StateLicensed

HVAC Technician License Requirements in Minnesota

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$100
Exam
—
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), Construction Codes and Licensing Division

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. No individual exam, education, minimum age, or state background check applies — the only statewide requirement is a $25,000 surety bond filed by the contracting business, obtained from a surety company licensed to do business in Minnesota. Individual workers should check with their city (Minneapolis and St. Paul, for example, require local competency cards or trade licenses) since DLI does not regulate individuals directly. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete the required training. Minnesota does not license individual HVAC/mechanical technicians and sets no state training-hour or approved-program requirement. Any business contracting to perform gas piping, heating, ventilation, cooling, air conditioning, fuel-burning, or refrigeration (G/HVACR) work must instead file a $25,000 surety bond with DLI — there is no exam or coursework tied to the bond filing. Individual cities (e.g., Minneapolis, St. Paul) may require their own competency cards or licenses for workers, administered locally, not by DLI. [1]

  3. 3

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), Construction Codes and Licensing Division with the $100 application fee. [1]

  4. 4

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), Construction Codes and Licensing Division issues your Mechanical Contractor Bond Filing (business-level; no individual HVAC technician license) for Minnesota.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] $100
License fee [1] None specified
Renewal fee [1] $100

The $100 figure is DLI's bond-filing fee (valid two years), not a license fee — Minnesota issues no individual HVAC license, so there is no separate license fee. The $25,000 bond amount itself is a surety obligation purchased from a private bonding company (cost varies by applicant), not a fee paid to the state.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

The mechanical contractor bond filing is valid two years before renewal ($100 renewal fee). No continuing education is required because there is no individual technician license to renew.

Reciprocity

No reciprocity or endorsement route was found.

No individual HVAC technician license exists at the state level to reciprocate or endorse. The bond must be filed with a surety company licensed in Minnesota regardless of the applicant's prior state history; DLI's bond guidance makes no mention of reciprocity with other states.

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

Cost calculator

  • $100
Total$100

Frequently asked questions

Does Minnesota require a state license to work as an HVAC technician?

No. DLI does not issue an individual HVAC/mechanical technician license. Businesses that contract for G/HVACR (gas, heating, ventilation, cooling, refrigeration) work must instead file a $25,000 surety bond with DLI.

What does the mechanical contractor bond cost?

DLI charges a $100 filing fee (bond valid for two years), separate from the bond premium the business pays its surety company. There is no state exam or education requirement tied to the filing.

How often does the bond filing need to be renewed?

Every two years, for a $100 renewal fee, via a continuation certificate from the surety.

Do individual HVAC technicians need any city-level credential?

Possibly — cities such as Minneapolis and St. Paul require their own local competency cards or trade licenses for individual workers. These are issued by the city, not DLI, so requirements vary by jurisdiction.

Is there a state exam for HVAC/mechanical work in Minnesota?

No. Minnesota's mechanical contractor bond filing has no associated examination — unlike Minnesota's electrician and plumber licenses, which DLI does license and examine directly.

Sources

  1. [1] dli.mn.gov/business/plumbing-contractors/mechanical-contractor-bond-requirements — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] mn.gov/elicense/a-z/ — accessed 2026-07-12