Do I have to take the Alabama master HVAC technician exam if I'm licensed in North Dakota?

Yes. Alabama requires the trade exam on this path.

What does it cost to get a Alabama master HVAC technician license from North Dakota?

Published fees on this path total $395, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.

Do my North Dakota work hours count in Alabama?

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

Does it work the other way, from Alabama to North Dakota?

Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Alabama to North Dakota, the mechanism is not applicable.

North Dakota to Alabama: master HVAC technician license reciprocity

No credit· Start overVerified September 15, 2026· 6 sources

North Dakota does not issue a statewide master HVAC technician license, so there is nothing to transfer. Here is Alabama'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.

Examination with documented out-of-state experience (states without an agreement)

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

A contractor licensed in a state outside the Board's reciprocal list has no endorsement route: §34-31-29(d) recognizes only licenses covered by a reciprocity agreement, and rule 440-X-3-.04(2) limits reciprocity to 'a qualifying reciprocal state'. The applicant instead files the HVAC/Refrigeration Examination Application (EA-1 to EA-4) with the $175 exam fee and proves eligibility under §34-31-28(c) by 3,000 hours of work experience or graduation from an approved curriculum; experience is documented by notarized Affidavit of Employment forms (EA-4) from each supervising licensee, whose licensing state is recorded on the form, together with W-2 forms showing full-time employment, so hours earned under an out-of-state contractor are credited. After Board approval the candidate schedules the open-book Heating and Air Conditioning exam (115 questions, 5 hours) or Refrigeration exam (115 questions, 4 hours) with Prov and must score 70%. The successful candidate then applies for certification with forms AL-1, AL-2 and BF-1 ($220 active with a $20,000 performance bond in the business name, or $110 inactive) and, if the business entity was formed outside Alabama, registers it as a foreign corporation with the Secretary of State. Rule 440-X-3-.16 lets the Board waive the exam for military members, military spouses and transferred federal personnel who hold a current HVAC, refrigeration or mechanical license in another state.

Applicants must sit for the exam within one year of the application being received (§34-31-29(c)); applications not completed within twelve months may be treated as abandoned. The exam application also accepts certificates of 3,000 hours of HVAC or refrigeration educational training in lieu of work hours. Alabama's pages do not mention EPA Section 608 certification; it is listed here because it is a federal requirement for refrigerant handling.

At a glance

Trade exam: Required
Law / code exam: Not required
Out-of-state hours: Count toward eligibility

What you must already have

You must document at least 3,000 hours of qualifying work experience.3,000 hours of work experience as defined by the Board (the exam application asks for at least two years within the past five years under a licensed contractor, proven by notarized employer affidavits and W-2 forms), or graduation from an approved heating, air conditioning or refrigeration curriculum (§34-31-28(c)).

What you'll do to get licensed in Alabama

1Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($175). Written examination fee per exam (HVAC or Refrigeration), paid to the State with the exam application; non-refundable (440-X-3-.10).
2Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Alabama Heating and Air Conditioning exam (115 questions, 5 hours) or Refrigeration exam (115 questions, 4 hours) administered by Prov; open book, 70% to pass.
3License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($220). Initial active certification fee (forms AL-1, AL-2, BF-1); annual renewal $220 by December 31; inactive status $110 with no bond.
4Surety bond. Post a surety bond ($20,000). Performance bond of $20,000 in the business name naming the Board as obligee (form BF-1), required for active certification (440-X-3-.04(5)).
5Other. Notarized Affidavit of Employment (EA-4) from each supervising licensee with corresponding W-2 forms, or transcripts/certificates for an approved curriculum; proof of citizenship or lawful presence.
6Business license. Obtain a business license (if applicable). Foreign corporation registration with the Alabama Secretary of State ($150) if the business entity was formed outside Alabama.
7Continuing education. Complete continuing education. Four hours of Board-approved continuing education every calendar year to renew (exempt during the first year of certification) (§34-31-26(d)).
8Other. EPA Section 608 technician certification (Type I/II/III/Universal) to handle refrigerants; federal, does not expire.

Published fees on this path total $395, 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.

Exam fee · $175
Trade exam
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 · $20,000

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.

Business license · if applicable

Continuing education

Renewals usually need approved CE hours, often on the latest NEC. Reciprocal licensees are rarely exempt.

Continuing education

How Alabama licenses master HVAC technicians

Alabama master HVAC technician · “Certified Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor (or Certified Refrigeration Contractor)”

Statewide license

Verified September 15, 2026· 5 sources

Issued by Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors

Alabama's HVAC credential is the Certified Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor certification (with a parallel Certified Refrigeration Contractor certification for commercial refrigeration) issued by the Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors. It is treated here as the master level because it is earned personally by examination: under rule 440-X-3-.04 an individual must satisfy every requirement, and when a partnership, corporation or LLC is certified the certificate is issued in the name of the person in responsible charge together with the business name. A new applicant must show 3,000 hours of work experience (the exam application asks for notarized employer affidavits covering at least two years within the past five years, with W-2 forms) or graduation from an approved HVAC or refrigeration curriculum, then pass the open-book Prov exam ($175; 115 questions, 70% to pass). Active certification costs $220 per year and requires a business name and a $20,000 performance bond; inactive status is $110 with no bond; four hours of continuing education are required each year after the first, and renewal is due by December 31. The Board accepts licenses by reciprocity from Mississippi, Tennessee, Ohio, South Carolina (Residential Building Commission or Contractor's Board), Texas, West Virginia and Louisiana when the applicant passed an equivalent exam with at least 70%; there is no business and law exam, and §34-31-28(d) prohibits counties and municipalities from requiring further local testing of certified contractors.

