LicensebyState

Moving to District of Columbia as a journeyman HVAC technician: every state's rule

District of Columbia has reciprocity agreements with 0 states. Everyone else follows its standard out-of-state path: endorsement.

District of Columbia journeyman HVAC technician · “Journeyman Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic”

Statewide license

Verified September 15, 2026· 6 sources

Issued by DC Board of Industrial Trades (Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection)

The District of Columbia licenses HVAC technicians as Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanics through the Board of Industrial Trades in the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), the same board that licenses electricians and plumbers. Three person-held credentials exist: apprentice (registered without exam), Journeyman Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic, and Master Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic (regular, or limited to systems of 25 compressor horsepower and below). 17 DCMR § 303.7 requires a journeyman license for anyone doing the mechanical work of installing, maintaining, repairing or replacing refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. DLCP's application instructions require 3 years of experience verified by a master, tax records, a CFC (EPA 608) Universal certification, and a PSI-administered open-book journeyman exam; a graduate of a registered apprenticeship program (classroom work plus 8,000 hours over 4 years under a master) may waive the journeyman exam, which mirrors the national-certification substitute in D.C. Code § 47-2853.202(d). Fees are a $65 application fee and a $110 mechanic license fee; all refrigeration licenses expire September 30 of even-numbered years. The Board publishes reciprocity for electricians and plumbers from Maryland and Virginia but none for refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics.

Every origin state

Endorsement 14No credit 36
Every state's path into District of Columbia
StateMechanismNoteVerified
AlabamaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
AlaskaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
ArizonaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
ArkansasEndorsement2026-09-15
CaliforniaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
ColoradoNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
ConnecticutEndorsement2026-09-15
DelawareNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
FloridaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
GeorgiaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
HawaiiNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
IdahoEndorsement2026-09-15
IllinoisNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
IndianaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
IowaEndorsement2026-09-15
KansasNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
KentuckyEndorsement2026-09-15
LouisianaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
MaineNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
MarylandEndorsement2026-09-15
MassachusettsEndorsement2026-09-15
MichiganNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
MinnesotaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
MississippiNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
MissouriNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
MontanaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
NebraskaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
NevadaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
New HampshireNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
New JerseyNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
New MexicoEndorsement2026-09-15
New YorkNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
North CarolinaEndorsement2026-09-15
North DakotaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
OhioNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
OklahomaEndorsement2026-09-15
OregonNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
PennsylvaniaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
Rhode IslandEndorsement2026-09-15
South CarolinaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
South DakotaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
TennesseeNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
TexasEndorsement2026-09-15
UtahNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
VermontNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
VirginiaEndorsement2026-09-15
WashingtonNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
West VirginiaEndorsement2026-09-15
WisconsinNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
WyomingNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15

Getting licensed in District of Columbia from scratch

No license yet, or nothing that transfers? This is how District of Columbia issues a journeyman HVAC technician license to a first-time applicant.

Verified September 23, 2026· 11 sources

Journeyman Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic by examination

The Board of Industrial Trades issues the Journeyman Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic license to an applicant who has 3 years of refrigeration and air conditioning experience and passes the journeyman exam. Experience is documented with tax records and employment verification letters signed by a master mechanic that describe the work and how long you were employed. The exam is given by PSI and is open book; there is no separate law or business exam, and District law exempts journeyman refrigeration mechanics from a District-law exam. Under the Board's test-first process you may schedule the exam directly with PSI before applying, but passing it does not license you: you must still apply online through DLCP with your documents and fees. Graduates of an approved apprenticeship program, and holders of a national certifying organization's journeyman certificate, may skip the exam.

PSI's candidate bulletin describes the journeyman exam (Washington DC Journeyman Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) as 60 multiple-choice questions with a 2-hour time limit, using the 2012 International Mechanical Code and Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (2004) as approved references. PSI reports only PASS to passing candidates, with no numerical score, and no passing percentage is published. The 3-year experience figure comes from DLCP's application instructions; the statute itself sets no journeyman experience term. Before qualifying, apprentices register with the Board without an exam and work only under the direct supervision of a licensed master mechanic. For questions, contact DLCP Occupational and Professional Licensing at (202) 671-4500.

