How to get licensed for HVAC work in Pennsylvania

Journeyman level Licensed by cities or counties, not the state What's a journeyman?

The license pathway in Pennsylvania

1. 1

   Helper or apprentice

   • EPA Section 608 to handle refrigerant

   There's no state license. You learn on the job for an HVAC contractor, often in a registered apprenticeship. Federal rules require Section 608 certification before you service equipment containing ozone-depleting refrigerant. [1][6]

2. 2

   Sheet Metal Apprentice (Philadelphia)

   • $94
   • Every three years; $94

   Needed to install, maintain and service sheet metal used in HVAC systems in Philadelphia. You must be enrolled in a registered sheet metal apprenticeship, supervised by a licensed sheet metal technician and working for a licensed contractor. [3]

3. 3

   Sheet Metal Technician (Philadelphia)

   • 8,000 hours on the job
   • At least 800 hours of classroom, shop or related instruction
   • $189
   • Every three years; $189

   Lets you work as a sheet metal technician for a licensed contractor, not run a business. You qualify by completing a sheet metal apprenticeship registered with the U.S. Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Council, with at least 8,000 hours of documented practical experience. [4]

4. 4

   Mechanical Trade License (Pittsburgh)

   • 4 years of experience
   • Counts with experience toward the 4 years
   • ICC National Standard Master Mechanical exam (F29 or W29), Pearson VUE
   • See the PLI (Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections) fee schedule
   • Every 365 days; 8 hours of CE

   Required to install, erect, enlarge, repair, alter, remove, convert or replace any mechanical system in the City of Pittsburgh. Issued to individuals. You need documents showing 4 years of combined experience and education and a passing exam. [2]

No state license: who regulates HVAC work in Pennsylvania

The Department of Labor and Industry says Pennsylvania "currently has no licensure or certification requirements for most construction contractors (or their employees)." Some municipalities set their own licensing rules, and the state keeps no list of them, so ask "the municipality where construction work will occur."

The one requirement that applies everywhere is federal: EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) rules under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act require technicians who maintain, service, repair or dispose of equipment that could release ozone-depleting refrigerants to be certified. See our EPA 608 certification guide. [1][6]

Pittsburgh: Mechanical Trade License

Pittsburgh requires a license "to install, erect, enlarge, repair, alter, remove, convert, or replace any mechanical system within the City of Pittsburgh." It's issued to an individual, not a company. New applicants need photo ID, proof of passing the exam and "a resume or documentation establishing a minimum of four (4) years of a combination of experience and education."

The exam is the ICC National Standard Master Mechanical exam (F29, based on the 2015 International Mechanical Code, 2015 International Fuel Gas Code and 2014 NEC; or W29, based on the 2012 codes), scheduled through Pearson VUE. Licenses expire 365 days after issue and renew with 8 hours of continuing education (CE). A late fee starts on day 31 after expiration and the license lapses on day 61. To pull permits you also need $1,000,000/$2,000,000 liability insurance, workers' comp and a city tax compliance letter. [2]

Philadelphia: sheet metal licenses and mechanical permits

Philadelphia doesn't list a general HVAC technician license, but it licenses sheet metal work on HVAC systems:

• Sheet Metal Apprentice License ($94, every three years): for people enrolled in a registered sheet metal apprenticeship of at least 8,000 hours of practical experience and 800 hours of instruction. Apprentices work under a licensed sheet metal technician for a licensed contractor.
• Sheet Metal Technician License ($189, every three years): you qualify by completing that registered apprenticeship. It lets you work for a licensed contractor but "does not authorize you to operate a business."

Heating, ventilation, air conditioning and gas piping work needs a Mechanical Permit, and "A licensed contractor must perform all work." Boiler installations are regulated by the state Department of Labor and Industry. Questions: call 311 in the city or (215) 686-8686. [3][4][5][7]

Union and open-shop apprenticeships

SMART Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 trains apprentices for HVAC, sheet metal fabrication and architectural metal work over four to five years, with training centers for Philadelphia and its suburbs and for central Pennsylvania. Applicants pay $50, take a general aptitude test, provide a high school transcript or GED with scores, and interview.

United Association (UA) locals run five-year pipe trades apprenticeships; find one with the UA locator. The open-shop route is ABC Keystone, which offers HVAC and sheet metal among its 11 registered programs. See union vs. non-union and how to get an apprenticeship. [8][9][10][11]

Running your own business

The state's home improvement law covers "the installation of central heating, air conditioning" at private homes. If that work totals $5,000 or more a year, you must register with the Attorney General: $100 every two years, with $50,000 of personal injury and $50,000 of property damage insurance. Register through the Attorney General's HIC system. [12][13][14]

If you're licensed in another state

There's no state HVAC license, so there's no state reciprocity. Pittsburgh asks every new applicant for a passing ICC exam score and documented experience, and Philadelphia's sheet metal technician license is based on a completed registered apprenticeship. Your EPA Section 608 certification is federal and isn't tied to a state. See the license reciprocity guide. [1][2][4][6]

Steps to get licensed in Pennsylvania

1. Check the rules where you'll work

   There's no state license. Pittsburgh's PLI and Philadelphia's L&I (Department of Licenses and Inspections) have their own requirements; elsewhere, ask the municipality. [1][2][5]

2. Get hired or apply to an apprenticeship

   Work for an HVAC contractor or apply to a registered program. In Philadelphia, ductwork apprentices get a Sheet Metal Apprentice License through eCLIPSE. [3][8][11]

3. Earn EPA Section 608 certification

   Take the test for the equipment types you'll work on (Type 1 small appliances, Type 2 high-pressure, Type 3 low-pressure). See our EPA 608 guide. [6]

4. Build documented experience

   Philadelphia's sheet metal technician license needs a completed registered apprenticeship (8,000 hours plus 800 hours of instruction). Pittsburgh needs 4 years of experience and education. [2][4]

5. Pass the exam and apply

   For Pittsburgh, schedule the ICC National Standard Master Mechanical exam through Pearson VUE, then apply through OneStopPGH. Renew yearly with 8 hours of CE. [2]

Where to get the hours

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

• Union

  SMART Sheet Metal Workers Local 19

  A four-to-five-year apprenticeship in HVAC, sheet metal fabrication and architectural metal, with training centers serving southeastern and central Pennsylvania. $50 application fee, aptitude test, interview, high school transcript or GED with scores. [8]

• Union

  UA pipe trades locals (steamfitters, pipefitters, HVACR)

  United Association apprenticeships typically last five years and cover piping and mechanical systems. Find a Pennsylvania local with the UA locator. [9]

• Open shop

  ABC Keystone HVAC and sheet metal apprenticeships

  Two of ABC Keystone's 11 Pennsylvania-registered apprenticeships, based in central Pennsylvania. Online application, $125 fee, math entrance exam. [10][11]

• State program

  Pennsylvania Apprenticeship and Training Office (ATO)

  The state agency that registers apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. Its listings are on PA CareerLink. [15]

Licensed in another state?

Questions people ask