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

Yes. Wisconsin requires the trade exam on this path.

What does it cost to get a Wisconsin master HVAC technician license from South Dakota?

Published fees on this path total $195, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.

Do my South Dakota work hours count in Wisconsin?

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

Does it work the other way, from Wisconsin to South Dakota?

Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Wisconsin to South Dakota, the mechanism is not applicable.

South Dakota to Wisconsin: master HVAC technician license reciprocity

No credit· Start overVerified September 15, 2026· 9 sources

South Dakota does not issue a statewide master HVAC technician license, so there is nothing to transfer. Here is Wisconsin'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 HVAC contractor or master (all states; no Wisconsin reciprocity)

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

Wisconsin has no reciprocity or endorsement path for HVAC credentials from any state; an applicant licensed elsewhere applies for the HVAC Qualifier certification exactly as a new candidate. Out-of-state experience counts: Form 3122 accepts at least 1,000 hours per year for four years of experience supervising or performing the design, installation, servicing or maintenance of HVAC systems wherever it was earned, documented on the Form 3122T experience table with witness signatures, or four years of HVAC-related education, or a combination. The applicant applies in the LicensE portal, pays the $15 application fee and exam fee, is made eligible to test, and must pass the open-book DSPS HVAC Qualifier exam (70% passing score, 4-hour seat time, $95 at Pearson VUE) before paying the $60 certification fee. Wisconsin has no separate law or business exam for the qualifier. A business that will contract for HVAC work must also hold the HVAC Contractor registration ($15 application plus $160 registration fee), which requires no exam.

SPS 305 Table 305.02 lists a $25 examination fee, while DSPS's Pearson VUE schedule lists $95 payable to Pearson VUE for the 4-hour HVAC Qualifier exam; DSPS's trades exam page says exams at Pearson centers carry a marginally higher fee than DSPS-administered sittings. Both figures are recorded. DSPS lists a 4-year renewal cycle for the qualifier; SPS 305 Table 305.07 still shows 2 years.

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 4,000 hours of qualifying work experience.At least 1,000 hours per year for at least 4 years of experience in supervising or performing the design, installation, servicing or maintenance of HVAC systems or equipment; four years of HVAC-related schooling, or a combination of experience and education, is accepted instead (SPS 305.71(3)).

What you'll do to get licensed in Wisconsin

1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($15). HVAC Qualifier application fee (SPS 305 Table 305.02), paid in LicensE.
2Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($25). HVAC Qualifier examination fee under SPS 305 Table 305.02 (DSPS-administered sitting).
3Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($95). Total candidate fee payable to Pearson VUE for the 4-hour computer-based HVAC Qualifier exam (DSPS 2024 trade exam fee schedule).
4Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Wisconsin HVAC Qualifier examination (open book, 70% to pass, 4 hours; references limited to SPS 320-325/341/345, SMACNA, ASHRAE Fundamentals, NFPA 54, IBC, IECC, IMC, IFGC and IEBC with Wisconsin amendments).
5License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($60). HVAC Qualifier certification fee after passing the exam (SPS 305 Table 305.02); renewal $100 every 4 years.
6Other. EPA Section 608 technician certification (Type I/II/III/Universal) to handle refrigerants; federal, does not expire. SPS 305.70 notes the federal requirement; it is not a DSPS prerequisite for the qualifier exam.
7Business license. Obtain a business license ($175) (if applicable). HVAC Contractor registration for the business that contracts for HVAC work ($15 application fee plus $160 registration fee; renewal $40 every 4 years); no exam.

Published fees on this path total $195, 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 · $25
Exam fee · $95
Trade exam
Other

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 · $175 · if applicable

How Wisconsin licenses master HVAC technicians

Wisconsin master HVAC technician · “HVAC Qualifier”

Statewide license

Verified September 15, 2026· 7 sources

Issued by Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), Division of Industry Services

Wisconsin's highest person-held HVAC credential is the HVAC Qualifier certification issued by DSPS under Wis. Stat. 101.178(3) and SPS 305.71, which this file treats as the master level. It is issued to an individual who documents at least 1,000 hours per year for four years of experience supervising or performing the design, installation, servicing or maintenance of HVAC systems (or four years of HVAC-related schooling, or a combination) and passes the open-book DSPS exam (70% to pass, 4 hours, $95 at Pearson VUE); the credential is renewed every four years for $100 with no continuing education. Certification is voluntary: the mandatory credential is the business-level HVAC Contractor registration, but a business that employs a qualifier is a 'certified HVAC business' that no city or village may require to obtain a local certification, license or other approval. DSPS publishes no reciprocity agreements and no licensure-by-endorsement route for HVAC qualifiers; the experience requirement is not restricted to Wisconsin, so out-of-state work counts toward eligibility, but every applicant takes the Wisconsin exam. Federal EPA Section 608 certification is separately required to handle refrigerants.

