A full walk through Maryland's HVACR license ladder: apprentice to master, the open book PSI exams, every license and exam fee, insurance minimums, reciprocity, county licensing, and what a company needs to legally sell HVACR services.
Yes, Maryland requires a state license for HVAC work. The Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) Contractors, part of the Department of Labor's Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, licenses every tier of the trade statewide under Business Regulation Article, Title 9A of the Annotated Code of Maryland and COMAR 09.15: apprentice, journeyman, journeyman restricted, limited, master restricted, and master.
At a glance
- Who issues it: Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) Contractors
- Journeyman: Apprentice 4+ years, 6,000 hours under a licensed HVACR contractor
- Exam: PSI, open book, 70% to pass
- Fees: Board fees run from $12 (apprentice) to $94.50 (master or limited), plus PSI's separate exam fee ($150 for journeyman, limited, and master; $50 for restricted specialties)
- Insurance: $400,000 combined minimum for contractor classes
Maryland's structure has more license classes than most states, and the top three classes, limited, master restricted, and master, are the ones that let you contract HVACR work. This guide walks the full ladder: the hours, the open book PSI exams at 70%, every license and exam fee the board and its testing vendor publish, the insurance minimums, reciprocity with neighboring states, the county level licensing layer some readers are searching for, and what a company has to have in place before it can legally sell HVACR services in Maryland.
New to licensing in Maryland? Start with the Maryland contractor license requirements.
Maryland's HVACR License Classes at a Glance
| Class | Experience required | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | Entry level, works under a licensed contractor | None |
| Journeyman | Apprentice 4+ years, 6,000 hours under a licensed HVACR contractor | PSI, 70% to pass |
| Limited | Journeyman 2+ years under a master, master restricted, or limited licensee, 1,000 hours in the year before applying | PSI, 70% |
| Master Restricted | Journeyman 3+ years under a master, 1,875 hours in the prior year | PSI, 70% |
| Master | Journeyman 3+ years in all areas of HVACR under a master, 1,875 hours in the prior year | PSI, 70% |
Two structural notes. First, every class above apprentice requires you to currently hold a lower license (an apprentice license for journeyman, a journeyman or higher license for the contractor classes), so the ladder is climbed in order. The board can credit up to 3 years of approved formal study or training toward the experience requirements, and in limited cases up to 6 years of comparable work experience that does not fit the standard rules (Business Regulation Article, Section 9A-302(g)). Second, the "restricted" classes are scoped by area of expertise: master restricted licenses are issued in one to four areas of HVACR work (heating forced air, heating hydronic, heating combined, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration), while the full master license covers all areas.
Step 1: Apprentice
The apprentice license is the entry point, and there are no prerequisites to obtain one. You work under the direction and control of a licensed HVACR contractor while building the hours that qualify you for the journeyman exam. An apprentice is authorized only to assist with HVACR work; apprentices may not perform HVACR services alone or enter into contracts for those services.
Step 2: Journeyman
To qualify for the journeyman license you must:
- Have been licensed as an apprentice for at least four years
- Have completed at least 6,000 hours of training in HVACR services under the direction and control of a licensed HVACR contractor during that period
- Pass the journeyman examination with a score of 70%
- Currently hold an apprentice license
A journeyman works for licensed contractors. The journeyman license alone does not authorize you to contract work with the public, that authority starts at the limited class.
The board also issues a journeyman restricted license, scoped to one or more specialty categories (heating forced air, heating hydronic, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration) rather than the full trade. The path to journeyman restricted runs through the same apprentice track but with a lower hour threshold: Business Regulation Article, Section 9A-302(f) requires an apprentice license held at least three years with at least 1,875 hours of training, plus a passing exam. Do not confuse this with the full journeyman requirement above, which Section 9A-302(e) sets at four years and 6,000 hours; the two paths lead to different credentials. One shortcut applies to both: a person who completes an HVACR apprenticeship program approved by the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council can be issued a journeyman or journeyman restricted license without the exam (Section 9A-306(e)); PSI's bulletin says to apply within two years of graduating.
Step 3: The Contractor Classes, Limited, Master Restricted, Master
This is where Maryland's system differs from simpler states. Three classes can contract HVACR services, at different scopes:
Limited, journeyman under the direction and control of a licensed master, master restricted, or limited contractor for at least two years, minimum 1,000 hours in the year before applying, 70% on the limited contractor exam. A limited contractor license authorizes maintenance and repair of HVACR systems only; a limited contractor may not perform installations or retrofits, that work requires a master restricted or master license.
