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HVAC · State license

How to get an HVAC license in New Jersey

State law and licensing-board sources · Last reviewed October 10, 2026

New Jersey has one HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) license: the master HVACR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration) contractor license, issued by the State Board of Examiners of Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) Contractors. The usual route is a four-year U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship plus one year as a journeyperson under a licensed master, then two PSI (a testing company) exams. You must be at least 21. Apprentices and journeypersons work under a master's license, and anyone handling refrigerants also needs federal EPA Section 608 (the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's refrigerant rule) certification. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

New to the trade?

Starting from zero in New Jersey

New Jersey has no state license or card for HVAC apprentices or helpers. You start by getting hired by an HVAC contractor that will sponsor you in a U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship, or by applying to a union or open-shop program; enrolling in a school HVACR program doesn't make you an apprentice. If you'll handle refrigerants, you also need federal EPA Section 608 certification. [2][3][7][17][18]

  • High school diploma or GED

    No state rule found for apprentices: the board licenses only masters, and its rules ask master applicants for proof of age and of education and experience, not a diploma. Programs set their own: Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 9, which runs an HVAC Service apprenticeship, requires a high school diploma or GED (General Educational Development test) with official transcripts. ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors) New Jersey, which lists an HVAC/R (heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration) Technician apprenticeship, says a diploma or GED is preferred. [3][17][18]

  • Minimum age

    21 for the master license (state law). Local 9 and ABC New Jersey take applicants 18 or older. New Jersey's apprenticeship office says registered apprenticeship can start at 16, but hazardous occupations usually require 18. [3][4][17][18][19]

  • An employer must sponsor you

    The board accepts only U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeships, and your employer must agree to register you. If you change employers, the apprenticeship doesn't transfer automatically. [2]

  • Helper work

    Apprentices and journeypersons work under a licensed master The board's rules define a journeyperson as someone who works under a master HVACR contractor's supervision. [3][5]

  • EPA Section 608

    Federal rules require certification to service equipment that could release ozone-depleting refrigerants, and limit most refrigerant sales to certified technicians. [7][12]

  • Documents, driver's license and drug test

    Local 9 asks for copies of your birth certificate, diploma or GED with transcripts, Social Security card and a valid driver's license, and successful applicants must pass a drug screen. [17]

  • Application windows

    Local 9 generally accepts applications once a year, in person at its Englishtown training center. ABC New Jersey uses a placement test, and a member employer may enroll you after a 45-day probation. [17][18]

  • Pay while you learn

    Local 9 apprentices start at 35% of the journeyman wage with yearly raises if progress is good Classes are free, and graduates can earn up to 32 college credits. [17]

  • Credit for school or military

    An HVACR program at an accredited technical school, trade school, county college or community college counts for two of the four apprenticeship years toward the master license. Military HVACR training is reviewed case by case Upload your training records and DD-214 (military discharge papers). [2][3][4]

  • Still in high school?

    New Jersey's Department of Education lists Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology as an approved career and technical education (CTE) program in its Architecture & Construction cluster, with EPA Section 608 certification and the OSHA 10-hour (a 10-hour job safety course from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's outreach program) card as industry-valued credentials. Dual enrollment courses earn high school and college credit at once. State Youth Transitions to Work grants have funded programs moving 16- to 24-year-olds, including high school juniors and seniors, into registered apprenticeships. The license credit for school programs names technical schools, trade schools and county or community colleges, not high schools. Under 18? You need working papers from MyWorkingPapers.nj.gov. [3][20][21][22][23]

Where to apply in New JerseyHow to get an apprenticeshipHelper jobs

Licensing office New Jersey State Board of Examiners of HVACR Contractors (Division of Consumer Affairs) · (973) 504-6250 [1]

New Jersey HVAC license at a glance

Who issues licenses
State Board of Examiners of HVACR Contractors, NJ Division of Consumer Affairs [1]
License levels
One: master HVACR contractor Apprentices and journeypersons work under a master [2][3][4][5]
Experience (usual route)
5 years: a 4-year U.S. DOL registered HVACR apprenticeship plus 1 year as a journeyperson [2][3][5]
Minimum age
21 [3][4]
Exams
PSI: HVACR Trade and Business and Law, each 50 questions in 130 minutes, 70% to pass [6]
Fees
$100 application $84 trade exam and $47 business and law exam; $160 initial license [3][6]
Renewal
Every 2 years $160; 5 credits of continuing education (first renewal exempt) [3][11]
Local licenses
Not allowed: towns may not issue master HVACR licenses [2]
Reciprocity
Allowed by rule only with comparable states that reciprocate Every state on the board's list was denied [3][14]
On this page
  1. At a glance
  2. Starting from zero
  3. The license pathway
  4. Who needs a New Jersey HVAC license
  5. Education and experience routes
  6. How apprenticeships work in New Jersey
  7. The exams
  8. Fees, renewal and continuing education
  9. What the master license allows
  10. EPA Section 608 certification
  11. If you're licensed in another state
  12. Steps to get licensed
  13. Where to get the hours
  14. Licensed in another state?
  15. Questions people ask

