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

No. The trade exam is waived on this path under the agreement with Ohio.

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

Published fees on this path total $250, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.

Ohio to Kentucky: master HVAC technician license reciprocity

Reciprocity· Exam waivedVerified September 15, 2026· 12 sources

Kentucky has a reciprocity agreement with Ohio: a Ohio master HVAC technician can get a Kentucky license without retaking the trade exam.

Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.

Reciprocity with Ohio (OCILB HVAC / Refrigeration contractor licensees)

A signed state-to-state agreement. The trade exam is waived; you apply, prove your history, and pay the fee.

Kentucky and Ohio have a reciprocity agreement covering HVAC and refrigeration contractors. On the Ohio side, the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board publishes a Kentucky reciprocity application for the Electrical, HVAC and Refrigeration trades and lists Kentucky as a reciprocity partner for HVAC and Refrigeration, and Ohio law (R.C. 4740.08) permits that only where Kentucky extends similar reciprocity to Ohio licensees. On the Kentucky side, KRS 198B.666 authorizes an equivalent license for a licensee of a state with substantially equal requirements that reciprocates, and 815 KAR 8:010 Section 3 requires a reciprocity applicant to comply with the agreement and file the standard Form HVAC 1 marked 'Reciprocity' with a letter of good standing from OCILB, the prorated $250 twelve-month fee, a passport photo and the KRS 198B.668 certificate of insurance ($500,000 general liability and $300,000 property damage naming DHBC). The Kentucky Master HVAC examination is waived. Ohio has no journeyman HVAC license, so the agreement operates at the master/contractor level only.

DHBC does not publish the text of the Kentucky-Ohio HVAC agreement or a partner list on dhbc.ky.gov, so conditions such as whether the Ohio license must have been obtained by examination (which Ohio requires of Kentucky applicants) or held for a minimum period could not be confirmed from a Kentucky page; only the statutory basis, the regulation and the form's reciprocity checklist are confirmed. Confirm the terms with the DHBC Licensing Branch (502-573-2002) before relying on them.

At a glance

Trade exam: Waived
Law / code exam: Not required
Agreement: Active

What you must already have

Your Ohio license must be active and in good standing.
Compliance with the requirements of the Kentucky-Ohio reciprocity agreement (815 KAR 8:010 Section 3; KRS 198B.666)
At least 18 years of age and a United States citizen or resident alien authorized to work (KRS 198B.658(1)(a)-(b))

What you'll do to get licensed in Kentucky

1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($250). Master HVAC Contractor initial license fee for twelve months (Form HVAC 1 marked 'Reciprocity'), prorated by birth month to $145.83-$375.00; payable to Kentucky State Treasurer, non-refundable.
2Insurance. Carry the required insurance ($500,000). General liability insurance of at least $500,000 plus property damage insurance of at least $300,000 from a Kentucky-licensed carrier, certificate naming DHBC as certificate holder (KRS 198B.668).
3Other. Copy of the Ohio license, OCILB letter of good standing, and passport-sized color photo taken within six months.
4Other. EPA Section 608 technician certification to handle refrigerants; federal, does not expire.

Published fees on this path total $250, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.

What you'll need to buy or arrange

Liability insurance

Some states require proof of general liability or workers' compensation coverage at licensing time.

Insurance · $500,000

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.

Other

How Kentucky licenses master HVAC technicians

Kentucky master HVAC technician · “Master HVAC Contractor”

Statewide license

Verified September 15, 2026· 10 sources

Issued by Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC), Division of HVAC / Licensing Branch

Kentucky's highest person-held HVAC credential is the statewide Master HVAC Contractor license issued by the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC) to an individual who qualified by examination; the master supervises and is primarily responsible for all HVAC work of the company he or she represents (a company may carry the required insurance in its name), and only a master or journeyman may purchase the statewide HVAC permits required since 2011. A new applicant must be 18, a citizen or authorized resident alien, and have two years as a licensed journeyman under a master HVAC contractor, two years as a master HVAC contractor 'or equivalent' in Kentucky or any other jurisdiction, or two years as a licensed mechanical engineer; pass the open-book Master HVAC exam, which covers codes and practices plus the law and regulation of the HVAC business, with at least 70% (Prov $80, or the department's exam for $150 on Form HVAC-4); carry general liability insurance of $500,000 and property damage insurance of $300,000 (KRS 198B.668) naming DHBC as certificate holder; and file Form HVAC 1 with a $250 twelve-month fee prorated by birth month ($145.83 to $375). Licenses renew annually at $250 with continuing education and current insurance. KRS 198B.666 authorizes licensure by reciprocity for states with substantially equal requirements that reciprocate, and Form HVAC 1 has a reciprocity checkbox requiring a letter of good standing; DHBC publishes no HVAC partner list, but Ohio's OCILB documents an active Kentucky-Ohio HVAC and refrigeration agreement. Federal EPA Section 608 certification is required for refrigerant work but is not verified by DHBC.

