HVAC Technician License in District of Columbia — Requirements, Fees & Exam

How to get licensed as an HVAC technician in District of Columbia: PSI exam — verified from District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades.

Source-verified

Requirements below are drawn from District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades, Occupational and Professional Licensing (OPL), Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) - formerly the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) (official site) and last verified July 25, 2026. Boards change fees and rules often — confirm before acting.

Requirements at a glance

Who must be licensed - the District licenses the individual mechanic, and separately the business: 'Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic' is one of the non-health occupations the District has determined requires regulation (D.C. Official Code 47-2853.04(a)(36)), regulated by the Mayor through the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (47-2853.04(c)). The statutory definition of the trade is broad: 'the term "refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic" means a person who designs, installs, maintains or alters mechanical systems for refrigeration or air conditioning of any public or private building or vehicle' (47-2853.201). District rules make the individual requirement explicit - 'no person shall engage in or be employed in the business of installing, maintaining, repairing, or replacing refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, within the limits set forth in 301, without being licensed to do so' (17 DCMR 303.1, a bar the rule itself opens with 'Except as specifically provided otherwise in this section' - so the section's own carve-outs, like supervised work under a master's permit, qualify it) - and add that anyone doing 'the mechanical work of installation, maintenance, repair, or replacement of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment' must first hold a Journeyman Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic's license unless covered by an exemption in 17 DCMR 302 (303.7). A separate business license, the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractor license, is required of the firm, and it must be conducted by or regularly employ a licensed master (17 DCMR 303.6, 305.1). So unlike states that license only the contracting company, the District licenses the technician as well as the business.
The Board of Industrial Trades: The credential is issued under the Board of Industrial Trades, which consists of 15 members, of whom 'two shall be refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics licensed in the District,' alongside plumbers, electricians, steam and other operating engineers, asbestos workers, elevator mechanics, an elevator inspector, an elevator contractor and a consumer member. 'The Board of Industrial Trades shall regulate the practice of plumbers, gasfitters, electricians, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics, steam and other operating engineers, asbestos workers, elevator mechanics, elevator inspectors ... and elevator contractors. The Board may establish bonding and insurance requirements, subcategories of licensure, education, and experience requirements for licensure, and other requirements' (D.C. Official Code 47-2853.06(d)). DLCP lists the current refrigeration and air conditioning license categories as Apprentice Mechanic, Journeyman Mechanic, Master Mechanic, Master Mechanic LTD, Contractor and Contractor LTD. Board and licensing contact: Occupational and Professional Licensing, 1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20024, (202) 671-4500.
CFC / refrigerant certification is both a federal rule and a District application document: Federal law is the baseline: under the Clean Air Act and 40 CFR part 82, subpart F, a technician who maintains, services, repairs or disposes of equipment that could release refrigerant must hold EPA Section 608 certification. In the District that credential does double duty, because the licensing statute itself requires it of the limited master - an applicant for master mechanic limited must 'Have proof of chlor fluro carbon certification' (D.C. Official Code 47-2853.202(c)(2)) - and DLCP's application checklist lists CFC Certification among the items a refrigeration applicant supplies, marked 'Master ONLY,' while its Refrigeration/Air-Conditioning instructions list CFC Universal Certification as a journeyman-level document as well. Bring your EPA 608 card with the application.
The examination, and how to schedule it: Examinations for the District's industrial trades are delivered by PSI: 'Exams may be scheduled online or by phone. To schedule online, visit psiexams.com. New users will need to create an account and register prior to scheduling an exam,' selecting Government/State Licensing Agencies, then District of Columbia exams, then the licensing exam sought; applicants may also schedule by phone at 1 (855) 557-0616 (DLCP Board of Industrial Trades page). DLCP states that the refrigeration and air conditioning examination is open book and names the International Mechanical Code (2012) and Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (2004) as its study references. To sit for the examination the applicant must first show the required experience, with employment verification letters signed by a master detailing the experience and length of employment. Every applicant also needs a 2"x2" passport-style photo in .jpeg format, a government-issued identification card, and a debit or credit card for the application, examination or license fees; District rules add that the application is sworn to before a notary public (17 DCMR 309.6, 3301.1(b)).
Scope of work - what an RAC license does and does not authorize: A District refrigeration and air conditioning license is not a general electrical or plumbing license, and the rules draw the boundary in feet. On an original installation, the licensee is limited to connecting the equipment to: 'The disconnecting means required for each motor which is located within sight of the motor and not more than ten feet (10') from the motor'; 'A public water supply shut-off valve, located within ten feet (10') of the equipment'; 'An approved drain'; and 'All interconnecting control wiring on the load side of each disconnecting means' meeting the first requirement (17 DCMR 301.2). The ten-foot distance is measured without regard for any intervening object other than a wall or partition (301.3). Each disconnecting means must be installed under an approved electrical permit, and each shut-off valve and approved drain by or under the supervision of a licensed master plumber under an approved permit (301.4); connection of the public water supply must be through an approved check valve or vacuum breaker installed by a licensed master plumber (301.5). On maintenance, repair or replacement the licensee may work on 'the various components of refrigeration or air conditioning systems, including but not limited to, compressors, motors, controls, water regulating valves, and condensers' (301.6), with electrical repairs limited from the motor disconnect means (including replacing branch circuit wiring on its load side) (301.7) and plumbing repairs limited to between the approved water shut-off valve and the approved sanitary drain, including replacing piping (301.8). Upsizing a component or adding new equipment pulls the work back under the installation limits (301.9, 301.10).
Bond, permits, and the designated master: The contractor license and the designated master both rest on a bond: 'The required bond shall be in the penalty of five thousand dollars ($5,000)' (17 DCMR 311.5), running to the District with corporate surety authorized by the Secretary of the Treasury and by the D.C. Department of Insurance (311.1), and DLCP's current Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Bond form states it may be used 'for either Contractor or Designated Master bonds. However, a separate bond must be completed and submitted for each licensee in the appropriate amount required by each license type.' A surety may terminate its liability on thirty days' written notice, and unless a new bond is filed before the notice period expires the license terminates (311.6-311.8); if a recovery is had on the bond, the principal must restore it to its original amount (311.10). Permits issue only to a master (or to a firm employing one) (314.1), and if permitted work is not brought into compliance in the time the Director allows, 'the Director shall call upon the permit holder's surety bond to pay another qualified person or firm to complete the work' (314.3).
Title protection and penalties: 'Unless licensed in accordance with this subchapter, no person shall use the words or terms "air conditioning mechanic," "refrigeration mechanic," "licensed air conditioning mechanic," "licensed refrigeration mechanic," "master mechanic," or any combination of those words to imply that the person is licensed to perform the services of a refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic in the District' (D.C. Official Code 47-2853.203). The rules add that no licensee may allow another person to use or operate under that license, no license may be assigned or transferred, a license that is changed or altered is void, and no unlicensed person may display a sign or advertise by business cards, stationery, publication or directory - or claim orally to a prospective customer - that they conduct an air conditioning and refrigeration business (17 DCMR 315.2, 315.4, 315.5, 315.9, 315.10). 'Any person who violates any rule or section of this chapter, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than three hundred dollars ($300) or imprisonment of not more than ninety (90) days' (17 DCMR 315.11); the District's general licensing subchapter carries its own fines and penalties provisions at D.C. Official Code 47-2853.27 and 47-2853.29.
Reciprocity and licensure by endorsement: There is no published refrigeration and air conditioning reciprocity program. DLCP's Board of Industrial Trades page describes reciprocity only for electricians: 'Electrician Journeymen and Master Electricians (licensed in Maryland and Virginia) are eligible to become licensed in the District of Columbia through reciprocity,' and the page separately notes new licensure reciprocity for Maryland plumbing professionals - neither reaches the refrigeration trade. The general statutory route remains open: a board 'shall waive the requirements for passage of an examination or other proof of fitness to practice' for a person licensed or certified in the same or substantially similar occupation and in good standing in a state whose standards were at least as high as the District's and which admits District licensees in like manner, or for a person certified by a recognized national certifying organization on comparable standards who has not been disciplined (D.C. Official Code 47-2853.12(b)). Where a board finds the occupation requires substantial knowledge of District law it may require a District-law examination, but 'An applicant applying for licensure as a journeyman refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic pursuant to 47-2853.202(c) shall be exempt from the requirements of this subsection' (47-2853.12(c)(4)). Each board must maintain, and the Board of Industrial Trades must annually update, the list of national certifying organizations and states whose standards qualify (47-2853.12(d), (d-1)).

