LicensebyState

Indiana to Iowa: master HVAC technician license reciprocity

No credit· Start overVerified September 15, 2026· 13 sources

Indiana does not issue a statewide master HVAC technician license, so there is nothing to transfer. Here is Iowa's standard path for out-of-state applicants.

Your origin state does not issue a statewide license at this level, so there is no license to transfer. The destination's standard out-of-state path is shown; expect to meet it in full.

Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.

Out-of-state master or HVAC contractor (all states): direct admission to the Iowa master exam

Your out-of-state credentials give no advantage. You meet the destination's requirements from scratch.

Iowa has no master-level HVAC reciprocity with any state. An applicant who was previously licensed as a master in the applicable discipline in another state or local jurisdiction is admitted to the Iowa master HVAC/refrigeration exam without having to hold an Iowa journeyperson license first (Iowa Code 105.18(2)(c); 481 IAC 429.6(3)(i)); the applicant files the $35 exam approval application, pays Kirkwood's exam fee ($95 as listed on the master page), passes with 75%, and then files the post-examination licensure application with a prorated three-year fee ($240 for a full term). An applicant who has established Iowa residency may instead apply for licensure by verification under Iowa Code 272C.12 and 481 IAC 430.4, but the board still requires proof of passing the applicable Iowa licensing examination and can issue only a temporary license until then. To contract independently the master (or the firm employing the master) must also obtain the Contractor license and DIAL contractor registration ($250 plus $150 for a full term, 30% discount when bought with the master license in one transaction), with $500,000 liability insurance, a $5,000 surety bond, and for out-of-state contractors a $25,000 bond under chapter 91C; the board's reciprocity form states there is no reciprocity for contractor licenses.

Contractor license fees, insurance and bond are listed as optional requirements because they apply only to a master who contracts independently. The Kirkwood exam fee is quoted from DIAL's master page ($95); the journey page lists $99. Timeline reflects up to two weeks for exam approval plus up to six weeks for post-exam application review, excluding exam scheduling.

At a glance

Trade exam
Required
Law / code exam
Not required
Out-of-state hours
Count toward eligibility
Typical processing
About 60 days

What you must already have

  • Previously licensed as a master in the applicable discipline in another state or local jurisdiction, or a licensed journeyperson with at least two years of journey-level experience in the discipline (Iowa Code 105.18(2)(c); 481 IAC 429.6(3)(i))
  • Your Indiana license must be active and in good standing.
  • You must have no disciplinary action or unresolved complaints on your record.For licensure by verification: no revocation, surrender under investigation, unresolved discipline or pending complaint (272C.12(1)(e)-(g); 481 IAC 430.4(3)).
  • Licensure by verification requires established Iowa residency or a military spouse's permanent change of station to Iowa (272C.12(1)(b); 481 IAC 430.4(2)(d))

What you'll do to get licensed in Iowa

  1. 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($35). Examination approval application fee, per discipline (481 IAC 428.1(4)).
  2. 2Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Iowa Master HVAC/Refrigeration examination administered through Kirkwood Community College; 75% to pass; also required of licensure-by-verification applicants under 481 IAC 430.4(2)(e).
  3. 3Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($95). Kirkwood Community College examination fee, per attempt (as listed on DIAL's master license page).
  4. 4License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($240). Master license fee for a full three-year term (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2029), prorated one-sixth per six-month period; same amount for a license by verification.
  5. 5Application fee. Pay the application fee ($25) (if applicable). Paper application fee if not filed through the online portal.
  6. 6Contractor license. Hold or obtain a contractor license ($400) (if applicable). PMSB Contractor license ($250) plus DIAL contractor registration ($150) for a full three-year term, prorated; required only to contract independently; 30% discount on license fees when bought with the master license in one transaction.
  7. 7Insurance. Carry the required insurance ($500,000) (if applicable). Public liability insurance of at least $500,000 for a contractor license (Iowa Code 105.19).
  8. 8Surety bond. Post a surety bond ($5,000) (if applicable). Surety bond of at least $5,000 for a contractor license; out-of-state contractors must also file a $25,000 bond under Iowa Code chapter 91C.
  9. 9Other. EPA Section 608 technician certification (Type I/II/III/Universal) to handle refrigerants; federal, does not expire. DIAL's pages do not list it as a state prerequisite..

