- Journeyman: 3 years. Master: 5 years. Experience letters must be signed by a master.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- $5,000 refrigeration and air conditioning bond for a contractor or designated master.
- Every two years. All licenses expire September 30 of even numbered years.
Do you need a state license in the District of Columbia?
the District of Columbia licenses HVAC work at the state level through the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Board of Industrial Trades. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
the District of Columbia license types for HVAC work
the District of Columbia splits the work into 5 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Apprentice | Learning the trade, no experience needed |
| Journeyman | Refrigeration and air conditioning work |
| Master | Full refrigeration and air conditioning work, can be a contractor's designated master |
| Limited | Work on equipment at or below 25 compressor horsepower |
| Contractor | The business license, which needs a DC licensed designated master |
Steps to get licensed in the District of Columbia
- Build 3 years of experience for journeyman or 5 years for master.
- Get CFC universal certification.
- Apply online with DLCP and pay the $65 application fee.
- Schedule and pass the PSI exam.
- For your own business, apply for the contractor license with a designated master and file the $5,000 bond.
- Renew by September 30 of each even numbered year.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Journeyman: 3 years. Master: 5 years. Experience letters must be signed by a master.
The license to apply for. Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Master Mechanic (and a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractor license for the business).
the District of Columbia HVAC exams
Trade exam. Yes. Journeyman and master exams are open book and scheduled through PSI. Finishing a nationally certified apprenticeship can waive the journeyman exam only.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Separate from any state license, the EPA requires Section 608 certification for anyone who works on equipment with refrigerant. It is federal and applies in every state.
What it costs in the District of Columbia
The board lists 6 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $65 |
| Mechanic license, up to 2 years | $110 |
| Contractor license, up to 2 years | $120 |
| Mechanic renewal | $155 |
| Contractor renewal | $180 |
| Late renewal fee | $50 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. $5,000 refrigeration and air conditioning bond for a contractor or designated master.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every two years. All licenses expire September 30 of even numbered years.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in the District of Columbia
- CFC universal certification is among the documents for journeyman and master applicants.
- A contractor license needs a DC licensed master named as the designated master.
- Apprenticeship programs must include classroom work and 8,000 or more hours over 4 years under a master.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for HVAC repair near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Board of Industrial Trades and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how HVAC companies run on Koira.