Washington HVAC Technician License: 4,000 Hours, PSI Exam

How to get licensed as an HVAC technician in Washington: 4,000 hours (HVAC/Refrigeration (06A) Specialty Electrician Certificate of Competency (individual)), PSI exam, 24 hrs CE — verified from official sources.

Source-verified

Requirements below are drawn from Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) - Electrical Program (individual electrician certification and electrical contractor licensing) and Contractor Registration (official site) and last verified July 23, 2026. Boards change fees and rules often — confirm before acting.

Requirements at a glance

Who must be certified (the electrical work of HVAC): Washington has no single 'HVAC contractor license.' Instead, all electrical work - including the electrical work involved in installing, repairing, replacing and maintaining HVAC/refrigeration systems - is regulated under chapter 19.28 RCW. RCW 19.28.161(1) provides that 'no person may engage in the electrical construction trade' without a valid certificate of competency (master journey level, journey level, master specialty, or specialty electrician), and an unsupervised trainee cannot do the work. For HVAC/refrigeration the relevant credentials are the (06A) and (06B) HVAC/Refrigeration specialty electrician certificates of competency, which are held by the individual worker (WAC 296-46B-920(2)(f)). A person learning the trade works as an electrical trainee under the direct supervision of an appropriately certified electrician (RCW 19.28.161(2)).
06A vs 06B scope of work: The (06A) HVAC/Refrigeration specialty is not limited by voltage, phase, or amperage within HVAC/refrigeration systems (though no unsupervised trainee may work on any circuit rated over 600 volts). It covers Class 2 low-voltage control wiring, line-voltage components within HVAC/refrigeration equipment, internal disconnect/controller components, short raceway sections for physical protection, and short flexible supply whips - but it may NOT install line-voltage controllers or disconnect switches external to the equipment (with a narrow like-for-kind replacement exception up to 20 amperes/120 volts), integrated building control systems other than HVAC/refrigeration, or standalone line-voltage equipment such as heat cable or wall heaters (WAC 296-46B-920(2)(f)(iii)). The (06B) HVAC/Refrigeration - Restricted specialty is the same trade capped so it 'may not perform any electrical work where the primary electrical power connection to the HVAC/refrigeration system exceeds: 250 volts, single phase, or 120 amps' (WAC 296-46B-920(2)(f)(iv)).
Experience required: 06A HVAC/Refrigeration: 4,000 hours of supervised specialty work experience both to sit the exam and to be certified; it is not eligible for unsupervised trainee status (WAC 296-46B-945, Table 945-1, footnote (3)). 06B HVAC/Refrigeration - Restricted: 1,000 hours to be eligible for the exam and 2,000 hours total for certification (footnotes (1),(2),(6)). The 2,000 hours earned toward an 06B certificate may be credited toward the 06A's 4,000-hour requirement (footnote (7)).
Examination and application: Apply to L&I to sit the electrical examination (form F626-001 for in-state experience, or F626-009 for out-of-state; a 2,000-hour specialty may instead apply on F500-098). The application fee is $114.60, of which $44.20 is nonrefundable after submission. L&I reviews the affidavits of experience and, if the applicant qualifies, mails an approval notice with instructions to schedule the exam with PSI, which administers the examinations (RCW 19.28.191; WAC 296-46B-945; L&I electrician page).
Electrical contractor license for the business: A firm that contracts to do the electrical work of HVAC installations must hold an electrical/telecommunications contractor license with the applicable (06) HVAC/Refrigeration specialty (WAC 296-46B-925). The firm must designate a certified electrical administrator or master electrician, post a $4,000 electrical/telecommunications contractor surety bond (or cash/security deposit), and carry liability insurance of at least $20,000 property damage, $50,000 for bodily injury or death of one person, and $100,000 per occurrence (RCW 19.28.041; L&I forms F500-018 and F500-019). The license expires 24 months after issue and is renewed every two years.
Contractor registration for non-electrical HVAC/mechanical work: Chapter 18.27 RCW requires a person engaged in the business of contracting to register with L&I as a general or specialty contractor and to maintain a surety bond and general-liability insurance (RCW 18.27.020). A Washington-certified electrician is exempt from this registration only when 'operating within the scope of his or her certification' (RCW 18.27.090(14)). Ductwork, refrigerant piping, gas piping, sheet-metal and other non-electrical portions of HVAC work fall outside the electrical certification, so a full-service HVAC business typically holds BOTH the electrical contractor license (ch. 19.28) and a contractor registration (ch. 18.27). Fuel-gas piping and plumbing connections may carry additional trade requirements.
Renewal and continuing education (individual certificate): A specialty electrician certificate of competency must be renewed every 3 years (it expires on the holder's birthdate; the initial certificate runs 25 to 36 months depending on issue date and birthdate). Renewal requires 24 hours of L&I-approved continuing education, including at least 8 hours on changes in the currently adopted code and 4 hours on chapter 19.28 RCW and its related WAC (WAC 296-46B-970(1)(e); L&I electrician page). On-time renewal is $106.40 (form F500-045); a late renewal within 90 days of expiration is $212.90.
EPA Section 608 (federal, separate): Separate from every Washington credential: under the Clean Air Act and 40 CFR part 82, subpart F, any 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; it is neither issued by L&I nor a substitute for the 06A/06B specialty electrician certificate, the electrical contractor license, or contractor registration.

