Idaho HVAC Technician License: 8,000 Hours, PSI Exam

How to get licensed as an HVAC technician in Idaho: 8,000 hours (HVAC Journeyman (certificate of competency) - the individual technician credential), PSI exam — verified from official sources.

Source-verified

Requirements below are drawn from Idaho Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Board - Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) (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 - Idaho licenses the INDIVIDUAL as well as the contracting business: Idaho Code 54-5008 provides that 'it shall be unlawful for any person or firm, copartnership, association or corporation to engage in the business, trade, practice or work of heating, ventilation and air conditioning in this state unless such person or responsible person representing such firm, copartnership, association or corporation, has successfully passed an examination as provided herein and has been issued a state certificate of competency,' and adds that 'such certificate of competency shall not be transferable.' Section 54-5009 then establishes four classifications of competency - apprentice, journeyman, contractor, and specialty contractor - with the apprentice and journeyman classifications applying equally to specialty apprentices and specialty journeymen. Because a journeyman is defined as a person who 'works in the employ and under direction of an HVAC contractor' (54-5009(2)) and an apprentice may perform HVAC work only 'under the supervision of an HVAC journeyman or HVAC contractor' (54-5009(1)), an employed HVAC worker in Idaho is not covered by the employer's credential: the worker must personally hold a journeyman certificate of competency or be a registered apprentice. That is why credential_holder is 'individual' - though the contracting business must separately hold the HVAC contractor certificate and post the $2,000 bond.
Journeyman experience and instruction: By rule (IDAPA 24.39.70.100.02) a journeyman applicant must pass a board-designated examination and either (a) submit evidence of a minimum of 8,000 hours of work experience as an apprentice making HVAC installations, in accordance with the requirements of the jurisdiction in which the applicant obtained the experience, together with satisfactory completion of 576 hours of a board-approved course of instruction, or (b) submit proof of 16,000 hours of HVAC experience in accordance with the requirements of the jurisdiction in which it was obtained. Lab work performed in a board-approved course of instruction may be credited toward the 8,000-hour requirement. DOPL's HVAC Journeyman Application collects the hours on a Work Verification Form completed separately for each employer, warns that hours submitted are subject to additional verification and that misstatements can lead to revocation of licensure, and notes that a paycheck stub identifying hours worked must be provided on request if overtime is claimed. DOPL's own FAQ adds a practical trap: 'Hours worked without being licensed will not count towards the required OJT time.'
HVAC contractor - journeyman prerequisite and the $2,000 bond: Idaho Code 54-5007 directs the board to prescribe rules for examination, qualification and certification of HVAC contractors, journeymen, apprentices, specialty contractors, specialty journeymen and specialty apprentices, and requires that 'HVAC contractors and specialty contractors shall provide a bond in the amount of two thousand dollars ($2,000) or evidence of such coverage by a corporate industry group bond acceptable to the board.' IDAPA 24.39.70.100.03 repeats the bond requirement and specifies it must be 'effective for the duration of the certificate period.' DOPL's HVAC Contractor Application sets out the qualifying question for each route: an individual applicant must hold an active Idaho HVAC Journeyman license; an entity applicant must employ at least one active Idaho licensed HVAC Journeyman. Contractors and specialty contractors must also 'display a sign or card for public view in the holder's place of business' (54-5014(1)), while journeymen, specialty journeymen, apprentices and specialty apprentices 'shall have their certificate of competency or annual registration card available at all times while on the job' (54-5014(2)).
Exclusive state jurisdiction - no local HVAC license or local licensing fee: Idaho Code 54-5015 is titled 'Exclusive jurisdiction of the state - restriction on requirement for additional licenses or fees.' Subsection (1) provides that 'only the administrator of the division of occupational and professional licenses of the state of Idaho is authorized and empowered to conduct examinations and to pass upon the qualifications of applicants, and to grant and issue certificates of competency and registration of apprentices.' Subsection (2) provides that 'no local jurisdiction shall have the authority to require additional certification or registration or to require payment of any fees in order for any HVAC contractor, specialty contractor, journeyman, specialty journeyman, apprentice, or specialty apprentice to engage in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning trade within the local jurisdiction or to issue certificates to persons certified or registered under the provisions of this chapter.' Two limits on that preemption: subsection (3) states that 'nothing in this chapter shall restrict a city or county from imposing stricter public safety rules,' and 54-5016(4) provides that no provision of the chapter 'shall preclude local governments from collecting fees for permits and inspections where such work is regulated and enforced by city or county code or ordinance,' including in designated areas of city impact. So the trade credential is statewide and singular, while permits and inspections may still be local.
