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HVAC · Local (city/county) licenses

How to become an HVAC technician in South Dakota

State law and licensing-board sources · Last reviewed October 11, 2026

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

South Dakota's two state trade boards, the Electrical Commission and the Plumbing Commission, license electricians, plumbers and plumbing specialty trades, but neither lists an HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) or mechanical license. Cities fill the gap: Sioux Falls requires a Mechanical Contractor's license, which takes four years of experience and its Master Mechanic exam. Anyone who handles refrigerants needs federal EPA Section 608 (the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's refrigerant rule) certification, and wiring for heating equipment falls under the state electrical license law. [1][2][3][4][5]

New to the trade?

Starting from zero in South Dakota

In South Dakota you don't need a state license to start in HVAC: get hired as a helper or apprentice by a heating and cooling contractor, or apply to the sheet metal workers' union apprenticeship, which covers the whole state. Plan to earn EPA Section 608 certification before you handle refrigerants. A one-year HVAC diploma from a technical college is another way in. [1][2][4][15][16][17]

  • High school diploma or GED

    No state rule, because South Dakota has no state HVAC license for workers. Programs set their own: the Sheet Metal Workers JATC (Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee) of North and South Dakota (SMART Local 10) requires a high school diploma or GED (General Educational Development test) and asks for your transcript. [1][2][15]

  • Minimum age

    SMART (International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers) Local 10's apprenticeship requires you to be 18 or older. [15]

  • Experience before classes

    SMART Local 10 requires 1,000 hours of work or school in the HVAC industry, or a construction background, before apprenticeship classes Many apprentices start as pre-apprentices with a contractor. [15]

  • Helper jobs

    We found no state license for HVAC helpers. Sioux Falls requires its Mechanical Contractor's license of all contractors doing mechanical or HVAC work, and says that if you are paid for mechanical work on your own, even part-time, you need the Master Mechanic and Mechanical Contractor licenses. Its pages don't address employees of a licensed contractor, so confirm with the city. [1][2][3]

  • EPA 608 certification

    Federal law requires technicians who maintain, service, repair or dispose of equipment that could release refrigerants to be certified. Certification has four types (I, II, III and Universal) and doesn't expire. See our EPA 608 guide. [4]

  • Applying, tools and pay

    SMART Local 10 takes applications year-round (call (651) 779-6264 for an applicant card), interviews and ranks applicants, and places them in score order. Hand tools cost around $600. Apprentices start at a percentage of journeyperson pay with a raise every 2,000 hours over 8,000 hours. [15]

  • Physical requirements

    SMART Local 10 requires the physical ability to do the work, and a physical exam may be required before you start. [15]

  • Still in high school?

    Start Today SD (Department of Labor and Regulation) supports youth apprenticeships, usually for juniors and seniors, combining paid work with classes and often high school and college credit. The Department of Education's Architecture and Construction cluster lists Construction Trades courses and a Youth Apprenticeship capstone. Southeast Tech offers dual credit to juniors and seniors at $80.37 a credit hour. There is no state HVAC license for school hours to count toward. [1][2][21][22][23]

Where to apply in South DakotaHow to get an apprenticeshipHelper jobs

South Dakota HVAC license at a glance

State HVAC license
None found: the state Electrical and Plumbing Commissions don't list an HVAC or mechanical license [1][2]
Sioux Falls
Mechanical Contractor's license for all mechanical or HVAC work Master Mechanic exam after 4 years of experience; $75 exam; 75% to pass; $10,000 bond [3]
Refrigerants
Federal EPA Section 608 certification for anyone who maintains, services, repairs or disposes of refrigerant equipment [4]
Electrical work
Installing wiring or equipment for electric heat or power for pay needs a state Electrical Commission license [5]
Water and gas appliance hookups
The Plumbing Commission licenses appliance installers who connect gas- or electric-powered equipment to water and waste systems [6][8]
Contractor tax license
Anyone contracting for construction or fixture installation needs a free state contractor's excise tax license [13][14]
On this page
  1. At a glance
  2. Starting from zero
  3. The license pathway
  4. Is there a state HVAC license in South Dakota?
  5. Sioux Falls mechanical licenses
  6. The state appliance installer license
  7. EPA 608 and business requirements
  8. Apprenticeships and schools in South Dakota
  9. Steps to get licensed
  10. Where to get the hours
  11. Licensed in another state?
  12. Questions people ask

The license pathway in South Dakota

  1. 1

    HVAC helper or apprentice (no state license)

