StateLicensed

HVAC Technician License Requirements in Washington

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
4000 hrs
Upfront cost
$179.6
Exam
06A HVAC/Refrigeration Specialty Electrician Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 3 years
Issuing board
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Electrical Section

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 16 years old. L&I's electrical trainee page states applicants must have a valid Social Security number and be at least 16 years old to register as an Electrical Trainee — the entry point for accumulating the 4,000 (06A) or 2,000 (06B) hours required to sit for the HVAC/refrigeration specialty exam. No explicit criminal-history background-check requirement was found on L&I's electrician or trainee certification pages. [4]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 4000 hours of training. Washington does not have a stand-alone HVAC contractor-only regime for individuals; instead it certifies HVAC/refrigeration technicians as specialty electricians under L&I's electrical licensing system. The primary (full-scope) credential is the 06A HVAC/Refrigeration specialty, requiring 4,000 hours of supervised HVAC/refrigeration work experience (minimum 75% supervision) plus 48 hours of L&I-approved basic classroom instruction (NEC/electrical theory) before applying for the exam. Washington also offers a lower-tier 06B HVAC/Refrigeration – Restricted certificate requiring only 2,000 hours of experience plus 24 classroom hours (100% supervision until exam passage); 06B holders may not perform electrical work where the primary power connection exceeds 250 volts single-phase or 120 amps. Hours are typically earned as an L&I-certified Electrical Trainee (minimum age 16) working under a certified electrician or HVAC specialty electrician; out-of-state or military-equivalent experience can also be credited via affidavit. [1]

  3. 3

    06A HVAC/Refrigeration Specialty Electrician Examination

    Pass the 06A HVAC/Refrigeration Specialty Electrician Examination (fee: $65). Two sections taken together: NEC & Theory (2 hours) and Washington Laws & Rules/RCW & WAC (1 hour) — 3 hours total; open-book against the current NEC and WAC 296-46B; 70% required to pass each section. PSI bills per hour of exam time ($45 for 1 hour up to $105 for 7 hours); $65 is the cost of the full 3-hour 06A session. The lower-tier 06B HVAC/Refrigeration – Restricted exam is shorter (1 hour NEC & Theory + 1 hour WA Codes = 2 hours total) and costs $55. Registration/exam fees are non-refundable and valid for one year; candidates must be pre-approved by L&I before scheduling with PSI. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Electrical Section with the $114.6 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Electrical Section issues your 06A HVAC/Refrigeration Specialty Electrician Certificate for Washington.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $114.6
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $106.4
06A HVAC/Refrigeration Specialty Electrician Examination [2] $65
Late renewal, within 90 days of expiration [3] $212.9

Per L&I's official In-State Application for Electrical Examination form (used for both 06A and 06B), the exam-application fee is $114.60, of which $44.20 is nonrefundable once submitted. Per L&I's official Administrator/Electrician/Master Electrician Certificate Renewal form, on-time specialty-electrician renewal (GL 1251) is $106.40 and late renewal within 90 days is $212.90; certificates cannot be renewed once expired more than 90 days. The same application and renewal fee schedule applies to both the 06A and 06B tiers — Washington does not itemize a separate certificate-issuance fee beyond the exam application fee, so license is recorded as null.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 3 years. 24 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Specialty electrician certificates (including 06A and 06B) expire every 3 years on the holder's birthdate. Renewal requires 24 hours of continuing education, including 8 hours of code-update coursework and 4 hours on RCW/WAC (Washington electrical law and rules).

Reciprocity

No reciprocity or endorsement route was found.

Washington's only electrical reciprocity agreement is with Oregon, and it is limited to the 01 General Journey Level electrician certificate — it does not cover the 06A/06B HVAC/refrigeration specialty. Out-of-state HVAC/refrigeration technicians must apply through L&I's standard out-of-state pathway: document qualifying work-experience hours (notarized employer/contractor letters or military VMET/DD-214 records) and required classroom hours, then pass the same Washington 06A or 06B exam as in-state applicants. No interstate licensure compact covers HVAC/refrigeration technicians.

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

Cost calculator

  • $114.6
  • $65
Total$179.6

Frequently asked questions

Does Washington license individual HVAC technicians, or only HVAC contractors?

Washington certifies individual HVAC/refrigeration technicians as specialty electricians under L&I's electrical licensing system — there is no separate stand-alone HVAC technician license. The primary credential is the 06A HVAC/Refrigeration specialty electrician certificate; a lower-tier 06B HVAC/Refrigeration – Restricted certificate is also available with a smaller scope of electrical work. Businesses performing HVAC work also need a separate general contractor registration.

How many hours of experience does the 06A HVAC/Refrigeration certificate require?

4,000 hours of supervised HVAC/refrigeration work experience (minimum 75% supervision), plus 48 hours of L&I-approved basic classroom instruction. The restricted 06B tier requires only 2,000 hours plus 24 classroom hours, but limits the electrical work a technician may perform.

Who administers the Washington HVAC/refrigeration exam and what does it cost?

PSI Services LLC, under contract with L&I. The 06A exam totals 3 hours (2 hours NEC & Theory plus 1 hour Washington Laws & Rules) and costs $65; the 06B exam totals 2 hours and costs $55. A 70% passing score is required on each section.

How much does a Washington HVAC/refrigeration specialty electrician certificate cost overall?

The L&I exam-application fee is $114.60 ($44.20 nonrefundable), plus the PSI exam fee ($65 for 06A or $55 for 06B). On-time renewal is $106.40 every 3 years; late renewal within 90 days of expiration is $212.90.

Does Washington have reciprocity with other states for HVAC/refrigeration technicians?

No. Washington's reciprocity agreement with Oregon covers only the general journey-level (01) electrician certificate, not the 06A/06B HVAC/refrigeration specialty. Technicians certified elsewhere must document their experience and pass the Washington 06A or 06B exam like any other applicant.

Sources

  1. [1] lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/electrical/electrical-licensing-exams-education/electrician — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/_docs/display_bulletin.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] lni.wa.gov/forms-publications/F500-045-000.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/electrical/electrical-licensing-exams-education/electrical-trainee — accessed 2026-07-12
  5. [5] lni.wa.gov/forms-publications/F626-009-000.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12