Tennessee HVAC License: How to Become an HVAC Contractor in TN

Do you need an HVAC license in Tennessee?

Yes, in Tennessee, you need an HVAC contractor license before you can bid and work on projects over $25,000. 

For projects under $25,000 that include the installation of HVAC equipment, you need a limited licensed electrician to perform the electrical work and get permits for inspections.

Who issues HVAC licenses in Tennessee?

All contractor and limited licensing is overseen by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (BLC). The BLC outlines which contractors and subcontractors performing electrical, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, and masonry are required to hold a license.

To see all the laws and regulations surrounding HVAC work in this state, check out the Tennessee Annotated Code.

Types of HVAC licenses in Tennessee

In Tennessee, the BLC defines HVAC contractor work as a subclassification of its Mechanical Contractor class. According to the Board’s Classification Outline document, these are the following types of HVAC licenses available:

Tennessee contractors, including those doing mechanical and HVAC/Refrigeration (HVAC/R) work, have monetary limits determining how large a project they can work on. According to the Department of Commerce and Insurance, the limit for a contractor is roughly ten times the lesser of your combined working capital and net worth.

You can find more information about monetary limits on page 11 of the contractor’s license application.

EPA Section 608 Technician Certification

Additional certification is required for HVAC and refrigeration technicians who work with refrigerants—Section 608 Technician Certification from the Environmental Protection Agency.

As part of the EPA’s Clean Air Act, Section 608 dictates that HVAC technicians maintaining, servicing, or disposing of chemicals and equipment that could release “ozone-depleting refrigerants” must be certified.

Certification falls under 4 categories depending on the work you’re doing with refrigerants. These include:

• Type I: Servicing small appliances (five pounds of refrigerant or less)
• Type II: Servicing high-pressure equipment (five pounds or more of refrigerant)
• Type III: Servicing and/or disposing of low-pressure equipment.
• Universal: Servicing everything covered under Type I, Type II, and Type III

You can take the test through an EPA-approved program, and the certification never expires.

Benefits of getting a Tennessee HVAC license

There are many benefits to getting your HVAC contractor license in Tennessee. First and foremost, a license allows you to legally work as an HVAC contractor in the state. Other benefits include the opportunity to:

• Increase your earning potential as you gain more experience
• Start and run your own HVAC business, including project bidding, pulling permits, and passing inspections
• Showcase your skills as an HVAC professional and be more appealing to employers
• Build trust with your clients

Tennessee HVAC license requirements

The BLC lays out a number of requirements that you need to meet in order to get your full mechanical or HVAC/R contractor license:

If you only want to work on projects with a value under $25,000, you will still need to get a license to work as a limited licensed electrician. This allows you to work on the electrical components of HVAC systems. The BLC recommends checking with your local codes office to ensure you meet all the requirements for limited electrical work. 

All HVAC professionals who work with refrigerants in the United States also need to get Section 608 Technician Certification under the EPA’s Clean Air Act. To get this certification, you need to pass the EPA test tailored to your type of work. After you’ve secured this certification, you don’t need to renew it again.

How do I get an HVAC license in Tennessee?

The BLC’s Contractor Licensing Application Package outlines all the steps you need to follow in order to get your HVAC or mechanical contractor license in Tennessee. The Board also outlines all the licensing steps on its contractor page:

1. Write and pass both the Business & Law and trade exams
2. Submit your financial statement, completed by a licensed CPA, that uses your working capital to determine your monetary limit
3. Include a letter of reference that has been completed by a past client, employer, or recognized code official
4. Provide a certificate of insurance demonstrating that you have the general liability and workers’ compensation coverage necessary for your requested monetary limit
5. If you are not applying as a qualified party for another business, file your business entity with the Secretary of State’s office
6. Complete the contractor’s license application and provide information about your previous work experience and an affidavit of citizenship

To work as a limited licensed electrician, you just need to pass the PSI trade exam and submit your application form and fees to the BLC. 

You can apply online or send all forms to the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors at the following address:

500 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243-1150

All necessary forms and applications can be found on the contractor licensing board resource page.

Tennessee HVAC license exam

To get a full contractor license, you need to pass two Tennessee HVAC license tests: 

1. Business & Law exam
2. Trade exam

For the trade exam, you have the option of writing the full mechanical contractor exam or just the HVAC/R trade-specific exam. These tests are carried out by the state’s testing vendor, PSI. 