    You can start as a helper or apprentice with an HVAC contractor. We found no state license for HVAC workers; refrigerant work needs EPA 608 (the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's refrigerant rule) certification, and electrical or plumbing parts of the job fall under those state licenses. [1][2][4][5]

  2. 2

    Appliance Installer (state Plumbing Commission, for water and waste hookups)

    • 2 years of experience
    • Yes: state installer exam, $100
    • $50 application + $105 a year
    • Yearly by June 30

    A state specialty license for connecting gas- or electric-powered appliances and commercial equipment to water and waste systems. You need two years as an appliance apprentice; an appliance contractor license follows one year as an installer. [6][8][9][10][11][12]

  3. 3

    Master Mechanic / Mechanical Contractor (Sioux Falls)

    • 4 years of experience
    • Yes: Master Mechanic exam (IMC, IFGC, SMACNA, ACCA), closed- and open-book parts, 75% to pass, $75
    • $10,000 compliance bond plus license fees
    • Every 2 years

    Required in Sioux Falls for any mechanical or HVAC work done for pay, including furnace and air conditioner repair. You need evidence of four years of experience to take the exam, and you must apply for the license within 90 days of passing. [3]

Is there a state HVAC license in South Dakota?

We found none. South Dakota's Department of Labor and Regulation runs the Electrical Commission, which licenses electricians, and the Plumbing Commission, which licenses plumbers, sewer and water installers, appliance installers, water conditioning, underground irrigation, mobile home and septic installers. Neither lists an HVAC or mechanical license.

Parts of HVAC work still need state licenses. State law requires an Electrical Commission license for anyone who, for pay, installs or repairs wiring, apparatus or equipment for electric lights, heat or power. The Plumbing Commission's appliance installer license covers connecting gas- or electric-powered equipment to water and waste systems. [1][2][5][6]

Sioux Falls mechanical licenses

Sioux Falls requires a Mechanical Contractor's license of all contractors doing mechanical or HVAC work in the city. There is no furnace-only or air-conditioning-only license; the city offers Mechanical, Refrigeration and Fireplace Contractor licenses. Homeowners working on a single-family home they own and live in don't need a license but must get permits.

To get licensed, you show four years of experience and pass the Master Mechanic exam, which has closed- and open-book parts based on the International Mechanical Code, International Fuel Gas Code, SMACNA (Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association) HVAC standards and ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) manuals. The exam costs $75, is offered monthly, and needs 75% to pass. After a first failure you can retest in 30 days; after later failures you wait 90 days. Within 90 days of passing, you file a $10,000 compliance bond and license fees. Licenses renew every two years, and Sioux Falls doesn't accept other states' licenses.

Refrigeration-only contractors take a separate Refrigeration Contractor exam (20 multiple-choice questions on the International Mechanical Code, $75, 75%). Call Sioux Falls licensing at (605) 367-8672. [3][7]

The state appliance installer license

The Plumbing Commission's appliance licenses cover making local connections to water and waste systems for equipment that runs on electricity or gas, plus its maintenance and service. An appliance installer needs two years as an appliance apprentice; an appliance contractor needs one year as an installer. Fees are $20 to apply as an apprentice; $50 to apply, $100 for the exam and $105 a year for an installer; and $200 a year for an appliance contractor. These licenses expire June 30 each year. [6][8][9][10][11][12]

EPA 608 and business requirements

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 under Section 608. The test depends on the equipment: Type I (small appliances), Type II (high- or very high-pressure), Type III (low-pressure) or Universal. Certification doesn't expire. More in our EPA 608 guide.

If you contract for HVAC installation, South Dakota's Department of Revenue requires a contractor's excise tax license before you start work, whatever the size of your business. The license is free, and the tax is 2% of gross receipts on construction projects. [4][13][14]

Apprenticeships and schools in South Dakota

Union: SMART Local 10's contract area covers the entire state, split at the Missouri River, and includes residential and commercial HVAC. The Sheet Metal Workers JATC of North and South Dakota takes applications year-round. Requirements: age 18, a diploma or GED, physical ability, and 1,000 hours of HVAC work or school or a construction background before classes.

Technical colleges: Mitchell Technical College, Southeast Technical College and Western Dakota Technical College offer HVAC programs.

