Maryland to Virginia: master HVAC technician license reciprocity
Virginia has a reciprocity agreement with Maryland: a Maryland master HVAC technician can get a Virginia license without retaking the trade exam.
Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.
Examination reciprocity agreement with Maryland (master HVACR)
A signed state-to-state agreement. The trade exam is waived; you apply, prove your history, and pay the fee.
The Board for Contractors has an approved examination reciprocity agreement covering the Maryland HVACR Board's Master HVACR license and the Virginia Master HVAC tradesman license; it is the Board's only HVAC-specific agreement (the separate Maryland electrical agreement covers masters only, but the HVAC agreement covers both levels). A Maryland master applies on the Tradesman Exam & License Application selecting 'Reciprocity' (transaction 1021, $171.75) for the Master HVA designation, lists the Maryland license in question 10, and attaches a Certification/Letter of Good Standing from the Maryland board showing the license number, initial date, expiration, that it was obtained by examination, and any closed disciplinary actions. The Virginia master trade exam is waived and there is no Virginia law exam for tradesmen. A Maryland master who wants to contract for work over $1,000 must separately obtain a Virginia Class A, B or C contractor license, whose examinations are not covered by this agreement.
The agreement list does not print the agreement's date or detailed terms; DPOR says to contact the Board at [email protected] for details.
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Waived
- Law / code exam
- Not required
- Out-of-state hours
- Count toward eligibility
- Agreement
- Active
What you must already have
- Your Maryland license must have been obtained by examination, not by reciprocity or grandfathering.
- Your Maryland license must be active and in good standing.
- You must have no disciplinary action or unresolved complaints on your record.
What you'll do to get licensed in Virginia
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($171.75). Tradesman Exam & License Application fee, Reciprocity method (transaction 1021), including the $7.25-per-year technology fee; non-refundable.
- 2Other. Certification of Licensure/Letter of Good Standing from the Maryland HVACR Board.
- 3Continuing education. Complete continuing education. Three hours of board-approved International Mechanical Code continuing education each three-year license term.
- 4Contractor license. Hold or obtain a contractor license (if applicable). Class A, B or C Virginia contractor license if contracting for work over $1,000.
- 5Other. Hold EPA Section 608 technician certification to handle refrigerant; federal law requires it, but it is not a condition of this state license (if applicable).
Published fees on this path total $171.75, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.
What you'll need to buy or arrange
Continuing education
Renewals usually need approved CE hours, often on the latest NEC. Reciprocal licensees are rarely exempt.
- Continuing education
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 · if applicable
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.
- Other · if applicable
How Virginia licenses master HVAC technicians
Virginia master HVAC technician · “Master Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVA) Tradesman”
Statewide license
Issued by Virginia Board for Contractors, Tradesmen Program (DPOR)
Virginia issues a statewide Master HVAC tradesman license to individuals through the Board for Contractors' Tradesmen Program at DPOR. Under 18VAC50-30-39 a first-time applicant qualifies for the PSI master exam ($125) with one year of practical experience as a licensed journeyman, three years as a Virginia residential HVAC tradesman, or nine years of verified practical experience in the trade; the application fee on the 2026 form is $171.75 including the technology fee. A current journeyman or master HVAC license from another state is itself an accepted qualification to sit the master exam, and a licensee who has held an out-of-state license for at least one year may apply through Universal License Recognition and receive the master license without the Virginia trade exam. The Board's only HVAC reciprocity agreement is an examination reciprocity agreement with the Maryland HVACR Board covering journeyman and master licenses; the electrical agreements with Alabama, DC, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia do not extend to HVAC. The master tradesman license is a personal qualification; contracting for work over $1,000 requires a separate Class A, B or C contractor business license from the same Board. EPA Section 608 certification is required federally to handle refrigerants.
Common questions
- Do I have to take the Virginia master HVAC technician exam if I'm licensed in Maryland?
- No. The trade exam is waived on this path under the agreement with Maryland.
- What does it cost to get a Virginia master HVAC technician license from Maryland?
- Published fees on this path total $171.75, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- Do my Maryland work hours count in Virginia?
- Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Virginia's eligibility requirements.
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, 2026
- 18VAC50-30-39 - Qualifications for examination approval for a tradesman license · 18VAC50-30-39 · Virginia Board for Contractors / Virginia Register · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- 18VAC50-30-90 - Fees for licensure and certification · 18VAC50-30-90 · Virginia Board for Contractors / Virginia Register · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- Va. Code 54.1-103 - Additional training of regulated persons; reciprocity; endorsement · Va. Code 54.1-103(B)-(C) · Virginia General Assembly · Statute · verified September 15, 2026
- Virginia Board for Contractors - Reciprocal Licensing/Examination Agreements with Other Jurisdictions · Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) · Agreement Document · verified September 17, 2026
- Form A501-2710EXLIC - Tradesman Exam & License Application (v8, 07/01/2026) · Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) · Form · verified September 23, 2026
- DPOR Board for Contractors - Tradesman Licensing Information and Application Instructions · Va. Code 54.1-1128 through 54.1-1131 · Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation · Other · verified September 23, 2026
- DPOR Board for Contractors - Tradesmen Program · Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.