Washington has no state HVAC or mechanical license. HVAC companies register with L&I as specialty contractors ($15,000 bond, $150.20 fee), technicians doing the electrical work carry a 06A or 06B certificate, and a company that contracts electrical work needs an electrical contractor license with a designated master or administrator.
Washington does not issue a state HVAC or mechanical trade license. Instead, the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) registers your HVAC business as a specialty contractor, and its Electrical Program licenses the electrical side: a 06A or 06B certificate for each technician who does the electrical work and an electrical contractor license for the company that contracts it. Mechanical permits come from your city or county, and a few cities add trade licenses of their own.
At a glance
- Company registration: L&I HVAC/R specialty, $15,000 bond, $150.20 fee, no exam
- Technician: 06A certificate after 4,000 supervised hours and 48 classroom hours
- Exam: given by PSI, open book, 70 percent on each section; L&I 06A application $114.60
- Company electrical license: $4,000 bond and a designated master or administrator
- Refrigerant: federal EPA Section 608 certification, which does not expire
For the rules every Washington contractor follows, start with the Washington contractor license requirements, and for other states see how to get a contractor license in each state.
What Washington Licenses for HVAC, and What It Leaves Out
L&I lists the trades that carry education, examination and licensing requirements on top of contractor registration: plumbing, electrical, elevators, mobile home installation, boilers and asbestos. HVAC is not on that list. The HVAC/R registration rule says the work "may also require electrical licensing" under Chapter 19.28 RCW or plumber certification under Chapter 18.106 RCW, and that is where the state's exams for HVAC work live.
| Credential | Issued by | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC/R specialty registration | L&I Contractor Registration | Every HVAC business that bids or builds |
| 06A or 06B specialty electrician certificate | L&I Electrical Program | Each person doing HVAC electrical work |
| Electrical training certificate | L&I Electrical Program | Trainees earning 06A or 06B hours |
| Electrical contractor license | L&I Electrical Program | A company that contracts electrical work |
| Mechanical permit | City or county building department | Installs under the mechanical code |
| City trade license | Some cities, such as Seattle and Spokane | Refrigeration or gas work in those cities |
| EPA Section 608 certification | EPA approved certifying organizations | Technicians who service refrigerant equipment |
Notes
- No state mechanical exam: duct work, gas piping and air balancing sit inside the HVAC/R registration specialty (WAC 296-200A-016).
- Electrical is statewide only: cities and counties may not require their own electrical contractor licenses or bonds (RCW 19.28.041).
- Mechanical code is enforced locally: the state building code includes the International Mechanical Code (RCW 19.27.031), and counties and cities enforce it (RCW 19.27.050).
Registering an HVAC Company With L&I
Every Washington construction contractor registers with L&I and carries a bond and liability insurance. Registration has no trade exam and no experience requirement. L&I regulates 63 specialties, and HVAC is one of them.
The rule defines the HVAC/R specialty as fabricating, installing, servicing and maintaining equipment that heats and cools indoor air, from duct work and controls to gas piping and air balancing. Commercial and industrial refrigeration and boiler work are separate specialties, so match the specialty to the work you sell.
A specialty contractor works only in its registered specialty, and under RCW 18.27.010 it may subcontract only work that is incidental to that specialty. A company that runs more than one building trade on a job meets the general contractor definition and needs the $30,000 general bond instead.
| Requirement | What L&I requires | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Surety bond | $15,000, or an assigned savings account | RCW 18.27.040 |
| Liability insurance, split limits | $200,000 public liability, $50,000 property damage | L&I registration page |
| Liability insurance, combined | $250,000 combined single limit | L&I registration page |
| Application | Form F625-001-000, notarized original signatures | L&I registration page |
| Fee | $150.20; registration valid two years | WAC 296-200A-900 |
| Reinstatement after a suspension | $70.90 | WAC 296-200A-900 |
| Processing by mail | 3 to 4 weeks; card in about 2 weeks | L&I registration page |
Notes
- Bond history: the specialty bond rose from $6,000 to $15,000 on July 1, 2024 (L&I bond FAQ).
- Exact name: bond and insurance must carry your exact business name, with L&I listed as a certificate holder on the liability policy; a lapse in either suspends the registration (RCW 18.27.040, RCW 18.27.050).
- Advertising: your registration number must appear on ads, bids and estimates, and a violation can bring a penalty of up to $10,000 unless it was an inadvertent error (RCW 18.27.100).
- Disclosure statement: required before work on residential jobs of $1,000 or more and commercial jobs of $1,000 or more but under $60,000 (RCW 18.27.114).
The Electrical Side: 06A and 06B Certificates
RCW 19.28.161 bars anyone from the electrical construction trade without an L&I certificate, and the control and line voltage connections on an HVAC install are electrical work. L&I issues two HVAC specialties: 06A and the restricted 06B.
| Requirement | 06A HVAC/R | 06B HVAC/R restricted |
|---|---|---|
| Work hours to certify | 4,000 | 2,000 |
| Hours before the exam | 4,000 | 1,000 |
| Supervision while training | At least 75 percent | 100 percent until the exam |
| Classes | 48 hours basic classroom | 24 hours basic trainee classes |
| Power limit | None on voltage, phase or amperage | 250 volts single phase, 120 amps |
| PSI exam time | 2 hours NEC and theory, 1 hour WA codes | 1 hour for each section |
| PSI exam fee | $65 (3 hours) | $55 (2 hours) |
Notes
- Supervisor and 06B route: 06A trainees work under a specialty electrician certified for that work or a journey level electrician; a 06B candidate tests after 1,000 hours at 100 percent supervision, then works on a nonrenewable 0% supervision modified training certificate, good for up to two years, to finish the 2,000 hours (L&I Electrician page; WAC 296-46B-945).
