StateLicensed

HVAC Technician License Requirements in Maryland

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
6000 hrs
Upfront cost
$175
Exam
HVACR Journeyman Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Maryland Department of Labor

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. Applicants must disclose any felony or misdemeanor criminal conviction and provide court documentation; the Board weighs the nature of the crime and its relationship to licensed HVACR activities when evaluating the application. No minimum age is stated in the Board's FAQ or licensing-requirements pages. [4]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 6000 hours of training. The Board's current Licensing Requirements page (citing Business Regulation Article 9A, Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 09.15) states a Journeyman applicant must have been licensed as an apprentice for at least 4 years and completed at least 6,000 hours of training providing HVACR services under a licensed HVACR contractor. Note: PSI's own Candidate Information Bulletin (the exam vendor's official eligibility summary, which may not be fully current) instead describes 3 years/1,875 hours as an apprentice — this record follows the Board's own current licensing-requirements page per the rule to prefer the more authoritative/current official source when two official documents disagree, with the conflict noted here for transparency. A Board-approved Apprenticeship program is one qualifying route but not the only one, so approvedProgramRequired is false. [1]

  3. 3

    HVACR Journeyman Examination

    Pass the HVACR Journeyman Examination (fee: $150). Open-book (candidates may bring unmarked, unannotated reference books; no study guides), computer-based; 100 questions, 240-minute time limit, 70% minimum passing score. Examination fees are valid for 90 days and are non-refundable and non-transferable. Per PSI's Candidate Information Bulletin, exam eligibility requires 3 years as a licensed apprentice with 1,875 hours of training (or equivalent per Section 2/3 alternatives) — see the training fact group for the discrepancy with the Board's separately published 4-year/6,000-hour licensing-requirements page. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Maryland Department of Labor. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Maryland Department of Labor issues your Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) Journeyman License for Maryland.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] None specified
License fee [3] $25
Renewal fee [3] $25
HVACR Journeyman Examination [2] $150
Master Contractor license fee (for comparison; not the journeyman tier) [3] $94.5
Apprentice license fee [3] $12

The Board's fee regulation (COMAR .03 Fees and Costs, effective July 1, 2025) sets a single nonrefundable $25 fee for the Journeyman license; the same figure applies at both initial licensure and renewal, so application is recorded null since Maryland doesn't itemize a separate application charge apart from this license fee.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 0 continuing education hours required per cycle.

All Maryland HVACR licenses (apprentice through master) are valid for 2 years. The Board does not require continuing education for renewal.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Maryland has reciprocal licensing agreements specifically with Delaware and Virginia (not a multi-state compact). An individual licensed in one of those two states who meets Maryland's equivalency requirements (proof of 3 years as a licensed HVACR apprentice and 3 years of experience under a licensed Master/Master Restricted HVACR contractor) can be licensed in Maryland without taking the Maryland exam.

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

Cost calculator

  • $25
  • $150
Total$175

Frequently asked questions

Does Maryland license individual HVAC technicians, or only contractors?

Maryland licenses HVACR work at every level: Apprentice, Journeyman, Journeyman Restricted, Limited Contractor, Master Restricted, and Master, all through the Board of HVACR Contractors. The Journeyman license is the base credential for someone providing HVACR services under a licensed Master contractor's direction.

How much experience do I need to become a Journeyman?

The Board's licensing-requirements page states 4 years as a licensed apprentice with at least 6,000 hours of training under a licensed HVACR contractor, plus passing the journeyman exam with a 70% score.

Who administers the journeyman exam and what does it cost?

PSI Examination Services, under contract with the Board. The exam costs $150, is open-book, and consists of 100 questions with a 240-minute time limit and a 70% passing score.

Does Maryland have reciprocity with other states?

Yes, but only with Delaware and Virginia. If you're licensed in one of those states and meet Maryland's experience-equivalency requirements, you can skip the Maryland exam.

Is continuing education required to renew?

No. Maryland HVACR licenses renew every 2 years, and the Board does not require continuing education hours for renewal.

Sources

  1. [1] labor.maryland.gov/license/hvacr/hvacrlicreq.shtml — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] labor.maryland.gov/license/hvacr/hvacrcandidateinfobulletin.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] labor.maryland.gov/license/hvacr/hvacraff.shtml — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] labor.maryland.gov/license/hvacr/hvacrlicfaqs.shtml — accessed 2026-07-12