Legal basis

District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades, Occupational and Professional Licensing (OPL), Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) - formerly the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) administers HVAC technician licensing in District of Columbia. Every figure below is verified against the board’s own official pages and dated. Who must personally hold a credential — the contractor, the business, or the individual worker — is set out under Requirements.

What it’s called

The District does not call it an ‘HVAC license.’ The official name of the individual credential is Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic, issued by the Board of Industrial Trades at the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) - the agency many people still know as DCRA, its former name. DLCP issues six categories under that trade: Refrig/Air Cond Apprentice Mechanic, Journeyman Mechanic, Master Mechanic, Master Mechanic LTD, Contractor and Contractor LTD. ‘LTD’ or ‘Limited’ does not mean a restricted or provisional license - it refers to equipment size, covering work at the 25-compressor-horsepower level and below, while the unlimited master license reaches systems of any size. Searches for a ‘DC HVAC license,’ ‘DC air conditioning license,’ ‘refrigeration mechanic license’ or ‘AC mechanic license’ all resolve to this credential, and the statute in fact protects those titles: the words ‘air conditioning mechanic,’ ‘refrigeration mechanic,’ ‘master mechanic’ and combinations of them may not be used by an unlicensed person. Two related credentials are commonly confused with it. The Refrigeration and Air Conditioning CONTRACTOR license is the business license - it does not certify the owner’s skill, but requires the firm to be run by or to regularly employ a licensed master who is named as its designated master mechanic and who is bonded. And EPA Section 608 (CFC) certification is a FEDERAL refrigerant-handling credential held by the individual technician; in the District it is not a substitute for the mechanic license, but it is a document the District asks for - the statute requires proof of chlorofluorocarbon certification from a master mechanic limited applicant, and DLCP lists CFC certification among the items a refrigeration applicant submits.

