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

No. The trade exam is waived on this path.

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

At least 7 years before applying.

What does it cost to get a Delaware master HVAC technician license from Pennsylvania?

Published fees on this path total $173, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.

Do my Pennsylvania work hours count in Delaware?

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

Does it work the other way, from Delaware to Pennsylvania?

Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Delaware to Pennsylvania, the mechanism is not applicable.

Pennsylvania to Delaware: master HVAC technician license reciprocity

No credit· Start overVerified September 15, 2026· 11 sources

Pennsylvania does not issue a statewide master HVAC technician license, so there is nothing to transfer. Here is Delaware'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.

Master license by reciprocity from a state not on the Board's published lists

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

A master-level HVAC licensee from a state, U.S. territory or jurisdiction that the Board has not yet classified applies by reciprocity in DELPROS; no Delaware examination is required on this path. The applicant must submit a copy of the origin jurisdiction's HVACR licensure law and regulations so the Board can decide whether its standards are substantially similar to Delaware's (24 DE Admin. Code 1800 § 3.2). If they are, 24 Del. C. § 1823(a) requires the Board to grant the license; if they are not, § 1823(b) requires proof of at least seven years of practice after master licensure, documented with Verification of Employment forms, W-2s or Schedule C. Every applicant pays the $173 application fee, has licensure verification sent directly to the Board from each jurisdiction where they hold or have held a license, uploads a CFC (EPA 608) certification card, and attests to the good-conduct requirements of § 1821(a)(4)-(7); the application must be completed within six months and is reviewed at the next Board meeting. Holders of only a municipal license (Pennsylvania, for example) cannot use reciprocity and must apply by examination: journeyman certificate plus 2 years under a master, or 7 years plus the By-Pass exam, then the ProV Master HVACR exam ($100, 100 questions, 4 hours, open book, 70%). A business that has just lost its only master may also obtain a 100-day temporary license ($40) for an owner or employee who is applying and sits for the next exam.

The Board's page does not say how long the substantial-similarity evaluation of an unlisted state takes or list the criteria it applies; regulation 3.2 says only that the applicant must demonstrate equivalent standards and supply the state's laws. Experience under an out-of-state master counts on the examination path because § 1821(a)(1) and regulation 3.1.2 accept supervision by 'an individual holding a similar level of licensure in another state'. Delaware publishes no separate business, law or code exam for masters and no insurance or bond requirement for the individual license.

At a glance

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

What you must already have

Your Pennsylvania license must be active and in good standing.
You must have no disciplinary action or unresolved complaints on your record.
You must have held your Pennsylvania license for at least 7 years.Required only if the Board finds the origin jurisdiction's standards not substantially similar: at least 7 years of practice after master licensure (24 Del. C. § 1823(b)).
Origin jurisdiction's HVACR licensure law and regulations submitted for the Board's substantial-similarity evaluation (24 DE Admin. Code 1800 § 3.2)

What you'll do to get licensed in Delaware

1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($173). Master HVACR (or Master Restricted HVACR) application fee, non-refundable, paid in DELPROS.
2Other. State/jurisdiction licensure verification sent directly to the Board office from each state or jurisdiction where the applicant currently holds or has ever held a license (a business license covering employees does not need verification).
3Other. EPA Section 608 technician certification (Type I/II/III/Universal) to handle refrigerants; federal, does not expire. Delaware requires a copy of the CFC certification card with every Master HVACR, Master HVACR Restricted-Refrigeration and Master HVACR Restricted-Air Conditioning application (24 Del. C. § 1821(a)(3); 24 DE Admin. Code 1800 § 3.1.3).
4Other. Verification of Employment forms (or W-2s, employer affidavits or Schedule C with an explanation) covering at least 7 years of practice as a licensed master, needed if the Board finds the origin standards not substantially similar.

Published fees on this path total $173, 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.

