Missouri HVAC Technician License: County & City Rules (No State Board)

Missouri does not issue a statewide HVAC technician license — licensing happens at the county and city level. Who actually licenses HVAC technicians and where to check, verified from official sources.

Requirements at a glance

No Missouri State HVAC license exists (nothing to apply for at the state level): Missouri does not license HVAC, mechanical, heating, air-conditioning, or refrigeration contractors or technicians at the state level, so there are no state requirements to satisfy. The state's occupational-licensing agency is the Division of Professional Registration within the Department of Commerce and Insurance, and its 'Listings of Professions' enumerates every profession it registers statewide (Accountants through Wrestlers). The ONLY building trade on that list is 'Electrical Contractors' — there is no HVAC, mechanical, heating, air-conditioning, refrigeration, or plumbing board. Every HVAC credential in Missouri is therefore issued below the state level, by a city or county. (Missouri does license one building trade statewide — the optional Statewide Electrical Contractor 'qualifier' license via the Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors — but there is no mechanical/HVAC equivalent.)
City of St. Louis — Mechanical Contractor's license (Building Division, Mechanical Section): In the City of St. Louis, mechanical permits are issued only to licensed mechanical contractors CERTIFIED BY THE CITY. To pull a mechanical permit (required to install boilers, furnaces, exhaust fans and hoods, and ventilation systems) you must hold a Mechanical Contractor's license issued by the City of St. Louis Building Division; a new mechanical contractor must first procure that license from the Building Division, Mechanical Section (Room 425, City Hall, 1200 Market St; 314-622-3313). A Mechanical Contractors Board of Examiners reviews each applicant's qualifications and governs mechanical and pipefitting contractors under St. Louis City Revised Code §25.10.030 (Ordinance 62579); note the Code's own scope limits — it applies only to COMMERCIAL structures (not to any residential building with six or fewer dwellings), does not apply to work of an aggregate mechanical contract price of $25,000 or less, and reaches specific pressurized/steam piping, air-conditioning systems of 14 tons and above, and heating systems of 300,000 BTU and above. The City has adopted the 2018 International Mechanical Code (Ordinance #70800). The individual experience-hour and examination/fee specifics for the general City mechanical contractor's license are not published on the City's reachable pages — confirm with the Building Division, Mechanical Section (314-622-3313) before bidding.
St. Louis County — Mechanical Licensing (HVAC Servicer-Installer Contractor; Board of Examiners for Mechanical Licensing): St. Louis County licenses mechanical (HVAC) work through the Department of Transportation and Public Works, Mechanical Licensing (41 South Central Ave, 6th Floor, Clayton; [email protected]; 314-615-7096), overseen by a Board of Examiners for Mechanical Licensing. Mechanical work in unincorporated St. Louis County and in contracting municipalities must be performed by a licensed HVAC Servicer-Installer Contractor OR a qualifying homeowner. The county's mechanical licensing program includes apprentice and journeyman classes and requires PEU (continuing-education) credits to maintain a license. It is governed by the Mechanical Code of St. Louis County, Chapter 1108 SLCRO 1974, as amended. Ordinary/minor repairs are exempt from a mechanical permit — including replacing a compressor, compressor motor, evaporator coil, refrigerant line dryer/accumulator, fan/blower motor, or heat exchanger, repairing or replacing 10 feet or fewer of gas line or ductwork, replacing a thermostat, and recharging refrigerant — but a permit IS required to replace a condensing or heat-pump unit, furnace, boiler, flue pipe/liner, radiant heating system, or ground-source heat-pump unit/piping.