The license pathway in New Jersey

  1. 1

    Registered apprentice

    • Part of a U.S. DOL registered HVACR apprenticeship; must include refrigerant management and propane education

    No state license. Your employer must agree to sponsor you and register you with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship; an HVACR school program does not enroll you automatically. [2][3][5]

  2. 2

    HVACR journeyperson

    • 4 years of experience

    No state license. Board rules define a journeyperson as someone who works on HVACR systems under the supervision of a master HVACR contractor. You need at least 1 year at this level before applying for the master license. [3][4][5]

  3. 3

    Master HVACR contractor

    • 5 years of experience
    • A 4-year DOL apprenticeship (a technical or community college HVACR program can count for 2 of the 4 years), or an HVACR-related bachelor's degree
    • Yes, PSI: HVACR Trade (50 questions, 130 minutes, open book, $84) and Business and Law (50 questions, 130 minutes, $47); 70% on each
    • $100 application; $160 initial license ($80 if issued in the second year of the cycle)
    • Every 2 years; $160; 5 CE credits

    The only HVAC license in New Jersey. You must be 21 or older and meet one of the education and experience routes, then pass both exams. [3][4][5][6]

Who needs a New Jersey HVAC license

New Jersey law says a person "shall not work as a master HVACR contractor" or use that title unless licensed. The board's FAQ (frequently asked questions) adds that if you perform HVACR services and don't qualify for an exemption, you must get a license. The board licenses only one level, the master HVACR contractor, and requires all licensed contractors to renew every two years.

Workers who are not yet masters, such as apprentices and journeypersons, do HVACR work under the supervision of a licensed master; the board's rules define an HVACR journeyperson that way. Towns cannot add their own HVACR license: state law bars municipalities and local boards of health from issuing or renewing master HVACR contractor licenses. [1][2][3][4][5]

Education and experience routes

You must meet one of these routes, set by board rule N.J.A.C. 13:32A-2.2:

An HVACR program at an accredited technical school, trade school, county college or community college can count for two of the four apprenticeship years. The education must cover proper management of refrigerants and propane service. Military HVACR training and experience is reviewed case by case; upload your training records and DD-214 with the application. [2][3][5]

How apprenticeships work in New Jersey

The board accepts only apprenticeships approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. Enrolling in a school HVACR program does not make you an apprentice: an employer must agree to sponsor you and register you with the DOL Office of Apprenticeship. Federal rules require an employer sponsor, and the apprenticeship does not transfer automatically if you change jobs.

Union routes include United Association (UA) pipe trades locals and SMART (International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers) sheet metal training centers. The New Jersey Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship is the state contact for apprentices and employers. Compare the routes in union vs. non-union. [2][8][9][10]

The exams

PSI runs New Jersey's HVACR exams at test centers in New Jersey. Once the board approves you, you pay PSI and schedule. First-time candidates take both exams on the same day:

Board rules say you need at least 70 on each part. If you fail, you must wait six months before retaking the exam. Download the PSI candidate bulletin for the full reference list. [3][6]

Fees, renewal and continuing education

Every master must complete five credits of continuing education (CE) at a board-approved course each two-year period; your first renewal is exempt. Keep your CE attendance records for four years. If you don't renew within 30 days after the license expires, it is suspended. [3][6][11]

What the master license allows

The board's FAQ answers several scope questions. A master HVACR contractor may not replace an electrical disconnect box or switch, and may replace a surge protector only on the load side of the disconnect (the line side needs a licensed electrician). A master may replace a combination tankless water heater and hydronic heating unit but may not connect or disconnect the domestic (drinking) water. Masters must show the bona fide representative's name, NJ license number and "HVACR Contractor" on vehicles, invoices, websites and advertising. [2]

EPA Section 608 certification

The state license does not replace federal rules. EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) regulations under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act require technicians who maintain, service, repair or dispose of equipment that could release refrigerants to be certified, and only certified technicians (or employers of certified technicians) may buy most refrigerants. County college programs, such as Camden County College's, prepare students for the Section 608 exams. Read our EPA 608 certification guide. [7][12][13]

If you're licensed in another state

Board rules allow a license by reciprocity only if the other state's standards are equal to or comparable with New Jersey's and that state reciprocates with New Jersey. You would submit proof of your out-of-state license, proof you completed one of New Jersey's education programs, and proof the other state licenses New Jersey masters based on their NJ license.