Published fees on this path total $370, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.

What you'll need to buy or arrange

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 · $95
  • Other

Business registration

If you plan to contract in your own name, budget for a business license or entity registration on top of the trade license.

  • Contractor license · $400 · if applicable

Liability insurance

Some states require proof of general liability or workers' compensation coverage at licensing time.

  • Insurance · $500,000 · if applicable

Surety bond

A license or contractor bond is bought from a surety, not the state. Price is a small percentage of the bond amount and depends on your credit.

  • Surety bond · $5,000 · if applicable

How Iowa licenses master HVAC technicians

Iowa master HVAC technician · “Master HVAC-Refrigeration”

Statewide license

Verified September 15, 2026· 7 sources

Issued by Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board, Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL)

Iowa's highest person-held HVAC credential is the Master HVAC-Refrigeration license issued by the Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board (DIAL); a Master Mechanical license, which adds sheet metal and hydronic work, is issued to anyone who passes both the master HVAC-refrigeration and master hydronic exams. A new master applicant must have previously been a licensed journeyperson in the discipline with at least two years of journey-level experience, or have been licensed as a master in the discipline in another state or local jurisdiction, and must pass the Iowa master exam (75%) through Kirkwood Community College. The separate Contractor license is a business credential: a sole proprietor or firm that contracts for HVAC work must hold or employ a master in each discipline, carry $500,000 liability insurance and a $5,000 surety bond (out-of-state contractors add a $25,000 chapter 91C bond), and register as a contractor with DIAL on the same application. Iowa has no HVAC reciprocity agreement with any state and states plainly that there is no reciprocity for contractor licenses. An out-of-state master may sit the Iowa master exam directly on the strength of the out-of-state license; Iowa residents may use licensure by verification but the board still requires the Iowa exam. Licenses run three years and require eight hours of continuing education per term.

Moving to IowaLeaving Iowa

Why Indiana has nothing to transfer

Indiana master HVAC technician

Licensed by cities and counties

Verified September 15, 2026· 14 sources

Indiana has no statewide master HVAC, mechanical contractor or HVAC contractor license and no state HVAC board; the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency's list of regulated professions contains no heating, air conditioning or refrigeration trade, and Indianapolis's exam information states that licensing is at the discretion of each municipality. The master-level credential exists only locally and under varying names: Indianapolis/Marion County licenses Heating and Cooling Contractors (Air Conditioning A, B, D, Refrigeration and High Pressure Steam) whose craft license holder passed the Prov exam, Allen County (Fort Wayne) issues an HVAC Supervisors License (Air Conditioning A or B, Sheet Metal C), Evansville licenses Master Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioner Installers and Master Refrigeration Installers by local examination, South Bend registers HVAC contractors on proof of a passing ICC National Standard Master Mechanical exam, and Terre Haute issues a Mechanical license to contractors employing a NATE, HVAC Excellence, RSES, Experior or Indianapolis-certified person. An out-of-state master HVAC or mechanical contractor license carries no state-level recognition in Indiana. Indianapolis is the only jurisdiction with a published reciprocity procedure, and it turns on the exam rather than the state: a license earned on a Prometric/Experior or Prov exam with a 70% score, certified by the issuing agency, can be accepted by the Board of Heating and Cooling Examiners. Elsewhere a master must apply in each city or county where they will pull permits, which in practice means holding an ICC or Prov national exam score or passing the local exam, then meeting that jurisdiction's bond and insurance rules. EPA Section 608 certification is required for refrigerant work in every jurisdiction.

How local licensing works in Indiana

How local licensing works. Indiana regulates plumbers at the state level but has never created a state HVAC or mechanical contractor license. Each city or county building department decides whether and how to license HVAC contractors and master-level installers, and there is no statewide portability rule. Prov (Indianapolis) and ICC/Prometric (South Bend, Terre Haute) national exams are the most portable credentials inside the state.

