North Dakota to New Mexico: master HVAC technician license reciprocity

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.