State program: Start Today SD connects job seekers with registered apprenticeship sponsors. See also HVAC helper jobs and vocational school. [15][16][17][18][19]

Steps to get licensed in South Dakota

  1. Get hired as a helper or apprentice

    Apply to HVAC contractors or to the SMART Local 10 apprenticeship. You don't need a state license to start. [1][2][15]

  2. Earn EPA Section 608 certification

    Pass an EPA-approved test for the type of equipment you work on before you handle refrigerants. [4]

  3. Add state licenses for electrical or plumbing parts of the job

    Wiring for heating equipment done for pay falls under the Electrical Commission; connecting appliances to water and waste systems falls under the Plumbing Commission's appliance installer license. [5][6][8]

  4. Build four years of experience

    Sioux Falls asks for evidence of four years of experience before you can take its Master Mechanic exam. [3]

  5. Get a city license where you work

    In Sioux Falls, pass the Master Mechanic exam ($75, 75%) and apply for the Mechanical Contractor's license with a $10,000 bond within 90 days. Check other cities' rules where you work. [3]

Where to get the hours

Programs that train HVAC technicians in or for South Dakota, 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.

Open the reciprocity map · How reciprocity works

AlaskaAK MaineME VermontVT New HampshireNH WashingtonWA IdahoID MontanaMT North DakotaND MinnesotaMN IllinoisIL WisconsinWI MichiganMI New YorkNY Rhode IslandRI MassachusettsMA OregonOR NevadaNV WyomingWY South DakotaSD IowaIA IndianaIN OhioOH PennsylvaniaPA New JerseyNJ ConnecticutCT CaliforniaCA UtahUT ColoradoCO NebraskaNE MissouriMO KentuckyKY West VirginiaWV VirginiaVA MarylandMD DelawareDE ArizonaAZ New MexicoNM KansasKS ArkansasAR TennesseeTN North CarolinaNC South CarolinaSC District of ColumbiaDC OklahomaOK LouisianaLA MississippiMS AlabamaAL GeorgiaGA HawaiiHI TexasTX FloridaFL
SD Listed here (agreement or endorsement)

Questions people ask

Do you need a license to do HVAC in South Dakota?

Not from the state for HVAC itself; the state boards license electricians, plumbers and plumbing specialties. Cities can require one: Sioux Falls requires a Mechanical Contractor's license for any mechanical or HVAC work. Refrigerant work requires EPA 608 certification. [1][2][3][4]

How do I get an HVAC license in Sioux Falls?

Show four years of experience, pass the Master Mechanic exam ($75, 75% to pass), then apply within 90 days with a $10,000 compliance bond and license fees. Licenses renew every two years, and the city doesn't accept out-of-state licenses. [3]

Do I need a high school diploma for an HVAC apprenticeship in South Dakota?

The state sets no rule because there's no state HVAC worker license, but SMART Local 10's apprenticeship requires a diploma or GED and age 18. [1][2][15]

Sources (23)
  1. South Dakota Electrical Commission, South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  2. South Dakota Plumbing Commission, South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  3. Mechanical Contractor, City of Sioux Falls. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  4. Section 608 Technician Certification Requirements, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  5. SDCL Chapter 36-16, Electricians and Electrical Contractors, South Dakota Legislature. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  6. ARSD 20:53:01:01, Definitions, South Dakota Legislature (Administrative Rules of South Dakota). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  7. Refrigeration Contractor, City of Sioux Falls. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  8. Licensing Requirements, South Dakota Plumbing Commission. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  9. ARSD 20:53:12:01, Initial application fees, South Dakota Legislature (Administrative Rules of South Dakota). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  10. ARSD 20:53:12:02, Examination and reexamination fees, South Dakota Legislature (Administrative Rules of South Dakota). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  11. ARSD 20:53:12:03, License and renewal fees, South Dakota Legislature (Administrative Rules of South Dakota). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  12. SDCL Chapter 36-25, Plumbers, South Dakota Legislature. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  13. Contractor's Excise Tax, South Dakota Department of Revenue. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  14. License Requirements for Sales, Use & Contractor's Excise Tax (August 2025), South Dakota Department of Revenue. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  15. South Dakota - SMART Local 10, SMART Local 10 (Sheet Metal Workers). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  16. Heating & Cooling Technology, Mitchell Technical College. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  17. HVAC/R Technology, Southeast Technical College. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  18. HVAC/R Technology, Western Dakota Technical College. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  19. For Career Seekers, Start Today SD (South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  20. Apprenticeship (Training Opportunities for Individuals), South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  21. Youth Apprenticeship, Start Today SD (South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  22. CTE Career Cluster: Architecture and Construction, South Dakota Department of Education. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  23. Dual Credit, Southeast Technical College. Accessed October 11, 2026.