Arizona to Michigan: master HVAC technician license reciprocity

Michigan's HVAC credential is the Mechanical Contractor license issued by LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes under Article 8 of the Skilled Trades Regulation Act (2016 PA 407). Although called a contractor license, it is issued to an individual who qualifies by examination, so this file treats it as the master level: a business performs mechanical work by designating a licensed individual as its contractor of record (MCL 339.5809, 339.5815). The license is classified; an HVAC business typically holds HVAC Equipment (which includes ductwork and gas piping), Refrigeration and the heating and refrigeration/air conditioning service classifications. For each classification the applicant documents 3 years or 6,000 hours of experience with statements signed under penalty of perjury by each employing contractor of record (a 2-year HVAC program may be credited up to 1 year or 2,000 hours), is approved by LARA, and passes the PSI exam for that classification (75% to pass; the HVAC Equipment exam is 150 questions, open book, 3 hours, $100; other classification exams are 55 questions, 60 minutes, $50). The license fee is $300 for the 3-year cycle ($100 per year, prorated), licenses expire August 31 every third year, and municipalities may not impose their own licensing (MCL 339.5811). Michigan has no reciprocity with any state and no licensure by endorsement: LARA's out-of-state form states that Michigan 'does not reciprocate with any other state for licensing' and that out-of-state applicants must be approved to sit for the examination, so an out-of-state HVAC or mechanical contractor's experience counts toward eligibility but the Michigan exams must be passed. Federal EPA Section 608 certification is separately required to handle refrigerants.

Arizona does not issue a master HVAC license. A master HVAC licensee arriving from another state who only wants to work for an employer needs no Arizona license (except a Phoenix journeyman card for permitted work there). To run an HVAC business the qualifying party must pass the open-book Arizona Statutes and Rules Exam (SRE, $61 through Gmetrix) and the classification trade exam ($66 through PSI), document four years of trade experience, complete a background check, register the entity if an LLC or corporation, post a license bond sized by classification and volume (residential specialty $4,250 to $7,500; commercial specialty from $2,500), and pay the application and license fees plus the residential recovery fund assessment ($580 for C-39, $720 for R-39, $850 for CR-39). Arizona has no direct reciprocity with any state, but the Registrar may waive the trade exam and experience documentation when the qualifying party held a comparable license in another state within the past five years that was obtained by trade examination (Out of State Waiver Request Form filed with the application); the SRE cannot be waived. EPA Section 608 certification applies to anyone handling refrigerants.