LicensebyState

Moving to District of Columbia as a master HVAC technician: every state's rule

District of Columbia has reciprocity agreements with 0 states. Everyone else follows its standard out-of-state path: endorsement.

District of Columbia master HVAC technician · “Master Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic”

Statewide license

Verified September 15, 2026· 7 sources

Issued by DC Board of Industrial Trades (Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection)

The District's highest person-held HVAC credential is the Master Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic license issued by the Board of Industrial Trades (DLCP); a Master Mechanic Limited license covers systems of 25 compressor horsepower and below. A Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractor license is a separate business credential that must name a designated DC-licensed master mechanic, and a master designated to a contractor must post a $5,000 bond (the company posts another $5,000). Under D.C. Code § 47-2853.202(b) a master applicant must show 5 consecutive years immediately before applying installing, maintaining, repairing and replacing refrigeration and air conditioning systems larger than 25 compressor horsepower, verified in writing by a master mechanic (the limited license requires 5 years on smaller systems plus chlorofluorocarbon certification); DLCP also requires tax records and a CFC Universal certification, and the applicant passes the PSI-administered open-book master exam. Fees are a $65 application fee and a $110 mechanic license fee; licenses expire September 30 of even-numbered years and renew for $155. The Board publishes no reciprocity for refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics.

Every origin state

Endorsement 23No credit 27
Every state's path into District of Columbia
StateMechanismNoteVerified
AlabamaEndorsement2026-09-15
AlaskaEndorsement2026-09-15
ArizonaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
ArkansasEndorsement2026-09-15
CaliforniaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
ColoradoNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
ConnecticutEndorsement2026-09-15
DelawareEndorsement2026-09-15
FloridaEndorsement2026-09-15
GeorgiaEndorsement2026-09-15
HawaiiNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
IdahoEndorsement2026-09-15
IllinoisNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
IndianaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
IowaEndorsement2026-09-15
KansasNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
KentuckyEndorsement2026-09-15
LouisianaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
MaineNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
MarylandEndorsement2026-09-15
MassachusettsEndorsement2026-09-15
MichiganEndorsement2026-09-15
MinnesotaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
MississippiNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
MissouriNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
MontanaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
NebraskaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
NevadaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
New HampshireNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
New JerseyEndorsement2026-09-15
New MexicoEndorsement2026-09-15
New YorkNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
North CarolinaEndorsement2026-09-15
North DakotaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
OhioEndorsement2026-09-15
OklahomaEndorsement2026-09-15
OregonNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
PennsylvaniaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
Rhode IslandEndorsement2026-09-15
South CarolinaEndorsement2026-09-15
South DakotaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
TennesseeNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
TexasEndorsement2026-09-15
UtahNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
VermontNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
VirginiaEndorsement2026-09-15
WashingtonNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
West VirginiaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
WisconsinEndorsement2026-09-15
WyomingNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15

Getting licensed in District of Columbia from scratch

No license yet, or nothing that transfers? This is how District of Columbia issues a master HVAC technician license to a first-time applicant.

Verified September 23, 2026· 10 sources

Master Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic by examination

The Master Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic license is issued on passing the PSI master exam. Under D.C. Code § 47-2853.202(b) an applicant must have spent at least 5 consecutive years, immediately before applying, installing, maintaining, repairing and replacing refrigeration and air conditioning systems larger than 25 compressor horsepower, verified in writing by a master mechanic; DLCP also asks for tax records and a CFC (EPA Section 608) Universal certification. Neither the statute nor the Board's instructions require a District journeyman license first, so an applicant may qualify on documented experience alone. The exam is open book with no separate law or business exam, and the apprenticeship and national-certificate exam waivers apply to the journeyman license only.

PSI's candidate bulletin describes the master exam (Washington DC Master A/C & Refrigeration Mechanical Unlimited) as 80 multiple-choice questions with a 3.5-hour time limit, using the 2012 International Mechanical Code and Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (2004) as approved references; no passing percentage is published. The Master Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic Limited license covers systems of 25 compressor horsepower and below; it requires 5 consecutive years on those smaller systems plus chlorofluorocarbon certification, and its PSI exam has 70 questions with a 3-hour limit. Under the Board's test-first process the exam may be scheduled directly with PSI before applying. A business that installs or services refrigeration and air conditioning equipment needs a separate Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractor license naming a designated DC-licensed master; a master designated to a contractor files a $5,000 bond, and the company files another $5,000 bond.

Trade exam
Required
Law / code exam
Not required
Exam given by
PSI
Exam format
Open book
Renewal
Every 2 years

Who can apply

  • You must document at least 5 years of qualifying work experience.Five consecutive years immediately before the application installing, maintaining, repairing and replacing refrigeration and air conditioning systems larger than 25 compressor horsepower, verified in writing by a master mechanic (D.C. Code § 47-2853.202(b)) and documented with tax records and employment verification letters.

Steps to get licensed

  1. 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($65). Application fee, paid with the online application (non-refundable).
  2. 2Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Washington DC Master A/C & Refrigeration Mechanical Unlimited exam administered by PSI: 80 multiple-choice questions, 3.5 hours, open book.
  3. 3Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($52). Per attempt, paid to PSI when scheduling, as listed in PSI's District of Columbia candidate bulletin.
  4. 4License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($110). Mechanic license fee, for a term of up to 2 years.
  5. 5Other. Hold EPA Section 608 certification (Universal); DLCP requires a CFC Universal certification with the master application.
  6. 6Surety bond. Post a surety bond ($5,000) (if applicable). Refrigeration and Air Conditioning bond of $5,000, required only if the master is designated to a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractor company (the company files a separate $5,000 bond).

Published fees on this path total $227, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.

Keeping it active

Every 2 years and a $155 renewal fee.

All refrigeration and air conditioning licenses expire on September 30 of even-numbered years regardless of when they were issued, so a first license can run less than 2 years. Renew online through the DLCP portal (Access DC account) before the expiration date; a late renewal adds a $50 fee.

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 · $52
  • Other

Surety bond

A license or contractor bond is bought from a surety, not the state. Price is a small percentage of the bond amount and depends on your credit.

  • Surety bond · $5,000 · if applicable

Sources for this section

  1. D.C. Code § 47-2853.202 - Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics: eligibility requirements · D.C. Code § 47-2853.202 · Council of the District of Columbia · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
  2. 17 DCMR Chapter 3 - Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Licensing (§§ 303, 304, 306, 307, 309, 310) · 17 DCMR §§ 303.6-303.8, 304, 306, 307, 309, 310, 312 · DC Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances (DCMR) · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
  3. 17 DCMR § 3500 - Licensing fees · 17 DCMR § 3500.2(o), 3500.3 · District of Columbia Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
  4. District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades · District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 17, 2026
  5. DC DLCP - Board of Industrial Trades landing page (apply, items needed, examination, reciprocity) · District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  6. DC DLCP - Refrigeration/Air-Conditioning License (Limited and Regular) Application Instructions - Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master · District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Occupational and Professional Licensing · Form · verified September 23, 2026
  7. DLCP bulletin - Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanic License Renewal Notice (July 27, 2026) · District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Board of Industrial Trades · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  8. DC Board of Industrial Trades - Test First Examination Process Notice · District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades (DLCP) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  9. PSI Candidate Information Bulletin - Washington D.C. Contractor/Trades Examinations · PSI Services LLC for the District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades · Form · verified September 23, 2026
  10. 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, 2026

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