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

No. The trade exam is waived on this path.

What does it cost to get a Arkansas master HVAC technician license from Tennessee?

Published fees on this path total $450, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.

Do my Tennessee work hours count in Arkansas?

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

How long does the application take?

The board's published or typical processing time is about 90 days.

Does it work the other way, from Arkansas to Tennessee?

Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Arkansas to Tennessee, the mechanism is not applicable.

Tennessee to Arkansas: master HVAC technician license reciprocity

No credit· Start overVerified September 15, 2026· 6 sources

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

Licensure on a substantially similar out-of-state license (all states; no agreements exist)

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

Because the Board has no reciprocal agreements, every out-of-state applicant follows the same rule-based endorsement path. Rule §V(A)(3) and the license application direct the Board to approve a Class A, B, C, D or E applicant who is currently licensed in another state or political subdivision whose HVACR licensing laws are substantially similar to Arkansas's, that is, a jurisdiction that has adopted a national model mechanical code and uses a comprehensive exam created and proctored by a national examination agency or equivalent, provided the license is in good standing, has never been revoked for bad faith or a violation of law, rule or ethics, is not suspended or on probation, the applicant is competent in the field and pays the class license fee; apprenticeship, education or training may never be made a condition. The Board reviews each license case by case: the applicant files the HVACR License Application with a copy of the out-of-state license, a form completed by the origin board showing licensing status, exams administered and the mechanical code used, and a list of every state of past or present licensure. Rule §V(A)(4) requires the Prov exam only of candidates who hold no license in another state, so an applicant whose origin license is not substantially similar (for example a local or registration-only credential, or one issued without a national exam) qualifies instead through two years of documented experience and the class exam ($80). While the review is pending the Board issues a 90-day temporary permit on request, on the same good-standing conditions, and the applicant must attend the scheduled exam if one is required.

The department's page says the Board has 'no reciprocal licensing agreements'; rule §XIII (License by Reciprocity) nonetheless describes the exam-free process for a substantially similar license, and rule §V(A)(3) is drafted as a mandatory approval, so the practical mechanism is endorsement on the Board's finding of substantial similarity rather than an agreement. Rule §V(A)(3) literally reads 'approve ... with examination', which conflicts with §V(A)(4) and §XIII; the application form repeats the same wording. Rule §XX grants automatic licensure to uniformed service members, veterans and their spouses holding a similar out-of-state license. Arkansas pages do not mention EPA Section 608; it is listed because it is a federal requirement.

At a glance

Trade exam: Waived
Law / code exam: Not required
Out-of-state hours: Count toward eligibility
Typical processing: About 90 days

What you must already have

Your Tennessee license must be active and in good standing.
Origin license is 'substantially similar': the jurisdiction has adopted a national model mechanical code and uses a comprehensive examination created and proctored by a national examination agency or equivalent (rule §III(22)); otherwise two years of HVACR experience and the class exam are required
You must have no disciplinary action or unresolved complaints on your record.
You must document at least 4,000 hours of qualifying work experience.Only for applicants whose origin license is not substantially similar or who hold no license: rule §V(A)(5) requires two years of experience as an HVACR contractor or employee of one, shown by notarized employer affidavits; Board-approved education may substitute. Expressed here as roughly 4,000 hours; the rule states it in years.

What you'll do to get licensed in Arkansas

1License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($200). Class A (unlimited) annual license fee, paid when the Board instructs (rule §VII(1)).
2License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($150). Class B (15 tons / 1,000,000 BTUH / 15 hp), Class D (ductwork) or Class E (refrigeration) annual license fee (rule §VII(2), (4), (5)).
3License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($100). Class C (service and repair only) annual license fee (rule §VII(3)).
4Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($80) (if applicable). Prov computer-based class exam fee ($56 paper), only if the origin license is not substantially similar or the applicant holds no license.
5Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam (if applicable). Arkansas Class A-E HVACR exam administered by Prov (open book, 70% to pass; Class A 100 questions in 4 hours, Class B 50 in 3), required only when the Board does not find the origin license substantially similar.
6Other. HVACR License Application, copy of the out-of-state license, the origin board's completed form showing licensing status (including suspensions and revocations), examinations administered and mechanical code used, and the names of all states of current or past licensure (rule §XIII(4)).
7Insurance. Carry the required insurance ($250,000). Liability insurance of at least $250,000 for an individual licensee (or $250,000 per licensed employee under an employer policy), proof presented at issuance and renewal (rule §XVIII(4)).
8Continuing education. Complete continuing education. Four hours of Board-approved continuing education per calendar year to renew, two of them on the adopted mechanical code (rule §XXI).
9Other. EPA Section 608 technician certification (Type I/II/III/Universal) to handle refrigerants; federal, does not expire.

