Utah to Michigan: master HVAC technician license reciprocity

Michigan's HVAC credential is the Mechanical Contractor license issued by LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes under Article 8 of the Skilled Trades Regulation Act (2016 PA 407). Although called a contractor license, it is issued to an individual who qualifies by examination, so this file treats it as the master level: a business performs mechanical work by designating a licensed individual as its contractor of record (MCL 339.5809, 339.5815). The license is classified; an HVAC business typically holds HVAC Equipment (which includes ductwork and gas piping), Refrigeration and the heating and refrigeration/air conditioning service classifications. For each classification the applicant documents 3 years or 6,000 hours of experience with statements signed under penalty of perjury by each employing contractor of record (a 2-year HVAC program may be credited up to 1 year or 2,000 hours), is approved by LARA, and passes the PSI exam for that classification (75% to pass; the HVAC Equipment exam is 150 questions, open book, 3 hours, $100; other classification exams are 55 questions, 60 minutes, $50). The license fee is $300 for the 3-year cycle ($100 per year, prorated), licenses expire August 31 every third year, and municipalities may not impose their own licensing (MCL 339.5811). Michigan has no reciprocity with any state and no licensure by endorsement: LARA's out-of-state form states that Michigan 'does not reciprocate with any other state for licensing' and that out-of-state applicants must be approved to sit for the examination, so an out-of-state HVAC or mechanical contractor's experience counts toward eligibility but the Michigan exams must be passed. Federal EPA Section 608 certification is separately required to handle refrigerants.

Utah has no master HVAC license. The state credential for HVAC work is the H100 HVAC Contractor classification (formerly S350) issued by DOPL to a business entity or sole proprietorship, not to the technician personally, so a master HVAC licensee from another state who only wants to work for an employer needs no Utah license at all. To contract independently the applicant's business applies for an H100 license with a qualifier who passes the H100 written trade exam and the Utah Business and Law exam (both through Prov), holds a Certified Natural Gas Technician certificate from the Rocky Mountain Gas Association or an equivalent, and documents 4,000 hours of HVAC employment in the past 5 years with W-2, K-1 or tax returns (an active Utah plumber license is an accepted alternative); the qualifier must also complete a 25-hour pre-licensure course and the 5-hour Business and Law course. The business registers with the Division of Corporations, carries general liability insurance of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate (the March 2026 application form still reads $3 million aggregate) and workers' compensation, and pays $50 per qualifier plus $175 per classification and a $1 surcharge. Utah has no HVAC reciprocity agreements, but DOPL grants licensure by endorsement to a contractor licensed for at least one year in good standing in a jurisdiction DOPL has determined equivalent, with at least 50% common ownership, and an endorsed applicant needs no additional courses or examinations; licenses from other jurisdictions can still be used to document part of the experience and exam requirements.