Other

How Delaware licenses master HVAC technicians

Delaware master HVAC technician · “Master HVACR”

Statewide license

Verified September 15, 2026· 8 sources

Issued by Delaware Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners (Division of Professional Regulation)

Delaware issues a person-held Master HVACR license through the Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners in the Division of Professional Regulation (the electrical trade is regulated by a separate board). A Master HVACR licensee may design, install, service and alter heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, ventilation and process systems including gas piping; a Master HVACR Restricted license covers one specialty (forced-air heating with ventilation and gas piping, hydronic heating with gas piping, commercial hood systems, refrigeration, air conditioning, or gas piping). Employees work under a master's supervision without their own license. A new master needs a journeyman certificate from a federally-registered apprenticeship plus 2 years under a master, or 7 years under a master plus the ABC Delaware Apprenticeship By-Pass exam, then passes the ProV-administered Master HVACR exam (100 questions, 4 hours, open book, 70%, $100) and pays the $173 application fee; a CFC (EPA 608) card is required. Out-of-state masters are licensed by reciprocity without a Delaware exam under 24 Del. C. § 1823: the Board has published that Connecticut and Maryland standards are substantially similar (no experience proof) and that fourteen other jurisdictions are not (7 years of licensed practice required); all other states are evaluated case by case. Licenses renew biennially with 5 hours of continuing education from 2026.

Moving to Delaware Leaving Delaware

Why Pennsylvania has nothing to transfer

Pennsylvania master HVAC technician

Licensed by cities and counties

Verified September 15, 2026· 18 sources

Pennsylvania issues no statewide master HVAC, mechanical or HVAC contractor license; none of the Department of State's licensing boards covers the trade, and the Attorney General's Home Improvement Contractor registration (required of businesses doing residential remodeling work, including HVAC replacement in existing homes) is a no-exam consumer-protection registration rather than a license. The master-level credential exists only in cities that have chosen to license the trade, under names that vary: Pittsburgh's Mechanical/HVAC Trade License (issued to an individual with four years of experience who has passed an ICC National Standard Master Mechanical exam; $120 in 2025, eight CE hours a year), Reading's Master Mechanical Heating Contractor license (two years as a licensed journeyman plus the ICC F29-N Master Mechanical exam; $90), Erie's master Mechanical and HVAC Installer licenses, and Scranton's Master Mechanical Contractor license. Philadelphia and Altoona require only a general contractor license (business-level, insurance and no exam) to pull mechanical permits, and Allentown and Harrisburg publish no HVAC license at all. There is no state-level recognition of an out-of-state master HVAC license, but Pittsburgh accepts any passed ICC master mechanical exam from any code year and, on the License Officer's review, equivalent exams from other states, and Reading issues a reciprocal master license ($190) to holders of an equivalent license from a first-, second- or third-class city or from a state with a state license and equal standards. A master from another state should expect to document experience, present an ICC master mechanical exam score, and apply separately in each city where they will pull permits.

How local licensing works in Pennsylvania

How local licensing works. With no state HVAC board, each Pennsylvania city that licenses the trade does so under its own ordinance. The credential that travels best between them is the ICC National Standard Master Mechanical examination, which Pittsburgh and Reading both use and which Reading's reciprocity practice implicitly relies on.

Philadelphia. No HVAC or mechanical trade license. Mechanical permits must be performed by a business holding the general Contractor License: $126 a year (including a $20 application fee), general liability of $500,000 per occurrence, $300,000 auto liability, workers' compensation, a Commercial Activity License and tax ID, tax compliance, and an OSHA 30 course for supervisors; there is no exam or experience requirement and no out-of-state provision. Ductwork on the job must be done by licensed sheet metal technicians or apprentices employed by the contractor. Businesses working only on existing one- or two-family homes may register as home improvement contractors instead.

Pittsburgh. The Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections issues the Mechanical/HVAC Trade License to individuals ('Trade Licenses are issued to individuals, not to companies'), required to install, erect, enlarge, repair, alter, remove, convert or replace any mechanical system in the city (Pittsburgh Code 741). New applicants provide proof of passing the City-proctored Master Mechanical exam or an ICC Standard Master Mechanical exam for any code year, and a resume or employer statement showing four or more years of practical experience (notarized statement if self-employed). PLI's rules state that 'equivalent certification testing programs from states other than Pennsylvania shall be accepted as proof of compliance of the testing requirements upon review and determination of equivalence by the License Officer'. The 2025 fee is $120 (initial and renewal); licenses expire 365 days after issue and renewal requires eight hours of continuing education in the prior twelve months. Insurance ($1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate general liability plus workers' compensation) is not needed at application but must be on file before any permit is issued. Applications go through OneStopPGH.

Reading. The Master Mechanical Heating Contractor license ($90 a year) requires a valid mechanical journeyman license, at least two years employed as a mechanical journeyman by a registered mechanical contractor, and a passing ICC F29-N Master Mechanical exam (or its successor). A reciprocal master license ($190, including a one-time reciprocation fee and the annual fee) may be issued to the holder of an equivalent license from a first-, second- or third-class U.S. city issued by an equivalent board of examiners with standards equal to Reading's; the applicant attaches the other jurisdiction's current requirements. As of 7/7/2023 Reading lists reciprocity with Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Scranton, Lancaster and Pittsburgh and with 'most, if not all, surrounding states with a state license'.