License types & fees

Type	Experience	Exam	Fee
Apprentice Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic (registration, not an examined license)	No experience required to enter. 'An applicant to be an apprentice refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic shall be registered by the Mayor, without examination, upon providing such information as may be required by the Board of Industrial Trades and payment of appropriate fees. An apprentice refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic shall work only under the direct personal supervision and control of a licensed master mechanic' (D.C. Official Code 47-2853.202(a)). DLCP's application instructions list Employment Verification or School Enrollment as the supporting document for the apprentice level.	None - the apprentice is registered without examination (47-2853.202(a)). The apprentice's authority to work comes from the master's supervision: District rules provide that the licensing requirement 'shall not be applicable to persons performing refrigeration or air conditioning work under the personal supervision of, and under the authority of a permit issued to, a validly licensed Master Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic or Master Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic Limited, who is responsible for the proper performance of the work' (17 DCMR 303.2).	DLCP's published Board of Industrial Trades fee schedule prices refrigeration and air conditioning licensure by category rather than by trade level: Application $65.00, and a Mechanic license $110.00 for up to 2 years (renewal $155.00). A late renewal fee of $50.00, a duplicate license fee of $30.00 and a verification-of-records fee of $30.00 also apply. Examination fees are set by 17 DCMR 3500.3: a national examination (developed and administered by a third party) costs the third party's actual charge, a standard examination (third-party developed, agency administered) costs the actual charge plus $25.00, and a local examination costs $25.00.
Journeyman Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic	DLCP's Refrigeration/Air-Conditioning application instructions set the journeyman path at 3 years' experience, supported by tax records, an employment verification letter and CFC Universal Certification, with the examination required. Note a real difference between the two official layers: the statute's eligibility section (D.C. Official Code 47-2853.202) sets out eligibility for apprentice, master mechanic and master mechanic limited and does not itself state a journeyman experience standard, while District rules do require the license - 'It is unlawful for any person to engage in the mechanical work of installation, maintenance, repair, or replacement of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment (except persons not covered by this chapter under 302) unless he or she has first obtained a Journeyman Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic's license' (17 DCMR 303.7) - and DLCP lists 'Refrig/Air Cond Journeyman Mechanic' among the license categories it issues. Treat DLCP's published 3-year standard as the operating rule and confirm it with the Board when you apply.	Required, with a waiver route. 'A journeyman's license shall be issued at a time determined by the Director on the basis of a qualifying examination and test of skill in the practical details of this trade given under the direction of the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Licensing Board' (17 DCMR 303.8). The waiver: the Board 'shall accept, in lieu of an examination, experience, or other requirements of test or skill established by the Board, a certificate from a national certifying organization certifying that the applicant: (A) Has completed the organization's apprenticeship program; (B) Has passed the organization's required examination; (C) Is designated by that organization as a journeyman refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic; and (D) Has not been disciplined or otherwise disqualified by the organization' (D.C. Official Code 47-2853.202(d)(1)). DLCP states the practical test of that route: 'With proof of completion of a nationally-certified apprenticeship program, you may waive the journeyman exam,' and that such programs 'must include classroom work as well as 8,000+ hours/4 years of on-the-job training under the supervision of a master.' The statute also exempts a journeyman refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic applicant from any additional District-law examination (47-2853.12(c)(4)).	Application $65.00 plus the Mechanic license fee of $110.00 for up to 2 years; renewal $155.00; late renewal $50.00 (DLCP Board of Industrial Trades fee schedule). Examination fees are set by 17 DCMR 3500.3: a national examination (developed and administered by a third party) costs the third party's actual charge, a standard examination (third-party developed, agency administered) costs the actual charge plus $25.00, and a local examination costs $25.00.
Master Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic (unlimited - systems of any size)	'An applicant for licensure as a master mechanic shall establish to the satisfaction of the Board of Industrial Trades that the applicant has been employed installing, maintaining, repairing and replacing refrigeration and air conditioning equipment systems larger than 25 compressor horsepower or the equivalent tons of refrigeration in the aggregate for a period of at least 5 consecutive years immediately preceding the date of application, as verified in writing by a master mechanic' (D.C. Official Code 47-2853.202(b)). The rules put the same standard in 17 DCMR 306.1(a). DLCP's instructions ask for tax records, CFC Universal Certification and an employment verification letter, and add that experience letters 'should be signed off by a master and detail your experience and the length of time employed.'	Required: the applicant 'Passes an examination on the practical and theoretical aspects of installing, maintaining, repairing, and replacing refrigeration and air conditioning systems larger than twenty-five (25) compressor horsepower or the equivalent tons of refrigeration in the aggregate' (17 DCMR 306.1(b)). DLCP states the examination is open book and lists the International Mechanical Code (2012) and Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (2004) as the study references; examinations are scheduled through PSI at psiexams.com or 1 (855) 557-0616. The examination is meant to demonstrate a practical knowledge of the Refrigeration Code and applicable regulations, an ability to comprehend and interpret plans and drawings, an ability to maintain installations, and an ability to repair apparatus, equipment, fixtures and appliances (17 DCMR 310.2). A master license authorizes the holder 'to supervise or perform any work required in connection with the installation, maintenance, repair, or replacement of any refrigeration or air conditioning system, including the components of a system, regardless of the size and nature of the system' (17 DCMR 304.2).	