Published fees on this path total $450, 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 · $80 · if applicable
Trade exam · if applicable
Other

Liability insurance

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

Insurance · $250,000

Continuing education

Renewals usually need approved CE hours, often on the latest NEC. Reciprocal licensees are rarely exempt.

Continuing education

How Arkansas licenses master HVAC technicians

Arkansas master HVAC technician · “HVACR License, Class A (unlimited) to Class E (refrigeration)”

Statewide license

Verified September 15, 2026· 5 sources

Issued by Arkansas HVACR Licensing Board (Department of Labor and Licensing, HVAC/R Section)

Arkansas's highest HVAC credential is the HVACR license issued in five classes by the HVACR Licensing Board: Class A (unlimited), Class B (systems up to 15 tons cooling, 1,000,000 BTUH heating or 15 hp refrigeration), Class C (service and repair only), Class D (sheet metal ductwork) and Class E (refrigeration). It is treated here as the master level because Ark. Code §17-33-303(a) issues it to the individual who designs, installs or services HVACR systems, and that person becomes the 'designated license holder' responsible for the work and for registering employees. A new applicant with no licensing background must be 18, show two years of experience as an HVACR contractor or employee (Board-approved education may substitute) through notarized employer affidavits, and pass the open-book class exam administered by Prov ($80 computer-based, 70% to pass); the annual license fee is $200 for Class A, $150 for B, D and E and $100 for C, with $250,000 liability insurance and four hours of continuing education per year. The Board states it has no reciprocal agreements with any other state, but its rules direct it to approve, without examination, apprenticeship, education or training, any applicant holding a license in good standing from a jurisdiction whose HVACR licensing laws are 'substantially similar', meaning one that has adopted a national model mechanical code and uses a comprehensive exam created and proctored by a national examination agency. Under §17-33-104 a state licensee needs no city or county license.

Moving to Arkansas Leaving Arkansas

Why Tennessee has nothing to transfer

Tennessee master HVAC technician

Licensed by cities and counties

Verified September 15, 2026· 16 sources

Issued by Local code enforcement offices (Nashville, Memphis/Shelby County, Chattanooga, Knoxville and other exempt jurisdictions); the state issues only the CMC / CMC-C contractor license to businesses

Tennessee does not issue a master HVAC license. The state-level HVAC credential is a contractor license with the CMC (full mechanical: plumbing and HVAC) or CMC-C (HVAC/refrigeration) classification from the Board for Licensing Contractors, which is issued to a business that names a qualifying agent and is required for any project of $25,000 or more. The qualifying agent passes the Tennessee Business & Law exam and the CMC or CMC-C trade exam (Prov from July 1, 2026; CMC candidates need Board pre-approval, $50), and the business files a reviewed or audited financial statement (or, from July 1, 2026, a surety bond of at least half the requested limit) that sets its monetary limit, proves general liability and workers' compensation insurance, and pays $250 ($200 biennial renewal). The Board's trade-exam-waiver agreements let a contractor licensed in Alabama (HVAC), Louisiana (mechanical), Mississippi (mechanical), Ohio (HVAC), South Carolina (HVAC) or West Virginia (mechanical) skip the trade exam but not the Business & Law exam or any other requirement; North Carolina's and NASCLA's waivers do not cover HVAC. Master-level licenses issued to individuals exist only locally: Nashville's Master Mechanical (six years) and HVAC&R (four years) certificates, Memphis/Shelby County's First-Class and Third-Class Mechanical Contractor licenses, and Chattanooga's Master Mechanical Contractor license. A master HVAC license from another state has no state-level recognition in Tennessee; its holder either registers a business for the CMC-C license or applies for the local master card where they will work. EPA Section 608 certification is required federally to handle refrigerants.

