HVAC · State license
How to get an HVAC license in Arkansas
State law and licensing-board sources · Last reviewed October 11, 2026
Arkansas requires everyone who does HVACR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration) work to hold either an HVACR license or a registration from the Department of Labor and Licensing. As a beginner you work as a registrant under a Class A, B, D or E license holder, which you can do at 18. Arkansas has no journeyman HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) license. After two years of experience you can take the board's exam for your own class of license. You also need federal EPA Section 608 (the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's refrigerant rule) certification to service equipment that could release ozone-depleting refrigerants. [1][2][3][4]
New to the trade?
Starting from zero in Arkansas
In Arkansas, every HVACR employee needs a registration or a license, so you start by getting hired by a company with a Class A, B, D or E license holder, who registers you with the Department of Labor and Licensing for $25 a year. You must be at least 18. Get your EPA Section 608 certification early, because federal rules require it to maintain, service, repair or dispose of equipment that could release ozone-depleting refrigerants. [1][2][4]
High school diploma or GED
We found no diploma rule in the Arkansas HVACR law or rules. The rules say apprenticeship, education or training is never a condition for a license. Programs set their own rules: to get a PPATA (Plumbers and Pipefitters Apprenticeship Training of Arkansas) application (the UA program, which also trains HVAC) you must bring a high school diploma or equivalency certificate and transcripts. The state Office of Skills Development notes that registered apprenticeship standards may require a diploma or GED (General Educational Development test). [2][8][14][15]
Minimum age
18, set by the board's rule for registrants and license applicants. [2]
Register before you start work
State law: you may do HVACR work under a Class A, B, D or E license holder by registering with the Department of Labor and Licensing. The license holder is responsible for your yearly registration and the $25 fee, and for making sure every HVACR employee is registered or licensed. [1][2]
Helper jobs
A registrant can only work for an HVACR licensee. Pipefitters, welders, sheet metal workers and plumbers enrolled in a state-approved apprenticeship in their own trade are exempt when they work under a Class A, B, D or E licensee within the limits of their license. [1][2]
EPA 608 certification
Federal law: technicians who maintain, service, repair or dispose of equipment that could release ozone-depleting refrigerants must be certified under Section 608. See our EPA 608 guide. [4]
Classroom options
ACEF's HVAC apprenticeship is 432 classroom hours over two to three years, one night a week from 5:00 to 9:00, while you work for an employer. PPATA's five-year UA (United Association, the plumbers' and pipefitters' union) apprenticeship covers plumbing, pipefitting and HVAC. [8][9]
Application windows
As of October 2026, PPATA's application page still describes its March 2022 application days, so call PPATA at (501) 562-4482 for the next window. [14]
Pay while you learn
The Office of Skills Development says registered apprentices are paid and their wages rise with their skills. PPATA says its apprentices get scholarships for all five years, so classes cost them nothing. [8][11]
Credit for school
When you apply for a license, the board may count board-approved HVACR schooling in place of experience Send your transcripts before the board reviews your application. Board rule 261-121 also says the board shall grant a license to someone who completes an HVACR apprenticeship (as defined in Arkansas law), passes any exam the board requires of all applicants and pays the fees. [2]
Still in high school?
Arkansas's Youth Apprenticeship lets 16- to 24-year-olds who are full-time high school or college students join a registered apprenticeship, with paid on-the-job training State license rules still apply, and the HVACR registration age is 18. School-district high school career centers let juniors and seniors earn college credit at no cost. Hours from an Arkansas Certified Pre-Apprenticeship count toward a registered apprenticeship, and ACEF (Arkansas Construction Education Foundation) runs free pre-apprenticeships for high school students with tool packages and school credit. [2][15][16][17][18]
Where to apply in ArkansasHow to get an apprenticeshipHelper jobs
Licensing office Arkansas HVACR Licensing Board (Department of Labor and Licensing) · (501) 682-9201 [3][7]
Arkansas HVAC license at a glance
- License classes
- Class A (unlimited), Class B (up to 25 tons cooling or 1,000,000 BTUH heating per unit), Class D (sheet metal ductwork), Class E (refrigeration), Class L Lifetime, 65+ [1][2]
- Experience for a license
- At least 2 years as an HVACR contractor or a contractor's employee Board-approved HVACR schooling may substitute [2]
- Fees
- Class A $200 a year Class B, D or E $150 a year; registrant $25 a year [2]
- Renewal and CE
- Licenses expire one year after issue 8 hours of continuing education each International Mechanical Code cycle [2]
- Insurance
- Class A, B, D and E holders need liability coverage of at least $250,000 [2]
- Reciprocity
- The board says it has no reciprocal agreements Its rules on licensing holders of substantially similar out-of-state licenses are unclear about the exam, so ask the board [2][3]
On this page
The license pathway in Arkansas
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1
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2
Class B HVACR license
- 2 years of experience
- Yes, board-approved exam proctored by Prov ($100)
- $150 a year
- Yearly ($150); 8 hours CE each IMC cycle
HVACR work on air conditioning systems up to 25 tons of cooling or 1,000,000 BTUH (British thermal units per hour) of heating per unit and refrigeration systems up to 15 horsepower, including the appliance's electrical and gas hookups. [2][3]
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3
Who needs an HVACR license
State law makes it unlawful to do HVACR work in Arkansas without the right license or registration unless an exemption applies. Every individual who designs, installs, maintains, services, repairs or alters an HVACR system needs one of the license classes, or a registration to work under a license holder.