Erie. Master licenses are required for Mechanical and HVAC Installers, with a separate Refrigeration license, and 'Only Master License holders are able to obtain a permit'; applications are reviewed by the Trades Licensing Board, which also handles temporary licenses. The ordinance defines the Master Mechanical Contractor as one who contracts to install, erect, alter, extend, maintain or repair heating and ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems, process piping and sheet metal work. Fees, insurance and any reciprocity provisions could not be opened.

Scranton. Issues a Master Mechanical Contractor license through a combined master electrical/mechanical/plumbing/general contractor application; the application's terms could not be opened. Reading treats Scranton as a reciprocal city.

Altoona. HVAC contractors need a city business license, and for commercial work a City of Altoona Contractor's License with liability and workers' compensation insurance; residential work requires only the state Home Improvement Contractor registration.

Allentown and Harrisburg. Neither publishes an HVAC or mechanical license (Allentown licenses electricians, plumbers and sheet metal workers; Harrisburg licenses electricians, plumbers and low-voltage installers).

Out-of-state holders. Pittsburgh's acceptance of any ICC master mechanical exam (and, on review, equivalent out-of-state exams) and Reading's reciprocal license are the only published accommodations; neither waives the experience documentation or local fees. Everywhere else the out-of-state license is irrelevant and the contractor obtains the local business-level license.

Moving to Pennsylvania Leaving Pennsylvania

Common questions

Do I have to take the Delaware master HVAC technician exam if I'm licensed in Pennsylvania?: No. The trade exam is waived on this path.
How long do I need to have held my Pennsylvania license?: At least 7 years before applying.
What does it cost to get a Delaware master HVAC technician license from Pennsylvania?: Published fees on this path total $173, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
Do my Pennsylvania work hours count in Delaware?: Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Delaware's eligibility requirements.
Does it work the other way, from Delaware to Pennsylvania?: Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Delaware to Pennsylvania, the mechanism is not applicable.