Moving to Kentucky Leaving Kentucky

Common questions

Do I have to take the Kentucky master HVAC technician exam if I'm licensed in Ohio?: No. The trade exam is waived on this path under the agreement with Ohio.
What does it cost to get a Kentucky master HVAC technician license from Ohio?: Published fees on this path total $250, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.

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.
DHBC - Division of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) · Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Opened through the r.jina.ai text proxy. The Division of HVAC regulates and licenses the industry, ensures the skills of HVAC contractors and journeymen through continuing education, and administers KRS 198B.650 to 198B.689, which have required heating and air conditioning contractors to be licensed since July 1995; statewide HVAC permitting and inspection began January 1, 2011 and only properly licensed individuals may purchase an HVAC permit. Kentucky describes itself as one of 35 states with a licensing program specific to the trade.
DHBC Form HVAC 1 - Master HVAC Contractor License Application (April 2023), with fee chart · Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, Licensing Branch · Form · verified September 15, 2026Applicant marks either 'Examination Score Certificate must be enclosed' or 'Reciprocity: Include letter of good standing from state licensing agency/board'. Requires a certificate of general liability insurance of not less than $500,000 and property damage of not less than $300,000 naming DHBC, 500 Mero Street, Frankfort as certificate holder (license cannot issue without it), a passport-sized color photo taken within six months, the Kentucky master(s) under whom two years of journeyman experience were obtained if applicable, employment history, and proof of experience (W-2s, affidavit from a Kentucky master HVAC licensee, copy of a current out-of-state master HVAC contractor license or equivalent, DD 214). Felony/misdemeanor disclosure. The initial license is prorated to between seven and eighteen months by birth month; fee chart from $145.83 to $375.00 ($250 for twelve months), payable to Kentucky State Treasurer; renewals are annual.
DHBC - Licensing Information (forms and documents, eServices portal, Prov HVAC testing information, exam scheduling) · Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Fetched with curl (the default fetcher returned only a summary). Licensing contact 502-573-2002; links the forms and documents page, the licensing portal, the 'Prov HVAC Testing Information' candidate bulletin, 'Schedule Exam' (Pearson Vue/ICC) and Pearson Vue exam information. No HVAC reciprocity partner list is published on this page.
Commonwealth of Kentucky Division of HVAC - Candidate Information Bulletin (Prov, July 2020) · Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction / Prov, Inc. · Other · verified September 15, 2026The department has contracted with Prov to develop and administer its licensing examinations: Journeyman HVAC and Master HVAC. Exams are computer-based, open book and timed, cost $80.00 each, and are offered at twelve Prov testing centers in Kentucky and nationwide; results are available at the testing center. Registration at provexam.com or 866-720-7768; Prov does not decide which exam a candidate must take (call the Division at 502-573-0395).
815 KAR 8:010 - Licensing requirements for master HVAC contractors and journeyman HVAC mechanics · 815 KAR 8:010 Sections 1-5, 7, 8 · Kentucky Legislative Research Commission · Admin Rule · verified September 15, 2026Section 1: the master supervises and is primarily responsible for all HVAC work of the company he or she represents; the journeyman is physically on site and responsible for apprentices. Section 2: master application on Form HVAC 1 with a $250 initial fee for a twelve-month license, proof of experience and proof of insurance (a company may supply the insurance); journeyman application on Form HVAC 2 with a $50 initial fee and proof of experience; initial fees prorated to seven to eighteen months expiring at the end of the birth month; proof of passing the Section 4 exam; passport photo; application void after one year. Section 3: an applicant for reciprocity shall comply with the requirements established in the reciprocity agreement between Kentucky and the state in which the applicant is licensed and with the Section 2 application requirements, paying the fee for each license sought. Section 4: exams developed, administered and scored by the department or its designee; the master exam tests codes, standards and practices plus the law and regulation of the HVAC business; the journeyman exam tests codes, standards and practices; a passed master exam also satisfies the journeyman exam; 70% to pass; department exams registered on Form HVAC-4 with a $150 (master) or $50 (journeyman) fee; passing scores valid three years; subsection (8) requires the department to recognize another examination as equivalent when a testing agency, national code group or applicant demonstrates it covers the same material at the same level. Section 5: proof of experience by W-2, affidavit of the supervising master, a copy of a current out-of-state master or journeyman HVAC license or equivalent, verifiable documentation of HVAC work in a state that does not license, or DD 214; one year of experience is at least 1,500 hours in a continuous twelve-month period. Section 7: annual renewal on Form DHBC L-1 at $250 (master) or $50 (journeyman) by the last day of the birth month with continuing education under 815 KAR 2:010 and, for masters, proof of insurance; late renewal within 60 days with a restoration fee. Section 8: restoration $125 (master) / $25 (journeyman), inactive status $20, reactivation $20, reinstatement within three years.