Legal basis

Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) - Electrical Program (individual electrician certification and electrical contractor licensing) and Contractor Registration administers HVAC technician licensing in Washington. 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

Washington does not issue a single ‘HVAC contractor license.’ The HVAC-specific state credential is an individual specialty electrician certificate of competency - (06A) HVAC/Refrigeration or (06B) HVAC/Refrigeration - Restricted - held by the technician doing the electrical work, under chapter 19.28 RCW. Alongside it, the contracting business must hold an electrical contractor license (with the (06) specialty) and, for the non-electrical scope, a contractor registration under chapter 18.27 RCW. A search for a ‘Washington HVAC license’ maps to the 06A/06B specialty electrician certificate plus these business credentials - do NOT describe it as a single HVAC contractor license, and do not conflate the individual certificate with the electrical contractor license. Separately, the federal EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification is a nationwide requirement held by the individual technician, not a Washington HVAC license. ‘HVAC license,’ ‘HVAC/R license,’ ‘06A license,’ ‘AC license’ and ‘HVAC certification’ are common informal names for the state specialty electrician certificate.

License types & fees

Type	Experience	Exam	Fee
HVAC/Refrigeration (06A) Specialty Electrician Certificate of Competency (individual)	4,000 hours of work experience in the HVAC/refrigeration specialty, gained as an electrical trainee under the direct supervision of an appropriate certified electrician, are required both to be eligible for the examination and for certification (WAC 296-46B-945, Table 945-1). The 06A specialty is not eligible for unsupervised trainee status (footnote (3)); the 2,000 hours earned toward an 06B-Restricted certificate may be credited toward the 06A's 4,000 hours (footnote (7)). The certificate holder is the individual worker, not the business.	A written electrical examination for the (06A) HVAC/Refrigeration certificate, administered by PSI after L&I approves the applicant. Apply on L&I form F626-001 (In-State Application for Electrical Examination) with the affidavits of experience; L&I mails an approval notice with instructions to schedule with PSI (RCW 19.28.191; WAC 296-46B-945).	$114.60 examination application fee to L&I ($44.20 nonrefundable after the application is submitted) - form F626-001 (07-2026). Certificate renewal is $106.40 on time (see fees/renewal).
HVAC/Refrigeration - Restricted (06B) Specialty Electrician Certificate of Competency (individual)	1,000 hours of supervised HVAC/refrigeration work experience to be eligible to sit the examination, and 2,000 hours total for certification (WAC 296-46B-945, Table 945-1, footnotes (1),(2),(6)). Scope is capped: the 06B specialty may not perform electrical work where the primary electrical power connection to the HVAC/refrigeration system exceeds 250 volts single phase or 120 amps (WAC 296-46B-920(2)(f)(iv)).	A written (06B) examination administered by PSI after L&I approval. A 2,000-hour specialty like 06B may be applied for on L&I form F500-098 (Application for a 2000 Hour Specialty Electrician Certificate), which lists 06B - HVAC/Refrigeration - Restricted among the covered certificates.	$114.60 application fee to L&I ($44.20 nonrefundable) - form F500-098 (07-2026). Certificate renewal is $106.40 on time.
Electrical Contractor License with the (06) HVAC/Refrigeration specialty (business/firm)	No personal experience requirement for the firm, but the business must have a certified, assigned electrical administrator (a master electrician or a specialty electrician certified in the applicable specialty) associated with the license, and must post a bond and carry insurance (WAC 296-46B-925; RCW 19.28.041).	No firm exam; the assigned administrator/master electrician holds the underlying certification. An administrator/master-electrician assignment is filed with the application.	Electrical/Telecommunications Contractor License $353.90 (GL 1450) plus Administrator/Master Assignment $53.00 (GL 1555) = $406.90 total, per L&I form F500-018 (07-2026). A $4,000 electrical/telecommunications contractor surety bond (or cash/security deposit) is required (form F500-019; WAC 296-46B-925), plus liability insurance of $20,000 property damage, $50,000 bodily injury/death one person, and $100,000 per occurrence (RCW 19.28.041; form F500-018). The license expires 24 months after issue.
