Do I have to take the Ohio master HVAC technician exam if I'm licensed in Indiana?

Yes. Ohio requires the trade exam on this path, plus a law or code exam.

How long do I need to have held my Indiana license?

At least 5 years before applying.

What does it cost to get a Ohio master HVAC technician license from Indiana?

Published fees on this path total $50, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.

Do my Indiana work hours count in Ohio?

Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Ohio's eligibility requirements.

Does it work the other way, from Ohio to Indiana?

Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Ohio to Indiana, the mechanism is not applicable.

Indiana to Ohio: master HVAC technician license reciprocity

No credit· Start overVerified September 15, 2026· 9 sources

Indiana does not issue a statewide master HVAC technician license, so there is nothing to transfer. Here is Ohio'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 HVAC or mechanical contractor licensee without a reciprocity agreement (examination route)

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

An HVAC, mechanical or refrigeration contractor licensed in a state without an OCILB reciprocity agreement must take the Ohio examination. R.C. 4740.06(C) and OCILB's Licensed Out-of-State Contractor Application let the out-of-state license stand in for the usual five years of Ohio tax and permit documentation: the applicant instead shows the license has been active for at least five years (letter of good standing), at least five building authorizations issued under it, one tax return reflecting income under the license (plus a W-2 if not the owner), and that their employer is registered in Ohio as a foreign corporation or LLC with a designated agent. After board approval (valid one year) the applicant completes BCI and FBI background checks, then passes both sections of the PSI exam (HVAC or Refrigeration trade section and Business & Law). The license is issued on submission of the results, a $25 fee and a $500,000 certificate of liability insurance, and must be assigned to a contracting company; HVAC and Refrigeration are separate licenses with separate applications and fees. OCILB describes no case-by-case endorsement that waives the exam outside a written reciprocity agreement. EPA Section 608 certification is a federal prerequisite for refrigerant work and is not verified by OCILB.

The PSI examination fee is published only in the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin sent to approved candidates and was not confirmed from an official page. R.C. 4740.06(F) requires the board to authorize the license within 90 days of the application when the applicant qualifies and passes the exam.

At a glance

Trade exam: Required
Law / code exam: Required
Out-of-state hours: Count toward eligibility

What you must already have

You must have held your Indiana license for at least 5 years.Proof the substantially similar out-of-state license has been active at least five years (letter of good standing); otherwise the standard five years as a tradesperson applies.
At least five authorizations for construction, erection, equipment, alteration or addition of a building issued under the out-of-state license, and at least one tax return reflecting income earned under it (R.C. 4740.06(C))
Employer contracting company licensed as a foreign corporation (R.C. 1703.04) or registered as a foreign LLC (R.C. 1706.511) in Ohio with a designated agent
You must have no disciplinary action or unresolved complaints on your record.

What you'll do to get licensed in Ohio

1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($25). OCILB Out-of-State Examination Application fee per trade (HVAC or Refrigeration), payable to Treasurer, State of Ohio.
2Background check. Complete a background check. BCI and FBI background checks after board approval and before sitting for the exam (approval valid one year).
3Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Ohio HVAC Contractor (or Refrigeration Contractor) examination, trade section, administered by PSI (computer-based).
4Law / code exam. Pass a law, rules, or code exam. Ohio Business and Law examination section, administered by PSI.
5Exam fee. Pay the exam fee. PSI examination fee per the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin (amount not published on the OCILB pages).
6License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($25). License issuance fee per trade submitted with the exam results, payable to Treasurer, State of Ohio.
7Insurance. Carry the required insurance ($500,000). Certificate of contractor liability insurance of at least $500,000 in one contracting company name, certificate holder OCILB.
8Other. Assignment of the license and insurance to a contracting company as defined in R.C. 4740.01(C).
9Other. EPA Section 608 technician certification (Type I/II/III/Universal) to handle refrigerants; federal, does not expire; not verified by OCILB.

Published fees on this path total $50, 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
Law / code exam
Exam fee
Other

Liability insurance

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

Insurance · $500,000

How Ohio licenses master HVAC technicians

Ohio master HVAC technician · “HVAC Contractor / Refrigeration Contractor (OCILB state license)”

Statewide license

Verified September 15, 2026· 6 sources

Issued by Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB), Ohio Department of Commerce

Ohio has no license called 'master HVAC'; its top person-held HVAC credential is the statewide HVAC Contractor license (with a separate Refrigeration Contractor license for refrigeration work) issued by the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) to an individual who qualified by examination (R.C. 4740.01(A)), who then assigns it to a contracting company. Other states' reciprocity forms pair this license with their master HVAC or mechanical contractor licenses, so it is treated here as the master level. A new applicant must be 18, a citizen or legal alien, have five years as a tradesperson in the trade immediately before applying (or be an Ohio registered engineer with three years of construction business experience), pass BCI and FBI background checks, pass both sections of the PSI-administered examination (trade and Business & Law), carry $500,000 of contractor liability insurance in one company name, and pay a $25 application fee and $25 license fee per trade; licenses expire annually and renew with 8 hours of continuing education (24 for three-year renewals). OCILB's published reciprocity list covers HVAC licenses from Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia (refrigeration from Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee), with the Ohio Business and Law exam still required for Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee licensees. Federal EPA Section 608 certification is required of anyone handling refrigerants but is not part of the OCILB application.

Moving to Ohio Leaving Ohio

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 Indiana Leaving Indiana

Common questions

Do I have to take the Ohio master HVAC technician exam if I'm licensed in Indiana?: Yes. Ohio requires the trade exam on this path, plus a law or code exam.
How long do I need to have held my Indiana license?: At least 5 years before applying.
What does it cost to get a Ohio master HVAC technician license from Indiana?: Published fees on this path total $50, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
Do my Indiana work hours count in Ohio?: Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Ohio's eligibility requirements.
Does it work the other way, from Ohio to Indiana?: Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Ohio to Indiana, the mechanism is not applicable.