Indianapolis / Marion County. The Department of Business and Neighborhood Services licenses Heating and Cooling Contractors in five types: Air Conditioning A (unrestricted), Air Conditioning B (25 tons cooling / 500,000 BTU heating, boilers to 15 psig steam), Air Conditioning D (5 tons / 300,000 BTU), Refrigeration, and High Pressure Steam. A craft license holder submits an exam packet ten business days before the monthly Board of Heating and Cooling Examiners meeting: application, resume, employer letters verifying five years of HVACR experience (education may substitute in part), three industry reference letters, EPA certification card, driver's license; after a board interview the applicant sits the Prov exam and needs 70%. The business then files a $5,000 surety bond (obligee the Consolidated City of Indianapolis, expiring 12/31/2027), a $500,000/$100,000 (or $500,000 combined) liability certificate naming the City-County as additional insured, and workers' compensation proof. 2026 fees: new license holder $377 (Jan-Jun) or $283 (Jul-Dec), new business license $247 or $185 (none for sole proprietors), renewals $247 each; licenses expire December 31 of odd-numbered years. Reciprocity: the board may accept a comparable license from any municipality or government agency if the issuing agency certifies directly to the Department that the license is current and unsuspended, the license was issued on a standardized Prometric (formerly Thomson Prometric / Experior / Block) or Prov exam passed with at least 70%, and the vendor verifies the exam is equivalent to the Indianapolis exam; the applicant still documents five years of experience, three references and EPA certification, appears before the board, and then licenses with bond, insurance and fees.

Fort Wayne / Allen County. The Building Department's HVAC Supervisors License (Air Conditioning A without BTU limit, Air Conditioning B up to 500,000 BTU heating and 25 tons cooling, or Sheet Metal C) requires four years and 7,000 hours as a journeyman in the same line of work (or eight years and 14,000 hours of documented OJT plus 30 days as a licensed journeyman) and a passing examination administered by the Building Commissioner or an approved testing facility; hydronic and low-temperature refrigeration work is reserved to Non-Sanitary Piping licensees. The supervisor qualifies an HVAC Contractors Business Registration ($90; supervisor license $25). Section H grants reciprocity subject to the trade's guidelines and minimum qualifications, and allows the Building Commissioner to grant reciprocity at his discretion to applicants who present the necessary credentials.

Evansville. The Building Commission licenses Master Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioner Installers (forced-air heating, air conditioning up to five tons with field piping or fifteen tons packaged, ventilation, ductwork and sheet metal; boilers and steam or hot-water systems require the Master Steam Fitter license) and Master Refrigeration Installers. Applicants prove four years of experience with three notarized letters on letterhead (EMC 5.70.060), are approved to test by the Board of Examiners of HVAC, Steam Fitters, and Refrigeration Installers, sit the exam through Ivy Tech and must score 75% on each part of the master mechanical, sheet metal, ventilation or refrigeration exam, then receive a provisional license on paying the $300 fee and providing insurance and the $25,000 surety bond required by EMC 5.70.070; renewal is $125 ($225 for two years) with board-set continuing education. The ordinance notes the master HVAC license does not permit air conditioning work without EPA certification.

South Bend. The Building Department registers HVAC contractors (including refrigeration and hood installers) after review of an application showing at least 21 years of age, journeyman and contractor experience (education may substitute for part of four years), and a passing score of at least 70% on the ICC National Standard Master Mechanical exam (F29-N) via Pearson Vue or Prometric or a comparable nationally recognized exam approved by the Board; a $5,000 surety bond naming the City of South Bend/St. Joseph County, workers' compensation proof, a $50 application review fee and $125 annual registration are required.

Terre Haute. The Engineering Department's Mechanical license is issued to a contractor that employs at least one full-time employee certified by NATE, HVAC Excellence, RSES, Experior Assessment, the City of Indianapolis HVAC Air Conditioning Class A, or an equivalent, with a $10,000 bond ($25,000 for right-of-way work), $500,000 general liability ($1,000,000 for right-of-way work) and workers' compensation or a WCE-1 exemption; $350 original registration, $175 annual renewal.