Moving to Wisconsin Leaving Wisconsin

Why South Dakota has nothing to transfer

South Dakota master HVAC technician

Licensed by cities and counties

Verified September 15, 2026· 11 sources

South Dakota does not issue a master HVAC, mechanical or refrigeration license and has no state board for the trade; only the State Fire Marshal's boiler inspection program exists at state level, and it certifies boilers, not installers. The master-level credential exists only in cities that license mechanical contracting. In Sioux Falls the person-held credential is the Master Mechanic, earned by documenting four years of experience (2,000 hours per year) with a licensed mechanical contractor and passing the city's four-hour open-book exam on the International Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes ($75, 75% to pass); the master mechanic then qualifies a Mechanical Contractor license ($200 for two years, $10,000 compliance bond, liability insurance), and a separate Refrigeration Contractor license is earned by a shorter IMC exam. In Rapid City the Mechanical Contractor (Class C trade) license is issued to a firm whose designated license holder has six years of verifiable experience, passes the city exam, and carries $1,000,000 liability insurance; it runs three years with six hours of continuing education. Neither city recognizes out-of-state licenses: Sioux Falls says it does not reciprocate any license and requires its exam of everyone, and Rapid City's code recognizes other agencies' licenses only for general building contractor classes. An out-of-state master or HVAC contractor should expect to sit the local exam in each city where they contract.

How local licensing works in South Dakota

How local licensing works. South Dakota has no state HVAC licensing statute, so contractor and master-level credentials exist only under city ordinances. Boilers are inspected and certificated by the State Fire Marshal's Office (Department of Public Safety), which does not license installers or contractors.

Sioux Falls. The Mechanical Board of Appeals and Examiners tests Master Mechanics: four years of experience as a sheet metal mechanic, refrigeration technician, general manager, project manager or engineer employed by a licensed mechanical contractor, at least 2,000 hours per year, with up to one year of credit for trade school or engineering/construction management degrees and up to two years for military work. The exam ($75, non-refundable) is given the second Wednesday of each month, is open book on the 2021 IMC and IFGC (2024 codes to be adopted in 2026), and requires 75%; a first failure may be retaken after 30 days, later failures after 90 days. The Mechanical Contractor license must be applied for within 90 days of passing: $200 for a two-year license expiring December 31 of odd years ($100 if issued in the second year), a $10,000 compliance bond naming the City, current liability insurance, and the master mechanic must be an owner, partner or W-2 employee. The Refrigeration Contractor license uses a separate two-hour, 20-question IMC exam ($75, 75%) with the same bond and fee. An Inactive Master Mechanic license preserves the credential without contracting. The city states it does not reciprocate any licenses.

Rapid City. Under RCMC 15.26.080 a Mechanical Contractor (MC) license is held by a proprietorship, partnership, firm or corporation whose license holder has six years of verifiable experience (education credit of one year per 18-24 month program) and is qualified in planning, superintending and installing mechanical systems; if that person leaves, the firm has 30 days to qualify another. Under RCMC 15.04.140 the designated license holder must pass the city's exam, the firm must carry $1,000,000 aggregate and per-occurrence liability with $300,000 fire damage coverage, the license runs three years, and six hours of continuing education are required per period. License and exam fees are set by council resolution and were not found on a published page. The Building Official may accept another government agency's license only for Class A and B general building licenses.

Out-of-state holders. No reciprocity or endorsement path for out-of-state master or contractor licenses was found in either city. The practical route is to document experience, pass the local exam, and post the local bond and insurance in each city where work will be contracted.

