Florida Mechanical Contractor License

The mechanical license is the broadest of Florida's HVAC-related licenses. It covers everything a Class A air-conditioning contractor can do and adds process piping, fuel gas inside buildings, medical gas lines, lift stations and more. It also has one of the longest trade exams the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) gives: 130 scored questions over 7.5 hours.

What the license covers

F.S. 489.105(3)(i) defines a mechanical contractor as one "whose services are unlimited" in installing, maintaining, repairing, fabricating, altering, extending or designing (where not prohibited by law) central air-conditioning, refrigeration, heating and ventilating systems. Beyond the A/C scope, the statute lists, among other things:

• boiler and unfired pressure vessel systems, and lift station equipment and piping
• pressure and process piping, pneumatic control piping, standpipes, air piping and vacuum lines
• oxygen lines, nitrous oxide piping, ink and chemical lines, and fuel transmission lines
• gasoline tanks and pump installations and their piping
• liquefied petroleum gas lines and natural gas fuel lines within buildings
• limited power wiring on the load side of an existing dedicated disconnect, low voltage HVAC control wiring and condensate drains
• incidental excavation

The statute excludes potable water lines, sanitary sewer lines, swimming pool piping and filters, and electrical power wiring.

Mechanical vs Class A and Class B air conditioning

If your work is purely HVAC, see the Florida HVAC license page.

Certified vs registered

A certified mechanical contractor holds a state certificate of competency and may contract anywhere in Florida (F.S. 489.105(8)). A registered contractor has met a local competency requirement and may contract only in the jurisdictions where that registration applies (489.105(10)). This page covers the state certification exam.

Eligibility

Under F.S. 489.111(2) you must be 18, be of good moral character, and meet one experience route, including:

• a 4-year degree in engineering, architecture or building construction plus 1 year of proven experience in the category
• 4 years of active experience as a skilled worker or foreman, with at least 1 year as a foreman
• a combination of foreman/skilled worker experience and accredited college credit, as set out in 489.111(2)(c)3

The statute uses 2,000 person-hours as one year of full-time experience. The board also requires proof of financial responsibility, insurance and fingerprints; see the Florida hub for the full list.

The exams

Division II applicants pass two exams: Business and Finance and the trade knowledge exam. Both are computer-based at Pearson VUE and open book, and the passing score is 70%.

What the trade exam tests

The DBPR content outline splits the 130 questions into eleven areas:

Note that 28% of the exam (areas D and F) is mechanical piping and equipment that a pure HVAC candidate never studies.

Reference list overview

The current even-year reference list includes, among others:

• Florida Building Code: Mechanical, Energy Conservation and Fuel Gas (2023)
• NFPA 90A, 90B, 96 and 99 (selected chapters)
• SMACNA HVAC Duct Construction Standards, Fibrous Glass Duct Construction Standards, and Energy Systems Analysis and Management
• Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology; Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Troubleshooting Handbook
• Pipefitters Handbook; Trane Ductulator
• Energy Efficient Building Construction in Florida
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926 and the Contractors Manual

Check the reference list itself for editions and which items may be brought in as bound PDFs.

Exam volume

Pearson VUE exam performance reports show 194 graded mechanical trade attempts in 2025, of which 132 were first attempts, with a 48% first-time pass rate state-wide. That is lower than the Business and Finance first-time rate of 56% the same year.

Steps to licensure

1. Confirm your experience route under 489.111 and gather documentation.
2. Register for the exams through Professional Testing, Inc. ($135 registration fee per the DBPR application package).
3. Schedule Business and Finance and the trade exam with Pearson VUE ($80 each).
4. Pass both parts with 70% or higher.
5. Apply to the CILB with proof of financial responsibility, insurance, workers' compensation coverage or exemption, and fingerprints.

FAQ

Can a mechanical contractor install gas piping inside a building? Yes. 489.105(3)(i) expressly includes liquefied petroleum gas lines and natural gas fuel lines within buildings. Gas mains and service lines up to the meter fall under the separate gas line specialty.

Is the mechanical exam the same as the Class A exam? No. Both have 130 questions and 7.5 hours, but they are separate exams with separate content outlines. The mechanical outline adds mechanical systems and equipment areas.

Does a mechanical contractor need a plumbing license for potable water? The statute excludes potable water lines and sanitary sewer lines from the mechanical scope. That work belongs to a plumbing contractor.

Do I still take Business and Finance? Yes. Every CILB Division II license requires it.

Get ready for Business and Finance

The trade exam is the specialist part. The other half is the same 120-question Business and Finance exam every contractor takes. Our Florida Business and Finance Exam Prep covers it, and a mechanical trade course is in development.