How local licensing works in Tennessee

State contractor route (CMC / CMC-C). Required statewide for projects of $25,000 or more and accepted by the cities as a substitute for their own master cards for permit purposes (Nashville registers CMC/CMC-C firms for $100 with a $40,000 bond and $300,000 liability certificate; Memphis/Shelby County registers state mechanical licensees for $150). Requirements: Business & Law exam plus the CMC-C or CMC trade exam ($50 pre-approval for CMC), $250 application fee, reviewed or audited financial statement or a surety bond of at least 50% of the monetary limit (from July 1, 2026), general liability and workers' compensation insurance. Trade-exam waiver, on verification by the other board that the qualifying agent passed a comparable exam: Alabama HVAC (CMC-C), Louisiana Mechanical (CMC), Mississippi Mechanical (CMC), Ohio HVAC (CMC-C), South Carolina HVAC (CMC-C), West Virginia Mechanical (CMC). The Board stresses the waiver applies only to the trade exam, cannot be used by applicants with discipline, open complaints or felony convictions, and does not allow another state's license to be used in Tennessee.

Nashville (Davidson County). The Board of Mechanical, Plumbing and Electrical Examiners and Appeals issues the Master Mechanical certificate (six years' experience) and HVAC&R certificate (four years); a mechanical engineering degree may substitute. The application asks for licenses held in other cities or states, employer confirmations and a recommendation letter; the Chief Mechanical Inspector approves, Prov administers the exam (70% to pass, 30-day retest wait). The certificate holder then registers the firm as a Metropolitan Mechanical Gas Contractor with a Davidson County business license, $40,000 permit bond and $300,000 liability certificate. No exam waiver for out-of-state licenses is published.

Memphis and Shelby County. First-Class Mechanical Contractor (age 21, 4 years of full-time installation or design experience, unlimited scope) and Third-Class Mechanical Contractor (2 years, equipment up to 15 tons or 15 hp) after a written exam set by the Mechanical/Gas Code Board; $150 registration, $110 annual renewal, licenses expire December 31, $25,000 continuous permit bond. The mechanical code has no reciprocity provision for mechanical contractors.

Chattanooga. Master Mechanical Contractor license from the Board of Mechanical Examiners: three or more years as a Journeyman Mechanic Class 1 or 2, or a current or previously held unrevoked Master Mechanical Contractor or equivalent license from Chattanooga or any other governmental agency, or a Tennessee PE license, or acceptable education and experience; $415 per two-year cycle including the exam fee. A license from elsewhere establishes eligibility for the exam but is not stated to waive it.

Knoxville. Permits are pulled under a State Contractor Registration (CMC/CMC-C) or the other registration types on the city's permit page; the city's own mechanical license classes and fees could not be confirmed from an official page, so contact Plans Review & Inspections (865-215-4311).

Out-of-state holders. The only published recognition in Tennessee is the state Board's trade-exam waiver for contractors from AL, LA, MS, OH, SC and WV, which still requires the Business & Law exam and a full contractor application. The local master cards in Nashville, Memphis and Chattanooga treat an out-of-state master license as evidence of experience or exam eligibility, not as a substitute for their own examinations.

Moving to Tennessee Leaving Tennessee

Common questions

Do I have to take the Arkansas master HVAC technician exam if I'm licensed in Tennessee?: No. The trade exam is waived on this path.
What does it cost to get a Arkansas master HVAC technician license from Tennessee?: Published fees on this path total $450, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
Do my Tennessee work hours count in Arkansas?: Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Arkansas's eligibility requirements.
How long does the application take?: The board's published or typical processing time is about 90 days.
Does it work the other way, from Arkansas to Tennessee?: Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Arkansas to Tennessee, the mechanism is not applicable.