Permits are required for installation work - but not for repair or maintenance: Idaho Code 54-5016(1) makes it unlawful to do 'any construction, installation, improvement, extension or alteration of any heating, ventilation or air conditioning system in any building, residence or structure in the state of Idaho without first obtaining a permit from the authority having jurisdiction authorizing such work to be done, except that no permit shall be required to perform work related to repair or maintenance of an existing HVAC system.' Where a DOPL plumbing or electrical permit covers part of an HVAC installation, or a DOPL HVAC permit covers part of a plumbing or electrical installation, 'the permit issued and inspection performed shall be sufficient to satisfy the permitting and inspection requirements of the other division entities' (54-5016(2)). Every permit expires 365 days from the purchase date or last inspection and may be renewed for an additional year on Division approval and payment of a $65 renewal fee (IDAPA 24.39.70.500.01.c; DOPL HVAC FAQ). Homeowners installing on their own premises under the 54-5002(1)(a) exception must still secure an HVAC permit (IDAPA 24.39.70.500.01.b).
Where HVAC, electrical and plumbing credentials overlap: Idaho Code 54-5015(4) provides that a certificate issued under chapter 26, title 54 (plumbing) or a license issued under chapter 10, title 54 (electrical) 'shall be acceptable for all HVAC installation work that falls within the scope of the certificate or license that has been issued,' and then enumerates the specific allowances: (a) a holder of a current HVAC or electrical license or a current plumbing certification may install electrical circuitry from the disconnecting means to a water heater and the electrical connections to it, so long as the disconnect is in sight from the unit and the circuit is no more than 50 feet long; (b) a holder of a current HVAC or electrical license may install electrical space heaters with no attached ductwork, electrical connections to HVAC equipment from the disconnecting means to the unit under the same in-sight and 50-foot limits, and ventilating fans except ducted range hoods in residences; (c) a holder of either an HVAC certification or a plumbing certification may install boilers not otherwise subject to inspection by the industrial commission or its authorized agent, fuel piping, piping for hydronic systems, and piping for steam and hot water boiler systems; and (d) HVAC licensees may install control wiring of 24 volts or less for HVAC equipment of five tons or less in capacity. Subsection (5) closes the loop: 'notwithstanding any other provision of this section, plumbing certificate holders are not authorized to install control wiring in HVAC equipment, regardless of voltage.'
No continuing education and no reciprocity: Idaho Code 54-5010(1) empowers the board to establish by rule the requirements as to education, continuing education and examinations relating to the classifications of competency - but the board's rules, IDAPA 24.39.70, impose no continuing-education requirement, and DOPL's own HVAC FAQ answers the question directly: 'Q: Does the State of Idaho have Continuing Education Requirements (CEU) for HVAC? A: There are no Continuing Education Requirements (CEU) for HVAC.' The same FAQ answers reciprocity just as plainly: 'Q: Does Idaho have a Reciprocal Licensing agreement? A: No.' An out-of-state technician therefore qualifies through the ordinary experience-and-examination route, and hours earned in another jurisdiction count only 'in accordance with the requirements of the jurisdiction in which the applicant obtained the experience' (IDAPA 24.39.70.100.02).
Adopted codes and civil penalties: DOPL's HVAC FAQ lists the codes currently adopted for use in Idaho as the 2018 International Mechanical Code, the 2018 International Fuel Gas Code, and the 2018 International Residential Code Parts V and VI. IDAPA 24.39.70.300 sets a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for each separate count or offense, and enumerates the conduct that triggers it: failure to comply with any provision of chapter 50, title 54 or board rule; performing HVAC without an active certificate of competency or registration (except as provided by 54-5002); performance by a specialty contractor or specialty journeyman outside the scope of the specialty certificate; knowingly employing a person without an active certificate or registration; working as an apprentice without required journeyman supervision or employing an apprentice without providing it; failure to obtain a required permit, pay applicable fees, properly post a permit, or request an inspection; failure to make corrections in the time allotted; misrepresentation of permit or inspection fees to the customer; advertising as an HVAC contractor without holding a current certificate or without including the certificate number in the advertisement; and failure to comply with any lawful order of the Board or Division administrator.

