How to become an HVAC technician in Tennessee
Licensing details from the official agency pages, updated November 11, 2026. Confirm current fees with the agency before you apply.
1. Tennessee licensing: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors
- A contractor license is required for projects of $25,000 or more when acting as a prime contractor, and for HVAC subcontractors when their portion of the project is $25,000 or more including materials, equipment and labor. Rules for smaller jobs are generally set locally.
Official sources: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors: contractor license.
2. Federal EPA Section 608 certification
In every state, 40 CFR 82.161 requires technicians who could reasonably be expected to violate the integrity of a refrigerant circuit to pass an EPA-approved exam. See our EPA 608 guide.
3. Training: 34 HVAC schools in Tennessee
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says HVAC programs at technical schools and community colleges generally last 6 months to 2 years, and apprenticeships usually last several years with paid on-the-job training (search apprenticeship.gov).
Tennessee schools with the most HVAC programs:
- William R Moore College of Technology, Memphis (Associate's degree; Certificate, 12 weeks to less than 1 year; Certificate, 2 to less than 4 years)
- Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga, Chattanooga (Certificate, 1 to less than 2 years; Certificate, 12 weeks to less than 1 year)
- Remington College-Memphis Campus, Memphis (Associate's degree; Certificate, 1 to less than 2 years)
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville, Nashville (Certificate, 1 to less than 2 years; Certificate, 12 weeks to less than 1 year)
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest, Newbern (Certificate, 1 to less than 2 years; Certificate, 12 weeks to less than 1 year)
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Dickson, Dickson (Certificate, 1 to less than 2 years; Certificate, 12 weeks to less than 1 year)
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton, Elizabethton (Certificate, 1 to less than 2 years; Certificate, 12 weeks to less than 1 year)
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville, Hartsville (Certificate, 1 to less than 2 years; Certificate, 12 weeks to less than 1 year)
See all 34 HVAC schools in Tennessee, including published program prices from $5,344 to $12,595.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license to be an HVAC technician in Tennessee?
Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors handles licensing. A contractor license is required for projects of $25,000 or more when acting as a prime contractor, and for HVAC subcontractors when their portion of the project is $25,000 or more including materials, equipment and labor. Rules for smaller jobs are generally set locally. Federal EPA Section 608 certification applies in every state to anyone who handles refrigerants.
Where can I go to HVAC school in Tennessee?
34 schools in Tennessee offer HVAC programs, across 24 cities. Browse the full list on our Tennessee HVAC schools page.