Do I have to take the Idaho master HVAC technician exam if I'm licensed in New York?

Yes. Idaho requires the trade exam on this path.

What does it cost to get a Idaho master HVAC technician license from New York?

Published fees on this path total $335, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.

Do my New York work hours count in Idaho?

Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Idaho'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 Idaho to New York?

Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Idaho to New York, the mechanism is not applicable.

New York to Idaho: master HVAC technician license reciprocity

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

New York does not issue a statewide master HVAC technician license, so there is nothing to transfer. Here is Idaho'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 licensure for out-of-state HVAC contractors (all states)

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

With no reciprocity agreements, every out-of-state HVAC contractor or master is treated the same. Idaho Code 67-9409 obliges the HVAC board to license a person who holds a current, valid and unrestricted license in another state and demonstrates competency, on the standard application, fees and background checks, but lets the board require all or part of its examination; the board's rules require every contractor applicant to pass the board-designated exam and post a $2,000 bond, and DOPL publishes no HVAC-specific endorsement procedure. The realistic path is therefore the standard contractor application ($35), the PSI contractor exam ($75), the $2,000 compliance bond and the $225 license fee, with the out-of-state license and experience submitted as supporting evidence of competency.

Idaho's contractor exam covers business and law material (the DOPL Contractors' Business and Law Reference Manual is the allowed reference), so it is recorded as the trade exam rather than a separate law exam. Idaho Code 54-5013 sets a 24-month certificate term while DOPL's fee table shows a 3-year term for journeyman and contractor licenses; the fee table is the current practice. Whether the board waives any part of the exam under 67-9409 was not confirmed from an official page.

At a glance

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

What you must already have

Your New York license must be active and in good standing.

What you'll do to get licensed in Idaho

1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($35). HVAC Contractor application processing fee (non-refundable).
2Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Idaho HVAC Contractor examination administered by PSI (board-designated exam, IDAPA 24.39.70.100.03).
3Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($75). PSI examination fee.
4Surety bond. Post a surety bond ($2,000). HVAC contractor compliance bond of $2,000 (or an acceptable corporate industry group bond), effective for the certificate period.
5License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($225). Contractor license fee (3-year term; renewal $150, reinstatement $225).
6Other. EPA Section 608 technician certification (Type I/II/III/Universal) to handle refrigerants; federal, does not expire. Not listed on DOPL's HVAC pages.

Published fees on this path total $335, 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
Exam fee · $75
Other

Surety bond

A license or contractor bond is bought from a surety, not the state. Price is a small percentage of the bond amount and depends on your credit.

Surety bond · $2,000

How Idaho licenses master HVAC technicians

Idaho master HVAC technician · “HVAC Contractor”

Statewide license

Verified September 15, 2026· 9 sources

Issued by Idaho Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Board (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses)

Idaho has no master HVAC title; its highest credential is the HVAC Contractor certificate of competency, which is issued as a card in the name of the individual who passes the board's contractor examination and is therefore mapped here to the master level (an HVAC business must hold or employ a certificate holder, and Specialty Contractor and Limited Heating Specialty Contractor certificates cover gas piping, hearth appliances and oil furnaces). The applicant pays a $35 application fee, passes the PSI-administered HVAC contractor exam ($75, using the DOPL Contractors' Business and Law Reference Manual as a reference), provides a $2,000 compliance bond, and pays the $225 license fee; the certificate renews for $150 every three years. Idaho's HVAC board states that it has no reciprocal licensing agreement. A contractor licensed in another state may apply under Idaho's universal licensure statute (Idaho Code 67-9409), which requires the board to license a person with a current, unrestricted out-of-state license who demonstrates competency, but allows it to require the Idaho exam; since DOPL publishes no separate procedure for HVAC, applicants should expect to take the contractor exam. EPA Section 608 certification is required nationwide to handle refrigerants.