Legal basis

Idaho Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Board - Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) administers HVAC technician licensing in Idaho. 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

Idaho’s HVAC credential is formally a ‘certificate of competency’ issued by the Idaho Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Board within the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) - the board and DOPL themselves also call it a license, and DOPL’s application forms are titled ‘HVAC Journeyman Application’ and ‘HVAC Contractor Application.’ Searches for an ‘Idaho HVAC license,’ ‘AC license,’ ‘air conditioning license,’ ‘HVAC journeyman card’ or ‘HVAC contractor license’ all map to this credential. Idaho names its classifications apprentice, journeyman, HVAC contractor and HVAC specialty contractor, with specialty apprentice and specialty journeyman variants; the word ‘specialty’ in Idaho means a defined slice of the trade such as gas piping, gas appliances, decorative gas-fired appliances, hearth appliances and non-duct connected oil furnaces, and it expressly excludes plumbing, electrical and duct work. Because the certificate is issued as a card, technicians often call it their ‘journeyman card’ - Idaho Code 54-5014 requires journeymen, specialty journeymen, apprentices and specialty apprentices to have that card available at all times while on the job, and requires contractors and specialty contractors to display a sign or card for public view at their place of business. An employed HVAC worker in Idaho does need a personal state credential - a journeyman certificate or an apprentice registration - which distinguishes Idaho from states that license only the contracting business. Separately, EPA Section 608 refrigerant-handling certification is a FEDERAL credential for technicians who handle refrigerants; it is neither issued by Idaho nor a substitute for any Idaho certificate of competency, and ‘EPA certification’ is not the Idaho HVAC license.