Application $65.00 plus the Mechanic license fee of $110.00 for up to 2 years; renewal $155.00; late renewal $50.00; reinstatement $155.00; inactive status $155.00 (DLCP Board of Industrial Trades fee schedule). A master who is named as a contractor's designated master must also file a $5,000 bond (17 DCMR 311.5; DLCP Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Bond form, which is used 'for either Contractor or Designated Master bonds' with a separate bond required for each licensee).
Master Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic Limited (systems at the 25-compressor-horsepower level)	'An applicant for licensure as a master mechanic limited shall establish to the satisfaction of the Board of Industrial Trades that the applicant: (1) Has been employed installing, maintaining, repairing and replacing refrigeration and air conditioning equipment systems less than 25 compressor horsepower or the equivalent tons of refrigeration in the aggregate for a period of at least 5 consecutive years immediately preceding the date of application, as verified in writing by a master mechanic, and (2) Have proof of chlor fluro carbon certification' (D.C. Official Code 47-2853.202(c)). Time spent on larger systems counts toward the five years: 'Employment in installing, maintaining, repairing, and replacing refrigeration or air conditioning systems larger than twenty-five (25) compressor horsepower or the equivalent tons of refrigeration shall be acceptable as part of the five (5) years of employment required' (17 DCMR 307.2). Watch the threshold wording, which differs between official texts: the statute says systems 'less than 25 compressor horsepower,' the rules say systems 'up to and including twenty-five (25) compressor horsepower' (17 DCMR 304.3, 307.1), and DLCP's application instructions say 'Any work performed on equipment at or below 25 compressor horsepower is considered limited.'	Required: an examination 'on the practical and theoretical aspects of installing, maintaining, repairing, and replacing refrigeration and air conditioning systems up to and including twenty-five (25) compressor horsepower or the equivalent tons of refrigeration in the aggregate' (17 DCMR 307.1(b)). Scheduled through PSI, as for the unlimited master license.	Same schedule as the unlimited master: Application $65.00, Mechanic license $110.00 for up to 2 years, renewal $155.00, late renewal $50.00 (DLCP Board of Industrial Trades fee schedule).
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractor (and Contractor Limited) - the business license	This is the business-level license, and it is held on the strength of a master's credential rather than the owner's experience. 'A license as a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractor may be issued to a person, firm, or corporation proposing to engage in that business if the following requirements are met: (a) The business shall be conducted at a specified location; and (b) The business shall be conducted by or shall regularly employ at least one (1) person holding a valid Master Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic's license or a valid Master Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic Limited's license' (17 DCMR 305.1). If the highest grade held is Master Limited, the contractor license is correspondingly limited to systems up to and including 25 compressor horsepower (17 DCMR 305.2) - DLCP issues that as the 'Refrig/Air Cond Contractor LTD' category. At least one master must be named the 'designated master mechanic,' who 'shall supervise and be responsible for the work to be performed under the authority of the permits issued to the contractor in the name of the designated master' (305.4), and 'regularly employs' means the master 'shall be available to supervise the installation of refrigeration or air conditioning equipment at all times during the installation' (305.5). A contractor with more than one business location 'shall obtain a separate license and file a separate bond for each business location' (305.10), and a non-resident contractor must designate a District resident as local agent for service of notices (305.8). DLCP's own checklist for trade contractors is proof of registration or certificate of good standing, a designated DC-licensed master tradesperson, and the bond.	No separate contractor examination - the trade competency is supplied by the designated master. Permits follow the master, not the business: 'Permits for work to be done in accordance with the various codes governing the scope of work permitted under this chapter ... shall be issued by the Director only to persons who hold valid Master Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic licenses or Master Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic Limited licenses, or to a firm or corporation doing business by virtue of having a person holding one of the master's licenses currently in its employ' (17 DCMR 314.1). A master may not stand behind more than one business: 'No Master Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic or Master Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic Limited shall be responsible for the work of more than one (1) contractor' (17 DCMR 315.7).	Application $65.00; Contractor license $120.00 for up to 2 years; renewal $180.00; late renewal $50.00; reinstatement $180.00; inactive status $180.00; duplicate license $30.00; verification of records $30.00 (DLCP Board of Industrial Trades fee schedule). Plus the bond: 'The required bond shall be in the penalty of five thousand dollars ($5,000)' (17 DCMR 311.5), and DLCP's current Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Bond form is written in 'the full and just sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00),' remaining in effect 'through September 30, (EVEN year).' The license is valid only so long as the business is conducted by or regularly employs a licensed master (17 DCMR 305.3), and a business license terminates if the licensee fails to file and maintain an approved bond (17 DCMR 313.1).