Moving to Idaho Leaving Idaho

Why New York has nothing to transfer

New York master HVAC technician

Licensed by cities and counties

Verified September 15, 2026· 22 sources

New York issues no statewide master HVAC, mechanical or HVAC contractor license; the Department of State licenses none of the construction trades, so the master-level credential exists only where a city or county has created one, and most have not. The only examined, person-holdable HVAC license in the state is Buffalo's Heating Contractor license from the Board of Heating Examiners (age 21, two years of heating installation experience, a quarterly written exam, a $10,000 bond, $1,000,000 liability insurance, $50 exam fee and $500 a year), which covers heating and process systems but not air-conditioning-only work. New York City has no HVAC or mechanical contractor license at all (the DOB licenses oil burner installers and the FDNY certifies refrigerating system operating engineers, but installation and service of HVAC systems needs no license), and the suburban counties regulate the trade through home improvement contractor licensing of the business: Westchester has required 'all HVAC professionals' to hold its home improvement license since July 1, 2025 ($750 application, no exam), Nassau's home improvement license ($650 for two years plus $50, five years of experience, no exam) covers central heating and air-conditioning work, and Suffolk's ($200 application and $200 a year, $500,000 insurance, no exam) covers HVAC ductwork. An out-of-state master HVAC license has no state-level recognition and none of these jurisdictions publishes reciprocity for it; a contractor from another state obtains the local business license (or, in Buffalo, sits the heating contractor exam) in each jurisdiction where they will work.

How local licensing works in New York

How local licensing works. With no state HVAC board, each jurisdiction that regulates the trade does so under its own code, usually as a business license with insurance and experience requirements rather than a trade exam. Buffalo is the exception with an examined heating contractor license.

New York City. The Department of Buildings issues no HVAC, mechanical or refrigeration contractor license; mechanical work is done under permits without a trade license, and the general contractor registration ($300 for three years) applies only to builders of one- to three-family homes. Oil-fired equipment must be installed by a DOB-licensed Oil Burner Equipment Installer (Class A or B; written exam $585, practical exam $530, $100 license for three years), and any refrigerating system that needs an FDNY permit must be supervised by a holder of the FDNY Q-01 Refrigerating System Operating Engineer Certificate of Qualification (EPA Universal certification, a 200-hour course or one year of qualifying experience or a boiler engineer, marine engineer or PE license; $60 plus $225 exam fees; three-year renewal $15). Neither recognizes out-of-state HVAC licenses.

Buffalo. City Code Chapter 238 makes it unlawful for any person to install, erect, alter, repair, service, reset or replace any heating or process system without a license from the Board of Heating Examiners; the separate City contractor license 'does not allow for plumbing, heating, cooling or electrical work'. Applicants must be at least 21 and have two years of practical experience installing heating equipment, a recognized school course plus one year, or be a graduate engineer; they submit photo ID, employer letters and a list of twenty completed installations to the Office of Fuel Devices, and if approved sit the Heating Contractor's Examination (offered roughly every three months, covering local ordinances and ASHRAE material). Classes: I (oil, gas or solid fuel), II (gas or solid fuel), III (wood-burning fireplaces and stoves). Fees: $50 non-refundable testing fee, $500 license, $500 annual renewal; a $10,000 bond to the City and certificates of $1,000,000 general liability and workers' compensation insurance are required. The license may be held by an individual, partnership or corporation. No reciprocity provision.

Rochester. Licenses stationary engineers and refrigeration operators (plant operation), electricians and plumbers; no HVAC contractor license.

Westchester County. The June 2025 amendment to the Consumer Protection Code requires 'all HVAC professionals' to be licensed through the Department of Consumer Protection as of July 1, 2025; the vehicle is the county Home Improvement Contractor license ($750 application fee effective January 1, 2026, $100 optional expedite, roughly 60 business days of document verification and background investigation, no exam). The county's examined trade licenses cover only plumbers and electricians.

Nassau County. Contractors installing or replacing 'central heating or air conditioning systems' in residential property need the county Home Improvement license: five years of recent verifiable experience, an establishment in New York State, liability, property damage and workers' compensation insurance, $650 for a two-year license plus a one-time $50 restitution fund contribution, $110 late renewal fee; no exam.

Suffolk County. Home improvement contracting expressly includes 'ductwork for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems'; the county Home Improvement license requires public liability and property damage insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence and workers' compensation, a $200 application fee and $200 annual license fee ($50 temporary 90-day license); employees of licensed contractors are exempt; no exam.

Out-of-state holders. No New York jurisdiction publishes a reciprocity or endorsement path for out-of-state HVAC contractor or master licenses. Buffalo requires its own exam; the counties require their own business license regardless of any license held elsewhere; New York City requires no HVAC license at all.