License types & fees

Type	Experience	Exam	Fee
HVAC Apprentice (registration)	The entry credential. An apprentice is 'any person who, as his principal occupation, is engaged in learning and assisting in installation, improvement, extension, alteration or repair of HVAC systems' and 'shall perform HVAC work under the supervision of an HVAC journeyman or HVAC contractor' (Idaho Code 54-5003(2); 54-5009(1)). Every apprentice 'is required to register with the division of occupational and professional licenses and maintain such registration during the entire period in which work experience is accrued' (54-5012(4)) - and DOPL's apprentice application states that hours are only credited while the apprentice is actively registered, so registering late costs the applicant credit toward the journeyman hour requirement.	No examination is required to register as an apprentice. An apprentice may sit for the journeyman examination once the required related instruction approved by the board (in conjunction with the state board for career technical education) is complete and the required hours have been worked (Idaho Code 54-5010(4)).	Idaho Code 54-5012(4) sets the apprentice registration fee at $20.00 and makes an apprentice registration 'valid for two (2) years,' expiring on the apprentice's birthday unless renewed. Note a published conflict: DOPL's Trade Licensing Apprentice Registration Application (the form carries an 'Updated July 1, 2023' stamp, which predates the 2024 amendment to 54-5012) offers HVAC as a '1-year registration' with a '$10.00 processing fee.' The statute is the later authority; confirm the amount DOPL is currently collecting before sending payment.
HVAC Specialty Apprentice (registration)	A specialty apprentice is a person learning and assisting in 'a specific aspect of installation, improvement, extension, alteration or repair of HVAC systems that includes, but is not limited to, such aspects as gas piping, gas appliances and installation, or decorative gas-fired appliances,' and must work under the supervision of an HVAC journeyman, HVAC specialty journeyman, HVAC contractor or HVAC specialty contractor (Idaho Code 54-5003(5)). Registration must be maintained throughout the period experience is accrued (54-5012(4)).	No examination is required for the specialty apprentice registration itself.	$20.00, and a specialty apprentice registration is 'valid for two (2) years' expiring on the specialty apprentice's birthday unless renewed (Idaho Code 54-5012(4)).
HVAC Journeyman (certificate of competency) - the individual technician credential	A journeyman is 'any person who, as his principal occupation, is engaged in the installation, improvement, extension and alteration or repair of HVAC systems and who is familiar with the provisions of this chapter and who works in the employ and under direction of an HVAC contractor and has successfully completed all trade required classes as directed by the board' (Idaho Code 54-5009(2)). Two pathways by rule (IDAPA 24.39.70.100.02): (a) evidence of a minimum of 8,000 hours of work experience as an apprentice making HVAC installations, in accordance with the requirements of the jurisdiction where the experience was obtained, PLUS satisfactory completion of 576 hours of a board-approved course of instruction; or (b) proof of 16,000 hours of HVAC experience in accordance with the requirements of the jurisdiction where it was obtained. Time spent performing lab work in a board-approved course of instruction may be credited toward the 8,000-hour requirement (IDAPA 24.39.70.100.02.b).	Pass an examination designated by the Board. An applicant may sit for the exam after showing proof of completion of either the 576 hours of board-approved instruction or the 16,000 hours of HVAC experience (IDAPA 24.39.70.100.02.a) - so the exam can be taken before the full 8,000 supervised hours are documented, but the certificate issues only once the experience requirement is met.	Idaho Code 54-5012: application for examination $35.00; certificate of competency, initial issue (valid two years) $50.00; renewal (valid two years) $25.00. DOPL's HVAC Journeyman Application shows a $35.00 processing fee for both an Initial application and a Reopen Closed License application, which matches the statutory examination-application fee.
HVAC Specialty Journeyman (certificate of competency)	Requires evidence of a minimum of 2,000 hours of specialty-related experience in accordance with the requirements of the jurisdiction in which the experience was obtained (IDAPA 24.39.70.100.04). Permitted scope of work, by rule: 'Permitted to install hearth appliances, and non-duct connected oil furnaces, the associated fuel gas piping, and venting dedicated exclusively thereto. Does not include any plumbing, electrical or duct work' (IDAPA 24.39.70.100.04.a).	Either (a) pass an examination designated by the Board, or (b) submit evidence of satisfactory completion of a minimum of 60 hours of education in fuel gas code and piping installation methods (IDAPA 24.39.70.100.04).	Idaho Code 54-5012 groups the specialty journeyman with the journeyman: application for examination $35.00; certificate of competency, initial issue (valid two years) $50.00; renewal (valid two years) $25.00.
HVAC Contractor (certificate of competency) - the business-level credential	A contractor is 'any business, trade, partnership, company, firm or association engaged in, but not limited to, the business, trade, practice or work of installing, maintaining or repairing heating, ventilation or air conditioning appliances, or gas-fired equipment that requires special venting or gas supply piping systems or subsystems in the state of Idaho' (Idaho Code 54-5009(3)). DOPL's HVAC Contractor Application states an HVAC contractor 'may be licensed as an individual or as a business entity,' and sets the qualification accordingly: an individual contractor applicant must hold an active Idaho HVAC Journeyman license, and an entity applicant must employ at least one active Idaho licensed HVAC Journeyman. Where the applicant is an entity, 'the applicant submitting the application must represent the entity for examination.'	Pass an examination designated by the Board (IDAPA 24.39.70.100.03; Idaho Code 54-5008 requires the person, or the responsible person representing the firm, to have passed the examination). Idaho Code 54-5007 and IDAPA 24.39.70.100.03 additionally require a compliance bond of $2,000, effective for the duration of the certificate period, or evidence of coverage by a corporate industry group bond acceptable to the board.	Two official figures conflict and both are stated here. Idaho Code 54-5012 provides: application for examination $35.00; certificate of competency, initial issue (valid two years) $75.00; renewal (valid two years) $50.00. DOPL's HVAC Contractor Application (the form carries a 'Revised July 1, 2023' stamp, which predates the 2024 amendment to 54-5012) shows a $35.00 processing fee at application and then states: 'The applicant must also pay a $225 license fee prior to receiving a license. License fees are non-refundable and applications expire one year after the date of application.' Confirm the amount currently being collected with the board before paying. The $2,000 bond is required in either case.
HVAC Specialty Contractor (certificate of competency)	A specialty contractor is 'any person who, as his principal occupation, is engaged in a specific aspect of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning trade that includes, but is not limited to, such aspects as gas piping, gas appliances and installation, or decorative gas-fired appliances.' Idaho Code 54-5009(4) adds that 'a certificate of competency issued for the installation of hearth and barbecue products shall include the authority for all low voltage work necessary to complete the installations.' The specialty contractor's scope of work is limited as set forth in IDAPA 24.39.70.100.04.a.	Pass an examination designated by the Board, and provide the $2,000 compliance bond effective for the duration of the certificate period (Idaho Code 54-5007; IDAPA 24.39.70.100.03).	Idaho Code 54-5012 groups the specialty contractor with the contractor: application for examination $35.00; certificate of competency, initial issue (valid two years) $75.00; renewal (valid two years) $50.00.