Out-of-state holders. Only Indianapolis publishes a reciprocity procedure, and it accepts a license from any jurisdiction (municipal or state) that was earned on an equivalent Prometric/Experior or Prov exam, subject to board approval. Allen County has a discretionary reciprocity clause; South Bend and Terre Haute accept national exam scores and industry certifications regardless of where they were earned; Evansville requires its own examination. Expect to license separately in each jurisdiction and to meet each one's bond and insurance rules.

Moving to IndianaLeaving Indiana

Common questions

Do I have to take the Iowa master HVAC technician exam if I'm licensed in Indiana?
Yes. Iowa requires the trade exam on this path.
What does it cost to get a Iowa master HVAC technician license from Indiana?
Published fees on this path total $370, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
Do my Indiana work hours count in Iowa?
Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Iowa's eligibility requirements.
How long does the application take?
The board's published or typical processing time is about 60 days.
Does it work the other way, from Iowa to Indiana?
Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Iowa to Indiana, the mechanism is not applicable.

Sources

  1. 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, 2026Federal requirement in every state: technicians who maintain, service, repair or dispose of equipment that could release refrigerants into the atmosphere must be certified (Type I small appliances, Type II high-pressure, Type III low-pressure, Universal). Apprentices under direct supervision are exempt. Certification does not expire; the core exam must be proctored for Universal certification. State HVAC boards commonly require it before licensure, but it is not itself a state license.
  2. Iowa Code Chapter 105 - Plumbers, Mechanical Professionals, and Contractors (2026) · Iowa Code 105.2, 105.10, 105.17, 105.18, 105.19, 105.20, 105.21 · Iowa Legislature · Statute · verified September 15, 2026105.2 defines HVAC, refrigeration, mechanical professional, journeyperson, master and contractor. 105.17 preempts all local plumbing/mechanical licensing (local provisions void since July 1, 2009). 105.18 requires journeypersons to pass the state exam and complete a four-year U.S. DOL-registered apprenticeship, requires masters to pass the master exam and to have previously been a licensed journeyperson or master in the discipline, and requires contractors to hold or employ a master; a mechanical license covers HVAC, refrigeration, sheet metal and hydronic work, and HVAC-refrigeration licensees are exempt from the special electrician license for disconnect/reconnect of AC and refrigeration systems. 105.19 insurance and surety bond for contractors. 105.20 three-year licenses, 8 CE hours per term. 105.21 lets the board license nonresidents without examination only under a reciprocal arrangement with a state that grants the same privilege to Iowans. PDF read with a local text extractor.
  3. Iowa Code 272C.12 - Licensure of persons licensed in other jurisdictions (2026) · Iowa Code 272C.12 · Iowa Legislature · Statute · verified September 15, 2026Universal-recognition statute: a license shall be issued without examination to a person currently licensed in good standing by another state in the same occupation with a substantially similar scope of practice, who met that state's education/experience requirements, passed its exam if any, has no revocation, discipline or pending complaint, and pays the fees; for chapter 103 and 105 licenses the person must have established Iowa residency (or be a military spouse on PCS orders). Boards may still require an exam specific to Iowa law, in which case a three-month temporary license (renewable once) must be issued. PDF read with a local text extractor.
  4. DIAL - Plumbing & Mechanical Systems Contractor License · Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026A contractor (sole proprietor or entity) providing plumbing, mechanical, HVAC, refrigeration, sheet metal or hydronic services on a contractual basis must hold a contractor license, employ or personally hold an active master license for each discipline, carry at least $500,000 public liability insurance and a $5,000 surety bond, and register as a contractor under Iowa Code chapter 91C on the same application; out-of-state contractors must also file a $25,000 surety bond. Initial combined fee $91.75 to $425 depending on timing; renewal $250 license plus $150 registration.
  5. DIAL - Plumbing & Mechanical Systems Examination · Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026The board accepts exam applications for Master and Journeyperson Plumbing, Hydronics, HVAC/Refrigeration, Mechanical, and Journeyperson Sheet Metal. $35 per trade examination application; exam fee paid to Kirkwood Community College per attempt; approval valid one year; a license is not issued automatically after passing. Master candidates may qualify if previously licensed as a master in the applicable discipline in another state or local jurisdiction.
  6. DIAL - Plumbing & Mechanical Systems License Period & Fees · Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Licensing period July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2029. Full three-year fees: journey $180, master $240, apprentice/inactive/specialty $50, contractor $250 plus $150 contractor registration ($400 together); prorated by one-sixth per six-month period for licenses issued mid-cycle. Exam approval application $35, paper application $25, written verification $20. Late renewal $60 after August 1 and $100 after September 1.