Exemptions include work on motor vehicles, engineers and architects who only design systems, hospital employees doing incidental HVACR work, and people servicing their own organization's equipment with their own trained staff.
Licensed or registered HVACR workers may do HVACR gas fitting, and make the electrical connection to a heating or air conditioning unit from a disconnect provided by others within 75 feet of the unit, without another license. [1][2]
License classes
- Class A: HVACR work of any size.
- Class B: air conditioning up to 25 tons of cooling or 1,000,000 BTUH of heating per unit, and refrigeration up to 15 horsepower.
- Class D: sheet metal ductwork only; no sale, installation or service of HVACR equipment.
- Class E: refrigeration of any size; no heating or comfort air conditioning equipment.
- Class L: a free lifetime license for service and maintenance (up to 15 tons) for licensees 65 or older who have been licensed for 10 consecutive years.
To get a Class A, B, D or E license without a license from another state, you show at least two years of experience as an HVACR contractor or an employee of one and pass the exam. The board accepts records, affidavits or other evidence from employers. Class A, B, D and E holders need liability coverage of at least $250,000 and must display their license number on business vehicles and advertising. [1][2]
The exam
Prov proctors the board's HVAC/R contractor exams. You must be pre-approved: the board asks you to read its rules and mail an original notarized HVAC/R Contractor Application. The rule says exams are offered at least four times a year, and each exam costs $100. If you fail, you can retake it. [1][2][3]
Fees, renewal and continuing education
- Class A: $200 a year.
- Class B, D or E: $150 a year.
- Registrant: $25 a year.
- Exam: $100 each.
Licenses expire one year after they're issued. To renew, you need 8 hours of board-approved continuing education each International Mechanical Code cycle, finished before the code cycle's final year; otherwise your license is suspended until the board gets proof. The board currently uses the 2021 International Mechanical Code. If your license lapses for nonpayment, reinstatement adds a $10 penalty for each month late.
The board waives the initial license fee (not the exam fee) if you receive Medicaid, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children), TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) or Lifeline benefits, were approved for unemployment in the last 12 months, or earn no more than 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. [2]
If you're licensed in another state
The board's page says it has no reciprocal licensing agreements with other states at this time. Its rules say reciprocal applicants with a substantially similar license (a national model mechanical code and a national exam) aren't required to pass an exam or complete training, but another section says applicants from substantially similar states without an agreement are approved "with examination," so ask the board.
Act 457 of 2023 gives automatic licensure to new Arkansas residents who have held a similar license in good standing for one year; the HVACR rules don't mention it, so confirm with the board. Uniformed service members stationed in Arkansas, veterans who live here and their spouses also get automatic licensure with a similar out-of-state license. See license reciprocity for how this works across states. [2][3][5][6]
Steps to get licensed in Arkansas
Get hired and registered
Get a job with an HVACR company or join an apprenticeship. The company's license holder registers you as a registrant with the Department of Labor and Licensing ($25 a year). You must be 18. [1][2]
Get EPA Section 608 certification
Pass an EPA-approved Section 608 test so you can legally work on refrigerant equipment. [4]
Build two years of experience
Work at least two years as an HVACR contractor's employee. Keep records, affidavits or letters from employers who can vouch for your work. [2]
Apply for the exam
Read the board's rules and send a notarized HVAC/R Contractor Application to be pre-approved. Exams are offered at least four times a year. [2][3]
Pass the exam and get licensed
Take the board's exam at Prov ($100). Then pay the license fee ($200 for Class A, $150 for Class B, D or E), show proof of liability insurance, and renew every year with 8 hours of continuing education each code cycle. [2][3]
Where to get the hours
Programs that train HVAC technicians in or for Arkansas, from their own official pages. Listed by type, not ranked.
