Alabama HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical License Requirements
Last updated 2026. Requirements may change — always verify with your state licensing board.
- Renewal
- Annual — expires September 30
- CE hours
- No state-mandated CE for HVAC renewal
- Initial cost
- $340 (exam $150 + license $190)
- License types
- Heating & AC Contractor, Refrigeration Contractor
- Experience
- 2 years (3,000 hours) supervised experience
- Exam
- Trade exam + Business & Law exam (PSI administered, 70% passing score)
- Bond
- $15,000 performance bond required
- Insurance
- General liability required; workers' comp required with 1+ employees
- Reciprocity
- Reciprocity with Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, Ohio, and West Virginia — trade exam may be waived
- Board
- Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors
- Website
- hacr.alabama.gov
- Notes
- Separate boards for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical. HVAC apprentice registration not required at state level but recommended.
- Renewal
- Annual — expires September 30
- CE hours
- 6 CE hours per renewal
- Initial cost
- $200–$350 depending on license type
- License types
- Journeyman Plumber, Master Plumber, Plumbing Contractor
- Experience
- 4 years (8,000 hours) for journeyman; 1 additional year as journeyman for master
- Exam
- Trade exam required for each level (PSI, 70% passing)
- Bond
- Not required at state level
- Insurance
- General liability required; workers' comp with 1+ employees
- Reciprocity
- Limited — evaluated case by case
- Board
- Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board
- Website
- www.pgfeb.alabama.gov
- Notes
- Gas fitter license also issued by this board. Separate exam for gas work.
- Renewal
- Biennial — expires July 15 of even years
- CE hours
- 12 CE hours per 2-year renewal
- Initial cost
- $210 contractor / $190 journeyman-master
- License types
- Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, Electrical Contractor
- Experience
- 8,000 hours (4 years) for journeyman; additional 4 years supervisory for contractor
- Exam
- Trade exam + Business & Law exam (PSI, 70% passing)
- Bond
- Not required at state level
- Insurance
- Workers' comp required with 1+ employees
- Reciprocity
- Reciprocity with Texas (expanded March 2026) and Arkansas (master electrician, January 2026)
- Board
- Alabama Electrical Contractors Board
- Website
- aecb.alabama.gov
- Notes
- Alabama expanded electrician reciprocity significantly in 2026. Verify current agreements with the board.
Alabama regulates trade contractors through three separate licensing boards — one each for HVAC, plumbing/gas fitting, and electrical work. Unlike states that consolidate under a single contractors board, Alabama's split structure means you may need to interact with multiple agencies if your business covers more than one trade.
All three boards require passing a trade-specific exam plus a business and law exam. Exams are administered by PSI Services with a 70% passing score. Alabama is notably contractor-friendly on reciprocity — HVAC contractors licensed in Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, Ohio, or West Virginia may qualify for trade exam waivers. Alabama also expanded electrical reciprocity with Texas and Arkansas in early 2026.
A key detail many contractors miss: Alabama's HVAC board requires a $15,000 performance bond in addition to the license. Factor this into your startup costs. Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory for any business with one or more employees across all three trades.
TradesIQ automatically tracks your Alabama license renewal dates, sends reminders before expiration, and stores your CE completion records — so you never risk a lapse.
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Renewal cycles, CE hours, fees, and licensing board links.
Alabama
Full Alabama guide →- Renewal
- Annual — expires September 30
- CE
- No state-mandated CE for HVAC renewal
- Cost
- $340 (exam $150 + license $190)
- Board
- Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors
- Website
- hacr.alabama.gov
- Renewal
- Annual — expires September 30
- CE
- 6 CE hours per renewal
- Cost
- $200–$350 depending on license type
- Board
- Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board
- Website
- www.pgfeb.alabama.gov
- Renewal
- Biennial — expires July 15 of even years
- CE
- 12 CE hours per 2-year renewal
- Cost
- $210 contractor / $190 journeyman-master
- Board
- Alabama Electrical Contractors Board
- Website
- aecb.alabama.gov
Requirements may change. Always verify with your state licensing board.