StateLicensed

HVAC Technician License Requirements in Kentucky

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
3000 hrs
Upfront cost
$150
Exam
Journeyman HVAC Mechanic Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 1 year
Issuing board
Kentucky Division of HVAC, Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC), Public Protection Cabinet

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. The Journeyman HVAC Mechanic application requires the applicant to certify they are 18 years of age or older, and asks whether the applicant has ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor in Kentucky, another state, or federally — a conviction may affect eligibility and is reviewed by the Licensing Branch, though this is a disclosure-and-review process rather than an automated fingerprint background check. [3]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 3000 hours of training. Kentucky requires 3,000 hours of HVAC work experience over 2 years under a licensed Master HVAC Contractor (1,500 hours = one year of qualifying experience, per 815 KAR 8:010), OR 4 years of experience in a jurisdiction that did not require licensing. Completion of an approved HVAC education program (e.g. a KCTCS college program) can substitute for up to 1,500 of the 3,000 required hours, but a formal program is not itself mandatory — hence approvedProgramRequired is false. [1]

  3. 3

    Journeyman HVAC Mechanic Examination

    Pass the Journeyman HVAC Mechanic Examination (fee: $50). Open-book, computer-based exam; 60 questions, 3 hours, covering General Knowledge, Systems & Sizing, Equipment, Piping, Refrigeration Systems, Electrical, Maintenance, and Plan Reading/Estimating/Math. 815 KAR 8:010 sets the statutory, non-refundable examination fee at $50 for a journeyman. Note: Prov, Inc.'s own 2023 Candidate Information Bulletin lists a current per-exam charge of $80 for all HVAC exams it administers (Journeyman, Journeyman Spanish, and Master) — higher than the $50 statutory figure, which is recorded here per the rule to prefer the statute when statute and current practice disagree. A passing score (70%+) is valid for 3 years. [1]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Kentucky Division of HVAC, Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC), Public Protection Cabinet with the $50 application fee. [1]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Kentucky Division of HVAC, Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC), Public Protection Cabinet issues your Journeyman HVAC Mechanic License for Kentucky.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] $50
License fee [1] $50
Renewal fee [1] $50
Journeyman HVAC Mechanic Examination [1] $50
Restoration of an expired journeyman license [1] $25
Master HVAC Contractor initial/renewal license fee (for comparison; not the journeyman tier) [1] $250

The journeyman license fee is $50 for a 12-month license, but is prorated between $29.17 and $75.00 for an initial application depending on how the applicant's birth month lines up with the application date (initial licenses run 7-18 months to align renewal with the licensee's birth month); $50/year applies once on the birth-month renewal cycle. application and license are recorded as the same $50 base figure since Kentucky does not separately itemize an 'application' charge apart from the prorated initial license fee.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 1 year. 6 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Journeyman HVAC licenses renew annually, tied to the licensee's birth month. Continuing education is governed by 815 KAR 2:010; HVAC is not listed among the trades with a specialized CE hour count (building inspectors, electrical inspectors, elevator mechanics, certified installers each have their own figure), so the general default of 6 hours of approved continuing education per year applies.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

815 KAR 8:010, Section 3 provides for reciprocity: an applicant must comply with the requirements of the specific reciprocity agreement between Kentucky and the state in which they are already licensed. The Journeyman application form itself has a checkbox for 'Reciprocity: Include letter of standing from state licensing board' as an alternative to submitting an official examination result report. This is state-by-state reciprocity, not a multi-state compact.

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

Cost calculator

  • $50
  • $50
  • $50
Total$150

Frequently asked questions

Does Kentucky license individual HVAC technicians, or only contractors?

Both. Kentucky licenses HVAC work through three credentials: HVAC Apprentice (registration only), Journeyman HVAC Mechanic (the base license for someone installing/servicing HVAC systems under a Master), and Master HVAC Contractor (who can own and supervise an HVAC business).

How much experience do I need to become a Journeyman?

3,000 hours of HVAC work (2 years) under a licensed Master HVAC Contractor, or 4 years of experience in a state that didn't require licensing. Approved HVAC coursework can count for up to 1,500 of those hours.

Who administers the Journeyman exam and how much does it cost?

Prov, Inc. administers the exam under contract with the Division of HVAC. The statutory examination fee set in 815 KAR 8:010 is $50, though Prov's own current candidate bulletin lists an $80 charge for the same exam.

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

Yes, through Kentucky's state-by-state reciprocity process — you must comply with the specific reciprocity agreement between Kentucky and your licensing state and submit a letter of standing from that state's board.

How often do I need to renew, and is continuing education required?

Journeyman licenses renew annually on your birth month, with 6 hours of approved continuing education required each year (per 815 KAR 2:010's general default for trades without a specialized CE requirement).

Sources

  1. [1] apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/titles/815/008/010/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/titles/815/002/010/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] dhbc.ky.gov/Documents/HVAC%202%20-%20Journeyman%20Application.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12