Who does NOT need this license — exemptions

Idaho’s carve-outs sit in Idaho Code 54-5002, titled ‘Exceptions,’ which opens: ‘Certificate of competency requirements of this chapter shall not apply to:’ and then lists, quoted to the end of each operative clause. (1)(a) OWNER OR CONTRACT PURCHASER OF A HOME - ‘Any person who installs or maintains a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system in a single or duplex family dwelling, including accessory buildings, quarters and grounds in connection with such dwelling; provided that such person owns or is a contract purchaser of the premises; and provided further that such person shall comply with the standards and rules applicable to heating, ventilation and air conditioning installation or repairs as provided in this chapter.’ The exemption is from the CREDENTIAL, not from the code - and not from permitting: IDAPA 24.39.70.500.01.b requires homeowners installing under this provision to secure an HVAC permit, and DOPL’s FAQ limits homeowner permits to a primary and secondary residence and related outbuildings, stating they ‘are not valid for work on commercial buildings.’ (1)(b) FARM BUILDINGS - ‘Farm buildings located outside the incorporated limits of any city; and a farm building is hereby defined to be a structure located on agricultural zoned property and designated and constructed to house farm implements, hay, grain, poultry, livestock or other horticultural products and includes sheds, barns, corrals or fences. This definition does not include a place for human habitation or a place of regular employment where agricultural products are extracted, processed, treated or packaged; a place used by the public; or conditioned livestock housing.’ Note how much the closing sentence takes back - a farm structure that houses people, employs people processing product, admits the public, or provides conditioned livestock housing is NOT covered. (1)(c) CAMPS - ‘Logging, mining or construction camps when heating, ventilation or air conditioning installations are made to conform to the recommendations of the department of environmental quality.’ (The agency changed by amendment - 2025, ch. 47, sec. 15 - the only 2025 amendment in chapter 50.) (1)(d) EMPLOYER-EMPLOYED JOURNEYMEN ON THE EMPLOYER’S OWN PREMISES - ‘Work on heating, ventilation or air conditioning systems on premises owned or operated by an employer who regularly employs maintenance or construction heating, ventilation and air conditioning journeymen, provided that alterations, extensions and new construction shall comply with the minimum standards and rules applicable to heating, ventilation and air conditioning practices in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.’ (1)(e) MODULAR BUILDINGS BUILT FOR EXPORT - ‘Modular buildings, as defined in section 39-4301, Idaho Code, that are constructed in the state of Idaho for installation on building sites outside the state; provided however, that no modular building shall be installed on a building site in the state of Idaho until it has been approved and bears the insignia of approval of the division as being in compliance with the requirements set forth in section 39-4304, Idaho Code.’ (1)(f) HOUSE-BUILDING NONPROFITS - ‘A nonprofit organization that is chartered to build houses and that has tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, including a religious corporation, and such organization’s volunteers, performing HVAC installations for a single-family dwelling unit. An organization described in this paragraph shall designate a primary contact person with whom inspectors may communicate.’ Then a separate exception aimed only at apprentice registration, 54-5002(2): ‘Apprentice registration requirements shall not apply to high school students enrolled in an educational program recognized by the board in which the performance of HVAC installation is a formal component of the program. The exemption is limited to students performing residential installations as part of such program under the constant on-the-job supervision of a licensed journeyman, and a permit for the work is obtained from the authority having jurisdiction. Work hours performed by such students shall not apply toward apprentice work requirements.’ That last sentence is the sting: the student is excused from registering, but the time earns no credit toward becoming a journeyman. Two further applicability provisions sit outside the section titled ‘Exceptions’ and change the answer for real jobs. First, a PERMIT exception rather than a credential exception: Idaho Code 54-5016(1) requires a permit before any construction, installation, improvement, extension or alteration of an HVAC system ’except that no permit shall be required to perform work related to repair or maintenance of an existing HVAC system’ - repair and maintenance still require the credential, they simply do not require a permit. Second, CROSS-TRADE AUTHORITY under 54-5015(4): a plumbing certificate issued under chapter 26, title 54 or an electrical license issued under chapter 10, title 54 ‘shall be acceptable for all HVAC installation work that falls within the scope of the certificate or license that has been issued,’ and the subsection then enumerates what that allows - water heater disconnect circuitry and connections within an in-sight, 50-foot limit for HVAC, electrical or plumbing credential holders; electrical space heaters with no attached ductwork, HVAC equipment connections under the same in-sight and 50-foot limits, and ventilating fans other than ducted residential range hoods for HVAC or electrical licensees; boilers not otherwise subject to industrial commission inspection, fuel piping, hydronic piping and steam and hot water boiler piping for HVAC or plumbing credential holders; and control wiring of 24 volts or less for HVAC equipment of five tons or less for HVAC licensees. Subsection (5) then limits that grant: ‘Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, plumbing certificate holders are not authorized to install control wiring in HVAC equipment, regardless of voltage.’ Finally, note what is NOT exempt: Idaho has no small-dollar or handyman threshold for HVAC work, and IDAPA 24.39.70.300.02 makes performing HVAC without an active certificate of competency or registration - ’except as provided by Section 54-5002, Idaho Code’ - a civil penalty offense of up to $1,000 per count.