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Union
Plumbers and Pipefitters Apprenticeship Training of Arkansas (PPATA, UA Local 155)
The United Association program for Arkansas: a five-year apprenticeship whose graduates typically become pipefitters, plumbers, HVACR service techs or welders. Training centers are in Little Rock, Van Buren and El Dorado. [8]
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School
Arkansas Construction Education Foundation (ACEF)
A Little Rock training center with an HVAC apprenticeship: 432 classroom hours, one night a week, while you work for an employer. [9]
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Other
ABC Arkansas Apprenticeship Training Program (Arkansas Construction Trades Academy)
A DOL-approved HVAC apprenticeship in North Little Rock on the state's WIOA-approved list: 4 years of classes and 8,000 hours of on-the-job training. [10]
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State program
Arkansas Office of Skills Development (State Apprenticeship Agency)
The Office of Skills Development oversees registered apprenticeship in Arkansas and has a map of programs near you. Act 695 of 2025 created a State Apprenticeship Agency within the Office of Skills Development to register apprenticeship programs. [11][12][13]
Licensed in another state?
Class A, B, D and E
The board's page says it has no reciprocal agreements with other states at this time. Its rules are mixed: one section says reciprocal applicants with a substantially similar license (a national model mechanical code and a national exam) need no exam or training, while another says applicants from substantially similar states without an agreement are approved "with examination." Ask the board how it applies to you. [2][3]
Any license (new Arkansas residents)
Act 457 of 2023 grants automatic licensure to a new Arkansas resident who has held a license with a similar scope of practice in good standing for one year in another state. The board may require an exam on Arkansas law. The HVACR rules don't mention the act, so confirm with the board. [5][6]
Also listed by: Delaware, Utah (their own boards list Arkansas as a partner; check both sides before you move).
Questions people ask
Is there a journeyman HVAC license in Arkansas?
No. Arkansas licenses HVACR contractors by class (A, B, D, E and L) and registers the workers who work under them. You need two years of experience to test for a class license. [1][2]
Do I need a license to be an HVAC helper in Arkansas?
You need a registration. Every HVACR employee who isn't licensed must be registered under a Class A, B, D or E license holder, who pays the $25 yearly fee. You must be at least 18. [1][2]
Does Arkansas accept HVAC licenses from other states?
The board says it has no reciprocal agreements, but its rules let it license holders of substantially similar out-of-state licenses (ask whether you'd need the exam), and Act 457 of 2023 gives automatic licensure to new residents licensed elsewhere for a year. Confirm with the board. [2][3][5]
Sources (18)
- HVAC/R Statutes (Ark. Code 17-33), 2025, Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- 17 CAR Part 261: Rules Pertaining to the Licensing of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors, Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- HVAC/R (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, & Refrigeration), Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Section 608 Technician Certification, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Act 457 of 2023 (SB90): Automatic Occupational Licensure for Out-of-State Licensure Act, Arkansas General Assembly. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Out-of-State Licensure (Ark. Code 17-7-104), Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Important information regarding CEU requirements, Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, Code Compliance Section. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- About PPATA, Plumbers and Pipefitters Apprenticeship Training of Arkansas. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- HVAC Apprenticeship, Arkansas Construction Education Foundation. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- WIOA Approved Apprenticeship Programs, Arkansas Division of Workforce Services. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Apprenticeship in Arkansas, Arkansas Office of Skills Development. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Find an Apprenticeship Program Near You, Arkansas Office of Skills Development. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Act 695 of 2025 (SB390): An Act to Establish the State Apprenticeship Agency, Arkansas General Assembly. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Application Process, Plumbers and Pipefitters Apprenticeship Training of Arkansas (Local 155). Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Youth Apprenticeship in Arkansas, Arkansas Office of Skills Development. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- High School Career Centers, Arkansas Office of Skills Development. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Arkansas Certified Pre-Apprenticeship, Arkansas Office of Skills Development. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Education: Pre-Apprenticeships, Arkansas Construction Education Foundation. Accessed October 11, 2026.