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

No. The trade exam is waived on this path.

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

At least 3 years before applying.

What does it cost to get a Virginia master HVAC technician license from Mississippi?

Published fees on this path total $130, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.

Do my Mississippi work hours count in Virginia?

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

How long does the application take?

The board's published or typical processing time is about 30 days.

Does it work the other way, from Virginia to Mississippi?

Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Virginia to Mississippi, the mechanism is not applicable.

Mississippi to Virginia: master HVAC technician license reciprocity

No credit· Start overVerified September 15, 2026· 10 sources

Mississippi does not issue a statewide master HVAC technician license, so there is nothing to transfer. Here is Virginia'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.

Universal License Recognition or exam eligibility for out-of-state masters (all states except Maryland)

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

A master HVAC technician or individually licensed HVAC contractor from any state without a reciprocal agreement applies on the Tradesman Universal License Recognition form (A501-2710ULR) for a 'Licensed Master HVAC (HVA)' license, which DPOR issues without the Virginia trade examination when the current out-of-state license has been held for at least three years, was obtained by examination in a state that also required education, training or experience, and there are no unresolved complaints or pending investigations; every state board that has licensed the applicant must send a Certification of Licensure/Letter of Good Standing dated within 90 days directly to the Tradesmen Program, and DPOR reserves the right to require an exam specific to Virginia law (Va. Code 54.1-205). An applicant whose license is younger than three years, or was not obtained by exam, instead files the Tradesman Exam & License Application ($171.75): a current out-of-state journeyman or master HVAC license is one of the listed qualifications to sit the PSI master exam ($125), so no years of experience need be documented. The fee printed on the ULR form is $130; the 2026 exam/license form charges $171.75 including the technology fee.

A state contractor license issued to a business (for example a Tennessee CMC-C or California C-20) may not satisfy ULR's requirement that the individual hold a license obtained by examination; the qualifying individual should ask DPOR whether the credential is treated as a personal license. DPOR had not republished the ULR form with the technology fee as of the verification date.

At a glance

Trade exam: Waived
Law / code exam: Not required
Out-of-state hours: Count toward eligibility
Typical processing: About 30 days

What you must already have

You must have held your Mississippi license for at least 3 years.ULR route only: current out-of-state master HVAC license held at least three years
Your Mississippi license must have been obtained by examination, not by reciprocity or grandfathering.
Your Mississippi 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 ($130). Tradesman Universal License Recognition application fee as printed on form A501-2710ULR (2023); non-refundable. The 2026 exam/license form charges $171.75 including the technology fee..
2Other. Certification of Licensure/Letter of Good Standing from each state board where licensed, sent directly to the Board for Contractors - Tradesmen Program and dated within 90 days.
3Law / code exam. Pass a law, rules, or code exam (if applicable). DPOR may require an examination specific to Virginia law under Va. Code 54.1-205.
4Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam (if applicable). Only for applicants who do not meet the ULR criteria: PSI Virginia master HVAC exam ($125) via the Tradesman Exam & License Application ($171.75), for which an out-of-state journeyman or master license is itself the qualification.
5Continuing education. Complete continuing education. Three hours of board-approved International Mechanical Code continuing education each two-year renewal cycle.
6Contractor license. Hold or obtain a contractor license (if applicable). Class A, B or C Virginia contractor license from the Board for Contractors if contracting for work over $1,000.
7Other. EPA Section 608 technician certification (Type I/II/III/Universal) to handle refrigerants; federal, does not expire. Not a DPOR licensing prerequisite..

Published fees on this path total $130, 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.

Law / code exam · if applicable
Trade exam · if applicable
Other

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

How Virginia licenses master HVAC technicians

Virginia master HVAC technician · “Master Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVA) Tradesman”

Statewide license

Verified September 15, 2026· 7 sources

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 three years 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.

Moving to Virginia Leaving Virginia

Why Mississippi has nothing to transfer

Mississippi master HVAC technician

Licensed by cities and counties

Verified September 15, 2026· 11 sources

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.

