

The licensing exam is an open-book exam. CEI stocks all books required for the general contractor exam. 

Exam Ready Books are specially prepared to make passing the HVAC exam easier. Exam Ready Books are professionally highlighted and tabbed by CEI's staff to indicate the answers to common test questions. Book tabs will help you find the correct section of the books much more quickly when looking for the answer to an exam question, and highlights detail parts of the books from where questions are often asked.

[Back to Top]

Book set includes all references required for the Trade and Business & Finance exams:

• AIA Documents: (A-201, A-401, A-701)
• Builder's Guide to Accounting
• Florida Contractor's Manual
• Florida Statutes Chapter 455                               
• Code of Federal Regulations. OSHA Title 29, Part 1926
• Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Troubleshooting Handbook
• Pipefitters Handbook
• Installation of Air Conditioning and Ventilating Systems,
• Installation of Warm Air Heating and Air Conditioning Systems
• Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations
• Fibrous Glass Duct Construction Standards
• HVAC Duct Construction Standards - Metal and Flexible 
• Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Technology
• Trane Ductulator
• Energy Efficient Building Construction in Florida
• Energy Systems Analysis and Management 
• Florida Building Code, Mechanical
• Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation

Locations

Sarasota, FL - CEI

CEI

5016 Calle Minorga

Sarasota, FL 34242

Orlando, FL - Spring Hill Suites

Spring Hill Suites by Marriott

5828 Hazeltine National Drive

Orlando, FL 32822

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Tamarac Campus of GoldCoast

5600 Hiatus Road

Tamarac, FL 33321