  7. DIAL - Master Level License (plumbing, mechanical, HVAC, refrigeration, sheet metal, hydronic) · Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Master applicants must hold either a master license from another jurisdiction or a journeyperson license with at least two years of journey-level experience, and pass the Iowa master exam for the discipline. Exam approval application $35 per discipline; Kirkwood exam fee listed as $95. Repeats that the board's only reciprocity agreement is the South Dakota plumbing agreement. The $95 figure differs from the $99 on the journey page; both are quoted as published.
  8. DIAL - Plumbing & Mechanical Systems Licensure (program home) · Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Lists the license types the board issues (apprentice, journey, master, contractor, service technician HVAC specialty, hearth, medical gas) and states that each license has its own education, testing and fee requirements and that at least eight classroom hours of board-approved continuing education are required each three-year term.
  9. DIAL - Post-Examination Licensure · Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026After passing the exam the applicant files a post-examination licensure application (online, or paper with a $25 fee); review can take up to six weeks. For a journeyperson license the application is not processed until the U.S. DOL Office of Apprenticeship certificate of completion has been issued, unless the applicant holds a master-level license from another jurisdiction. A 30% discount applies when multiple discipline licenses are bought in one transaction.
  10. Iowa Administrative Code 481 Chapter 428 - Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board Licensure Fees · 481 IAC 428.1 · Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing · Admin Rule · verified September 15, 2026Three-year fees: apprentice $50, journey $180, master $240, contractor $250, inactive $50, special restricted $50; identical fees for reciprocal licenses and licenses obtained by verification under chapter 430; prorated one-sixth per six-month period; exam application $35; paper application $25; written verification $20; combined licenses bought in one transaction discounted 30%; $50 fee to combine an HVAC-refrigeration or hydronic license into a mechanical license. PDF read with a local text extractor.
  11. Iowa Administrative Code 481 Chapter 429 - Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board Application, Licensure, and Examination · 481 IAC 429.2, 429.6 · Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing · Admin Rule · verified September 15, 2026429.2(3): a master applicant previously licensed as a journeyperson must show at least two years of journeyperson experience in the discipline. 429.6: exams are written and proctored by the board's vendor, 75% passes, applicants who do not pass within one year of applying must reapply, a passing score expires if the licensure application is not filed within two years, a master exam applicant must have previously been licensed as a master in the discipline or as a journeyperson with two years' experience, and journeyperson candidates may sit up to 12 months before completing the 48 months of apprentice credit. PDF read with a local text extractor.
  12. Iowa Administrative Code 481 Chapter 430 - Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board Alternative Licensure Pathways · 481 IAC 430.2 to 430.5 · Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing · Admin Rule · verified September 15, 2026430.3: licensure by reciprocity is available only to nonresidents holding a license from a jurisdiction with which the board has a reciprocity agreement. 430.4: licensure by verification under Iowa Code 272C.12 requires a verification form sent directly by the transferring jurisdiction, proof of Iowa residency (or military PCS), proof of passing the applicable Iowa licensing examination, a complete criminal record and any disciplinary documents; applicants who meet everything except the Iowa exam may receive a temporary license; revoked or surrendered licenses are ineligible. 430.5: an Iowa resident relocating from a jurisdiction that did not license the trade may substitute three or more years of full-time work in the preceding four years for the apprenticeship if the board finds it substantially similar, and must still pass the exam. PDF read with a local text extractor.
  13. Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board - Application for License by Reciprocity (Reciprocity App 03/2020) · Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board · Form · verified September 15, 2026States that the board only has a reciprocity agreement with the South Dakota State Plumbing Commission, covering only individuals licensed on the basis of written examination, and that as of May 2016 reciprocity is offered only in the plumbing trade; the form's trade field is fixed to 'Plumbing'. Also states there is no reciprocity for contractor licenses. PDF read with a local text extractor.

Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.

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