Fees

Idaho sets HVAC fees by statute in Idaho Code 54-5012. Application for examination: $35.00 for an HVAC contractor or specialty contractor, and $35.00 for an HVAC journeyman or specialty journeyman. Certificate of competency, initial issue, valid for two years (or issuable at the annual rate for up to three years): $75.00 for an HVAC contractor or specialty contractor, $50.00 for an HVAC journeyman or specialty journeyman. Renewal of a certificate of competency, valid for two years (or at the annual rate for up to three years): $50.00 for an HVAC contractor or specialty contractor, $25.00 for an HVAC journeyman or specialty journeyman. Apprentice and specialty apprentice registration: $20.00 each, valid two years, expiring on the registrant’s birthday. A certificate that has expired may be revived within one year from the first day of the final month of the certification period by paying a $35.00 revival fee in addition to the full renewal fee, plus any outstanding civil penalties, permits or other fees and penalties (54-5013(2)). CONFLICTING PUBLISHED FIGURES - both are stated rather than resolved: DOPL’s HVAC Contractor Application says ’the applicant must also pay a $225 license fee prior to receiving a license,’ where Idaho Code 54-5012(2)(a) sets the HVAC contractor certificate of competency at $75.00; and DOPL’s Trade Licensing Apprentice Registration Application offers HVAC as a ‘1-year registration’ with a ‘$10.00 processing fee,’ where 54-5012(4) sets a two-year apprentice registration at $20.00. Both application forms carry July 1, 2023 revision stamps, which precede the 2024 amendment to 54-5012 (2024, ch. 86, sec. 43), so the statutory figures are the later authority - but confirm the amount the board is currently collecting before sending payment. Beyond the credential fees, budget for the $2,000 contractor bond (or acceptable corporate industry group bond), PSI’s examination charges (paid to PSI at registration), and permit and inspection costs. Permit fees: the board HAS established fees by rule, so IDAPA 24.39.70.500.02 - not Idaho Code 54-5017(2)’s default schedule - is what an installer pays. Residential (rule 500.02.a): a $100 base permit, plus $30 for the first fixture or appliance and $15 for each additional one, plus $15 for the first duct and $5 for each additional duct, plus $5 per appliance outlet for a fuel gas piping system, plus $5 per zone for hydronic systems. Other installations including multifamily, industrial and commercial (rule 500.02.c): up to $10,000 - $60 plus 2% of HVAC system cost; $10,000 to $100,000 - $260 plus 1% of the cost exceeding $10,000; over $100,000 - $1,160 plus 5% of the cost exceeding $100,000. (For reference, the statutory default the rule displaced - 54-5017(2) - runs on a four-tier commercial formula: 3% of value through $20,000, plus 2% in excess of $20,000 through $100,000, plus 1% in excess of $100,000 through $200,000, plus one-half percent in excess of $200,000; the statute also authorizes plan-check (2)(c) and reinspection (2)(d) fees.) A permit expires 365 days after purchase or last inspection and may be renewed for another year on Division approval and a $65 renewal fee.

