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

Yes. Kentucky requires the trade exam on this path.

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

Published fees on this path total $330, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.

Do my Pennsylvania work hours count in Kentucky?

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

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

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

Pennsylvania to Kentucky: master HVAC technician license reciprocity

No credit· Start overVerified September 15, 2026· 12 sources

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

Out-of-state master HVAC or mechanical contractor without a reciprocity agreement (examination with experience credit)

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

A master HVAC, mechanical or HVAC contractor licensee from a state without a Kentucky reciprocity agreement applies on Form HVAC 1 as a new applicant. KRS 198B.658(1)(c)2 accepts two years engaged as a master HVAC contractor 'or equivalent thereof' in a jurisdiction other than Kentucky when shown by verifiable documentation, so an out-of-state contractor does not need Kentucky journeyman time; 815 KAR 8:010 Section 5 lists a copy of a current out-of-state master HVAC contractor license or equivalent among the acceptable proofs (or documentation of the work where the state does not license), and one year of experience means at least 1,500 hours in a continuous twelve-month period. The applicant must pass the Master HVAC examination with at least 70%: it is a single open-book exam covering codes, standards and practices together with the law and regulation of the HVAC business, offered by Prov ($80) or by the department on Form HVAC-4 ($150); 815 KAR 8:010 Section 4(8) requires DHBC to recognize an equivalent examination on a showing that it covers the same material at the same level, and passing scores are valid for three years. The license issues only with a certificate of general liability insurance of at least $500,000 and property damage insurance of at least $300,000 from a Kentucky-licensed carrier naming DHBC as certificate holder (which a represented company may provide), the $250 twelve-month fee prorated by birth month ($145.83 to $375), and a passport photo; the application stays open one year.

Kentucky has no separate business-and-law exam for the master HVAC license; the law and regulation content is a section of the single Master HVAC exam, so examLawRequired is recorded as false. Acceptance of a previously passed out-of-state or national master mechanical exam under Section 4(8) is at the department's discretion and no list of recognized exams is published. Exam fee: Prov bulletin (2020) $80; department-administered exam per Form HVAC-4 and 815 KAR 8:010 $150.

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.Two years as a master HVAC contractor or equivalent in another jurisdiction, two years as a journeyman under a master HVAC contractor, or two years as a licensed mechanical engineer (KRS 198B.658(1)(c)); a year is at least 1,500 hours in a continuous twelve-month period (815 KAR 8:010 Section 5(2)).
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), prorated by birth month to $145.83-$375.00; payable to Kentucky State Treasurer, non-refundable.
2Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Kentucky Master HVAC examination (codes, standards and practices plus HVAC business law and regulation), open book, 70% to pass; Prov computer-based exam or department-administered exam via Form HVAC-4.
3Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($80). Prov examination fee per attempt (Candidate Information Bulletin); the department-administered master exam registered on Form HVAC-4 is $150.
4Insurance. 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 carrier licensed by the Kentucky Department of Insurance, certificate naming DHBC (500 Mero Street, Frankfort) as certificate holder (KRS 198B.668).
5Other. Passport-sized color photograph taken within six months, employment history, and proof of experience (out-of-state license copy, W-2s, master's affidavit or DD 214).
6Other. EPA Section 608 technician certification (Type I/II/III/Universal) to handle refrigerants; federal, does not expire; not part of the DHBC application.

Published fees on this path total $330, 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 · $80
Other

Liability insurance

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

Insurance · $500,000

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

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 Kentucky master HVAC technician exam if I'm licensed in Pennsylvania?: Yes. Kentucky requires the trade exam on this path.
What does it cost to get a Kentucky master HVAC technician license from Pennsylvania?: Published fees on this path total $330, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
Do my Pennsylvania work hours count in Kentucky?: Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Kentucky's eligibility requirements.
Does it work the other way, from Kentucky to Pennsylvania?: Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Kentucky to Pennsylvania, 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.
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 Form HVAC-4 - HVAC Examination Registration Form (March 2022) · Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, Division of HVAC · Form · verified September 15, 2026Registers the applicant for the department-administered master HVAC contractor examination ($150.00 exam fee) or journeyman HVAC mechanic examination ($50.00), payable to Kentucky State Treasurer, with a passport-sized color photo. Division of HVAC contact 502-573-0395.
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.660 - Application; examinations; procedures · KRS 198B.660 · Kentucky Legislative Research Commission · Statute · verified September 15, 2026Served as a PDF. Each application is accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee; examinations are given at least twice a year at times and places prescribed by the department; the exam fee must be paid before testing. Effective June 27, 2019.
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.

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

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