Moving to Alabama Leaving Alabama

Why North Dakota has nothing to transfer

North Dakota master HVAC technician

Licensed by cities and counties

Verified September 15, 2026· 16 sources

North Dakota issues no master HVAC, mechanical or refrigeration license and has no state mechanical board. The only state-level credential an HVAC contractor needs is the Secretary of State contractor license, a business license for any job over $4,000 (Class D up to $100,000 for $100, up to Class A over $500,000 for $450) that requires liability insurance and workers' compensation verification but no trade exam. The master-level credential is the city master HVAC/mechanical installer license: Fargo's Master Heating license (10,000 hours including 6,000 as a journeyman, exam, $125 per year, liability insurance naming the city), Bismarck's Class A Master HVAC Installer (3,400 hours as a licensed journeyman, exam with 80% to pass, $125 per year), Grand Forks' Master Mechanical Installer (exam with 80%, $170 per year, $5,000 city bond, state contractor license) and Minot's Master Heating/HVAC Installer (board exam, $130 per year). A master exam passed in one of the testing member cities is accepted by the other North Dakota licensing members through the state mechanical reciprocity program, but each city issues its own license. No city recognizes an out-of-state master or contractor license outright; Bismarck's ordinance counts journeyman experience licensed by any governmental jurisdiction toward master exam eligibility, so an out-of-state master generally qualifies to sit a city master exam on the strength of documented experience and then licenses city by city. EPA Section 608 certification applies federally.

How local licensing works in North Dakota

How local licensing works. North Dakota has no state mechanical board; master-level HVAC licenses are issued by cities under their own ordinances, and a master exam passed in a testing member city (Burleigh County, Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, Mandan or Dickinson) is accepted by the licensing member cities (also Jamestown, Valley City, Wahpeton, West Fargo and Williston) under the North Dakota Mechanical Reciprocity Administrative Rules, which require at least two years of practical experience beyond the journeyman level; the Reciprocity Eligibility Certificate is not a license. Every contractor whose job exceeds $4,000 also needs the Secretary of State contractor license (Class A-D, $450/$300/$225/$100, liability insurance and WSI verification, no exam).

Fargo. Master Heating license: at least 6,000 hours of journeyman experience plus 4,000 hours of practical experience (10,000 total) verified by employer letters; open-book master mechanical and master fuel gas exams on the 2024 IMC and IFGC ($125 per appointment); license $125 per year expiring December 31, renewed with a certificate of liability insurance naming the City of Fargo. Work in non-owner-occupied buildings must be done by a licensed and insured mechanical contractor.

Bismarck. Class A Master HVAC Installer: two years (3,400 hours) as a licensed journeyman 'licensed by the City or some other governmental jurisdiction', or a master license from a reciprocal jurisdiction; exam on the 2021 IMC and IFGC, $125, 80% to pass, offered monthly; $35 application fee and $125 annual fee expiring December 31; four hours of continuing education per year; a master may qualify only one shop or business at a time; three years (5,300 hours) as a licensed journeyman are needed for a Certificate of Reciprocity to other cities. Legacy licensees who tested before July 1, 2017 may work in Bismarck without retesting.

Grand Forks. Master Mechanical Installer: ND state contractor license, $5,000 license and permit bond payable to the City, certificate of insurance, written mechanical exam with 80% to pass, $170 per year.

Minot. Master HVAC Installer (Master Heating): Heating & Air Conditioning Board exam ($75 per attempt) or a reciprocal license from an approved city with proof of the passed test; $130 initial and $130 annual fee; state contractor license required; annual renewal without re-examination, re-examination after a lapse.

Out-of-state holders. No reciprocity or endorsement for other states' master or contractor licenses was found in any of these cities or in the state reciprocity rules. The practical route is to document journeyman-level hours from the origin state, pass the master exam in one testing member city, obtain the Secretary of State contractor license, and then apply for the local master license (with the local bond or insurance) in each city where work will be done.

Moving to North Dakota Leaving North Dakota

Common questions

Do I have to take the Alabama master HVAC technician exam if I'm licensed in North Dakota?: Yes. Alabama requires the trade exam on this path.
What does it cost to get a Alabama master HVAC technician license from North Dakota?: Published fees on this path total $395, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
Do my North Dakota work hours count in Alabama?: Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Alabama's eligibility requirements.
Does it work the other way, from Alabama to North Dakota?: Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Alabama to North Dakota, the mechanism is not applicable.