Who does NOT need this license — exemptions

The District’s carve-outs sit in two layers, and both have to be read - the trade rules and the general licensing statute. THE TRADE RULES. 17 DCMR 302, headed ‘Persons Not Subject to These Regulations,’ provides, quoted to the end of each operative clause: 302.1 ‘The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to persons actually engaged in the performance of work under contract with the Federal government, or work done by personnel employed by the Federal government during the course of their regular government employment.’ 302.2 ‘The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to a person who installs, maintains, or repairs refrigerating or air conditioning equipment, machinery, or devices in a laboratory for experimental and developmental purposes if the laboratory obtains an exemption certificate or letter from the Director clearly setting forth the fact that the work shall be exempt.’ 302.3 ‘An employee of the District of Columbia whose name appears on the regular roll of examined licensees may be licensed without the payment of a fee if that person carries on no work authorized by that license other than for the District of Columbia. A license issued under this subsection shall be marked “District of Columbia Government Work Only.”’ 302.4 ‘The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any person licensed as a steam or operating engineer under the laws of the District of Columbia if he or she is performing refrigeration or air conditioning maintenance or repair work along with his or her other routine duties as a steam or operating engineer for the person regularly employing him or her as a steam or operating engineer.’ 302.5 ‘No license under this chapter shall be required of a person, firm, or corporation for the installation, maintenance, repair, or replacement of a self-contained unit system containing not more than two pounds (2 lbs.) of refrigerant; Provided, that if an electrical or plumbing permit is required by the D.C. Electrical Code or D.C. Plumbing Code for work involved in connection with the installation, maintenance, repair, or replacement of a self-contained unit system, the electrical or plumbing work may be performed only under the authority of the required electrical or plumbing permit.’ 302.6 ‘No license of any kind authorized by this chapter shall be required of any person, firm, or corporation by reason of that person, firm, or corporation being engaged in the installation, maintenance, repair, or replacement of refrigeration or air conditioning equipment in motor vehicles or railroad rolling stock.’ 302.7 ‘The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any public utility, as defined in D.C. Code 43-203 (1981), which is under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia, when that utility is engaged or employed in the business of installing, maintaining, repairing, and replacing refrigeration and air conditioning equipment as part of the performance of work for which the utility holds a franchise to engage in rendering a public utility service.’ TWO MORE CARVE-OUTS SIT OUTSIDE THAT SECTION AND ARE EASY TO MISS. The supervision rule: ‘The licensing requirement in 303.1 shall not be applicable to persons performing refrigeration or air conditioning work under the personal supervision of, and under the authority of a permit issued to, a validly licensed Master Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic or Master Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic Limited, who is responsible for the proper performance of the work’ (17 DCMR 303.2) - this is how apprentices and unlicensed helpers work lawfully. And a geographic exception buried in the penalties section at the tail of the chapter: ‘No person without a license required by this chapter may perform any air conditioning or refrigeration work in the District of Columbia except in buildings under the control of the officer in charge of Public Buildings and Grounds or of the Architect of the Capitol’ (17 DCMR 315.8). The chapter also preserves other trades’ authority rather than exempting them: nothing in the licensing section prohibits electrical work done by or under the supervision of a person licensed to perform it, or plumbing work done by or under the supervision of a licensed master plumber (17 DCMR 303.3, 303.4). THE GENERAL LICENSING STATUTE. D.C. Official Code 47-2853.03 adds exemptions that apply across the regulated occupations: (b) practice by a person ’enrolled in a recognized training program, school, or college as a candidate for a degree or certificate in that occupation or profession, or enrolled in a recognized postgraduate training program,’ provided the practice is part of a course of instruction, under the supervision of a person licensed or qualified as a teacher of that occupation, at a District or federal facility or one deemed appropriate by the school or program, and in accordance with the board’s procedures; (c) practice by a person ‘who has filed an initial application for licensure or certification and is awaiting action on that initial application,’ provided it is under the supervision of an appropriately licensed person, at a District or federal facility or other appropriate facility, and in accordance with any other legal requirements; and (f), which provides that the prohibition on unlicensed practice ‘shall not apply to: (1) A person employed in the District by the federal government, while he or she is acting in the official discharge of the duties of employment; or (2) A person licensed or certified to practice an occupation or profession in a state who is called from that state for consultation in the District, or to give a demonstration or teach a course in the District, provided that the person engages in the consultation or demonstration in affiliation with a comparable licensed person pursuant to this subchapter or teaches at a licensed educational institution approved to offer instruction in the person’s field of expertise.’ None of these exemptions displaces federal EPA Section 608 refrigerant-handling certification, and none removes the requirement that any electrical or plumbing work be permitted and performed under the appropriate license.