Kansas City — Mechanical contractor license + certificate of qualification (City Planning & Development, Development Services): In Kansas City, performing mechanical/HVAC tradeswork requires that the CONTRACTOR hold a Kansas City contractor license AND employ a full-time qualified supervisor who holds a valid Kansas City, Missouri certificate of qualification in the mechanical trade (the certificate is the individual credential; the license is the business credential). Per the City's Contractor Licensing & Certification Requirements, a mechanical contractor may install, alter, service, replace, repair, or maintain heating, duct, and ventilation systems and mechanical refrigeration systems (trade category 13). To earn a certificate of qualification the designated supervisor/employee submits an application, notarized reference letters, and a $60.00 nonrefundable application fee, plus examination results from a recognized agency (e.g. PROMETRIC or ICC — a comparable passed exam may be accepted in lieu of re-testing); the applicant must be at least 21 with a high-school diploma/GED (experience may substitute) and adequate documented skills, knowledge and experience. The certificate is issued at no further charge for the first four years, then carries a $181.00 quadrennial renewal fee (inactive if not renewed within two years, then requalify by reapplying, retaking the exam and paying all fees). The contractor license itself requires a $55.00 application fee, a $181.00 issuance fee and a $181.00 quadrennial renewal, plus valid State registration, the current qualified supervisor, an insurance certificate (minimum aggregate liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence for the applicable classes) and a cash deposit (minimum $500). Contact City Planning & Development at [email protected] or (816) 513-1500.
Springfield — Trade Certification for 'Mechanic' + Mechanical Contractor business license (Building Development Services): Springfield certifies mechanical craftsmen ('Mechanic') through Building Development Services under Chapter 36, Article IV of the City Code (417-864-1585). Tiers and experience: Master Mechanic requires 4 years as a certified journeyman in the trade, or 10 years of satisfactory experience in the trade; Journeyman Mechanic requires 4 years under the supervision of a master in the trade, or 6 years of experience in the trade; an Apprentice registers with the City. Applicants must pass an examination administered by a private testing firm — ICC (Pearson VUE), Prometric, Experior, or Block — with a minimum score of 75%; ICC testing fees are approximately $125.00 paid directly to Pearson VUE, and the board (which meets the first Thursday of each month) must approve the application before testing, with authorization to test good for one year. Certification fees (Craft & Trade Certification Fee Schedule): Master Craftsman $50.00 initial and $50.00 annual renewal; Journeyman Craftsman $25.00 initial and $25.00 annual renewal; Apprentice $10.00 initial registration and $10.00 annual renewal. Separately, a Mechanical Contractor must obtain a Springfield business license and, as a condition of that license, provide proof of bond and/or insurance (and, per Missouri statute, proof of any workers' compensation policy carried). Reciprocity from another jurisdiction is accepted where the out-of-state exam is the identical exam Springfield requires and the passing score was at least 75%.
FEDERAL (everywhere in Missouri) — EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification: Separate from every Missouri city/county license: 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. This is a FEDERAL credential, held by the individual technician, and it is neither issued by nor accepted in place of any Missouri state or local HVAC license.

