- For the 06A certificate: 4,000 hours of work experience and 48 hours of basic classroom instruction, supervised at least 75 percent of the time as a trainee. For the 06B: 2,000 hours and 24 hours of trainee classes, supervised 100 percent of the time until you pass.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- $15,000 surety bond for a specialty contractor registration.
- Contractor registration every two years. The electrician certificate every three years, expiring on your birthdate, with 24 hours of continuing education, including 8 hours of code update and 4 hours of RCW/WAC.
Do you need a state license in Washington?
Washington licenses some HVAC work at the state level and leaves the rest alone. Which side of that line a job falls on decides whether you need the state license.
Washington license types for HVAC work
Washington splits the work into 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 06A HVAC/refrigeration specialty electrician | Electrical work on HVAC and refrigeration systems |
| 06B HVAC/refrigeration, restricted | A narrower HVAC/refrigeration electrical specialty |
| Specialty contractor registration | The business registration an HVAC company files with L&I |
Steps to get licensed in Washington
- Start as an electrical trainee with L&I and log supervised HVAC electrical hours.
- Finish the basic classroom hours for your specialty (48 for 06A, 24 for 06B).
- Apply to L&I for the specialty electrician exam, then schedule it with PSI.
- Register the business with L&I as a specialty contractor, with a UBI number, insurance and the $15,000 bond.
- Renew the contractor registration every two years and the certificate every three.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. For the 06A certificate: 4,000 hours of work experience and 48 hours of basic classroom instruction, supervised at least 75 percent of the time as a trainee. For the 06B: 2,000 hours and 24 hours of trainee classes, supervised 100 percent of the time until you pass.
The license to apply for. Contractor registration plus 06A HVAC/refrigeration specialty electrician certificate.
Washington HVAC exams
Trade exam. An electrical certification exam scheduled with PSI after L&I approves your application.
Business and law exam. L&I's contractor registration steps do not include a business and law exam.
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 Washington
The board lists 2 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 |
|---|---|
| Contractor registration fee | $150.20 |
| Contractor renewal fee | $150.20 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. General liability of $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit, for contractor registration.
Bond. $15,000 surety bond for a specialty contractor registration.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Contractor registration every two years. The electrician certificate every three years, expiring on your birthdate, with 24 hours of continuing education, including 8 hours of code update and 4 hours of RCW/WAC.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Washington
- Anyone handling refrigerant also needs federal EPA Section 608 certification.
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 Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) 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.