StateLicensed

HVAC Technician License Requirements in Connecticut

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
8000 hrs
Upfront cost
$90
Exam
S-2 Unlimited Heating, Piping and Cooling Journeyperson Trade Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 1 year
Issuing board
Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) - Heating, Piping, Cooling and Sheet Metal Work Examining Board

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. DCP's official application-path pages for the S-2 Journeyperson license do not publish a minimum age or a background-check requirement; the listed requirements are proof of apprenticeship completion (or equivalent OJT + classroom training) and passing the PSI trade exam. Applicants must submit notarized employer letters and classroom transcripts/diplomas/certificates as documentation. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 8000 hours of training. Per DCP's Heating, Cooling & Sheet Metal License Application Path - Journeyperson page, the S-2 Unlimited Heating, Piping and Cooling Journeyperson license requires proof of 8,000 hours of on-the-job training plus 576 hours of related classroom instruction. Applicants qualify either by (1) a Letter of Apprenticeship Completion issued by the CT Dept. of Labor, or (2) notarized employer letters documenting equivalent OJT/work experience plus transcripts/diplomas/certificates proving the classroom-hour requirement was met elsewhere (OJT time cannot substitute for the classroom-hour requirement). approvedProgramRequired is recorded as false because DCP explicitly accepts this equivalent-experience-and-training pathway alongside formal apprenticeship completion. The S-1 Unlimited Heating, Piping and Cooling Contractor tier additionally requires 2 years as a properly licensed journeyperson (or equivalent) before applying; individuals typically hold the S-2 journeyperson license first. [1]

  3. 3

    S-2 Unlimited Heating, Piping and Cooling Journeyperson Trade Examination

    Pass the S-2 Unlimited Heating, Piping and Cooling Journeyperson Trade Examination. Computer-based exam at PSI testing centers (West Hartford and Milford, CT, plus other PSI locations nationwide); references may be brought into the exam room if tabbed and highlighted DCP's PSI Examination Services application-instructions document confirms PSI as the trade-exam administrator but does not publish the exam fee on the DCP site -- candidates pay PSI directly at registration (contact PSI at 1-800-733-9267 or psiexams.com for current pricing). Exam topics include insulation, hangers/supports, heating and cooling principles, refrigerants, controls, a/c and heat pump equipment, furnaces/heaters, hydronics, fuel gas systems, ducts, chillers, ventilation, oil burners, and boilers. Contractor-tier (S-1) applicants must additionally pass the separate Connecticut Business & Law Examination, also administered by PSI. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) - Heating, Piping, Cooling and Sheet Metal Work Examining Board with the $90 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) - Heating, Piping, Cooling and Sheet Metal Work Examining Board issues your S-2 Unlimited Heating, Piping and Cooling Journeyperson for Connecticut.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $90
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $120
S-2 Unlimited Heating, Piping and Cooling Journeyperson Trade Examination [2] None specified

Per DCP's Heating, Cooling and Sheet Metal Work Licenses page: Journeyperson application fee is $90.00 (non-refundable) and the Journeyperson renewal fee is $120.00; a separate itemized 'license' fee is not published beyond the application fee. Contractor (S-1) application fee is $150.00 with a $150.00 renewal fee. Exam fees are paid separately to PSI and are not set by DCP.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 1 year.

All heating, cooling and sheet metal work licenses expire annually on August 31st, per DCP's Heating, Cooling Sheet Metal License Application Path - Journeyperson page. DCP's official Continuing Education for Occupational and Professional Licenses page lists CE requirements for only eight trades (architects, landscape architects, electricians, home inspectors, interior designers, plumbers, swimming pool builders, swimming pool maintainers) and does not include heating/piping/cooling/sheet metal licenses, indicating no CE hours are required to renew this license.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

DCP states plainly that 'Connecticut does not have reciprocal agreements with any other jurisdiction,' but does offer a formal equivalency pathway: out-of-state applicants can apply via the 'Heating Journeyperson - Equivalent Out of State License' path by showing their out-of-state license required at least the same 576 classroom hours and 8,000 OJT hours as the Connecticut S-2 license, or via the 'Equivalent Experience and Training' path by documenting comparable schooling and on-the-job training against a CT Department of Labor apprentice's requirements. This is an individualized equivalency evaluation, not automatic endorsement.

4 state-approved training providers in Connecticut — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $90
Total$90

Frequently asked questions

What is the primary individual HVAC license in Connecticut?

The S-2 Unlimited Heating, Piping and Cooling Journeyperson license, issued by the CT Department of Consumer Protection (DCP), covers all heating, piping, and cooling work under state statute. After 2 years as a licensed journeyperson, technicians can apply for the S-1 Unlimited Contractor license.

How much training does Connecticut require for the S-2 Journeyperson license?

576 hours of related classroom instruction plus 8,000 hours of on-the-job training, typically completed through a CT Department of Labor registered apprenticeship (about 4 years) or an equivalent documented experience-and-training pathway.

Who administers the Connecticut heating/cooling trade exam?

PSI Services LLC, under contract with DCP. The exam fee is paid directly to PSI at registration, not to DCP.

Does Connecticut require continuing education to renew an S-2 or S-1 license?

No. DCP's official continuing-education list covers eight other trades (architects, electricians, plumbers, etc.) but does not include heating, piping, cooling, or sheet metal licenses, so no CE hours are required.

Can I transfer an out-of-state HVAC license to Connecticut?

Connecticut does not have blanket reciprocity agreements with other states, but DCP offers an equivalency pathway: if your out-of-state license required at least 576 classroom hours and 8,000 OJT hours (matching CT's S-2 requirement), you can apply using that license as equivalent proof rather than retaking the full apprenticeship.

Sources

  1. [1] portal.ct.gov/dcp/license-services-division/all-license-applications/heating-cooling-sheet-metal-license-application-path---journeyperson — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] portal.ct.gov/-/media/DCP/occpro/Application-instructions-document-3-27-18.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] portal.ct.gov/dcp/license-services-division/all-license-applications/heating-cooling-and-sheet-metal-work-licenses — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] portal.ct.gov/dcp/occupational-and-professional-division/occupational--profess/continuing-education-for-occupational-and-professional-licenses — accessed 2026-07-12
  5. [5] portal.ct.gov/dcp/license-services-division/all-license-applications/heating-journeyperson---equivalent-out-of-state-license — accessed 2026-07-12