Exam

DOPL’s HVAC exam page (last updated April 17, 2026) states the process has been updated: ‘Applicants are now required to take and pass the appropriate examination before applying for licensure,’ and ‘Exams are now offered through PSI’ - register online through PSI’s Idaho contractor testing portal, with PSI support at (855) 340-3713. After achieving a passing score, the candidate applies for licensure through DOPL - application instructions and account creation run through the License Application page at edopl.idaho.gov, which DOPL describes as ‘an automated acceptance process.’ The statute’s deadline still stands, Idaho Code 54-5010(3): ‘all applications shall expire and be canceled after a period of one (1) year if the applicant fails to appear for examination within such period.’ Idaho Code 54-5010(2) leaves times and places of examination to the board, which must notify all applicants. The statutory application-for-examination fee is $35.00 for an HVAC contractor or specialty contractor and $35.00 for an HVAC journeyman or specialty journeyman (54-5012(1)). Eligibility to sit differs by classification: a journeyman applicant may sit after showing proof of either 576 hours of board-approved instruction or 16,000 hours of HVAC experience (IDAPA 24.39.70.100.02.a); a specialty journeyman may substitute 60 hours of education in fuel gas code and piping installation methods for the examination entirely (IDAPA 24.39.70.100.04); and an apprentice may take the journeyman’s examination once the required related instruction approved by the board, in conjunction with the state board for career technical education, is complete and the required hours have been worked (54-5010(4)). Contractors and specialty contractors pass a board-designated examination and post the $2,000 bond (IDAPA 24.39.70.100.03). DOPL also publishes an HVAC Exam Information Bulletin, a Contractors’ Business and Law Reference Manual, and Guidelines for Requesting Special Accommodations, and states that requests for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act must be submitted before scheduling an exam. Upon passing, a certificate of competency ‘in the form of a card’ is issued showing the holder’s name, the classification examined for, the year for which the card is current, the holder’s signature, the certificate number, and the signature of the administrator (54-5011).

Renewal & continuing education

Two years, set by statute rather than by an administrative transition. Idaho Code 54-5013(1) provides that ‘certificates of competency shall expire twenty-four (24) calendar months from the date of issue, or on the last day of the month of the certification period, unless renewed as provided in this section, or unless sooner revoked or suspended.’ Idaho Code 54-5012(2) and (3) match that term, pricing the certificate of competency and its renewal as ‘valid for two (2) years; or may be issued at the annual rate for up to three (3) years.’ Apprentice and specialty apprentice registrations are separately ‘valid for two (2) years’ and expire on the registrant’s birthday unless renewed (54-5012(4)). Renewal of a certificate may be requested within 60 days prior to the expiration date. A certificate that has expired ‘may be revived at any time within one (1) year from the first day of the final month of the certification period, by payment of a thirty-five dollar ($35.00) revival fee in addition to the full renewal fee, and if any, all outstanding civil penalties, permits or other fees and penalties’ (54-5013(2)). A person whose certificate has been revoked may apply for a new certificate only after one year from the date of revocation, and must show payment of all outstanding civil penalties, permits or other fees and penalties (54-5013(3)). The two-year term and the fee schedule both trace to the 2024 amendment of these sections (2024, ch. 86, secs. 43-44); as of this record’s verification date the HVAC Board’s own news category carried no announcement of a further renewal-cycle change or fee change for HVAC. None. Idaho imposes no continuing-education requirement on HVAC certificates of competency. DOPL’s HVAC Frequently Asked Questions states it directly: ‘Q: Does the State of Idaho have Continuing Education Requirements (CEU) for HVAC? A: There are no Continuing Education Requirements (CEU) for HVAC.’ The authority to impose one exists but has not been exercised for this trade: Idaho Code 54-5010(1) provides that ’the Idaho heating, ventilation and air conditioning board shall establish by rule the requirements as to education, continuing education and examinations relating to classifications of competency,’ and the board’s rules at IDAPA 24.39.70 contain no continuing-education section. Education requirements in Idaho HVAC are therefore front-loaded into qualification rather than renewal - the 576 hours of board-approved instruction on the 8,000-hour journeyman pathway, and the 60 hours of fuel gas code and piping instruction that can substitute for the specialty journeyman examination. Because the board may adopt continuing education by rule at any time, check IDAPA 24.39.70 before assuming a renewal requires no coursework.

How to apply

Applications are handled by Idaho Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Board - Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL). Start at the official application page .

Frequently asked questions

Does Idaho require an HVAC license?