Here’s what you need to know about writing each exam.

You can find more information about the Tennessee contractor Business & Law and HVAC trade exams, as well as the limited licensed electrician exam, in PSI’s Candidate Information Bulletin.

Does my Tennessee HVAC license work in any other states?

Typically, reciprocal licensing agreements let contractors with an out-of-state license apply directly for an equivalent one in another state. 

In Tennessee, the BLC offers reciprocal licensing that waives the CMC-C exam requirements for HVAC contractors from the following states: 

• Alabama
• Ohio
• South Carolina (commercial HVAC only)

Waiving the trade exam only applies to contractors. It does not apply to the Limited Licensed Electrician license.

Check out the BLC’s Trade Exam Waiver Agreement document for more information.

How long does it take to get an HVAC license in Tennessee?

It can take anywhere from three to five years to get your HVAC contractor’s license. This includes getting the preferred three years of experience, completing the business and law and trade exams, and completing your application. The timeline speeds up if you already have some HVAC experience under your belt.

HVAC training programs and schools in Tennessee

There are a variety of educational pathways you can take to become an HVAC professional in Tennessee—from registered apprenticeships to technical and vocational schools.

HVAC apprenticeships

Tennessee is home to a statewide program called Apprenticeship TN, which encourages employers to create registered apprenticeship programs. There are more than 20 HVAC apprenticeship programs available to choose from.

Each of the apprenticeship programs is automatically added to the Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL), managed by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). All the programs on the list are verified and eligible for funding as part of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (2014).

HVAC technical and vocational schools

The Tennessee College of Applied Technology leads the way for training programs. The college has 17 campuses in the state accredited by HVAC Excellence. These campuses are:

• Chattanooga
• Clarksville
• Covington
• Crump
• Cumberland
• Dickson
• Elizabethton
• Jackson
• Knoxville
• McKenzie
• Memphis
• Morristown
• Nashville
• Newbern
• Pulaski
• Shelbyville
• Whiteville

Other schools with notable HVAC programs, as listed on Niche’s 2026 Best Colleges with HVAC and Refrigeration Engineering Technician Degrees in Tennessee, are:

• Cleveland State Community College
• Northeast State Community College
• Fortis Institute
• Remington College
• William Moore College of Technology
• Genesis Career College

These programs range from 30 weeks to 2 years to complete. 

How much is an HVAC license in Tennessee?

To get your HVAC or mechanical contractor license in Tennessee, you can expect to pay over $350 for the initial licensing process. If you just want to work as a limited licensed electrician, the initial licensing costs $50. 

Mechanical/HVAC Contractor License

Limited Licensed Electrician

Keep in mind that there may also be fees associated with getting the necessary insurance or securing permits from local authorities. 

If you choose to go to a technical or vocational school to hone your craft, you can expect to pay anywhere from $4000-$5000 a year for tuition.

Tennessee HVAC license renewal

All contractor licenses must be renewed with the BLC every two years, with expiration coming on the last day of the month the license was first issued. You can renew your license online through Tennessee’s new CORE portal or by submitting the physical renewal form to the BLC office.

License renewals require the same documentation as the initial licensing, including certifications of insurance—both workers’ compensation and general liability—and a current financial statement.

How to start an HVAC business in Tennessee

Once you’ve built up your experience as a qualified mechanical or HVAC contractor in Tennessee, you can take the next step in your career by starting your own HVAC business. The Tennessee website has a New Business resource hub containing all the information you need to take to get started, including: 

• How to register your business online
• State and federal tax requirements and incentives
• New business workshops and resources
• An interactive “Smart Start Guide”

There are also some practical steps to starting your own HVAC business that you need to brush up on, including: 

• Naming your business
• How to market and sell your services
• Pricing jobs properly
• Creating HVAC estimates
• Buying equipment and supplies

How much do HVAC contractors make in Tennessee?

The average salary for an HVAC contractor in Tennessee is $55,130. 

The bottom 10% of HVAC contractors earn an average of $38,100 annually in Tennessee, but that number jumps significantly with experience. 

The top 10% of earners in the state are commanding more than $76,000, and you stand to earn a lot more if you start your own HVAC business. 

To learn more about HVAC contractor salaries across the U.S., visit our HVAC salary guide.

Originally published in November 2023. Last updated on December 12, 2025.