Master Restricted, journeyman regularly and principally employed in HVACR services under a master (or a master restricted contractor in the same specialty) for at least three years, minimum 1,875 hours worked in the year before applying, 70% on the master restricted exam. Licensed per area of expertise (one to four areas).
Master, journeyman regularly and principally employed in all areas of HVACR services under a master for at least three years, minimum 1,875 hours in the prior year, 70% on the master exam. The full scope credential.
The "1,875 hours in the year prior to applying" rule is worth flagging: Maryland requires recent full time level activity in the trade, not just old hours on paper. If you stepped away from the tools for a year, you may need to rebuild recency before applying.
The Exams: PSI, Open Book, 70% to Pass
PSI Examination Services provides all testing for the HVACR Board. You apply and register directly with PSI, upload your qualifying documentation, and test at one of six Maryland centers: Baltimore (Falls Road), College Park, Crofton, Hagerstown, Laurel (Mid Atlantic Testing Company), or Salisbury (Brainseed Testing Services). That list is from PSI's current bulletin; the board's own exam page still lists Lanham instead of Crofton and Laurel, so confirm the site when PSI schedules you.
Every exam in the system, journeyman through master, requires a 70% score to pass, and every exam is open book: candidates may bring only the reference texts PSI lists for that exam (the lists vary by exam and draw on the International Mechanical Code, Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Manual J Residential Load Calculation, OSHA 29 CFR 1926, and for heating tracks NFPA 31 and NFPA 54), indexed, tabbed, and highlighted but not written in. No study guides are allowed in the testing room.
There is no required prep course for any HVACR exam, though many Maryland community colleges offer optional exam prep. If you do not pass, you must wait 30 days before retaking the exam; any subsequent attempt requires a further 60 day wait, and the exam fee is due again each time.
License Fees (Set July 1, 2025)
The HVACR Board's nonrefundable fee schedule as of July 1, 2025:
| License | Fee |
|---|---|
| Apprentice | $12.00 |
| Journeyman | $25.00 |
| Journeyman Restricted | $25.00 per area licensed |
| Limited | $94.50 |
| Master Restricted | $31.50 per area licensed |
| Master | $94.50 |
| Inspector | $56.00 |
| Letter of Good Standing | $25.00 |
| Inactive license | $31.50 |
These are original and renewal license fees. The board's fee page dates this schedule July 1, 2025; the regulation itself, COMAR 09.15.01.03, lists the same amounts effective January 1, 2025. Master restricted assessments are capped once a licensee qualifies in three areas of HVACR expertise. Fees are set by the board and change, verify current amounts with the Maryland Department of Labor before applying.
Exam Fees (PSI, Valid 90 Days)
PSI's exam fees are separate from the board's license fees, and are non-refundable and non-transferable once paid:
| Exam | Fee |
|---|---|
| Master Contractor | $150 |
| Limited Contractor | $150 |
| Journeyman | $150 |
| Master Restricted (any specialty) | $50 |
| Journeyman Restricted (any specialty) | $50 |
As with the license fees, verify the current amount in PSI's Candidate Information Bulletin before scheduling; exam fees are set by the vendor and change.
Insurance: The $400,000 Combined Minimum
Maryland enforces insurance at the license level, not just the business level. All master, master restricted, and limited contractors who sign or approve HVACR contracts, or who operate as an owner operator, must carry:
- General liability coverage of at least $300,000
- Property damage liability coverage of at least $100,000
- A combined minimum of $400,000 per occurrence, with the State Board of HVACR Contractors named as certificate holder
Under Business Regulation Article, Section 9A-402, the policy can be bought by the licensee or by the company that employs the licensee, and the licensee must notify the board at least 10 days before a cancellation takes effect.
Let the insurance lapse and you cannot legally enter new HVACR contracts. Contracting without the required insurance is a misdemeanor (Section 9A-505(b)) punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months' imprisonment, or both. Insurance minimums are set by the board and subject to change, verify current requirements before binding coverage. Premiums vary by company size and claims history; budget for this as a real operating cost of holding a contractor class license.