Yes. Idaho licenses HVAC at the state level through the Idaho Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Board within the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL). Idaho Code 54-5008 makes it unlawful for any person or firm to engage in the business, trade, practice or work of HVAC in Idaho unless that person - or the responsible person representing the firm - has passed the examination and been issued a state certificate of competency. Idaho credentials the INDIVIDUAL as well as the business: because a journeyman is defined as someone who works in the employ and under the direction of an HVAC contractor, and an apprentice may work only under a journeyman’s or contractor’s supervision, an employed HVAC worker must personally hold a journeyman certificate or be a registered apprentice. Working for a licensed company is not enough.

What HVAC credentials does Idaho issue?

Idaho Code 54-5009 establishes four classifications of competency: apprentice, journeyman, HVAC contractor, and HVAC specialty contractor - and the apprentice and journeyman classifications apply equally to specialty apprentices and specialty journeymen, so in practice there are apprentice, specialty apprentice, journeyman, specialty journeyman, contractor and specialty contractor credentials. The credential itself is called a ‘certificate of competency’ and is issued in the form of a card showing the holder’s name, the classification, the year the card is current, the certificate number and the administrator’s signature (54-5011). Apprentices hold a registration rather than a certificate. The specialty credentials cover a defined slice of the trade - hearth appliances, non-duct connected oil furnaces, the associated fuel gas piping and dedicated venting - and expressly exclude plumbing, electrical and duct work.

What experience and exams does Idaho require for an HVAC journeyman?

A journeyman applicant must pass a board-designated examination and satisfy one of two experience pathways set by rule (IDAPA 24.39.70.100.02): either 8,000 hours of work experience as an apprentice making HVAC installations plus satisfactory completion of 576 hours of a board-approved course of instruction, or 16,000 hours of HVAC experience. Hours count in accordance with the requirements of the jurisdiction where they were obtained, and lab work in a board-approved course may be credited toward the 8,000 hours. The exam may be taken after showing proof of either the 576 hours of instruction or the 16,000 hours of experience. One trap worth knowing: DOPL states that hours worked without being licensed will not count toward the required on-the-job training time, and hours are only credited while an apprentice is actively registered - so register before starting to accrue time.

How much does an Idaho HVAC license cost?

Idaho Code 54-5012 sets the fees. The application for examination is $35.00 for a contractor or specialty contractor and $35.00 for a journeyman or specialty journeyman. An initial certificate of competency, valid two years, is $75.00 for a contractor or specialty contractor and $50.00 for a journeyman or specialty journeyman; renewal for another two years is $50.00 and $25.00 respectively. Apprentice and specialty apprentice registration is $20.00 for two years. Contractors and specialty contractors must also post a $2,000 bond. Be aware of a conflict between published official sources: DOPL’s HVAC Contractor Application states that a $225 license fee is payable before the license issues, while the statute sets the contractor certificate at $75.00 - and that application form carries a July 1, 2023 revision stamp, predating the 2024 amendment to the fee statute. Confirm the current amount with the board before paying.

Does Idaho require continuing education, and is there reciprocity?

No to both. DOPL’s HVAC FAQ answers the continuing-education question directly - there are no continuing education requirements for HVAC in Idaho - and the board’s rules at IDAPA 24.39.70 contain no continuing-education provision, even though Idaho Code 54-5010(1) would allow the board to adopt one by rule. On reciprocity, the same FAQ states plainly that Idaho does not have a reciprocal licensing agreement, so an out-of-state technician qualifies through the ordinary experience-and-examination route, with prior hours counting in accordance with the requirements of the jurisdiction where they were earned. Certificates run two years, expiring twenty-four calendar months from the date of issue.

Do I need a separate city or county HVAC license in Idaho?

No. Idaho Code 54-5015 gives the state exclusive jurisdiction over HVAC credentials: only the DOPL administrator may examine applicants and issue certificates of competency and apprentice registrations, and no local jurisdiction may require additional certification or registration, charge fees for engaging in the HVAC trade, or issue its own certificates to people already certified or registered by the state. Two things local governments do keep. First, a city or county may impose stricter public safety rules (54-5015(3)). Second, permits and inspections remain local where the work is regulated and enforced by city or county code or ordinance, and local governments may charge those permit and inspection fees, including in designated areas of city impact (54-5016(4)). Separately, EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification is a FEDERAL requirement for technicians handling refrigerants and is not an Idaho credential.

See every license and certification LicensingAtlas covers in Idaho.

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.