Sources

Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing - HVAC-R (HVACR Licensing Board; contractor applications; reciprocity statement) · Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026States that the department provides testing for HVACR contractors and issues the various types of HVACR licenses; exams are proctored by Prov after Board pre-approval; and that 'The Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing's State HVAC/R Board has no reciprocal licensing agreements with any other state licensing Boards for HVAC/R licensing at this time.' Links the contractor application and the HVACR organization registration. The page blocks non-browser fetches (Cloudflare) but opened normally through WebFetch.
Arkansas HVACR Board - HVACR License Application (Class A-E) with employer verification affidavit (Rev. 8/23) · Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing · Form · verified September 15, 2026Repeats the class definitions and the qualification rules: an applicant currently licensed in a state with substantially similar HVACR laws (national model mechanical code plus a national examination agency exam) is approved without apprenticeship, education or training as a condition; an exam is required only if the candidate holds no license in another state; applicants with no licensing background show two years of experience through notarized employer affidavits (hours by residential, commercial, refrigeration and ductwork). License fees Class A $200, B $150, C $100, D $150, E $150, not paid until the Board instructs. Fee waivers are available for low-income applicants.
Arkansas HVAC/R Law 2024 - Ark. Code Ann. Title 17, Chapter 33 (department compilation) · Ark. Code Ann. §§ 17-33-101(16), 17-33-104, 17-33-204, 17-33-301, 17-33-302, 17-33-303 · Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, HVAC/R Section · Statute · verified September 15, 2026§17-33-101(16) defines a registrant; §17-33-104: a person licensed or registered under the chapter shall not be required to obtain a license from any city or county to perform HVACR work (local permits and inspections still apply); §17-33-204: default fees Class A $200, Class B, D and E $150, Class C $100, registration $25; §17-33-301: unlawful to engage in HVACR work without the appropriate license or registration; §17-33-302: applicants must be 18, apply on Board forms, meet the rules, pay fees and pass the Board's exams; §17-33-303(a): every individual who designs, installs, maintains, services or repairs an HVACR system shall obtain a Class A, B, C, D, E or L license; §17-33-303(c): an individual may perform HVACR work under a Class A-E license holder by registering with the department and paying an annual registration fee, and licensees must ensure all HVACR employees hold a current registration or license. The statute itself contains no reciprocity section; out-of-state recognition is entirely in the Board's rules.
Administrative Rules Pertaining to the Licensing of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors (rules effective June 3, 2022) · HVACR Board Rules §§ III(19), III(22), IV, V(A), V(C), VII, XIII, XVIII(4), XX, XXI · Arkansas HVACR Licensing Board / Department of Labor and Licensing · Admin Rule · verified September 15, 2026§III(19) defines a Registrant as a person without a Class A-E license who may only work for an HVACR licensee and holds a current registration; §III(22) defines a 'substantially similar' license as one from a jurisdiction that has adopted a national model mechanical code and uses a comprehensive exam created and proctored by a national examination agency or equivalent. §IV defines Classes A (unlimited), B (15 tons / 1,000,000 BTUH / 15 hp), C (service and repair only), D (sheet metal ductwork), E (refrigeration) and L (lifetime). §V(A)(3): the Board shall approve an applicant currently licensed in a state with which it has no reciprocity but whose HVACR laws are substantially similar, if the license is in good standing, not revoked for bad faith or a violation, not suspended or on probation, the applicant is competent and pays the license fee, and apprenticeship, education or training may never be a condition; §V(A)(4): an exam is required only of applicants who hold no license in another state; §V(A)(5): applicants with no licensing background need two years of experience as an HVACR contractor or employee (education may substitute); §V(A)(6): employees of a designated license holder must be registrants; §V(C): 90-day temporary permits for out-of-state applicants. §VII: license fees Class A $200, B $150, C $100, D $150, E $150, registrant $25, exam minimum $55 written / $100 computerized. §XIII (License by Reciprocity): reciprocal applicants are not required to pass an exam or complete CE, training or apprenticeship; must hold a substantially similar license in good standing, never revoked, not suspended or on probation; submit a copy of the license, the origin board's form showing status, exams administered and mechanical code used, and a list of all states of licensure. §XVIII(4): $250,000 liability insurance. §XX: automatic licensure for uniformed service members, veterans and spouses. §XXI: four hours of continuing education per calendar year (two on the mechanical code). The §V(A)(3) text reads 'with examination' although §V(A)(4) and §XIII make clear no exam is required of out-of-state licensees.
Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing HVAC Section - Candidate Information Bulletin (Prov) · Prov, Inc. (testing vendor contracted by the Arkansas HVACR Board) · Other · verified September 15, 2026The Board has contracted with Prov to develop and administer the exams; computer-based tests cost $80 and paper tests $56; exams are open book with a 70% passing score: Class A 100 questions/4 hours, Class B 50/3, Class C 40/2, Class D 60/3, Class E 60/3 (Class B also offered in Spanish); the candidate is eligible to test for one year after Board approval.
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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