Contractor Registration (general or specialty, ch. 18.27 RCW) (business/firm)	No experience/exam. A business that engages in HVAC/mechanical contracting beyond the scope of its electrical certification must register with L&I as a general or specialty contractor, furnishing a surety bond and liability insurance (RCW 18.27.020; RCW 18.27.040). A Washington-certified electrician is exempt from this registration only while operating within the scope of that certification (RCW 18.27.090(14)); ductwork, refrigerant piping, gas piping and other non-electrical HVAC work fall outside that scope and trigger the registration requirement.	None.	Contractor registration fee plus a surety bond and general-liability insurance set by ch. 18.27 RCW and L&I (exact current bond/registration amounts not read for this record; verify on L&I's Contractor Registration pages).

Who does NOT need this license — exemptions

Washington regulates the electrical work of HVAC under chapter 19.28 RCW and general contracting under chapter 18.27 RCW, and each chapter has its own exemptions. ELECTRICAL CERTIFICATION/LICENSING EXEMPTIONS (RCW 19.28.261): (1) OWN PROPERTY - ‘Nothing in RCW 19.28.161 through 19.28.271 shall be construed to require that a person obtain a license or a certified electrician in order to do electrical work at his or her residence or farm or place of business or on other property owned by him or her’ UNLESS (a) the work is on the construction of a new building intended for rent, sale, or lease, or (b) the property is offered for sale within 12 months after it was obtained; for a new residential building of up to four units intended for rent/sale/lease, the owner may still qualify for an exemption by filing a signed affidavit that he or she will perform the work and occupy one unit as a principal residence, available only once every 24 months and conditioned on 24 months’ owner-occupancy. (2) OWN-PROPERTY / EMPLOYEE-ON-EMPLOYER’S-PREMISES - the licensing provisions do not apply to ‘persons making electrical installations on their own property or to regularly employed employees working on the premises of their employer,’ subject to the same new-building-for-rent/sale/lease and 12-month-sale limits (RCW 19.28.261(5)(a)). (3) certain utility-type work by employees of an employer performing utility work who are registered in or graduated from a state-approved outside lineworker apprenticeship (5)(b); (4) work exempted under RCW 19.28.091(6) (5)(c); (5) certified plumbers/residential plumbers/plumber trainees performing exempt work under RCW 19.28.091(8) (5)(d). (6) HOUSEHOLDER ASSISTANCE - nothing restricts a householder’s right ’to assist or receive assistance from a friend, neighbor, relative, or other person when none of the individuals doing the electrical installation hold themselves out as engaged in the trade or business of electrical installations’ (RCW 19.28.261(6)). The chapter also does not apply to common carriers under the Interstate Commerce Act, nor to the installation/maintenance of telephone, telegraph, radio or television wires, nor to an electrical utility or its employees performing utility wiring (RCW 19.28.261(3),(4)). Being exempt from licensing does not preclude a person from obtaining a certificate if otherwise qualified (RCW 19.28.261(7)). CONTRACTOR-REGISTRATION EXEMPTIONS (RCW 18.27.090) - the registration provisions do not apply to, among others: government representatives; regulated public utilities on their own incidental work; sale of finished merchandise not fabricated into a structure; a person who only furnishes materials without fabricating or consuming them in the work (subsection (8)); ‘any work or operation on one undertaking or project … the aggregate contract price of which for labor and materials and all other items is less than five hundred dollars, such work or operations being considered as of a casual, minor, or inconsequential nature’ - which does NOT apply where the work is only part of a larger operation, is split into sub-$500 contracts to evade the chapter, or where the person advertises or holds out as a contractor (subsection (9)); an owner who contracts with a registered contractor, and a person working on his or her own property or personal residence - neither exemption applying to work done for the purpose of selling, demolishing or leasing (subsections (11),(12)); an owner performing maintenance/repair/alteration on his or her own properties or using his or her own employees (subsection (13)); ‘a licensed architect or civil or professional engineer acting solely in his or her professional capacity, an electrician certified under the laws of the state of Washington, or a plumber certified … The exemption provided in this subsection is applicable only when the person certified is operating within the scope of his or her certification’ (subsection (14)); and an employee working for wages as sole compensation (subsection (15)). The subsection (14) electrician exemption is scope-bound: it excuses the electrical work from contractor registration but not the non-electrical HVAC/mechanical work, which is why a full-service HVAC business generally registers under ch. 18.27 in addition to holding its electrical contractor license.

