Can a Felon Become an HVAC Technician in Florida?
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What HVAC pay looks like in Florida
Before anything else, here are the numbers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OES, May 2025), an HVAC technician in Florida earns a median of $56,670. For comparison, a welder earns a median of $50,640 in the same data set.
- HVAC technician: $56,670 median pay — BLS OES, May 2025
- Welder: $50,640 median pay — BLS OES, May 2025
These are wage figures only. They are not a promise that you will be hired, and they do not account for your local employer's own rules.
The certificate that opens the door: EPA 608
To work on refrigerants in HVAC systems, technicians typically need EPA 608 certification. According to the material provided, this is an open-book test with no background check.
That fact applies specifically to the EPA 608 exam. It does not mean every employer, every training program, or every other license in the HVAC field skips a background check. Confirm directly with the training provider and with any employer you apply to.
Florida law on convictions and state licenses
Florida Statute 112.011 spells out when a conviction can and cannot be used to deny a state license. That means a felony conviction is not an automatic bar under Florida law — but the statute has specific conditions, and this page does not summarize all of them for you.
- Read the statute yourself: Fla. Stat. § 112.011
- Confirm your specific situation with the licensing board before you apply — not after.
What we don't know
The material given does not say whether HVAC licensing in Florida (beyond the EPA 608 exam) involves a background check. It does not list every employer's hiring policy. It does not guarantee openings or wages in any specific city. Treat every number here as a general figure, not a personal guarantee.
This is not legal or professional advice
Nothing on this page is legal advice, medical advice, or tax advice. Always confirm your specific case with a licensed attorney and with the relevant state licensing agency before you make a decision about training, applying, or disclosing a conviction.
What to do next
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