Sources

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.
OCILB - Contractors & Contracting Companies (state license requirements, reciprocity list, document checklists) · Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Opened through the r.jina.ai text proxy because com.ohio.gov returned 404 to the fetcher. States that OCILB issues state licenses to commercial contractors in five trades: Electrical, HVAC, Hydronics, Plumbing and Refrigeration. Requirements: age 18, citizen or legal alien, five years as a tradesperson in the trade (or Ohio registered engineer with three years of construction business experience), no disqualifying offense, pass the trade examination, $500,000 contractor liability coverage, fees; BCI and FBI background checks after board approval and before the exam. Fees: $25 application per trade, $25 licensing fee per trade, $60 annual escrow renewal. 'Reciprocity with other states' section: Ohio offers reciprocity only to applicants who passed the state-recognized test; Tennessee accepts Ohio grandfathered licensees; where noted the Business and Law (B&L) exam is required. List: Alabama - HVAC and Refrigeration; Arkansas - Plumbing; Kentucky - Electrical, HVAC, Refrigeration; Louisiana - Electrical, HVAC, Refrigeration - B&L; Mississippi - Electrical, HVAC, Refrigeration, Plumbing - B&L; North Carolina - Electrical; South Carolina - Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing - B&L; Tennessee - Electrical, HVAC, Refrigeration, Plumbing, Hydronics - B&L; West Virginia - Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing; Virginia - Electrical; Texas - Electrical. Reciprocity applicant checklist: notarized reciprocity application, OCILB verification form signed by the other state's board, $25 application fee per trade. The page says nothing about a journeyman, technician or individual HVAC license and nothing about EPA Section 608.
OCILB Examination Application (PDF) · Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board · Form · verified September 15, 2026Standard route: last five consecutive years of tax documents plus one of: a permit for each of the last five years obtained by the licensed contractor employer, an active journeyman's card in the trade, an apprenticeship completion certificate (Ohio- or US DOL-approved), or 40 hours of live/virtual code continuing education from an OCILB training agency; or an Ohio registered professional engineer with three years of business experience; or five years as an Ohio government inspector in the trade. $25 application fee; exam types Hydronics, Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, Refrigeration.
OCILB - Testing Application (form DIC 3524) · Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Opened through the r.jina.ai text proxy. Lists the trades licensed (Electrical, HVAC, Refrigeration, Plumbing, Hydronics) and links the Testing Application PDF (DIC 3524); last reviewed March 2020.
OCILB - Licensed Out-of-State Contractor Application (examination route for out-of-state licensees) · Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Opened through the r.jina.ai text proxy. Holders of a substantially similar out-of-state contractor license qualify for the exam by showing the license has been active at least five years (letter of good standing), at least five building authorizations, one tax return (plus a W-2 if not the owner) and that the employer is registered in Ohio as a foreign corporation or LLC. Exams are computer based, both sections, results immediate. After passing, the license issues on a $25 check payable to Treasurer, State of Ohio and a $500,000 certificate of liability insurance. Last reviewed April 2024. Applies to all five OCILB trades including HVAC and Refrigeration.
OCILB Out-of-State Examination Application (PDF) · Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board · Form · verified September 15, 2026Check-one exam types: Hydronics, Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, Refrigeration. Application fee $25.00 payable to Treasurer, State of Ohio. Out-of-state licensees provide five building authorizations, one tax return reflecting income under the out-of-state license, and proof the employer is a registered foreign corporation or LLC in Ohio. Board approval valid one year; BCI and FBI background checks before testing; approved candidates receive the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin; those who pass both sections receive the license by sending results, a $25 check and proof of $500,000 liability insurance; the insurance and license must be assigned to a contracting company (R.C. 4740.01(C)). The PSI exam fee is not printed on the form.
Ohio Revised Code 4740.01 - Construction industry licensing board definitions · R.C. 4740.01(A), (C), (E) · Ohio Legislative Service Commission · Statute · verified September 15, 2026'License' means a license the board issues to an individual as a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning contractor, refrigeration contractor, electrical contractor, plumbing contractor, or hydronics contractor. 'Tradesperson' means an individual employed by a contractor who performs the work without assuming responsibility for the means, method or manner of the work; tradespersons are not licensed under the chapter. 'Contracting company' is a company in the construction industry working on construction projects. Effective September 17, 2014.
Ohio Revised Code 4740.06 - License application; qualifications for examination · R.C. 4740.06(B), (C), (F), (H) · Ohio Legislative Service Commission · Statute · verified September 15, 2026(B) age 18, citizen or legal alien, five years as a tradesperson in the trade (or registered engineer with three years' business experience), contractor's liability insurance. (C) alternative qualification for holders of a substantially similar out-of-state license: at least five building authorizations and a tax return showing income under that license. (F) the specialty section authorizes the license within 90 days of the application once the applicant qualifies and passes the exam. (H) renewal without re-examination with continuing education. Effective September 30, 2025 (H.B. 96, 136th General Assembly).
Ohio Revised Code 4740.08 - Reciprocity · R.C. 4740.08 · Ohio Legislative Service Commission · Statute · verified September 15, 2026When a written reciprocity agreement between the states exists, an individual licensed in the other state who submits a copy of the agreement and pays the licensure fee is licensed without examination if the specialty section finds the other state's requirements substantially equal and that it extends similar reciprocity to Ohio licensees; the section may withdraw authorization for good cause before issuance. Effective December 29, 2023.

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

Report an error on this page