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

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

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

At least 5 years before applying.

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

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

Do my Nebraska 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 Nebraska?

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

Nebraska to Ohio: master HVAC technician license reciprocity

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

Nebraska 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 Nebraska 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 Nebraska has nothing to transfer

Nebraska master HVAC technician

Licensed by cities and counties

Verified September 15, 2026· 16 sources

Nebraska does not issue a statewide master HVAC or mechanical contractor license; the state only requires contracting businesses to register with the Department of Labor under the Contractor Registration Act ($40 per year, no exam), and it licenses no construction trade at the state level except electricians. The master-level HVAC credential exists only at the city level: Omaha's Master Air Conditioning/Air Distribution (ACAD) contractor license, Lincoln's Mechanical Master Contractor license, Bellevue's master mechanical license and Grand Island's master mechanical license, each requiring the city's exam (Lincoln and Bellevue reference the ICC National Standard Master Mechanical exam) plus liability insurance and, in Omaha, a bond. An out-of-state master HVAC license carries no state-level recognition; Omaha waives its exam only for Bellevue and State of Iowa master ACAD licensees, and Lincoln allows any out-of-state master licensed by exam to sit its contractor exam without further qualifications. A contractor working in several cities must be licensed in each and registered with the Department of Labor.

How local licensing works in Nebraska

How local licensing works. Nebraska has no state HVAC license and no state mechanical board. The Contractor Registration Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-2104) requires every contractor to register with the Department of Labor before performing construction work ($40 per year from August 1, 2026, plus a workers' compensation certificate if there are employees); registration is not a license and involves no exam. Master and contractor licensing comes from each city's ordinance.

Omaha. The Master ACAD license (Omaha Municipal Code ch. 40, art. II) is the credential that lets a person contract for and pull permits for air conditioning and air distribution work. Applicants need eight or more years of verifiable experience installing ACAD systems, or four or more years employed by a licensed master after obtaining an Omaha (or equivalent) journeyman ACAD license (one year = 1,750 hours), must appear before the ACAD Board, and pass a Pearson Vue exam with 75% or greater. After passing they file a $10,000 surety bond and $300,000 liability insurance with the Planning Department. Fees: $81.00 application, $50 license plus $4.00 technology fee; renewal $160 plus $12.80 every two years (December 31 of odd years) with 8 hours of continuing education. Reciprocation: the board may waive the exam for a holder of a valid Bellevue, Nebraska or State of Iowa master ACAD contractor license with an exam score of 75% or greater (ACAD Reciprocation Application, $81.00). Sec. 40-40 of the code also allows licensees of comparable cities to apply without re-examination, but the city's page names only Bellevue and Iowa.

Lincoln. The Mechanical Master Contractor license requires holding a valid mechanical journeyman license for at least one year and passing the city master exam ($400 filing fee, given quarterly), which has four parts (ACCA Manual J, duct sizing, Lincoln Gas Code and Lincoln Adopted Amendments) plus the ICC National Standard Master Mechanical exam G29 taken at the applicant's cost. Annual registration is $350 (inactive master $50; a separate Refrigeration Master Contractor registration is $250) with 8 hours of continuing education, and the contractor must carry $500,000 per-occurrence general liability insurance naming the City of Lincoln as additional insured and register with the Department of Labor. Transfers: a holder of a valid contractor/master mechanical license obtained by examination in another state or municipality may take the Lincoln contractor exam without submitting additional qualifications; the exam is not waived.

Bellevue. Only a licensed mechanical master may contract for mechanical work in the city (Bellevue Municipal Code ch. 27, Division 2). Master applicants must submit a current journeyman license with its original issue date and state whether they have already passed the Thompson Prometric, ICC or Experior exam for the license applied for. Fee amounts could not be read from the city's scanned fee schedule.

Grand Island. Mechanical contracting companies must be licensed with the Building Services Division and their tradespersons individually licensed as master or journeyman; the CitizenServe portal offers applications to take the licensing exam or to apply for license reciprocity, but the accepted jurisdictions and fees are not published on the page.

Out-of-state holders. Apart from Omaha's recognition of Iowa master ACAD licenses, no Nebraska city publishes reciprocity with another state's HVAC license. A master arriving from another state should expect to sit the city exam (Lincoln) or present ICC National Standard Master Mechanical results where accepted, obtain the city's insurance and bond, license the business in each city where it will pull permits, and register with the Department of Labor. EPA Section 608 certification is federal and applies to anyone personally handling refrigerants.

Moving to Nebraska Leaving Nebraska

Common questions

Do I have to take the Ohio master HVAC technician exam if I'm licensed in Nebraska?: Yes. Ohio requires the trade exam on this path, plus a law or code exam.
How long do I need to have held my Nebraska license?: At least 5 years before applying.
What does it cost to get a Ohio master HVAC technician license from Nebraska?: Published fees on this path total $50, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
Do my Nebraska 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 Nebraska?: Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Ohio to Nebraska, 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.

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