- Three years or 6,000 hours of experience in the work classification, backed by statements from employers. A two year HVAC program can count for up to one year or 2,000 hours.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every three years by August 31. No code update courses are required to renew. A license expired more than three years means applying and testing again.
Do you need a state license in Michigan?
Michigan licenses HVAC work at the state level through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Cities and townships cannot set their own licensing rules for mechanical work classifications. You still need a permit from the enforcing agency for each job.
Michigan license types for HVAC work
Michigan splits the work into 7 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 |
|---|---|
| Hydronic heating and cooling and process piping | Systems that move heated or cooled fluids through pipes |
| HVAC equipment | Heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment |
| Ductwork | Supply, return and exhaust ducts, including flues, vents and chimneys |
| Refrigeration | Refrigeration other than comfort cooling, such as supermarket and industrial systems |
| Limited heating service | Service of smaller gas, oil and electric heating equipment within set size limits |
| Limited refrigeration and air conditioning service | Service of refrigeration and AC systems using group 1 refrigerants |
| Unlimited heating service / Unlimited refrigeration and air conditioning service | Service with no limits on size or fuel or refrigerant type |
Steps to get licensed in Michigan
- Choose the work classifications you need, such as HVAC equipment and ductwork.
- Build three years or 6,000 hours of experience in each classification, or use a two year HVAC program for up to one year of it.
- Collect signed experience statements from your employers.
- Apply to LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes for exam approval.
- Pay PSI and pass the exam for each classification.
- Get your mechanical contractor license, then pull permits for each job and renew every three years.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Three years or 6,000 hours of experience in the work classification, backed by statements from employers. A two year HVAC program can count for up to one year or 2,000 hours.
The license to apply for. Mechanical Contractor license.
Michigan HVAC exams
Trade exam. Yes. You must pass an exam for each work classification you want. Exams are given by PSI and can include questions on the Skilled Trades Regulation Act and the state construction code.
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 Michigan
The board lists 4 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 |
|---|---|
| Exam fee per work classification (paid to PSI) | $100 or less |
| License fee, initial, per year of the cycle | $100 |
| Renewal (three year license) | $300 |
| Late renewal fee | $100 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every three years by August 31. No code update courses are required to renew. A license expired more than three years means applying and testing again.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Michigan
- Licensed mechanical contractors do not need a residential builder license for their own mechanical work.
- Honorable military service can count toward the experience requirement.
- EPA Section 608 certification is a federal requirement for anyone handling 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 Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
- LARA Bureau of Construction Codes
- LARA mechanical licensing information
- LARA license renewals
- MCL 339.5807, mechanical contractor license
- MCL 339.5809, license required
- MCL 339.5813, fees and term
- MCL 339.5801, definitions
- MCL 339.5803, definitions
- MCL 339.5811, local licensing
- MCL 339.2403, builder license exemptions
More for your trade: how HVAC companies run on Koira.