Fees

CURRENT PUBLISHED FEES (DLCP, Board of Industrial Trades - Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanics). Application: $65.00. License: Mechanic $110.00 for up to 2 years; Contractor $120.00 for up to 2 years. Renewal: Mechanic $155.00 for up to 2 years; Contractor $180.00 for up to 2 years. Late renewal fee: $50.00. Reinstated license: Mechanic $155.00; Contractor $180.00. Inactive status: Mechanic $155.00; Contractor $180.00. Duplicate license: $30.00. Verification of records: $30.00. Examination fees are set by 17 DCMR 3500.3: a national examination (developed and administered by a third party) costs the third party’s actual charge, a standard examination (third-party developed, agency administered) costs the actual charge plus $25.00, and a local examination costs $25.00. PSI administers the tests, so the national-examination rate is PSI’s current charge - confirm it when scheduling. Application fees are non-refundable by statute ’even if the applicant withdraws his or her application for licensure, certification or registration, or is found to be not qualified’ (D.C. Official Code 47-2853.10(d), noted on DLCP’s own fee page). BE AWARE OF A CONFLICT BETWEEN TWO OFFICIAL SOURCES: the District’s refrigeration and air conditioning chapter still carries a legacy fee table reading ‘Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractor $35; Master Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic $15; Master Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic Limited $10’ (17 DCMR 309.3), a table dating to the chapter’s 1955 source order, alongside a $5 fee for a certified copy of a bond (311.4) and a $1 duplicate-license fee (315.3). DLCP’s published schedule is also carried by current rule: 17 DCMR 3500.2(o) (chapter 35, Licensing Fees, chapter effective May 17, 2024) lists the same figures for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanics - application $65.00; Mechanic license $110.00 and Contractor $120.00 (each up to 2 years); renewal $155.00 (Mechanic) and $180.00 (Contractor) - so the operative conflict is between the refrigeration chapter’s own unstruck 1955 table (309.3) and the current chapter-35 fee rule, which DLCP’s page matches. Budget from the current rule and DLCP’s schedule, and confirm with DLCP before paying. OTHER COSTS: the $5,000 bond required of a contractor and of a designated master (17 DCMR 311.5; DLCP Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Bond form) - a surety premium, not a $5,000 payment; note DLCP’s bond form runs ‘for five (5) years from the date hereof’ while the license itself expires September 30 of even-numbered years, so the two run on different clocks - plus the PSI examination fee, EPA Section 608 / CFC certification, and, for a contractor, proof of registration or a certificate of good standing.

Exam

The District examines the individual mechanic, and the examination is delivered by PSI. DLCP’s Board of Industrial Trades page instructs applicants to schedule online at psiexams.com (create an account, select Government/State Licensing Agencies, then District of Columbia exams, then the licensing examination sought) or by phone at 1 (855) 557-0616. What is examined depends on the level. A journeyman’s license ‘shall be issued at a time determined by the Director on the basis of a qualifying examination and test of skill in the practical details of this trade given under the direction of the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Licensing Board’ (17 DCMR 303.8). A master mechanic must pass ‘an examination on the practical and theoretical aspects of installing, maintaining, repairing, and replacing refrigeration and air conditioning systems larger than twenty-five (25) compressor horsepower or the equivalent tons of refrigeration in the aggregate’ (17 DCMR 306.1(b)), while a master mechanic limited is examined on systems ‘up to and including twenty-five (25) compressor horsepower’ (17 DCMR 307.1(b)). The examination must include ‘questions, diagrams, and other material sufficient to demonstrate to the Board that the applicant has the experience and knowledge of regulations and construction methods considered necessary to engage in the occupation,’ and may require the applicant to demonstrate a practical knowledge of the Refrigeration Code and applicable regulations, an ability to comprehend and interpret plans and drawings, an ability to maintain installations, and an ability to repair apparatus, equipment, fixtures and appliances (17 DCMR 310.1, 310.2). DLCP states the examination is open book and lists the International Mechanical Code (2012) and Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (2004) as the study references - an older edition set than the codes now used for construction, so confirm the current reference list with the Board before you sit. The apprentice registration requires no examination (D.C. Official Code 47-2853.202(a)), and the journeyman examination can be waived on proof of completion of a nationally-certified apprenticeship program that includes classroom work plus 8,000 or more hours (four years) of on-the-job training under a master’s supervision, evidenced by official transcripts or a certification of completion (47-2853.202(d); DLCP Refrigeration/Air-Conditioning application instructions). An applicant who fails to qualify or fails to report for a scheduled examination forfeits the fees paid and must file a new application (17 DCMR 310.3), and a failed examination may not be challenged before the Board or the Director (17 DCMR 3302.8).

