HVAC Technician License Requirements in District of Columbia
- Training hours
- 8000 hrs
- Upfront cost
- —
- Exam
- Journeyman and Master Refrigeration/Air-Conditioning Mechanic Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades, Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP, formerly DCRA) - Occupational and Professional Licensing
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. DLCP's official application-instructions document lists required items (photo, government-issued ID, Certificate of Completion, Employment Verification Letter) but does not specify a minimum age or a criminal background check as part of the Refrigeration/Air-Conditioning licensure process. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 8000 hours of training. Per DLCP's official Refrigeration/Air-Conditioning License (Limited and Regular) Application Instructions, licenses are offered at the Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master tiers, plus a 'Limited' scope for equipment at or below 25 compressor horsepower. To sit for the Journeyman exam, an applicant needs 3 years' experience (documented via employment verification letters and CFC Universal Certification); the journeyman exam can instead be waived entirely with proof of completion of a nationally-certified apprenticeship program, which DLCP defines as including classroom work plus 8,000+ hours (about 4 years) of on-the-job training under a master's supervision. To sit for the Master exam, an applicant needs 5 years' experience under a master, documented similarly. approvedProgramRequired is false because both the exam route (experience letters) and the waiver route (apprenticeship completion) are accepted. [1]
- 3
Journeyman and Master Refrigeration/Air-Conditioning Mechanic Examination
Pass the Journeyman and Master Refrigeration/Air-Conditioning Mechanic Examination. Open-book exam administered electronically at the DLCP Examination Unit, 1100 4th Street SW, Suite E500, Washington, DC 20024; recommended study references are the International Mechanical Code (2012) and Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (2004) DLCP's official application-instructions PDF confirms the exam is administered directly by the agency (DCRA Examination Unit) rather than a third-party vendor like PSI or Pearson VUE, and does not publish a dollar exam fee. Applicants who complete a nationally-certified apprenticeship program may waive the journeyman-level exam. [1]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades, Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP, formerly DCRA) - Occupational and Professional Licensing. [2]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades, Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP, formerly DCRA) - Occupational and Professional Licensing issues your Journeyman Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Mechanic License for District of Columbia.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [2] | None specified |
| License fee [2] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [2] | None specified |
| Journeyman and Master Refrigeration/Air-Conditioning Mechanic Examination [1] | None specified |
DLCP's official Refrigeration/Air-Conditioning License Application Instructions document does not list dollar fee amounts for the application, exam, or license (it only instructs applicants to bring a 'debit or credit card to pay application, exam or license fees'). No official DLCP fee-schedule page or PDF listing specific dollar amounts for this license could be located as of this research; unofficial aggregator sites cite approximate figures (e.g. ~$65 application / ~$110 license) that are not confirmed against an official DLCP source, so all three fee fields are recorded as null rather than guessed. Applicants should confirm current fees directly with DLCP or during online application at govservices.dcra.dc.gov.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
Per DLCP's official application-instructions document, refrigeration/air-conditioning licenses (regardless of when issued) expire September 30 of even-numbered years. That same official document does not mention any continuing-education requirement for renewal, so ceHours is recorded as null (no CE hours are indicated as required).
Reciprocity
No reciprocity or endorsement route was found.
DLCP's official Refrigeration/Air-Conditioning License Application Instructions document does not describe a reciprocity or endorsement pathway for out-of-state journeyman or master refrigeration/air-conditioning licensees; the only documented paths to licensure are by examination (with the required years of supervised experience) or by apprenticeship-completion waiver of the journeyman exam. No interstate compact covers this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What HVAC license does DC issue?
The DC Board of Industrial Trades, under DLCP (formerly DCRA), issues Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Mechanic licenses, plus a Limited scope covering equipment at or below 25 compressor horsepower.
How much experience do I need to sit for the DC Journeyman exam?
3 years of documented experience, verified by employment letters signed off by a licensed master and supported by a CFC Universal Certification. The journeyman exam can be waived entirely with proof of completing a nationally-certified apprenticeship program (classroom work plus 8,000+ hours / about 4 years of OJT under a master).
How much experience do I need for the DC Master license?
5 years of experience under a licensed master, documented via tax records, CFC Universal Certification, and an employment verification letter.
Who administers the DC refrigeration/air-conditioning exam?
DLCP's own Examination Unit administers the exam directly (it is open-book), rather than contracting it out to a third-party vendor like PSI or Pearson VUE.
When does a DC refrigeration/air-conditioning license expire?
All licenses expire September 30 of even-numbered years, regardless of when they were originally issued.
Sources
- [1] dlcp.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/DLCP/publication/attachments/Refrigeration%20and%20Air%20Conditioning.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
- [2] dlcp.dc.gov/RefrigerationAirConditioning1Pager — accessed 2026-07-12