KRS 198B.650 - Definitions for KRS 198B.650 to 198B.689 · KRS 198B.650(2), (10), (13), (15) · Kentucky Legislative Research Commission · Statute · verified September 15, 2026Served as a PDF. 'Journeyman heating, ventilation, and air conditioning mechanic' means an individual licensed by the department to perform HVAC work under the supervision, direction and responsibility of a master HVAC contractor. 'Master heating, ventilation, and air conditioning contractor' means an HVAC contractor licensed by the department to advertise and practice HVAC contracting in the Commonwealth. 'Apprentice' assists under the supervision of a master and a journeyman. 'Practice of HVAC contracting' means the installation, maintenance, altering, remodeling or repair of heating, ventilation, hydronic, burner-service or cooling systems. Effective April 8, 2022.
KRS 198B.658 - Qualifications for licensure and certification · KRS 198B.658(1)-(6) · Kentucky Legislative Research Commission · Statute · verified September 15, 2026Served as a PDF. Master HVAC contractor: age 18; citizen or resident alien authorized to work; and either two years as a journeyman HVAC mechanic under a master HVAC contractor, two years engaged as a master HVAC contractor 'or equivalent thereof' in Kentucky or in a jurisdiction other than Kentucky shown by verifiable documentation, or two years licensed and employed as a mechanical engineer in Kentucky or another jurisdiction; pass the department's examination; pay the fee. Journeyman HVAC mechanic: age 18; citizen or resident alien; either two years in the HVAC trades under a master HVAC contractor or two years of HVAC work in Kentucky or in a jurisdiction other than Kentucky shown by verifiable documentation; pass the department's examination; pay the fee. One academic year of approved curriculum or professional training counts as one year toward the journeyman requirement, and one year of approved teaching counts as one year toward either license. Apprentices register free of charge. Effective July 1, 2022.
KRS 198B.666 - Reciprocity for licensees of other states · KRS 198B.666 · Kentucky Legislative Research Commission · Statute · verified September 15, 2026Served as a PDF. 'Any person who has been issued a license in another state which has licensing, educational, and experience requirements substantially equal to or greater than those of this state and which grants equal licensing privileges to persons licensed in this state, may be issued an equivalent license in this state upon terms and conditions determined by the department.' Effective June 29, 2017. The statute names no partner states.
KRS 198B.668 - Insurance requirements · KRS 198B.668(1)-(4) · Kentucky Legislative Research Commission · Statute · verified September 15, 2026Served as a PDF. No person, firm or corporation may practice HVAC contracting without general liability insurance of at least $500,000 and property damage insurance of at least $300,000 from a carrier licensed by the Kentucky Department of Insurance; proof is submitted before issuance or renewal; the state insurance satisfies any local insurance requirement; no license is valid without it. Effective June 29, 2017.
Ohio OCILB - Contractors & Contracting Companies (reciprocity with other states list) · Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Opened through the r.jina.ai text proxy. Lists 'Kentucky - Electrical, HVAC, Refrigeration' among the states with which Ohio offers reciprocity to applicants who passed the state-recognized test, with no Business and Law exam flag for Kentucky.
Ohio OCILB - Reciprocity Application - Kentucky (EL, HV, RE) · Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Ohio-side evidence of the Kentucky-Ohio HVAC reciprocity agreement, opened through the r.jina.ai text proxy. Titled 'Electrical, HVAC, Refrigeration'; OCILB issues its HVAC and Refrigeration contractor licenses without examination to holders of Kentucky licenses obtained by examination in Kentucky (form DIC 3529, last reviewed July 2022). Ohio's R.C. 4740.08 allows such reciprocity only where the other state extends similar reciprocity to Ohio licensees. The OCILB verification form records the Kentucky HVAC master (HM) and journeyman (HJ) license numbers.

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

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