Renewal & continuing education

Two years, on a fixed District-wide date rather than the anniversary of issuance. DLCP publishes it plainly: for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, ‘Expiration Date: September 30; Renewal Year: Even,’ and its application instructions add that ‘Regardless of when they are obtained, licenses expire September 30 on even-numbered years.’ The statutory and general-rule basis: ‘A license, certificate or registration, expires 2 years from the date of its first issuance or renewal unless renewed in accordance with procedures established in this section, except where another period is provided by law or regulation’ (D.C. Official Code 47-2853.12(l)), and ‘The term of a license issued or renewed pursuant to an act listed in 3300.1 is two (2) years and shall expire on the date established by the chapter of this title relating to the particular occupation or profession’ (17 DCMR 3306.1). One official text disagrees and should be read as superseded: the refrigeration chapter’s own general-licensing rule still says each class of license entitles the holder to work ‘for a period of one (1) year’ (17 DCMR 303.9), a survival from the chapter’s 1955 source order; the two-year cycle in the Code, in the general non-health occupations rules and on DLCP’s live renewal page is what governs, and the DLCP bond form is likewise written to expire ’through September 30, (EVEN year).’ MECHANICS OF RENEWAL: DLCP sends a renewal notice at least 30 days before expiration stating the expiration date, the date the renewal application must be received, and the renewal fee (D.C. Official Code 47-2853.13(a); the general rules say at least 60 days, 17 DCMR 3305.1), but failure to receive it does not excuse the licensee (17 DCMR 3305.4). To renew, submit a timely application, pay the renewal fee, submit satisfactory evidence of compliance with any continuing education the board has established, and meet any other requirements (47-2853.13(b)). A practitioner who misses the expiration date may still renew within 60 days by paying the late fee and is then deemed to have held a valid license during the gap; after 60 days the license is deemed lapsed as of the expiration date and reinstatement is required (17 DCMR 3305.5, 3305.6). The refrigeration chapter’s OWN renewal rule is stricter, and both rules are on the books: 17 DCMR 312.4 permits renewal without re-examination only subject to conditions including that the license ‘was not revoked during the period for which it was issued, and that it was in full force and effect on the date of expiration’ and that ’the application for renewal is made in writing within thirty (30) days from the date the license expired.’ Renew before expiration; past it, treat 30 days as the safe outer bound. Inactive status is available on application and payment of the inactive fee; a person inactive for less than 5 years may return by paying the fee and meeting current continuing-education and renewal requirements, while a person inactive for 5 years or more is treated as a new applicant unless the board finds reasonable cause or excusable neglect (47-2853.14). A licensee must register any change of business or home address with the Director within five days (17 DCMR 303.10; within thirty days under 17 DCMR 3305.3). No continuing-education requirement is published for District refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics. The District’s refrigeration and air conditioning chapter (17 DCMR ch. 3) contains no continuing-education provision, and neither does the general non-health occupations chapter that supplies the term, renewal, reinstatement and hearing rules for the Board of Industrial Trades (17 DCMR ch. 33). The authority to impose one exists but is permissive: ‘Each board may establish by rule continuing education requirements as a condition for renewal of licenses or certificates issued under this subchapter’ (D.C. Official Code 47-2853.12(m)), and renewal requires ‘satisfactory evidence of compliance with any continuing education requirements established by the board’ (47-2853.13(b)(4)) - meaning the obligation exists only if and when the Board of Industrial Trades adopts one. Because a rule can be adopted between renewal cycles, confirm the current position with DLCP when your renewal notice arrives.

How to apply

Applications are handled by District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades, Occupational and Professional Licensing (OPL), Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) - formerly the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA). Start at the official application page .

Frequently asked questions

Does the District of Columbia require an HVAC license?

Yes. The District licenses the trade as ‘Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic,’ one of the regulated non-health occupations (D.C. Official Code 47-2853.04(a)(36)), under the Board of Industrial Trades at the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. The credential is held by the individual: District rules say no person shall engage in or be employed in the business of installing, maintaining, repairing or replacing refrigeration and air conditioning equipment without being licensed (17 DCMR 303.1), and that it is unlawful to do the mechanical work without first obtaining a Journeyman Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic’s license unless an exemption applies (17 DCMR 303.7). The business also needs its own Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractor license, which must be conducted by or regularly employ a licensed master mechanic.