Fees

Electrical examination application to L&I: $114.60, of which $44.20 is nonrefundable after the application is submitted (forms F626-001 and F500-098, both 07-2026). Individual specialty electrician certificate renewal: $106.40 on time, $212.90 for a late renewal within 90 days of expiration (form F500-045); renewed every 3 years. Electrical/telecommunications contractor license: $353.90 (GL 1450) plus a $53.00 administrator/master assignment (GL 1555) = $406.90, per form F500-018 (07-2026); a $4,000 contractor surety bond or equivalent cash/security deposit is required (form F500-019), plus liability insurance of $20,000 property damage / $50,000 injury or death of one person / $100,000 per occurrence (RCW 19.28.041); the contractor license expires 24 months after issue. Contractor registration under ch. 18.27 RCW carries its own registration fee, surety bond and liability insurance (current amounts not read for this record; verify on L&I’s Contractor Registration pages). (Note: aggregator sites listing a ‘$75 06A / $65 06B exam fee’ or a ‘$293.60 contractor license fee’ are stale - the live 07-2026 L&I forms show $114.60 and $353.90 + $53.00 respectively.)

Exam

The written electrical examinations, including the (06A) HVAC/Refrigeration and (06B) HVAC/Refrigeration - Restricted specialty exams, are administered by PSI. The candidate first applies to L&I (form F626-001 for in-state experience; F626-009 for out-of-state; a 2,000-hour specialty may apply on F500-098) with affidavits of experience and a $114.60 application fee ($44.20 nonrefundable after submission). After L&I verifies the qualifying hours and approves the application, it mails an approval notice with instructions on how to schedule the exam with PSI (RCW 19.28.191; WAC 296-46B-945; L&I electrician page). The examination is administered by computer at PSI test centers. The specific passing-score percentage is set by L&I/PSI and was not read from an official source for this record, so it is not asserted here.

Renewal & continuing education

Individual specialty electrician certificate of competency: renewed every 3 years, expiring on the holder’s birthdate (the first certificate runs a minimum of 25 up to a maximum of 36 months). Electrical/telecommunications contractor license: expires 24 months after the date of issue and is renewed every two years (WAC 296-46B-925; L&I electrical contractor page). Contractor registration under ch. 18.27 RCW is renewed per that chapter. 24 hours of L&I-approved continuing education per 3-year certificate period for an electrician/specialty-electrician certificate of competency, including at least 8 hours on changes in the currently adopted electrical code and 4 hours on chapter 19.28 RCW and its related WAC (WAC 296-46B-970(1)(e); L&I electrician page). Continuing education is a condition of certificate renewal.

