How Do You Get an HVAC License in New Jersey?

Yes.

New Jersey licenses HVACR work statewide through the State Board of Examiners of Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) Contractors — but the Master HVACR contractor license is the board's only credential, and there is no journeyman or technician license.

You can work on HVACR systems without holding it: the board's rules say HVACR work that the master has not subcontracted may be performed only by the master or by W-2 employees of the master or the HVACR business, so unlicensed technicians work legally as employees of a licensed business.

Municipalities may not make a licensed Master HVACR contractor take a local exam, hold a local license or pay a local licensing fee, although they may still inspect.

A homeowner may do HVACR work on their own occupied single-family home with permits, but any work involving CFC or HCFC refrigerants must be done by a licensed Master HVACR contractor.

Federally, under 40 CFR 82.161, anyone who could reasonably be expected to violate the integrity of a refrigerant circuit must pass an exam from an EPA-approved technician certification program — EPA 608 certification is the federal layer beneath the state license.

New Jersey has one license level, not a ladder.

The statute defines an HVACR journeyperson — someone who installs, alters, repairs, services or renovates HVACR systems under the supervision of a Master HVACR contractor — but creates no separate journeyperson license, and the board issues no technician or apprentice license.

What an unlicensed worker may do is set by supervision tiers instead: with less than two years of HVACR experience, the worker needs constant on-site supervision by a master HVACR contractor or by an HVACR journeyperson with at least five years of experience, while preventive-maintenance workers with one year or more need only daily contact.

At two or more years of experience, daily contact with the business's bona fide representative or an employed master is enough, and that master must inspect permitted work on completion.

Scope has edges too: a licensed master HVACR contractor may not replace an electrical disconnect box or switch — the board says that is a job for a licensed electrician.

The exam's eligibility rules are the requirements: applicants must be at least 21 with five years in the HVACR contracting business — at least four in a US Department of Labor-approved HVACR apprenticeship or training program, plus one or more as an HVACR journeyperson or licensed plumber.

The board accepts four routes: a 4-year USDOL-approved HVACR apprenticeship plus 1 year under a licensed master; a 4-year HVACR bachelor's plus 1 year; a related 4-year bachelor's plus 3 years; or a 2-year trade, technical or community-college degree plus at least 2 years of a USDOL apprenticeship and 1 year as a journeyperson.

There is no exam waiver: the grandfathering period closed on September 3, 2014, and the board cannot waive the exam.

Fees run $100 to apply (non-refundable), $160 for the initial license ($80 in the second year of the biennial period) and $25 for the pressure seal.

Licensees also file a $3,000 surety bond (a bond already filed with the Master Plumbers Board satisfies it) and carry at least $500,000 in general liability insurance per occurrence to serve the public.

Citizenship is not required, undocumented applicants are eligible, and no Social Security number is needed.

The master HVACR exam has two written parts: one covering practice issues in HVACR contracting and one on the laws and rules governing the practice of HVACR contracting in New Jersey.

The exam is developed and given by a third-party vendor; after the board approves your application, you schedule the exam through PSI.

A minimum grade of 70 in each of the two parts is required to pass, and a candidate who fails must wait six months from the failure date before retaking the exam.

Our research does not describe the exam's content outline, so check the candidate materials the board points you to.

Master HVACR licenses renew every two years, and the renewal fee is $160 per biennial period ($50 to renew late).

Continuing education is measured in credits, not hours: every master HVACR contractor must complete 5 credits of continuing education at an approved course every biennial period, and masters applying for their first biennial renewal are exempt.

Not automatically.

New Jersey grants HVACR licenses by reciprocity only where the other state's licensing standards are equal or comparable with New Jersey's and that state reciprocates with New Jersey — permitting New Jersey licensees to obtain licensure based upon a New Jersey license.

The board keeps a reciprocity review list, but it is a 2019 document — check it, then confirm your state's current status with the board.

The Division of Consumer Affairs runs one public verification site for both the HVACR and plumbing boards: newjersey.mylicense.com/verification.

Search by name or license number before you hire a Master HVACR contractor — and before you accept a job with a business that says it is licensed.