Sources

Alabama HACR Board - HVAC/Refrigeration Examination Application (forms EA-1 to EA-7) with approved curricula and exam references · Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors · Form · verified September 15, 2026Eligibility proof: notarized employer affidavits (EA-4) that the applicant worked in heating and air conditioning and/or commercial refrigeration for at least two years within the past five years with W-2 forms, and/or certificates of at least 3,000 hours of HVAC or refrigeration training, or graduation from an approved curriculum (Alabama, Georgia, Florida and other southeastern programs are listed). The EA-4 affidavit has a 'Licensing State' field for the supervising licensee, so out-of-state supervised experience is accepted. Exam fee $175 per exam ($350 for both); open-book exams referencing the 2021 IRC/IMC, ACCA Manuals D and J, the 2020 NEC, the Board's 2024 law book and the NASCLA business-law guide. The form still quotes an older version of §34-31-28 that allowed eligibility by two years of Board apprentice registration.
Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors - How to Get Licensed (examination, licensure, reciprocity) · Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Defines the two certifications (Heating & Air Conditioning Contractor; Refrigeration Contractor); examination fee $175; active certification $220 per year with a business name and a $20,000 performance bond, inactive $110 per year with no bond. Step 3 lists the reciprocal boards: Mississippi State Board of Contractors, Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board, South Carolina Residential Building Commission, South Carolina Contractor's Board, Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation, West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board and Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors; the applicant must have passed an equivalent exam with a score of at least 70% and hold a current and valid license; reciprocal applications cannot be filed online; reciprocity processing fee $220; $20,000 performance bond in the business name; foreign corporation registration with the Secretary of State. No business and law exam is mentioned.
Code of Alabama 1975, §34-31-18 et seq. and Alabama Administrative Code Chapters 440-X-1 to 440-X-4 (Board compilation, October 17, 2024) · Ala. Code §§ 34-31-18, 34-31-24, 34-31-25, 34-31-26, 34-31-28, 34-31-29, 34-31-30; Ala. Admin. Code 440-X-3-.04, 440-X-3-.10, 440-X-3-.16 · Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors · Statute · verified September 15, 2026§34-31-18 defines Certified Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor and Certified Refrigeration Contractor ('any person engaged in the business of ...'), 'responsible charge' and 'regularly employed person'. §34-31-24(a): no person may advertise, bid, obtain permits or perform the function of a certified contractor unless the person in responsible charge is a certified contractor. §34-31-28(c): eligibility to sit for the exam requires 3,000 hours of work experience as defined by the Board or graduation from an approved curriculum; (d) counties and municipalities are prohibited from requiring further local testing of certified contractors. §34-31-29(d): the Board may enter into reciprocity agreements with other states; the provision recognizes the contractor as having passed the exam but all certification fees must be paid. §34-31-30: performance bond up to $25,000. §34-31-26: annual renewal by December 31, inactive status at half fee, four hours of continuing education per year (first year exempt). Rule 440-X-3-.04(2): certification by reciprocity requires a current and valid license in a qualifying reciprocal state with no previous or pending disciplinary action; (5) all new applicants must provide a $20,000 performance bond; (6) an entity is certified through its person in responsible charge and the certificate is issued in that person's name with the business name. Rule 440-X-3-.10 (effective October 14, 2024): written exam $175, practical exam $375, active certification and renewal $220, inactive $110, late fee $250. Rule 440-X-3-.16: exam waiver for military members, spouses and federal personnel holding an HVAC, refrigeration or mechanical license in another state. No rule lists the reciprocal states or waiting periods; no journeyman, technician or apprentice license appears anywhere in the chapter.
Alabama HACR Board - New License Application (licensure by examination and by reciprocity) · Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Older page still published alongside 'How to Get Licensed'. Examination route: Board-issued Apprentice Certificate for the previous two years, graduation from an approved curriculum, or 3,000 hours (18 months) of work experience under supervision of a HACR licensee proven by W-2 forms and employer affidavit. Reciprocity route: 'current and valid HVAC license with the South Carolina Residential Builders Commission for at least 5 years; Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors for at least 3 years; Mississippi Board of Contractors for at least 1 year; Louisiana or West Virginia where there are no waiting periods'; forms AL-1, AL-2, VL-1, VL-2, BF-1. Its fees ($150 exam, $190/$95 certification, $15,000 bond) are superseded by rule 440-X-3-.10 effective October 14, 2024 and by the current page.
State of Alabama HACR Contractor Board Examinations - Candidate Information Bulletin (Prov, July 3, 2025) · Prov, Inc. (testing vendor contracted by the Alabama HACR Board) · Other · verified September 15, 2026The Board 'has contracted with Prov, Inc. to develop, and administer their licensing examination program'; exams are (HAC) Heating and Air Conditioning (115 questions, 5 hours) and Refrigeration (115 questions, 4 hours), open book, passing score 70%; the exam fee is paid to the State and Prov charges nothing; the Board approves the candidate before scheduling.
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.

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

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