Legal basis

Missouri does not license HVAC technicians at the state level.

Missouri does not license HVAC at the state level. There is no statewide HVAC, mechanical, heating, air-conditioning, or refrigeration contractor or technician license, no state HVAC board, no state exam, and no state fee schedule. The negative is provable against the state’s own licensing agency: the Missouri Division of Professional Registration (Department of Commerce and Insurance) publishes a ‘Listings of Professions’ that enumerates every occupation it registers statewide, and the only construction trade on it is ‘Electrical Contractors.’ HVAC, mechanical, heating, air conditioning, refrigeration and plumbing do not appear. (Missouri does have ONE statewide building-trade credential — the optional Statewide Electrical Contractor ‘qualifier’ license issued by the Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors under Sections 324.900–324.945 RSMo — but that is an electrical credential, and there is no mechanical/HVAC counterpart. That optional electrical license does not touch HVAC.)

Because there is no state credential, HVAC is licensed BELOW the state, and the positive proof runs the other way — from the local codes and licensing offices that expressly claim the work. Four major regimes are documented here, and they differ from one another, so check the specific city or county where the work will be performed rather than assuming a single pattern.

CITY OF ST. LOUIS: mechanical permits are issued only to mechanical contractors CERTIFIED BY THE CITY, so a contractor must first hold a Mechanical Contractor’s license from the City Building Division, Mechanical Section (Room 425, City Hall; 314-622-3313). A Mechanical Contractors Board of Examiners reviews qualifications and governs mechanical and pipefitting contractors under St. Louis City Revised Code §25.10.030 (Ordinance 62579); that Code applies only to commercial structures (not to residential buildings with six or fewer dwellings) and not to contracts of $25,000 or less, and reaches larger systems (air conditioning of 14 tons and above, heating of 300,000 BTU and above). The City has adopted the 2018 International Mechanical Code (Ordinance #70800).

ST. LOUIS COUNTY: mechanical work in the unincorporated county and in contracting municipalities must be done by a licensed HVAC Servicer-Installer Contractor or a qualifying homeowner, licensed through the Department of Transportation and Public Works, Mechanical Licensing (41 South Central Ave, Clayton; 314-615-7096) and its Board of Examiners for Mechanical Licensing. The program includes apprentice and journeyman classes and PEU (continuing-education) credits, under the Mechanical Code of St. Louis County, Chapter 1108 SLCRO 1974. Ordinary/minor repairs (compressor, coil, motor, thermostat, ≤10 ft gas line/ductwork, recharging refrigerant) do not require a permit, but replacing a condensing/heat-pump unit, furnace, boiler, or flue does.

KANSAS CITY: mechanical/HVAC work requires the CONTRACTOR to hold a Kansas City contractor license AND employ a full-time qualified supervisor holding a Kansas City certificate of qualification in the mechanical trade (City Planning & Development, Development Services). The certificate costs a $60 application fee plus a recognized-agency exam (PROMETRIC or ICC), issued free for four years then a $181 quadrennial renewal; the contractor license adds a $55 application fee, a $181 issuance fee and a $181 quadrennial renewal, and requires State business registration, insurance (minimum $1,000,000 aggregate per occurrence) and a cash deposit (minimum $500).

SPRINGFIELD: Building Development Services certifies mechanical craftsmen (‘Mechanic’) under City Code Chapter 36, Article IV — Master Mechanic (4 years as a certified journeyman, or 10 years’ experience), Journeyman Mechanic (4 years under a master, or 6 years’ experience), and Apprentice — via a private-testing-firm exam (ICC/Pearson VUE, Prometric, Experior, Block) passed at 75% or better (ICC fees ~$125 to Pearson VUE). Certification fees are $50 (Master), $25 (Journeyman) and $10 (Apprentice) initial and annually; a Mechanical Contractor also needs a Springfield business license with proof of bond and/or insurance.

Finally, and separately from every Missouri license: EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification is FEDERAL (40 CFR part 82, subpart F), held by the individual technician, required anywhere refrigerant could be released, and it is not a substitute for — or a component of — any city or county HVAC license.

What it’s called

Missouri does not license HVAC technicians or contractors at the state level; licensing is handled locally (St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Kansas City, Springfield and other municipalities/counties). A search for a ‘Missouri HVAC license’ maps to a local mechanical/HVAC license — for example a City of St. Louis Mechanical Contractor’s license, a St. Louis County HVAC Servicer-Installer Contractor license, a Kansas City mechanical certificate of qualification, or a Springfield ‘Mechanic’ Trade Certification. ‘HVAC license,’ ‘AC license,’ ‘mechanical license’ and ‘HVAC certification’ are common informal names for the local credential. Missouri’s only statewide building-trade license is an optional ELECTRICAL contractor license, which is not an HVAC license. Separately, the federal EPA Section 608 certification (to handle refrigerants) is a nationwide requirement, not a Missouri state or local HVAC license.

