How to get an HVAC license in Maryland: the official requirements
The HVACR Journeyman license, the experience and training it takes, the exam and how to apply, from the Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors.
In Maryland, the state HVAC license for individual HVAC technicians is issued by the Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors. The HVACR journeyman license from the Maryland HVACR Board. A journeyman performs HVACR services under the direction and control of a licensed contractor. Apprentice or trainee registration: Anyone entering the HVACR trade must get an apprentice license; there are no prerequisites for it, and you apply online. Experience and training: At least four years licensed as an apprentice, with at least 6,000 hours of HVACR training under the direction and control of a licensed HVACR contractor; you must currently hold an apprentice license. Licensing exam: The journeyman examination, passed with a score of 70%. You apply for the exam with PSI, the Board's testing vendor, and pay the exam fee with that application. Graduates of a Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council approved program with a Department of Labor certificate of completion have a route to the journeyman license without the exam. How to apply: After you pass the exam, apply to the Board for the original journeyman license online and register your license number with the Maryland Department of Labor.
Maryland HVAC license requirements
| Requirement | Maryland |
|---|---|
| License you apply for | The HVACR journeyman license from the Maryland HVACR Board. A journeyman performs HVACR services under the direction and control of a licensed contractor. |
| Apprentice or trainee registration | Anyone entering the HVACR trade must get an apprentice license; there are no prerequisites for it, and you apply online. |
| Experience and training | At least four years licensed as an apprentice, with at least 6,000 hours of HVACR training under the direction and control of a licensed HVACR contractor; you must currently hold an apprentice license. |
| Classroom hours | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors. |
| Licensing exam | The journeyman examination, passed with a score of 70%. You apply for the exam with PSI, the Board's testing vendor, and pay the exam fee with that application. Graduates of a Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council approved program with a Department of Labor certificate of completion have a route to the journeyman license without the exam. |
| How to apply | After you pass the exam, apply to the Board for the original journeyman license online and register your license number with the Maryland Department of Labor. |
| Background check | Applicants must report any felony or misdemeanor conviction and provide a true-test copy from the court; the Board weighs factors such as the nature of the crime and the time since the conviction. |
| State fees | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors. |
| License term | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors. |
| Continuing education | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors. |
Where the official source we read does not state something, the table says so rather than guessing. Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools, apprenticeship programs, fingerprint vendors and application portals are not included.
This page covers the HVAC license issued by the state. Cities and counties can have their own registration, permit or license rules; ask the local building department where you will work.
How to get licensed in Maryland
- Get an HVACR apprentice license online (there are no prerequisites).
- Work at least four years as a licensed apprentice, with at least 6,000 hours of HVACR training under a licensed HVACR contractor.
- Apply to PSI for the journeyman exam, paying the exam fee with the application.
- Pass the journeyman examination with a score of 70%.
- Apply for the original journeyman license and register your license number with the Department of Labor.
Go further
Requirements state by state.
Open →CareerHow to become an HVAC technicianThe career path, nationally.
Open →PayHVAC technician salary in MarylandWhat HVAC technicians earn.
Open →CareerHVAC technician career guideThe job, skills and outlook.
Open →ResumeHVAC technician resumeHow to present your experience and licenses.
Open →InterviewHVAC technician interview questionsWhat hiring managers ask.
Open →Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Everything on this page is free to use without buying anything.
Questions people ask
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How this page is built
Each fact on this page comes from the Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors (sources named below), read on the dates shown, with the exact wording we relied on kept on file. Requirements and fees change; the Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors's current instructions govern. We re-read each state's sources every six months (next review by May 10, 2027).
- Not legal advice.
- Licensing rules can change. Verify current requirements with the issuing agency.
- Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools, apprenticeship programs, fingerprint vendors and application portals are not included.
- This page covers the HVAC license issued by the state. Cities and counties can have their own registration, permit or license rules; ask the local building department where you will work.
- This page covers the individual license named above. Master, contractor, specialty, residential, limited and out-of-state (reciprocity) licenses have their own rules.
- Maryland Department of Labor, Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors, Licensing Requirements, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Maryland Department of Labor, Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors, Apply for an Original License, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Maryland Department of Labor, Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors, Licensing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), official source, read Nov 9, 2026.