Moving to New York Leaving New York

Common questions

Do I have to take the Idaho master HVAC technician exam if I'm licensed in New York?: Yes. Idaho requires the trade exam on this path.
What does it cost to get a Idaho master HVAC technician license from New York?: Published fees on this path total $335, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
Do my New York work hours count in Idaho?: Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Idaho'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 Idaho to New York?: Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Idaho to New York, 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.
Idaho Code 54-5007 - Requirements for Certificates of Competency · Idaho Code § 54-5007 · Idaho State Legislature · Statute · verified September 15, 2026The HVAC board prescribes rules for examination, qualification and certification of contractors, journeymen, apprentices and the specialty classes; HVAC contractors and specialty contractors must provide a $2,000 bond or an acceptable corporate industry group bond.
Idaho Code 54-5009 - Classification of Competency (HVAC apprentice, journeyman, contractor, specialty contractor) · Idaho Code § 54-5009 · Idaho State Legislature · Statute · verified September 15, 2026Four classifications: apprentice (works only under a journeyman or contractor), journeyman (works in the employ and under direction of an HVAC contractor and has completed all trade-required classes), HVAC contractor (any business, partnership, company, firm or association installing, maintaining or repairing HVAC appliances or gas-fired equipment) and HVAC specialty contractor (gas piping, gas appliances, decorative gas-fired appliances).
Idaho Code 54-5011 - Issuance of Certificate of Competency · Idaho Code § 54-5011 · Idaho State Legislature · Statute · verified September 15, 2026A certificate of competency in the form of a card bearing the holder's name, classification examined for and certificate number is issued to an applicant upon successful completion of the examination; this is why the contractor certificate is treated here as a person-held, exam-qualified credential.
Idaho Code 67-9409 - Universal Licensure · Idaho Code § 67-9409 · Idaho State Legislature · Statute · verified September 15, 2026Every Idaho licensing authority must establish a procedure to license a person who holds a current, valid and unrestricted license in another state and demonstrates competency by methods the board determines; the applicant files the standard application, supporting materials and background checks, pays the same fees, and may be required to take all or part of the Idaho exam (no jurisprudence exam may be added); the board may compare scopes of practice and issue a limited license pending additional training. Enacted 2020, amended 2023.
Idaho DOPL - Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Board (program home and fees) · Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026License types: Apprentice, Journeyman, Contractor, Specialty Apprentice, Specialty Journeyman, Specialty Contractor and Limited Heating Specialty variants. Fees: application $35; Journeyman and Specialty Journeyman $150 license / $75 renewal / $150 reinstatement, 3-year term; Contractor and Specialty Contractor $225 / $150 / $225, 3-year term; Apprentice $10 (1 year); Specialty Apprentice $20 (2 years). Adopted codes include the 2018 IFGC and 2018 IMC. No reciprocity content.
Idaho DOPL - HVAC Board FAQs · Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses · Faq · verified September 15, 2026'Q: Does Idaho have a Reciprocal Licensing agreement? A: No.' Also states that hours worked without a required license do not count toward the required on-the-job time, and that unlicensed HVAC work is subject to civil penalties.
Idaho DOPL - HVAC Program Information and Exams · Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Exams are administered by PSI for a $75 fee; candidates bring their own reference materials (the DOPL Contractors' Business and Law Reference Manual in a binder for the contractor exam); after passing, apply for licensure through the eDOPL portal. Links the board-approved apprentice program list.
IDAPA 24.39.70 - Rules Governing Installation of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Systems · IDAPA 24.39.70.100 · Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses · Admin Rule · verified September 15, 2026Section 100.02 journeyman: pass the board exam and either 8,000 hours of apprentice work experience plus 576 hours of board-approved instruction, or 16,000 hours of HVAC experience; may sit for the exam after either the 576 hours or the 16,000 hours. Section 100.03 contractor: pass the board-designated examination and provide a $2,000 compliance bond effective for the certificate period. Section 100.04 specialty journeyman (hearth appliances, non-duct-connected oil furnaces and their gas piping and venting): 2,000 hours of specialty experience plus the board exam or 60 hours of fuel gas education. No reciprocity or endorsement provisions. The redirect from adminrules.idaho.gov to files.dfm.idaho.gov was followed.

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