Sources

24 DE Admin. Code 1800 - Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners (regulations) · 24 DE Admin. Code 1800 §§ 3.0, 5.0 · Delaware Registrar of Regulations · Admin Rule · verified September 15, 2026Fetched through the r.jina.ai text proxy. § 3.1.1: Board approval before the HVACR exam, offered quarterly, 70% to pass. § 3.1.2: with a journeyman's certificate, 2 years of post-apprenticeship experience under a master HVACR licensee 'or an individual holding a similar level of licensure in another state'; without one, 7 years of such experience plus the Bypass Exams (restricted applicants take only the relevant sections, § 3.1.2.2.3). § 3.1.3: CFC card. § 3.1.5: certificates of good standing from every jurisdiction where licensed. § 3.1.6: three exam attempts, then a one-year wait. § 3.2: a reciprocity applicant must demonstrate that the origin state's standards are equivalent and provide its HVACR laws and regulations. § 5.0: 5 hours of continuing education per biennium from the 2026 renewal (3 hours code changes, 1 hour safety, 1 hour energy code for HVACR licensees).
24 Del. C. ch. 18, subch. I - Board of Plumbing, HVACR Examiners: objectives and definitions · 24 Del. C. § 1802 · Delaware General Assembly · Statute · verified September 15, 2026§ 1802(10): 'License' means a Board document certifying that the holder is a master plumber, master HVACR licensee or master HVACR restricted licensee; (11)-(12) define Master HVACR licensee and the six restricted specialties; (18) 'Supervision' means control and oversight by a master licensee who is an owner or full-time employee of the entity providing services. No journeyperson HVACR license is defined.
24 Del. C. ch. 18, subch. III - License: Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration · 24 Del. C. §§ 1820, 1821, 1823, 1825 · Delaware General Assembly · Statute · verified September 15, 2026§ 1820(a) requires a master HVACR or master HVACR restricted license to provide HVACR services; § 1820(c)(1) exempts 'an apprentice, journeyman, mechanic or other person providing such services under the supervision of a master HVACR licensee or master HVACR restricted licensee' who is the employer or a full-time employee of the same business. § 1821(a): journeyman's certificate from a federally-approved apprenticeship issued in any state plus 2 years under a master (Delaware or a similar-level licensee in another state), or 7 years under such supervision plus the apprenticeship equivalency test; pass the Board exam; hold EPA-approved CFC certification; no administrative penalties, pending discipline, impairment or substantially related conviction. § 1823(a): the Board shall grant a license to an applicant with current licensure in good standing in a state, DC or territory whose standards are substantially similar, on the § 1821(a)(3)-(7) evidence and the fee; § 1823(b): if the standards are not substantially similar the applicant must have practiced at least 7 years after licensure. § 1825: biennial renewal with continuing education.
Delaware Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners - Home · 24 Del. C. ch. 18 · Delaware Division of Professional Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Fetched through the r.jina.ai text proxy because dpr.delaware.gov rejects direct fetches. 'The Board issues master plumber, master HVACR and master restricted HVACR licenses'; restricted licenses limit practice to a specialty such as air conditioning. Notes the March 11, 2025 regulation update (restricted candidates take only the relevant bypass exam sections; continuing education clarified for the 2026 renewal). Board meets the second Tuesday monthly and reviews only complete applications.
Delaware DPR - Plumbing and HVACR Examinations (ProV and ABC Delaware) · Delaware Division of Professional Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Fetched through the r.jina.ai text proxy. ProV administers the licensure exams (in person in Wilmington, Newark and Dover or online via Examroom); ABC Delaware administers the Apprenticeship By-Pass exam (NCCER materials) when the Board requires it. Board staff forward approved candidates to ProV, which emails the Candidate Information Bulletin. Minimum passing score 70%; candidates who fail three times must wait one year before reapplying.
Delaware DPR - Plumbing and HVACR Frequently Asked Questions · Delaware Division of Professional Regulation · Faq · verified September 15, 2026Fetched through the r.jina.ai text proxy. Anyone licensed in another state still needs a Delaware Board license to do HVACR work in Delaware. 'Does Delaware have reciprocity? Yes. If you hold a current license in another jurisdiction ... where the licensure requirements are substantially similar to Delaware's requirements, you may be licensed by reciprocity.' Applications are reviewed for approval on or before the next Board meeting once complete.
Delaware DPR - Plumbing and HVACR Fee Schedule · Delaware Division of Professional Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Fetched through the r.jina.ai text proxy. Application fees: Master HVACR $173; Master Restricted HVACR $173; Plumber or HVACR Temporary $40. Commercial Hood System Examination $50; Verification of Licensure $35 ($45 with exam scores/hours/history). Renewal fee is announced at renewal; late renewal adds 50%. All fees are non-refundable and paid in DELPROS.
Delaware DPR - Master HVACR and Master HVACR Restricted Licensure (examination and reciprocity) · 24 Del. C. §§ 1821, 1823 · Delaware Division of Professional Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Fetched through the r.jina.ai text proxy. Defines Master HVACR and the six Master HVACR Restricted specialties. All applicants apply in DELPROS, must have licensure verification sent from every jurisdiction where they hold or held a license (a Pennsylvania municipal license does not qualify; those applicants apply by exam), submit a CFC certification card (Master, Restricted-Refrigeration, Restricted-Air Conditioning), and prove experience with Verification of Employment forms or W-2/Schedule C. Examination: journeyman certificate from a federally-approved apprenticeship plus 2 years under a master, or 7 years under a master and the ABC Delaware Apprenticeship By-Pass Exam; pass the Master exam with 70%. Reciprocity table: Connecticut and Maryland are substantially similar (no proof of experience); Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia are not substantially similar (proof of practicing at least 7 years after master licensure); any other state must be evaluated by the Board from a copy of its law and regulations. Applications must be completed within six months.
Delaware DPR - Temporary Plumber or HVACR License (loss of sole license holder) · 24 Del. C. § 1831 · Delaware Division of Professional Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Fetched through the r.jina.ai text proxy. A firm that loses its sole license holder may designate an owner or employee for a 100-day temporary license ($40) while that person files a full application and takes the next available exam; not a route for ordinary out-of-state applicants.
Delaware Division of Professional Regulation - Candidate Information Bulletin (ProV, 2022.03.09) · Delaware Division of Professional Regulation / Prov, Inc. · Other · verified September 15, 2026Linked from the DPR examinations page; read through the r.jina.ai text proxy. Exams cost $100 each, are computer-based, open book and timed; Master HVACR exam is 100 questions in 4 hours (general knowledge, piping, equipment, system sizing and installation, ventilation and exhaust, testing and inspection); HVACR and plumbing exams require 70%; retakes after 7 days, limited to three attempts per application. Lists the Master HVACR Restricted exams by specialty.
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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