What are the license levels, and what does 'Limited' mean?

DLCP issues six refrigeration and air conditioning categories: Apprentice Mechanic, Journeyman Mechanic, Master Mechanic, Master Mechanic LTD, Contractor and Contractor LTD. ‘Limited’ is about equipment size: DLCP explains that ‘Any work performed on equipment at or below 25 compressor horsepower is considered limited.’ An unlimited master may supervise or perform work on any system ‘regardless of the size and nature of the system’ (17 DCMR 304.2), while a limited master is confined to systems up to and including 25 compressor horsepower or the equivalent tons of refrigeration in the aggregate (17 DCMR 304.3). The statute words the limited threshold slightly differently - systems ’less than 25 compressor horsepower’ (D.C. Official Code 47-2853.202(c)(1)) - so ask the Board how your equipment is classified if you sit exactly at 25.

How much experience does the District require?

For a master mechanic, at least 5 consecutive years immediately preceding the application employed installing, maintaining, repairing and replacing systems larger than 25 compressor horsepower or the equivalent tons of refrigeration in the aggregate, verified in writing by a master mechanic (D.C. Official Code 47-2853.202(b)). For a master mechanic limited, the same 5 years on smaller systems, plus proof of chlorofluorocarbon certification (47-2853.202(c)); time spent on larger systems counts toward those five years (17 DCMR 307.2). For the journeyman level, DLCP’s published application instructions set 3 years’ experience with the examination, supported by tax records, an employment verification letter and CFC Universal Certification. An apprentice needs no experience and is registered without examination, but may work only under the direct personal supervision and control of a licensed master mechanic.

What does a DC refrigeration and air conditioning license cost, and how often do I renew?

DLCP’s published fee schedule: application $65.00; license $110.00 for a Mechanic and $120.00 for a Contractor (each up to 2 years); renewal $155.00 for a Mechanic and $180.00 for a Contractor; late renewal $50.00; duplicate license $30.00; verification of records $30.00. Application fees are non-refundable by statute. Licenses run two years on a fixed District date: DLCP states ‘Expiration Date: September 30; Renewal Year: Even,’ and that ‘Regardless of when they are obtained, licenses expire September 30 on even-numbered years.’ A contractor and a designated master must also carry a $5,000 bond, one bond per licensee. Note that the District’s older refrigeration rule still prints a 1950s fee table ($35 contractor, $15 master, $10 limited master, 17 DCMR 309.3) and a one-year term (17 DCMR 303.9) that the current Code, general rules and DLCP schedule have overtaken - budget from DLCP’s published amounts and confirm before paying.

Who can work on refrigeration or air conditioning in DC without a license?

A narrow set of situations, and the exemptions live in two places. The trade rules exempt work under contract with the federal government and work done by federal personnel during their regular government employment; laboratory work for experimental and developmental purposes where the laboratory has an exemption certificate or letter from the Director; District of Columbia employees on the roll of examined licensees, who may be licensed without a fee for District work only; licensed steam or operating engineers doing refrigeration or air conditioning maintenance or repair along with their other routine duties for their regular employer; the installation, maintenance, repair or replacement of a self-contained unit system containing not more than two pounds of refrigerant (though any required electrical or plumbing permit still applies); work on refrigeration or air conditioning equipment in motor vehicles or railroad rolling stock; and public utilities under the Public Service Commission’s jurisdiction acting within their franchise (17 DCMR 302). Separately, a person may work without their own license while under the personal supervision of, and on a permit issued to, a licensed master or limited master who is responsible for the work (17 DCMR 303.2). The general licensing statute adds exemptions for supervised students, applicants awaiting action on an initial application, federal employees in the official discharge of their duties, and out-of-state licensees called in for consultation, a demonstration or teaching (D.C. Official Code 47-2853.03).

Can I transfer a Maryland or Virginia HVAC license into the District?

There is no published refrigeration and air conditioning reciprocity program. DLCP’s reciprocity notices cover electricians licensed by examination in Maryland and Virginia, and separately Maryland plumbing professionals - not the refrigeration trade. The general route remains available: a board must waive the examination for a person licensed or certified and in good standing in a state whose standards were at least as high as the District’s and that admits District licensees in like manner, or for a person certified by a recognized national certifying organization on comparable standards who has not been disciplined (D.C. Official Code 47-2853.12(b)). Journeyman refrigeration and air conditioning applicants are also exempted from any additional District-law examination (47-2853.12(c)(4)). Expect to submit a letter of good standing or license verification from the other jurisdiction with the application.

See every license and certification LicensingAtlas covers in District of Columbia.

Sources & verification

Last verified against these sources: July 25, 2026.

LicensingAtlas states licensing and certification requirements categorically from official sources. It is a reference, not legal or career advice, and requirements change frequently — confirm details with the issuing board before you act.