HVAC Technician License Requirements in Rhode Island
- Training hours
- 4000 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $75
- Exam
- Mechanical Trade (Refrigeration) Journeyperson Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Division of Professional Regulation -- Board of Examiners of Mechanical
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 18 years old. An apprentice must be at least 18 years old, sponsored (employed) by a licensed Master Contractor, and work under the direct supervision of a licensed Master or Journeyperson. No criminal background check requirement was found in the reviewed regulation or application materials for this trade. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 4000 hours of training at a state-approved program. Refrigeration Journeyperson Class II (Limited) is the base entry tier: minimum 4,000 hours of on-the-job training plus 288 hours of trade-related schooling, completed as a properly registered apprentice ('Ap-R', indentured to a Master Refrigeration Technician) in a Rhode Island DLT-approved apprenticeship program. Two years of accredited schooling may be deducted from the apprenticeship. The advanced Journeyperson Class I tier (unlimited) requires 10,000 hours OJT plus 144 hours/year of schooling; Refrigeration Master Class I and II are business-level, self-employable tiers built on top of Journeyperson experience. [1]
- 3
Mechanical Trade (Refrigeration) Journeyperson Examination
Pass the Mechanical Trade (Refrigeration) Journeyperson Examination. Written examination administered by the Professional Regulation Unit after application approval; non-English language accommodation available on request The $75 is a non-refundable application/exam processing fee per the official Mechanical Trade application packet (covers pipefitter, refrigeration, sheet metal, and fire protection sprinkler fitter exams). A separate license-issuance fee applies after passing; the published fee schedule tabulates 2-year license fees for Master and several limited/gas-service tiers (for example, Refrigeration Master 1: $240; Refrigeration Master 2: $96) but does not clearly itemize a distinct fee for the Refrigeration Journeyperson Class II tier specifically, so that figure is not asserted here. Fee recorded as null here to avoid double-counting the same charge twice in this record's upfront-cost total: the $75 is a combined application/examination fee and is already counted under the application fee. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Division of Professional Regulation -- Board of Examiners of Mechanical with the $75 application fee. [2]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Division of Professional Regulation -- Board of Examiners of Mechanical issues your Refrigeration Technician (Mechanical Trade) Journeyperson Class II - Limited License for Rhode Island.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [2] | $75 |
| License fee [2] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [2] | None specified |
| Mechanical Trade (Refrigeration) Journeyperson Examination [2] | None specified |
| Refrigeration Master Class I (2-year license, for comparison) [2] | $240 |
| Refrigeration Master Class II (2-year license, for comparison) [2] | $96 |
| Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board (CRLB) business registration [2] | $150 |
The $75 non-refundable application/exam processing fee is confirmed for the Mechanical Trade (which covers Refrigeration) application. The Journeyperson Class II license-issuance fee itself is not separately itemized in the published fee schedule (which explicitly lists 2-year fees for Master-tier and several limited gas-service classifications but not for base Journeyperson refrigeration/pipefitter tiers), so it is recorded as null rather than estimated. Contractors (businesses) performing mechanical/HVAC work must also separately register with the RI Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board (CRLB) for $150, in addition to holding the individual trade license.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
The published fee schedule lists a '2 Year License Fee' for every mechanical trade classification, indicating a standard two-year renewal cycle. No continuing-education hour requirement for mechanical/refrigeration trade licenses was found in the pages reviewed (the DLT site publishes continuing-education provider forms for plumbers and electricians, but none specific to the mechanical/refrigeration trades), so ceHours is recorded as null rather than assumed.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
An applicant holding a valid out-of-state Refrigeration Journeyperson Class II license (with an official license verification from that state) may be tested for the comparable Rhode Island license. If the applicant's home state does not offer a comparable Refrigeration Journeyperson Class II license, a notarized resume showing five years' experience as a Refrigeration Journeyperson may substitute -- but the Rhode Island exam is still required in either case. No interstate compact covers HVAC/refrigeration licensing.
1 state-approved training provider in Rhode Island — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $75
Frequently asked questions
What is the base HVAC/refrigeration technician license in Rhode Island?
Refrigeration Technician Journeyperson Class II (Limited License) -- the entry trade-license tier, requiring 4,000 hours of on-the-job training plus 288 hours of trade-related schooling as a registered apprentice sponsored by a licensed Master Contractor.
Who licenses HVAC/refrigeration technicians in Rhode Island?
The RI Department of Labor and Training, Division of Professional Regulation, through the Board of Examiners of Mechanical (part of the Bureau of Pipefitters, Refrigeration Technicians, Sprinklerfitters, Sheet Metal Workers and Oil Heat Contractors).
Are there higher license tiers above Journeyperson Class II?
Yes. Journeyperson Class I is the unlimited tier (10,000 hours OJT plus 144 hours/year of schooling), and Refrigeration Master Class I and Class II are business-level, self-employable tiers requiring one to three years as a Journeyperson plus additional Board review.
Do HVAC contractors need anything besides the individual trade license?
Yes -- businesses performing mechanical/HVAC contracting work must also register separately with the Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board (CRLB), which requires a 5-hour pre-registration course, a $150 registration fee, and proof of general liability (and, if hiring employees, workers' compensation) insurance.
Can an out-of-state refrigeration technician transfer their license to Rhode Island?
Yes -- holders of a comparable out-of-state Refrigeration Journeyperson Class II license (verified by the issuing state) can apply to test for the Rhode Island license; without a comparable out-of-state license, five years' documented experience can substitute, but the Rhode Island exam must still be passed.
Sources
- [1] rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/Part/260-30-15-2 — accessed 2026-07-11
- [2] dlt.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur571/files/2025-07/Mechanical%20Trade%20App%201.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11