Mississippi to Connecticut: master HVAC technician license reciprocity
Mississippi does not issue a statewide master HVAC technician license, so there is nothing to transfer. Here is Connecticut'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.
Contractor (S-1) by equivalent out-of-state license (all states)
Your out-of-state credentials give no advantage. You meet the destination's requirements from scratch.
A master HVAC technician or HVAC/mechanical contractor licensed in any other state applies under DCP's 'Heating Contractor - Equivalent Out of State License' path. DCP reviews a single out-of-state license for equivalency to the S-1: it must have required 576 classroom hours with a curriculum matching Exhibit A and 12,000 on-the-job hours (8,000 as an apprentice plus two years as a licensed journeyperson); the limited D-1 class needs 8,000 OJT and 432 classroom hours and the B-1 needs 6,000 and 288. The applicant submits a copy of the license, an official license verification, the laws and regulations that set the requirements met to obtain it, and the scope of work for that license, with the non-refundable $150 application fee. If approved, the applicant must pass both the S-1 trade exam and the Business and Law exam through PSI ($59 per portion) and then pay the $150 initial license fee; the out-of-state license does not waive either exam because Connecticut has no reciprocal agreements. An applicant whose license is not found equivalent must document the classroom and OJT hours directly under the equivalent experience and training path, where out-of-state journeyman service counts if DCP finds it comparable (CGS 20-334a(a)(1)(A)).
The out-of-state license page does not restate the exam requirement; it follows from the Heating, Cooling and Sheet Metal Work Licenses page, CGS 20-334a(a)(1)(A) and the PSI bulletin, which states that all contractors must pass a Business and Law examination and a trade examination. CGS 20-333a allows licensure without examination only where the other state reciprocates for Connecticut licensees, and DCP states no such agreements exist. Whether DCP treats an out-of-state 'master HVAC' license (rather than a contractor license) as the S-1 equivalent depends on the hour and curriculum comparison; DCP publishes no list of accepted titles. EPA Section 608 is not mentioned on the DCP pages but applies federally to anyone handling refrigerants.
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Required
- Law / code exam
- Required
- Out-of-state hours
- Count toward eligibility
What you must already have
- Your Mississippi license must be active and in good standing.
- The out-of-state license must be equivalent: it required 576 classroom hours matching Exhibit A and 12,000 OJT hours for the S-1 (D-1: 432 classroom / 8,000 OJT; B-1: 288 / 6,000)Only one out-of-state license is reviewed for equivalency.
- You must document at least 12,000 hours of qualifying work experience.8,000 hours as an apprentice plus 2 years (4,000 hours) working as a licensed journeyperson; journeyman service outside Connecticut counts if DCP finds it comparable.
What you'll do to get licensed in Connecticut
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($150). Contractor application fee, non-refundable (CGS 20-333).
- 2Other. Copy of the out-of-state license, official license verification, the laws/regulations listing the requirements met to obtain it, and the scope of work for that license.
- 3Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. S-1 Unlimited Heating, Piping and Cooling Contractor trade exam administered by PSI: 80 questions, 3 hours, 70% to pass, open book (D-1: 70 questions, 3 hours; B-1: 50 questions, 2 hours).
- 4Law / code exam. Pass a law, rules, or code exam. Connecticut Business and Law exam (PSI): 50 questions, 2 hours, 70% to pass, based on the NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Connecticut 6th edition.
- 5Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($59). PSI fee for the trade portion (same fee for retakes).
- 6Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($59). PSI fee for the Business and Law portion (same fee for retakes).
- 7License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($150). Initial license fee for a contractor's license after passing both exams (CGS 20-335); renews annually for $150, expiring August 31.
- 8Other. 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 $418, 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 · $59
- Exam fee · $59
- Other · if applicable
How Connecticut licenses master HVAC technicians
Connecticut master HVAC technician · “S-1 Unlimited Heating, Piping and Cooling Contractor”
Statewide license
Connecticut has no license titled 'master HVAC'; the top-tier personal credential is the S-1 Unlimited Heating, Piping and Cooling Contractor, issued by DCP to an individual (DCP licenses individuals, not companies) and permitting all heating, piping and cooling work under CGS 20-330, pulling permits and contracting with the public. Limited contractor classes cover narrower scopes, chiefly the D-1 Limited Warm Air, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor and the B-1 Limited Gas and Oil Burner Contractor. A new S-1 applicant needs 576 classroom hours matching DCP's Exhibit A curriculum and 12,000 OJT hours (8,000 as an apprentice plus two years, 4,000 hours, working as a licensed journeyperson), reachable through two years as a Connecticut journeyperson, equivalent experience and training, or an equivalent out-of-state license, and must pass both the PSI S-1 trade exam (80 questions, 3 hours, 70%) and the Business and Law exam (50 questions, 2 hours, 70%). CGS 20-334a(a)(1) expressly allows journeyman service performed outside Connecticut to count if DCP finds it comparable. DCP states that Connecticut does not have reciprocal agreements with any other jurisdiction. Fees are a $150 application fee, $59 per exam portion and a $150 initial license fee; licenses expire every August 31 and renew for $150.