Reciprocity and Out of State Contractors
Maryland's reciprocity agreements are narrow: the HVACR Board currently has reciprocal licensing agreements with Delaware and Virginia only. To qualify for a reciprocal Maryland license without sitting for the Maryland exam, you must hold an active license in good standing in the reciprocal state, hold a license equivalent to the Maryland HVACR license you are applying for, and have met that state's licensing requirements, including years of work experience, at a level at least equivalent to Maryland's. Applicants licensed in any other state must apply and test the same as a first time Maryland applicant.
If you are already licensed elsewhere but plan to provide HVACR services in Maryland without opening a Maryland office, that does not exempt you: every contractor who offers, provides, or assists in providing HVACR services in Maryland must hold a Maryland HVACR license in the appropriate category regardless of licensure in another state, and may be asked to designate a resident agent.
County and Local Licensing: Anne Arundel, Prince George's, and Permits Elsewhere
The state HVACR license is not always the last step. Anne Arundel County and Prince George's County require individuals to hold a separate county HVACR license in addition to the Maryland state license before performing HVACR services in those counties.
Other counties and cities, including Montgomery County, do not layer on a separate county HVACR license, but local plumbing, gasfitting, and electrical permits may still be required before HVACR work can begin, and local building or mechanical code may apply in addition to the state board's rules. Montgomery County, for example, issues residential and commercial mechanical permits through its Department of Permitting Services, and its permit rules list an individual licensed by the Maryland HVACR Board, acting within that license's scope, as the person who applies. Where a county does keep its own HVACR license, state law limits it: under Business Regulation Article, Section 9A-506, a county license may continue only where it existed on or before January 1, 1990, the county must issue it to a state licensee who applies and pays the fee, and it may not make a state licensee take another exam. Check with the local permit agency in the county or city where the work will happen before you start a job.
Penalties for Unlicensed Work
Maryland separates two different violations, and it is worth keeping them straight. Contracting without the required insurance while holding a master, master restricted, or limited license (covered above) is a misdemeanor under Business Regulation Article, Section 9A-505(b), topping out at a $1,000 fine and six months in jail no matter how many times it happens.
Performing HVACR work without holding any required HVACR license at all escalates on repeat offenses: under Section 9A-505(a), a first conviction carries a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months' imprisonment, or both, and a second or subsequent conviction carries a fine of up to $5,000, up to two years' imprisonment, or both. The same criminal penalties reach anyone, including a company officer, who knowingly employs unlicensed individuals to do HVACR work.
On top of any criminal case, the board can impose an administrative penalty of up to $5,000 per violation of the HVACR law (Section 9A-505(c)) and can suspend or revoke a license. Both penalties are real; they are simply not the same rule.
What a Company Needs Before It Can Sell HVACR Work in Maryland
Here is the bridge most licensing guides never draw. Maryland licenses HVACR work at the individual level, not the company level: Business Regulation Article, Title 9A and COMAR 09.15 require the person who signs or approves HVACR contracts, or who acts as owner operator, to personally hold the limited, master restricted, or master license, with the required insurance in place (bought by that licensee or by the company that employs them). Maryland's HVACR law does not use a separate statutory title like "qualifying agent," "RME," or "RMO" the way some states do; instead, the licensed individual IS the compliance anchor for every contract the company signs.
That makes the practical need identical to states that do use that language: a company without a Maryland licensed master, master restricted, or limited contractor on staff cannot legally sign HVACR contracts, pull HVACR mechanical permits in counties such as Montgomery that issue them to state HVACR licensees, or advertise HVACR services under its own name in Maryland, where PSI's bulletin requires the responsible contractor's MD HVACR license number on company vehicles, contracts, and advertising.
That means every one of these situations ends in the same question, who holds the license?
- A general contractor or private equity group acquiring or launching an HVAC operation in Maryland with no licensed master in the org chart.
- A mechanical company whose master retires or leaves, putting new contracts at risk overnight.
- An out of state HVAC company expanding into Maryland and learning its home state credential does not transfer automatically, since Maryland's reciprocity only reaches Delaware and Virginia.
The answer that works, and the only model we place under, is bringing on a Maryland licensed master, master restricted, or limited contractor as a full time W-2 employee: a qualifying agent genuinely employed by the company, involved in its HVACR operations, and carrying the compliance responsibility that comes with signing contracts under their license. Not a name rented for a fee. Real employment, real oversight.
If your company needs a Maryland HVACR master, or you hold a master license and want to know what that credential is worth to a company that needs one, start with what a qualifying agent is, then hire a qualifying agent or become one. Situations differ enough that we scope every engagement through a consultation.