In practice, the board's published review list (as of June 18, 2019) shows reciprocity denied for every state it reviewed, including New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas and North Carolina. Plan on qualifying under New Jersey's own rules. See license reciprocity. [2][3][14]

Steps to get licensed in New Jersey

  1. Find an employer who will sponsor your apprenticeship

    The board accepts only U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeships, and an employer must sponsor and register you. If you change employers, your new employer must sponsor you again. [2]

  2. Get EPA Section 608 certification

    Pass an EPA-approved Section 608 test so you can legally service refrigerant equipment and buy refrigerant. See our EPA 608 guide. [7][12]

  3. Complete 4 years of apprenticeship and 1 year as a journeyperson

    Finish a 4-year HVACR apprenticeship (a college HVACR program can count for 2 years), then work at least 1 year as a journeyperson under a licensed master. Degree routes are also available. [3][5]

  4. Apply to the board

    Apply online through the board's applications page with proof you are 21 or older, your education and experience, a passport photo and the $100 fee. The board reviews applications at its monthly meeting. [2][3][4]

  5. Pass both PSI exams

    After approval, pay and schedule with PSI. First-time candidates take the HVACR Trade and Business and Law exams on the same day; you need 70% on each. [3][6]

  6. Pay the license fee and renew every 2 years

    Pay the $160 initial license fee to receive your license. Renew every 2 years for $160, with 5 continuing education credits per cycle after your first renewal. [3][11]

Where to get the hours

Programs that train HVAC technicians in or for New Jersey, from their own official pages. Listed by type, not ranked.

Licensed in another state?

We didn't find a reciprocity agreement published by the licensing office for this license. Ask the office how it treats an out-of-state license or experience before you apply.

Also listed by: Delaware (their own boards list New Jersey as a partner; check both sides before you move).

Open the reciprocity map · How reciprocity works

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NJ Listed here (agreement or endorsement) Lists NJ

Questions people ask

How long does it take to get an HVAC license in New Jersey?

On the apprenticeship route, five years: a four-year DOL registered HVACR apprenticeship plus one year as a journeyperson. A college HVACR program can replace two of the apprenticeship years, and degree holders have shorter routes. [3][5]

Do HVAC technicians need a license in New Jersey?

New Jersey issues only the master HVACR contractor license. Apprentices and journeypersons work under the supervision of a licensed master. Anyone handling refrigerants still needs EPA Section 608 certification. [2][3][4][5][7]

How old do you have to be for a New Jersey HVACR license?

At least 21. You must send proof of age with your exam application. [3][4]

How much does a New Jersey master HVACR license cost?

$100 to apply, $84 and $47 for the two PSI exams, and $160 for the initial license. Renewal is $160 every two years. [3][6]

Does New Jersey accept HVAC licenses from other states?

Only if the other state's standards are comparable and it reciprocates with New Jersey. The board's published list shows every state it reviewed was denied. [3][14]

Sources (23)
  1. State Board of Examiners of Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) Contractors, New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  2. HVACR Board Frequently Asked Questions, New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  3. Adopted New Rules: N.J.A.C. 13:32A, State Board of Examiners of HVACR Contractors (New Jersey Register, April 15, 2013, R.2013 d.060), New Jersey Office of Administrative Law (New Jersey Register), posted by the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  4. P.L.2007, c.211: State Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contracting License Law (N.J.S.A. 45:16A-1 et seq.), New Jersey Legislature. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  5. Adopted Amendments: N.J.A.C. 13:32A-1.2 and 2.2, Apprenticeship Programs (53 N.J.R. 1282(a), August 2, 2021), New Jersey Office of Administrative Law (New Jersey Register), posted by the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  6. New Jersey HVACR Contractor Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 9/3/2026), PSI Services LLC. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  7. Section 608 Technician Certification, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  8. Apprenticeship, United Association (UA). Accessed October 10, 2026.
  9. Apprenticeship, International Training Institute for the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Industry. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  10. Apprenticeship, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  11. Adopted Amendment: N.J.A.C. 13:32A-3.1, Renewal of License (New Jersey Register, January 17, 2017), New Jersey Office of Administrative Law (New Jersey Register), posted by the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  12. Refrigerant Sales Restriction, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  13. Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning (HVAC), Camden County College. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  14. HVACR Reciprocity with Other States (as of 06/18/19), New Jersey State Board of Examiners of HVACR Contractors. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  15. Career Paths, International Training Institute for the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Industry. Accessed October 10, 2026.
  16. Apprenticeship Finder, U.S. Department of Labor (Apprenticeship.gov). Accessed October 10, 2026.
  17. Apprenticeship, Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 9 (UA). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  18. Become an Apprentice, Associated Builders and Contractors, New Jersey Chapter. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  19. New Jersey Apprenticeship Network: Frequently Asked Questions, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  20. Architecture & Construction (Career Clusters), New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Career Readiness. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  21. Dual Enrollment, New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Career Readiness. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  22. NJDOL Announces $7 Million in Apprenticeship Grants (May 10, 2022), New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  23. Work-Based Learning, New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Career Readiness. Accessed October 11, 2026.

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