Moving to Mississippi Leaving Mississippi

Common questions

Do I have to take the Virginia master HVAC technician exam if I'm licensed in Mississippi?: No. The trade exam is waived on this path.
How long do I need to have held my Mississippi license?: At least 3 years before applying.
What does it cost to get a Virginia master HVAC technician license from Mississippi?: Published fees on this path total $130, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
Do my Mississippi work hours count in Virginia?: Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Virginia's eligibility requirements.
How long does the application take?: The board's published or typical processing time is about 30 days.
Does it work the other way, from Virginia to Mississippi?: Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Virginia to Mississippi, 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.
18VAC50-30-100 - Examination fees · 18VAC50-30-100 · Virginia Board for Contractors / Virginia Register · Admin Rule · verified September 15, 2026Amended effective March 11, 2026. Exam fees are set by the Board's vendor contract and may not exceed $200 for a journeyman exam or $225 for a master exam; the current PSI fees on the Tradesmen page are $100 and $125.
18VAC50-30-39 - Evidence of ability and proficiency (tradesman qualifications) · 18VAC50-30-39 · Virginia Board for Contractors / Virginia Register · Admin Rule · verified September 15, 2026Effective April 1, 2025 (replacing repealed 18VAC50-30-40). Journeyman pathways: engineering bachelor's plus one year, associate degree plus two years, 240 hours vocational training plus four years, 160 plus five, 80 plus six, 40 plus seven, or eight years of experience. Master pathways: three years holding a valid residential HVAC tradesman license, one year as a licensed journeyman in the trade, or nine years of practical experience. The regulation does not itself address out-of-state licenses; those are handled through the application form's out-of-state qualification option, reciprocity and ULR.
18VAC50-30-90 - Fees (individual licenses and certifications) · 18VAC50-30-90 · Virginia Board for Contractors / Virginia Register · Admin Rule · verified September 15, 2026Effective August 1, 2025: original tradesman license with or without examination $150; card exchange $110; additional tradesman designation $105. All fees are non-refundable. The 2026 application form adds the statutory technology fee, giving $171.75.
Virginia Board for Contractors - Reciprocal Licensing/Examination Agreements with Other Jurisdictions · Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) · Agreement Document · verified September 15, 2026Board-approved list. The only HVAC entry is: 'Maryland HVAC Board Journeyman and Master HVA Tradesman License and Virginia Journeyman and Master HVA License Examination Reciprocity.' All other entries concern electrical tradesmen (AL, DC, KY, MD, WV, NC, OH) or WSSC plumbers and gas fitters. Anyone applying under an agreement must meet all of its terms and submit a complete application with verification of licensure from the out-of-state board.
Form A501-2710EXLIC - Tradesman Exam & License Application (v8, 07/01/2026) · Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) · Form · verified September 15, 2026Designations include Journeyman and Master Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVA). Methods of licensure: Examination (1005), Reciprocity (1021) and Apprenticeship Program (1022) at $171.75 each, Card Exchange (1023) at $131.75; the fees include the $7.25-per-year Technology Fee added by 2026 House Bill 30. Question 10 lets an applicant list a current tradesman license from another jurisdiction 'to qualify you for the tradesman examination' or for reciprocity, with a Certification/Letter of Good Standing. Journeyman qualification options include 'Individuals currently certified or licensed as a journeyman or master by governing body located outside the Commonwealth of Virginia'; master options are one year as a licensed journeyman, three years as a Virginia residential HVAC or plumber tradesman, nine years of practical experience, or a current out-of-state journeyman or master license. Anyone performing work over $1,000 must also hold a Virginia contractor license.
Board for Contractors - Tradesman Licensing Information and Application Instructions · Va. Code 54.1-1128 to 54.1-1131 · Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) · Other · verified September 15, 2026States that tradesman licenses are issued to individuals, not companies. Explains that an out-of-state license can be reviewed 'for experience or eligibility to sit for the exam or reciprocity' when a Certification/Letter of Good Standing showing the license number, initial date, expiration, means of licensure and closed disciplinary actions is provided.
Form A501-2710ULR - Tradesman Universal License Recognition Application (v2, 08/14/2023) · Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) · Form · verified September 15, 2026Offers 'Licensed Journeyman Heating, Ventilation & Air Cond. (HVA)' and 'Licensed Master HVAC (HVA)' (transaction code 1021, licensure without examination) and 'Unlicensed Journeyman/Master HVAC (HVA) - ULR by exam' (code 1005), $130 each, non-refundable. Licensed applicants must have held the current out-of-state license for at least 3 years, the issuing state must have required an examination and education/training/experience, there must be no unresolved complaints or pending investigations, and every state board that has licensed the applicant must send a Certification of Licensure/Letter of Good Standing dated within 90 days directly to the Tradesmen Program. The form states DPOR may require an examination specific to Virginia law under Va. Code 54.1-205. Applicants from states that do not regulate the trade need 3 years of employment, an Experience Verification Form, and must take the Virginia exam unless they have passed one elsewhere.
DPOR Board for Contractors - Tradesmen Program · Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Program page for journeyman and master tradesman licenses in electrical, plumbing, HVAC and gas fitting. Exams are administered by PSI: $100 for a journeyman tradesman exam, $125 for a master tradesman exam. HVAC journeyman and master licensees complete three hours of board-approved continuing education on the International Mechanical Code each two-year renewal cycle. Links the Tradesman Exam & License Application (A501-2710EXLIC), the Residential Tradesman application (A501-2709EXLIC, launched April 1, 2025), the Universal License Recognition application (A501-2710ULR) and the reciprocal agreements list.
DPOR - Universal License Recognition · Va. Code 54.1-204, 54.1-205 · Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026ULR applies to an applicant who holds a valid out-of-state license or certification in an occupation with a similar scope of practice, has been licensed there for at least one year, passed an examination and met training standards, has no disciplinary actions or pending investigations, has no disqualifying criminal history, and pays the Virginia fees. Tradesmen certifications are among the listed occupations.

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

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