StateLicensed

HVAC Technician License Requirements in Iowa

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$314
Exam
Iowa Journeyperson Examination — HVAC/Refrigeration
Renewal cycle
Every 3 years
Issuing board
Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board (PMSB), Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and must disclose any criminal convictions on the application; applicants with felony convictions undergo individual board review for an eligibility determination (not an automated fingerprint check, but a documented criminal-history disclosure and review process). [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. Iowa requires at least 4 years of practical experience as a registered apprentice in the HVAC/Refrigeration discipline. Since January 1, 2010, that 4-year apprenticeship must be completed through a training program registered with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship — the state does not publish a fixed classroom-hour figure, so hours is null (the requirement is expressed in years of registered apprenticeship, not instructional hours). Alternatively, an applicant holding a Master-level license in the same discipline from another jurisdiction may apply for the journeyperson license without completing Iowa's apprenticeship. [1]

  3. 3

    Iowa Journeyperson Examination — HVAC/Refrigeration

    Pass the Iowa Journeyperson Examination — HVAC/Refrigeration (fee: $99). Paid directly to Kirkwood Community College when scheduling, in addition to the Board's $35 exam-approval application fee (see fees.other). Candidates must first obtain an Exam Approval Letter from PMSB; eligibility to sit is valid for 1 year from approval. Exam fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. The exam-format details (question count, time limit) are published on Kirkwood's own testing site rather than the Board's. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board (PMSB), Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) with the $35 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board (PMSB), Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) issues your HVAC/Refrigeration Journeyperson License for Iowa.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $35
License fee [3] $180
Renewal fee [3] $180
Iowa Journeyperson Examination — HVAC/Refrigeration [2] $99
Paper application fee (in addition to online filing) [3] $25

The $35 application fee is PMSB's exam-approval application fee (per trade discipline), paid before the Kirkwood exam can be scheduled. The $180 Journeyperson license fee shown is for the Jul 1–Dec 31 portion of the 3-year license period; DIAL prorates the fee based on when in the 3-year cycle the license is issued, so the effective cost varies by application date. The $180 on-time renewal fee applies to the full 3-year cycle.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 3 years. 8 continuing education hours required per cycle.

All PMSB individual licenses run on a 3-year cycle. HVAC/Refrigeration Journeyperson renewal requires 8 continuing-education hours per cycle: 2 hours mechanical code, 4 hours HVAC/R discipline content, and 2 hours safety (Iowa OSHA-related). At least half of the required hours must be completed in person; up to half may be completed online.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Iowa does not participate in a multi-state compact for HVAC/mechanical licensing, but does allow endorsement: an applicant who holds an active Master-level license in the HVAC/Refrigeration discipline from another jurisdiction may apply for an Iowa Journeyperson license without completing Iowa's 4-year apprenticeship or passing the Iowa journeyperson exam.

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

Cost calculator

  • $35
  • $180
  • $99
Total$314

Frequently asked questions

Does Iowa license individual HVAC technicians, or only contractors?

Iowa licenses HVAC/Refrigeration work at every level: Apprentice, Journeyperson, Master, and Contractor, all through the Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board. The Journeyperson license is the base credential for someone performing HVAC installation and repair work under a licensed Master.

How much experience do I need to become a Journeyperson?

At least 4 years as a registered apprentice. Since January 1, 2010, that apprenticeship must be through a program registered with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship.

Who administers the journeyperson exam and what does it cost?

Kirkwood Community College administers the exam under contract with the Board. There's a $35 exam-approval application fee paid to the Board, plus a separate $99 exam fee paid directly to Kirkwood.

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

If you hold an active Master-level license in the same discipline from another jurisdiction, you can apply for an Iowa Journeyperson license without repeating the 4-year apprenticeship or exam.

What continuing education is required to renew?

8 hours per 3-year license cycle: 2 hours of mechanical code, 4 hours of HVAC/R discipline training, and 2 hours of safety. At least half the hours must be taken in person.

Sources

  1. [1] dial.iowa.gov/licenses/building/plumbing-mechanical/plumbing-licensure-2 — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] dial.iowa.gov/licenses/building/plumbing-mechanical/plumbing-licensure/examination — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] dial.iowa.gov/licenses/building/plumbing-mechanical/plumbing-licensure/licensing-period-fees — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] dial.iowa.gov/licenses/building/plumbing-mechanical/plumbing-licensure/pmsb-continuing-education-training — accessed 2026-07-12