Who does NOT need a license — exemptions

Missouri licenses no HVAC occupation at the state level, so there is no statewide HVAC exemption structure — whether an unlicensed person may perform a given HVAC job in Missouri is decided by the city or county where the work is done, and the operative carve-outs are therefore local. Documented examples: ST. LOUIS COUNTY expressly allows mechanical work to be performed by a licensed HVAC Servicer-Installer Contractor OR a ‘qualifying homeowner,’ and exempts ordinary/minor repairs from the mechanical-permit requirement — specifically the repair or replacement of a compressor, compressor motor, evaporator coil, refrigerant line dryer/accumulator, fan/blower motor or housing, or heat exchanger; the repair or replacement of 10 feet or fewer of gas line or ductwork, a gas shut-off valve, parts internal to the condensing unit or furnace, and controls such as the thermostat; and recharging refrigerant — provided the work is ongoing maintenance to keep equipment in good condition; but a permit IS required to replace the condensing or heat-pump unit, furnace, boiler, flue pipe/liner, radiant heating system, or ground-source heat-pump unit/piping (Chapter 1108 SLCRO). CITY OF ST. LOUIS limits its Mechanical Contractors Board of Examiners Code (Revised Code §25.10.030) to COMMERCIAL structures — it does not apply to any residential building with six or fewer dwelling units, does not apply to work of an aggregate mechanical contract price of $25,000 or less, and (for the pipefitting scope) reaches only air-conditioning systems of 14 tons and above and heating systems of 300,000 BTU and above; smaller/residential mechanical work is instead handled through the Building Division’s mechanical permit and contractor certification. KANSAS CITY exempts an employed certificate-holder from separately holding the CONTRACTOR license (the business holds the license; individuals hold certificates of qualification and work under the one designated qualified supervisor). Separately from every local rule, EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification is a FEDERAL requirement (40 CFR part 82, subpart F), not a Missouri exemption or license. Because the exemptions are local and vary, a homeowner, farm, or minor-work exemption in one Missouri jurisdiction cannot be assumed to exist in another — confirm with the city or county where the work will be performed.

Where to get licensed

There is no statewide Missouri HVAC board to call. Identify the city and county where the work will be performed, then go to that locality’s mechanical-licensing or building-development office.

CITY OF ST. LOUIS — Building Division, Mechanical Section, Room 425, City Hall, 1200 Market St; (314) 622-3313. You will need a City-issued Mechanical Contractor’s license before you can pull a mechanical permit. Ask the Mechanical Section for the current individual qualification, examination and fee requirements (these are not fully published on the City’s website), and note the Mechanical Contractors Board of Examiners Code applies to commercial work over $25,000.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY — Department of Transportation and Public Works, Mechanical Licensing, 41 South Central Ave, 6th Floor, Clayton, MO 63105; [email protected] ; (314) 615-7096. Apply for the HVAC Servicer-Installer Contractor license (with apprentice/journeyman classes) and keep PEU continuing-education credits current.

KANSAS CITY — City Planning & Development, Development Services; [email protected] ; (816) 513-1500. Budget for BOTH the individual certificate of qualification (mechanical trade: $60 application + PROMETRIC/ICC exam; $181 quadrennial renewal) and the business contractor license ($55 application + $181 issuance + $181 quadrennial renewal), plus State registration, a $1,000,000 insurance certificate and a cash deposit.

SPRINGFIELD — Building Development Services; (417) 864-1585 or (417) 864-1585. Apply for the ‘Mechanic’ Trade Certification (Master/Journeyman/Apprentice) — pass an ICC/Prometric/Experior/Block exam at 75%+ — and obtain a Mechanical Contractor business license with proof of bond/insurance.

Other Missouri cities and counties (e.g. Columbia, Jefferson City, Independence, St. Charles County) set their own mechanical licensing by ordinance and are NOT covered by this record — contact the local building/permit department directly.

EVERYWHERE IN MISSOURI: if your work involves refrigerants, obtain EPA Section 608 certification. That is a FEDERAL credential (40 CFR part 82, subpart F), held by the individual technician, and is separate from every Missouri local license.

