- Journeyman: 8,000 hours as an apprentice plus 576 hours of board-approved classroom training, or 16,000 hours of HVAC work. Specialty journeyman: 2,000 hours of specialty work. The rule lists an exam and bond for the contractor license but no separate experience figure, so check with the board.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- $2,000 compliance bond for HVAC contractors and specialty contractors, kept in force for the whole license period.
- Contractor and journeyman licenses run on a three-year term today. DOPL says the HVAC Board moves to two-year (biennial) licensing on October 30, 2026. Check with the board on continuing education.
Do you need a state license in Idaho?
Idaho licenses HVAC work at the state level through the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, HVAC Board. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Idaho license types for HVAC work
Idaho 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 |
|---|---|
| HVAC Contractor | Business certificate. Needs a board exam and a $2,000 compliance bond. |
| HVAC Journeyman | Individual certificate. Needs a board exam plus documented hours of HVAC work. |
| HVAC Apprentice | Registered trainee who must work under journeyman supervision. |
| Specialty Contractor, Journeyman and Apprentice | Limited scope: hearth appliances, non-duct connected oil furnaces and the gas piping and venting that serve them. No plumbing, electrical or duct work. |
| Limited Heating Specialty Contractor, Journeyman and Apprentice | A narrower heating-only specialty. Ask the board for the exact scope. |
Steps to get licensed in Idaho
- Register as an HVAC apprentice with DOPL and work under journeyman supervision.
- Finish 8,000 hours plus 576 hours of approved classroom training, or document 16,000 hours of HVAC work.
- Schedule and pass the journeyman exam through PSI, then apply for the journeyman license with DOPL.
- When ready to run your own business, pass the HVAC contractor exam through PSI.
- Get a $2,000 compliance bond and apply for the HVAC contractor license with DOPL.
- Renew your license before the term ends. Terms move to two years starting October 30, 2026.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Journeyman: 8,000 hours as an apprentice plus 576 hours of board-approved classroom training, or 16,000 hours of HVAC work. Specialty journeyman: 2,000 hours of specialty work. The rule lists an exam and bond for the contractor license but no separate experience figure, so check with the board.
The license to apply for. HVAC Contractor.
Idaho HVAC exams
Trade exam. Board-designated exams, given through PSI. Journeyman and contractor each have their own exam.
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 Idaho
The board lists 8 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 | $35 |
| Contractor license | $225 |
| Contractor renewal | $150 |
| Journeyman license | $150 |
| Journeyman renewal | $75 |
| Apprentice registration | $10 |
| Specialty contractor license | $225 |
| Specialty journeyman license | $150 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. $2,000 compliance bond for HVAC contractors and specialty contractors, kept in force for the whole license period.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Contractor and journeyman licenses run on a three-year term today. DOPL says the HVAC Board moves to two-year (biennial) licensing on October 30, 2026. Check with the board on continuing education.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Idaho
- HVAC contractors who hold a DOPL license are exempt from the separate Idaho contractor registration for work inside their license scope.
- Advertising HVAC work without a contractor license, or without showing your license number, can bring a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per count.
- EPA Section 608 certification is a federal requirement for anyone who handles refrigerant.
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 Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, HVAC Board 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.