FAQ
Does Maryland require an HVAC license?
Yes, statewide, at every tier, through the Maryland Board of HVACR Contractors. This is not a local option state: apprentices, journeymen, and contractors all carry state licenses, and Anne Arundel and Prince George's Counties layer a county license on top.
How long does it take to get a Maryland HVAC master license?
On the standard path, about seven years: four years and 6,000 hours as an apprentice to reach journeyman, then three years regularly and principally employed in all areas of HVACR under a master, including 1,875 hours in the year immediately before you apply. The board can shorten this by crediting up to 3 years of approved formal study or training.
How much does a Maryland HVAC license cost?
Board fees run from $12 (apprentice) to $94.50 (master or limited) under the fee schedule set July 1, 2025, plus PSI's separate exam fee ($150 for journeyman, limited, and master; $50 for restricted specialties), all set by the board and vendor and subject to change, so verify before applying. The larger recurring cost is the required insurance ($400,000 combined minimum for contractor classes). If you are asking what it costs a company to secure a licensed master to qualify its HVACR operation, that depends on the situation, request a consultation and we will walk you through the factors that drive it.
What is the difference between a master and a master restricted license?
Scope. The master license covers all areas of HVACR work. Master restricted licenses are issued per area of expertise, heating forced air, heating hydronic, heating combined, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, in one to four combinations.
Can a journeyman run an HVAC business in Maryland?
No. The journeyman license does not authorize contracting with the public. Contracting authority starts at the limited class and requires the board's insurance minimums. A business without a contractor class licensee needs to hire one as a W-2 qualifying agent.
Does Maryland have HVAC license reciprocity with other states?
Only with Delaware and Virginia. The applicant must hold an active, equivalent license in good standing in one of those states, meeting requirements at least equivalent to Maryland's, including years of experience. Every other out of state applicant tests the same as a first time Maryland applicant.
Do I need a separate county HVAC license in Maryland?
Only in Anne Arundel County and Prince George's County, which require a county HVACR license in addition to the state license. Other counties and cities, including Montgomery County, may still require local mechanical, plumbing, gasfitting, or electrical permits before work begins, so check with the local permit office.
What happens if I fail the Maryland HVACR exam?
You must wait 30 days before retaking it, and any attempt after that needs a further 60 day wait between retakes. The exam fee is due again each time you sit for the test.
Is the Maryland HVACR exam open book?
Yes. Every HVACR exam, journeyman through master, is open book, and candidates may bring a specific list of approved, tabbed reference texts. No study guides are permitted in the testing room.
Requirements, fees, and insurance minimums summarized from the Maryland Department of Labor, Board of HVACR Contractors (licensing requirements, exam, fee, insurance, county, and FAQ pages) and PSI's Candidate Information Bulletin, as retrieved September 23, 2026. All figures are set by the board and testing vendor and change, verify current requirements with the Maryland Department of Labor and PSI before applying.
Sources
- Licensing Requirements, Maryland Board of HVACR Contractors (retrieved 2026-09-23)
- Apply for an Original License (retrieved 2026-09-23)
- Fees (retrieved 2026-09-23)
- Insurance Requirements (retrieved 2026-09-23)
- Taking the Exams (retrieved 2026-09-23)
- Licensing Frequently Asked Questions (retrieved 2026-09-23)
- HVAC Licensing Notice, It's the Law (retrieved 2026-09-23)
- County License/Permits (retrieved 2026-09-23)
- PSI Candidate Information Bulletin (Maryland State Board of HVACR Contractors, updated 9/1/2024) (retrieved 2026-09-23)
- Business Regulation Article, Title 9A, Annotated Code of Maryland, Sections 9A-302, 9A-305, 9A-306, 9A-402, 9A-505 and 9A-506 (retrieved 2026-09-23)
- COMAR 09.15.01.03, Fees and Costs (retrieved 2026-09-23)
- Montgomery County DPS, Who Can Apply for Mechanical Permits (retrieved 2026-09-23)
- Anne Arundel County Mechanical License (retrieved 2026-09-23)
Related reading: How to get an electrician license in Maryland · Maryland plumbing license guide · New Jersey HVAC license guide · 2026 contractor license law changes by state · Browse all state licensing guides · How contractor licensing works
Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, licensing guidance, or an offer of services. Licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction. For specific compliance questions, contact The Licensing Company for a confidential consultation.