Frequently asked questions

Does Missouri require a state HVAC license?

No. Missouri issues no statewide HVAC, mechanical, heating, air-conditioning or refrigeration license, and its licensing agency proves it: the Missouri Division of Professional Registration lists every profession it registers statewide, and the only construction trade on the list is ‘Electrical Contractors.’ HVAC is licensed by the city or county where you work. (Missouri does have one optional statewide electrical credential — the Statewide Electrical Contractor license — but no mechanical/HVAC equivalent.)

Who licenses HVAC contractors in Missouri, then?

Cities and counties do, and their rules differ. In the CITY OF ST. LOUIS you need a Mechanical Contractor’s license from the Building Division, Mechanical Section (314-622-3313) before you can pull a mechanical permit. In ST. LOUIS COUNTY you need a licensed HVAC Servicer-Installer Contractor credential from the Department of Transportation and Public Works, Mechanical Licensing (314-615-7096). In KANSAS CITY you need both a city contractor license and a full-time qualified supervisor holding a Kansas City mechanical certificate of qualification. In SPRINGFIELD you need a ‘Mechanic’ Trade Certification (Master, Journeyman or Apprentice) plus a Mechanical Contractor business license. Other Missouri cities and counties set their own rules — check the local building/permit office.

How do you get a mechanical/HVAC license in Kansas City?

Kansas City licenses the business and certifies the individual. The contractor must hold a Kansas City contractor license AND employ a full-time qualified supervisor who holds a Kansas City certificate of qualification in the mechanical trade. The certificate takes a $60 application fee, notarized reference letters, and a passing exam from a recognized agency (PROMETRIC or ICC); it is free for four years and then renews for $181 every four years. The contractor license adds a $55 application fee, a $181 issuance fee and a $181 quadrennial renewal, and requires valid State business registration, an insurance certificate (minimum $1,000,000 aggregate per occurrence) and a cash deposit (minimum $500). Contact [email protected] or (816) 513-1500.

What does Springfield require to become a certified mechanic (HVAC)?

Springfield’s Building Development Services certifies mechanical craftsmen under City Code Chapter 36, Article IV. A Journeyman Mechanic needs 4 years under a master in the trade or 6 years of experience; a Master Mechanic needs 4 years as a certified journeyman or 10 years of experience; an apprentice registers with the City. You must pass a private-testing-firm exam (ICC/Pearson VUE, Prometric, Experior, or Block) with a score of at least 75% (ICC testing runs about $125, paid to Pearson VUE). Certification fees are $50 for a Master, $25 for a Journeyman, and $10 for an Apprentice, both initially and annually. A Mechanical Contractor also needs a Springfield business license with proof of bond and/or insurance.

Can a homeowner do their own HVAC work in Missouri?

It depends on the locality, because there is no statewide rule. St. Louis County, for example, allows mechanical work to be done by a licensed HVAC Servicer-Installer Contractor OR a ‘qualifying homeowner,’ and exempts ordinary/minor repairs (like replacing a compressor, coil, motor or thermostat, or recharging refrigerant) from needing a permit — while still requiring a permit to replace a condensing or heat-pump unit, furnace, boiler or flue. Other cities and counties set their own homeowner and permit rules, so confirm with the local building/permit office where the work will be done.

Is EPA 608 certification the same as a Missouri HVAC license?

No. EPA Section 608 certification is a FEDERAL credential under the Clean Air Act (40 CFR part 82, subpart F), held by the individual technician, and required anywhere refrigerant could be released. It is not issued by Missouri or any Missouri city or county, and it does not substitute for a local mechanical/HVAC contractor license. Many technicians need both EPA 608 and the applicable local license.

See every license and certification LicensingAtlas covers in Missouri.

Sources & verification

Last verified against these sources: July 23, 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.

Requirements at a glance

What it’s called

Who does NOT need a license — exemptions

Where to get licensed

Frequently asked questions

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