Trade exam
Required
Law / code exam
Not required
Exam given by
PSI
Exam format
Open book
Renewal
Every 2 years

Who can apply

  • You must document at least 3 years of qualifying work experience.Three years of refrigeration and air conditioning experience, documented with tax records and employment verification letters signed by a master mechanic (DLCP application instructions).

Other ways to qualify

Each of these replaces the requirements above. You only need one.

Approved apprenticeship or national journeyman certificate (exam waived)

DLCP waives the journeyman exam for a graduate of an approved apprenticeship program that includes classroom work and at least 8,000 hours (4 years) of on-the-job training under a master, documented with a certificate of completion, formal designation certificate or official transcripts. By statute the Board must also accept, in place of the exam and experience requirements, a certificate from a national certifying organization (a trade organization, non-union sponsor or labor union registered with the U.S. Department of Labor or the DC Apprenticeship Council) showing that you completed its apprenticeship, passed its exam, are designated a journeyman refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic, and have not been disciplined. The application and license fees still apply.

  • Complete a registered apprenticeship (4 years): Completion of an approved refrigeration and air conditioning apprenticeship with classroom work and at least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under a master, or a journeyman certificate from a national certifying organization.

Steps to get licensed

  1. 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($65). Application fee, paid with the online application (non-refundable).
  2. 2Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Washington DC Journeyman Air Conditioning and Refrigeration exam administered by PSI: 60 multiple-choice questions, 2 hours, open book.
  3. 3Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($52). Per attempt, paid to PSI when scheduling, as listed in PSI's District of Columbia candidate bulletin.
  4. 4License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($110). Mechanic license fee, for a term of up to 2 years.
  5. 5Other. Hold EPA Section 608 certification (Universal). DLCP's application instructions list a CFC Universal certification among the journeyman exam documents, while the Board's application checklist lists it for master applicants only; confirm with DLCP at (202) 671-4500. Federal law requires Section 608 certification to handle refrigerants in any case..

Published fees on this path total $227, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.

Keeping it active

Every 2 years and a $155 renewal fee.

All refrigeration and air conditioning licenses expire on September 30 of even-numbered years regardless of when they were issued, so a first license can run less than 2 years. Renew online through the DLCP portal (Access DC account) before the expiration date; a late renewal adds a $50 fee.

Exam preparation

Most boards contract PSI, Prov, or ICC for exams. Check which code edition the exam is written to before buying a prep course.

  • Trade exam
  • Exam fee · $52
  • Other

Sources for this section

  1. D.C. Code § 47-2853.12 - License, certification, and registration criteria; waiver · D.C. Code § 47-2853.12(b)-(d), (l) · Council of the District of Columbia · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
  2. D.C. Code § 47-2853.202 - Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics: eligibility requirements · D.C. Code § 47-2853.202 · Council of the District of Columbia · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
  3. 17 DCMR Chapter 3 - Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Licensing (§§ 303, 304, 306, 307, 309, 310) · 17 DCMR §§ 303.6-303.8, 304, 306, 307, 309, 310, 312 · DC Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances (DCMR) · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
  4. 17 DCMR § 3500 - Licensing fees · 17 DCMR § 3500.2(o), 3500.3 · District of Columbia Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
  5. District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades · District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 17, 2026
  6. DC DLCP - Board of Industrial Trades landing page (apply, items needed, examination, reciprocity) · District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  7. DC DLCP - Refrigeration/Air-Conditioning License (Limited and Regular) Application Instructions - Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master · District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Occupational and Professional Licensing · Form · verified September 23, 2026
  8. DLCP bulletin - Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanic License Renewal Notice (July 27, 2026) · District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Board of Industrial Trades · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  9. DC Board of Industrial Trades - Test First Examination Process Notice · District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades (DLCP) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  10. PSI Candidate Information Bulletin - Washington D.C. Contractor/Trades Examinations · PSI Services LLC for the District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades · Form · verified September 23, 2026
  11. EPA Section 608 Technician Certification Requirements · 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F (Clean Air Act §608) · U.S. Environmental Protection Agency · Other · verified September 15, 2026

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