How to Get an HVAC License in North Carolina: Heating Groups 1, 2 and 3

Who licenses HVAC contractors in North Carolina?

The State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors, which licenses plumbing, heating, fuel piping and fire sprinkler contractors under G.S. Chapter 87, Article 2. Commercial refrigeration contracting has its own board, the State Board of Refrigeration Examiners, and anyone handling refrigerant also needs federal EPA Section 608 certification.

What do Heating Group 1, 2 and 3 mean?

They're defined in G.S. 87-21 by the kind and size of system:

• Heating Group 1 (H-1): "the heating system of a building, which requires the use of high or low pressure steam, vapor or hot water," with related piping, ducts and equipment (G.S. 87-21). Boilers and hydronics.
• Heating Group 2 (H-2): integral heating or cooling systems that circulate air "having a mechanical refrigeration capacity in excess of fifteen tons" (G.S. 87-21). Big commercial air systems.
• Heating Group 3 (H-3): direct heating or cooling systems with "a mechanical refrigeration capacity of 15 tons or less" (G.S. 87-21). This is where most residential and light commercial shops live, and "Systems installed in single-family residences are included under heating group number three, regardless of size."

On top of the group, the statute sets two classes: "Class I covering all plumbing, heating, and fire sprinkler systems for all structures" and "Class II covering plumbing and heating systems in single-family detached residential dwellings" (G.S. 87-21). The board's exam application offers Groups 1 and 3 in Class I or Class II and lists Group 2 without a class split (exam application).

What are the North Carolina HVAC license requirements?

How do you get an HVAC contractor license in North Carolina, step by step?

1. 1

   Pick the group and class for your work

   Residential changeouts and new homes: Heating Group 3, Class II if you'll only do single-family detached homes, Class I if you'll also do apartments or commercial. Boilers: Group 1. Large rooftop and air-handler systems over 15 tons: Group 2.

2. 2

   Log 4,000 hours of hands-on experience

   That's two years of full-time on-site work in installation, maintenance, service or repair of the systems you'll be licensed for. Community college or technical courses directly related to the license can count for up to half; each approved semester hour earns 66.66 hours of credit (exam application).

3. 3

   Buy the required books before you apply

   By applying you certify you have the current NC State Building Code books, the board's Laws & Rules book and its Business and Project Management for Contractors book (exam application).

4. 4

   File the application with a background check

   Include W-2s, 1099s or Social Security earnings records, a Castlebranch criminal background report and experience forms signed by the people who supervised you. Processing can take 4–6 weeks (exam application).

5. 5

   Test at PSI within 90 days of approval

   All exams are computer-based and given by PSI Services (FAQ), daily at seven testing centers including Asheville, Charlotte, Raleigh and Wilmington. You must test within 90 days of your notification letter (board).

6. 6

   Pay the license fee and renew every December 31

   The annual contractor fee is $150 (21 NCAC 50 .1102). Licenses expire December 31 with no grace period, and late renewal adds $25 (renewal).

What happens if your North Carolina license lapses?

You must stop licensed work until it's renewed. The board can reinstate a license expired up to three years with the current fee, the unpaid prior years' fees and a processing fee; after three years you retake the exam (renewal). Since there's no CE requirement, staying licensed is mostly a matter of paying on time.

Can you transfer an HVAC license to North Carolina?

Possibly. G.S. 87-21(g) lets the board grant contractors licensed in other states "the same or equivalent classification without written examination" if their qualifications are substantially equivalent, after a full review of the other state's requirements (exam application). The application also has a box for South Carolina technical exam waivers. There's no automatic list, so call the board before you apply.

Starting your own HVAC company in North Carolina

• Second qualifiers cost less: a second or later qualifier on the same company license pays $75 a year instead of $150 (21 NCAC 50 .1102).
• Wiring: if you'll do electrical connections yourself, NCBEEC offers an SP-PH special restricted class for plumbing, heating and air conditioning contractors; see North Carolina electrical licensing.
• Taxes: sales and use tax on equipment and entity filing are in North Carolina contractor taxes and licensing.
• Business setup: trucks, pricing, maintenance agreements and first customers are in how to start an HVAC business.