Moving to South Dakota Leaving South Dakota

Common questions

Do I have to take the Wisconsin master HVAC technician exam if I'm licensed in South Dakota?: Yes. Wisconsin requires the trade exam on this path.
What does it cost to get a Wisconsin master HVAC technician license from South Dakota?: Published fees on this path total $195, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
Do my South Dakota work hours count in Wisconsin?: Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Wisconsin's eligibility requirements.
Does it work the other way, from Wisconsin to South Dakota?: Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Wisconsin to South Dakota, 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.
DSPS Form 3122 - HVAC Qualifier Certification Application Information (Rev. 1/8/2024) · Wis. Admin. Code SPS 305.71 · Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services · Form · verified September 15, 2026Eligibility for the exam: (a) at least 1,000 hours per year for at least 4 years of experience supervising or performing the design, installation, servicing or maintenance of HVAC systems or equipment, documented on Form 3122T with witness signatures; (b) at least 4 years of attendance in a school of mechanical engineering or an accredited college, technical, vocational or apprenticeship HVAC program; or (c) any combination of four years. Applicants apply and pay in LicensE, are made eligible to test after review, and pay another exam fee after a failure. The form has no category for licensure by reciprocity or endorsement and does not restrict experience to Wisconsin. Read with pdftotext after download.
Wisconsin DSPS - HVAC Contractor (registration program page) · Wis. Admin. Code SPS 305.70 · Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026'No person, entity or business may engage or offer to engage in installing or servicing heating, ventilating or air conditioning equipment unless the person, entity or business holds a registration issued by the Department as a registered HVAC Contractor' (Form 3121). Exemptions: servicing equipment in property the applicant owns, work in an owner-occupied dwelling, and the electrical or plumbing work associated with HVAC. The registration has no exam or experience requirement and no reciprocity provision.
Wisconsin DSPS - HVAC Qualifier Exam Information · Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026'The exam is open book, and the passing score is 70%.' Allowed references are limited to nine items: SPS 320-325, 341 and 345 with printed notes in one binder, the 2020 SMACNA duct manual, 2013 ASHRAE Fundamentals, 2021 NFPA 54 (gas piping), the 2021 IBC, IECC, IMC, IFGC and IEBC with Wisconsin amendments. HVAC code changes took effect October 1, 2025. No exam waiver for out-of-state credentials is mentioned.
Wisconsin DSPS - HVAC Qualifier (program page) · Wis. Admin. Code SPS 305.71; Wis. Stat. 101.178(3)(c) · Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026States that 'an individual may obtain ... an HVAC Qualifier certification from the Department relative to the business of installing or servicing heating, ventilating or air conditioning equipment' and that a business using a qualifier is a certified HVAC business that 'may not be required to obtain a local certification, license, or other approval'. Applications go through the LicensE portal (Form 3122). Exams taken on or after May 16, 2018 include the current Commercial Building Code. The page says nothing about reciprocity or out-of-state credentials.
DSPS - Trades Renewal Dates and Fees · Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services · Other · verified September 15, 2026HVAC Qualifier: 4-year credential renewing from date of issuance, renewal fee $100, no CE, reinstatement $200. HVAC Contractor: 4-year registration from date of issuance, renewal $40, reinstatement $200. (SPS 305 Table 305.07 still lists a 2-year term for these credentials; DSPS's current schedule is used here.) Read with pdftotext after download.
DSPS - Pearson VUE Computer-Based Trade Exam Fee Schedule (2024) · Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services · Other · verified September 15, 2026HVAC Qualifier exam: 4 hours seat time, total candidate fee payable to Pearson VUE $95.00. Read with pdftotext after download.
Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 305 - Licenses, Certifications and Registrations (Register August 2025) · SPS 305.02 Table 305.02; SPS 305.70; SPS 305.71 · Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau · Admin Rule · verified September 15, 2026Table 305.02: HVAC Contractor registration $15 application fee and $160 registration fee; HVAC Qualifier certification $15 application fee, $25 examination fee, $60 certification fee. SPS 305.70: HVAC contractor registration is mandatory for any person, entity or business installing or servicing HVAC equipment and is applied for by the owner, partner or chief executive; a note reminds that federal Section 608 technician certification is required for refrigerant work. SPS 305.71: an individual may obtain an HVAC qualifier certification by meeting the 4-year experience/education standard, passing the exam under SPS 305.09 and paying the certification fee; a business that uses a qualifier is a 'certified HVAC business' that cannot be required to obtain local approval. The chapter contains no reciprocity or credential-by-endorsement provision for HVAC. Read with pdftotext after download.
Wis. Stat. 101.178 - Heating, ventilating and air conditioning contractors (registration and certification) · Wis. Stat. 101.178(2), (3) · Wisconsin State Legislature · Statute · verified September 15, 2026Sub. (2): 'No person may engage in the business of installing or servicing heating, ventilating or air conditioning equipment unless the person registers with the department.' Sub. (3) directs DSPS to establish a voluntary certification program whose applicants must pass a department examination, and bars political subdivisions from requiring their own certification or approval of state-certified HVAC businesses except for local requirements that predate November 1, 1993 (with grandfathering of existing contractors). No reciprocity provision.

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

Report an error on this page