How to apply

Applications are handled by Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) - Electrical Program (individual electrician certification and electrical contractor licensing) and Contractor Registration. Start at the official application page .

Frequently asked questions

Does Washington require an HVAC license?

Washington does not issue a single ‘HVAC license,’ but it does license HVAC work at the state level through two overlapping regimes run by the Department of Labor & Industries. The electrical work of HVAC - installing, repairing, replacing and maintaining HVAC/refrigeration systems - is regulated under chapter 19.28 RCW: the individual worker must hold an (06A) HVAC/Refrigeration or (06B) HVAC/Refrigeration - Restricted specialty electrician certificate of competency (or be a supervised trainee), and the contracting business must hold an electrical contractor license with the (06) specialty. Non-electrical HVAC work (ductwork, refrigerant and gas piping, sheet metal) requires the business to register as a contractor under chapter 18.27 RCW. Handling refrigerant also requires federal EPA Section 608 certification.

What is the difference between the 06A and 06B HVAC certificates?

Both are individual HVAC/Refrigeration specialty electrician certificates. The (06A) certificate is not limited by voltage, phase, or amperage within HVAC/refrigeration systems and requires 4,000 hours of supervised experience. The (06B) HVAC/Refrigeration - Restricted certificate ‘may not perform any electrical work where the primary electrical power connection to the HVAC/refrigeration system exceeds 250 volts, single phase, or 120 amps’ (WAC 296-46B-920(2)(f)(iv)) and requires 2,000 hours for certification (1,000 hours to sit the exam). Hours earned toward the 06B can be credited toward the 06A’s 4,000 hours.

How much does it cost to get certified for HVAC work in Washington?

The electrical examination application to L&I is $114.60, of which $44.20 is nonrefundable after you submit it (forms F626-001 and F500-098, both dated 07-2026). Renewing the individual certificate costs $106.40 on time. For the business, the electrical contractor license is $353.90 plus a $53.00 administrator assignment ($406.90 total, form F500-018), and requires a $4,000 surety bond and liability insurance. Widely circulated third-party figures such as a ‘$75/$65 exam fee’ or a ‘$293.60 contractor license’ are out of date - the live L&I forms show $114.60 and $353.90 + $53.00.

Who administers the Washington HVAC electrical exam, and how do you schedule it?

PSI administers the examinations. You first apply to L&I with your affidavits of experience and the $114.60 fee; once L&I approves your qualifying hours, it mails you a notice with instructions on how to schedule your exam with PSI (RCW 19.28.191; WAC 296-46B-945; L&I electrician page). The exam is delivered by computer at a PSI test center.

How often do you renew, and is continuing education required?

An individual specialty electrician certificate of competency is renewed every 3 years and expires on your birthdate (the first certificate runs 25 to 36 months). Renewal requires 24 hours of L&I-approved continuing education, including at least 8 hours on changes in the currently adopted code and 4 hours on chapter 19.28 RCW and its rules (WAC 296-46B-970). The electrical contractor license held by the business renews every 2 years.

Do you need a contractor registration on top of the electrical license?

Usually yes for a full-service HVAC business. A Washington-certified electrician is exempt from contractor registration only ‘when operating within the scope of his or her certification’ (RCW 18.27.090(14)). Because ductwork, refrigerant piping, gas piping and sheet-metal work fall outside the electrical certification, a business doing complete HVAC installations generally holds both an electrical contractor license (chapter 19.28 RCW) and a contractor registration (chapter 18.27 RCW), each with its own bond and insurance. A homeowner may do electrical work on his or her own residence without certification, subject to limits where the property is a new building for sale/lease or is offered for sale within 12 months (RCW 19.28.261).

See every license and certification LicensingAtlas covers in Washington.

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.