Why Mississippi has nothing to transfer
Mississippi master HVAC technician
Licensed by cities and counties
Mississippi does not issue a personal master HVAC license. The state-level HVAC credential is the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) contractor license: commercial 'Heat, Ventilation, A/C - HVAC' under the Mechanical classification (required on commercial jobs over $50,000; application and renewal $400, $300,000/$600,000 liability insurance, CPA-reviewed financial statement) or Residential HVAC (required for residential work over $10,000 in remodeling or $50,000 new construction; application $50, renewal $100). The license is issued to the business through a Certificate of Responsibility with a named qualifying party who passes the open-book PSI HVAC (or Residential HVAC) trade exam and the mandatory Mississippi Law and Business Management exam, so a master HVAC mechanic who only wants to work for an employer has nothing to transfer to at the state level; the personal master credential exists only in cities such as Southaven (Master Mechanical, $100, which itself requires an active MSBOC license, a $10,000 bond and liability insurance) and Gulfport (Mechanical/HVAC contractor license issued to the qualifying party, $100). MSBOC waives its HVAC trade exam, for $50 per exam, for qualifying parties who have held a license for at least one year with the Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors, the Alabama General Contractors Board, the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (HVAC or Refrigeration), the South Carolina Residential Builders Commission (Residential HVAC) or the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, provided the license was obtained by that board's exam and there has been no disciplinary action in the period stated in each agreement; the Business and Law exam is never waived. EPA Section 608 certification is a separate federal requirement.
How local licensing works in Mississippi
State contractor license (business). MSBOC issues commercial and residential contractor licenses to companies through a Certificate of Responsibility. The commercial HVAC classification ('Heat, Ventilation, A/C - HVAC', with Ductwork, Refrigeration and Boiler specialties) requires the PSI open-book HVAC trade exam and the Mississippi Law and Business Management exam taken by the qualifying party (owner, officer or responsible managing employee), a $400 application fee ($400 annual renewal, $100 per additional classification), general liability insurance of $300,000 per occurrence / $600,000 aggregate naming MSBOC, and a CPA-reviewed financial statement showing net worth of $50,000 for a major classification or $20,000 for a specialty. Residential HVAC and Residential Mechanical (HVAC plus plumbing) licenses require the Residential HVAC (and Plumbing) exam and the Law and Business exam, a $50 application fee ($100 per additional classification, $100 renewal), proof of liability insurance with no minimum, three reference letters and documented experience in the classification.
MSBOC exam waivers for out-of-state qualifying parties. Reciprocity waives the trade exam only ($50 per exam waived, plus a $25 verification fee) after the origin board completes MSBOC's Reciprocity Verification Form; the applicant must have held the origin license for one year and passed that board's exam. HVAC waivers are available for the Alabama Heating and Air board (current license, Alabama exam), the Alabama General Contractors Board (HVAC can be waived; no discipline in the last year), Louisiana (HVAC can be waived but not mechanical or plumbing; the formal agreement ended but MSBOC continues to recognize Louisiana scores), Ohio CILB (HVAC and Refrigeration; no discipline in the last year), the South Carolina Residential Builders Commission (Residential HVAC; no discipline in three years) and Tennessee (all exams, the only state whose mechanical and plumbing exams are waived; no discipline in the last year). Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and the South Carolina Contractors Licensing Board agreements do not cover HVAC. Everyone takes the Mississippi Law and Business Management exam.
Southaven. Master Mechanical license ($100) for the license qualifier: application, photo ID, certificate of liability insurance, $10,000 surety bond in favor of the city, an active MSBOC contractor's license certificate and the company EIN. An out-of-state contractor without an MSBOC license must instead provide a letter of good standing from a municipality where its license is active and may not take residential projects or commercial projects over $50,000; the city defers to MSBOC on reciprocity.
Gulfport. Mechanical/HVAC contractor license ($100, waived with an MSBOC Certificate of Responsibility) issued in the name of the qualifying party: notarized application, current MSBOC license if held, five reference letters (waived with an MSBOC license), $100,000/$300,000 public liability insurance naming the city, home-jurisdiction privilege license and photo ID.
Out-of-state holders. A master HVAC licensee from another state who wants to contract in Mississippi applies to MSBOC as the qualifying party of a business, uses the exam waiver if the origin board is on the list, and then registers with each city; a master who only wants employment needs no state license and, in most cities, no personal card.
Common questions
- Do I have to take the Connecticut master HVAC technician exam if I'm licensed in Mississippi?
- Yes. Connecticut requires the trade exam on this path, plus a law or code exam.
- What does it cost to get a Connecticut master HVAC technician license from Mississippi?
- Published fees on this path total $418, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- Do my Mississippi work hours count in Connecticut?
- Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Connecticut's eligibility requirements.
- Does it work the other way, from Connecticut to Mississippi?
- Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Connecticut to Mississippi, the mechanism is not applicable.
Sources
- Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 393 - Occupational Licensing (Electrical, Plumbing and Piping, Heating, Cooling...) · CGS §§ 20-333, 20-333a, 20-334a, 20-335 · Connecticut General Assembly · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- Connecticut DCP - Heating Contractor: Equivalent Experience and Training · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Connecticut DCP - Heating Contractor: Equivalent Out of State License · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026
- Connecticut DCP - Heating, Cooling and Sheet Metal Work Licenses (application paths, fees, renewal) · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Connecticut DCP - Heating, Piping, Cooling and Sheet Metal Work Examining Board · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026
- Connecticut DCP - Heating, Piping and Cooling License Types and Scope of Work · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026
- Connecticut DCP Occupational Licensing - Heating, Piping and Cooling Trades Candidate Information Bulletin (PSI, updated 2/4/2026) · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection / PSI Services LLC · Form · verified September 23, 2026
- 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
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.