- Exam rules: open book, 70 percent on each section (WAC 296-46B-960).
- Renewal: every three years, with 24 hours of continuing education including 8 on code changes and 4 on Chapter 19.28 RCW and its rules (WAC 296-46B-970).
What a 06A Technician Can and Cannot Wire
Under WAC 296-46B-920, a 06A electrician may install and repair Class 2 control wiring and line voltage components within the HVAC/R equipment, and may repair, replace or maintain the internal parts of the equipment's disconnect or controller and flexible supply whips up to six feet. It may not install disconnect switches or controllers outside the equipment, panelboards, or service, feeder and branch circuit conductors (with a narrow exception for a supplementary overcurrent device within sight of the unit).
So the new circuit and disconnect for a heat pump belong to a general (01) electrician, or a residential (02) electrician on a home. One exception helps on change outs: when equipment is replaced, a 06A may swap a disconnect mounted on the equipment for a like in kind one rated up to 20 amps and 120 volts, using the existing wiring.
Trainees and Supervision
Anyone earning 06A or 06B hours needs an electrical training certificate and works under a certified electrician on the same jobsite. Training certificates renew every two years with 48 hours of approved classes. On specialty work, each certified electrician may supervise no more than two trainees, and the electrical contractor must verify and attest the hours its trainees work (RCW 19.28.161).
The Company's Electrical Contractor License
The company that advertises, bids or performs electrical work needs its own electrical contractor license, either general (01) or a specialty such as 06A (RCW 19.28.041). L&I lists a UBI number, a $4,000 surety bond or assigned savings account, a workers' compensation account if the business has employees, and a certified, assigned administrator or master electrician (L&I Electrical Contractor page).
The license runs 24 months. Apply on form F500-018-000, and expect L&I to notify you of its action within 8 to 10 weeks.
Who Can Qualify the Electrical Contractor License
RCW 19.28.041 accepts one of three designees: a master journey level electrician, a master specialty electrician in the specialty (a 06A master for an HVAC/R license), or a general or specialty administrator. The 06A master exam requires holding the 06A certificate for two years (RCW 19.28.191). Administrator candidates need no L&I approval to register for the PSI exam.
The designee must be a full time supervisory employee or a member of the firm, and no one may qualify more than one contractor at a time (RCW 19.28.061). If the designee ends the relationship, the designee must tell L&I in writing within 10 days, and the license is void within 90 days unless another master or administrator is qualified. If the designee dies or is incapacitated, the contractor gives that notice and the window is 180 days. The designee answers for code compliance, safety procedures, permits and labels, and corrective notices.
City Licenses and Mechanical Permits
Because counties and cities enforce the mechanical code, your mechanical permit comes from the local building department where the job sits. Some cities also license the people:
- Seattle: a refrigeration and air conditioning contractor license requires a designated employee with a journeyman refrigeration mechanic license (Class A freon type, B ammonia, C all). Both licenses renew every June 30 (Seattle SDCI).
- Spokane: no one may perform work requiring a mechanical permit without a city license; the Gas Heating Mechanic I covers gas work up to 400,000 BTU per hour and the II covers larger work (Spokane Municipal Code 10.29.030).
EPA Section 608 for Refrigerant Work
Technicians who maintain, service, repair or dispose of equipment that could release refrigerants into the atmosphere must hold federal EPA Section 608 certification from an EPA approved certifying organization (EPA). Type I covers small appliances, Type II high and very high pressure appliances, Type III low pressure appliances, and Universal all types. The credentials do not expire; see EPA 608 certification vs. an HVAC license for how they stack with state credentials.
L&I Fees in Effect Since July 1, 2026
L&I raised its contractor registration, electrical and plumbing fees by 6.51 percent on July 1, 2026 (WSR 26-10-060). The L&I amounts below come from the amended rules, so they already include that increase.
| Fee | Amount | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Contractor registration, two years | $150.20 | WAC 296-200A-900 |
| Electrical contractor license, 24 months | $353.90 ($306.20 online renewal) | WAC 296-46B-909 |
| 06A or 06B certificate application | $114.60 ($44.20 nonrefundable) | WAC 296-46B-909 |
| 06B exam application and 0% supervision certificate | $102.20 | WAC 296-46B-909 |
| Electrical training certificate | $56.00 ($48.10 online) | WAC 296-46B-909 |
| Specialty certificate renewal, three years | $106.40 ($92.60 online) | WAC 296-46B-909 |
| Administrator original certificate | $160.00 | WAC 296-46B-909 |
| Assign or unassign a master or administrator | $53.00 | WAC 296-46B-909 |
| PSI 06A electrician exam, 3 hours | $65 | PSI candidate bulletin |
The Licensing Steps in Order
- Set up the business. LLCs and corporations file with the Secretary of State; every business gets a UBI number from the Department of Revenue.
- Buy the bond and insurance. A $15,000 specialty bond (or assigned savings) and a liability policy naming L&I as certificate holder, both in your exact business name.
- Register as an HVAC/R specialty contractor. File form F625-001-000 with notarized signatures and the $150.20 fee, by mail or at an L&I office.
- Choose who qualifies the electrical side. A master electrician, a 06A master specialty electrician, or an administrator who works for the company full time.
- Pass the administrator exam if that is your route. Register with PSI, then apply for the certificate within 90 days of the last passing score.
- Apply for the electrical contractor license. File form F500-018-000 with the $4,000 bond, the $353.90 fee and your designee's assignment.
- Put trainees on training certificates. Track and attest their hours.
- Certify your technicians. At 4,000 hours and 48 classroom hours, a trainee files form F626-001-000 with $114.60, then schedules the PSI exam once L&I approves.
- Cover refrigerant and the city. EPA Section 608 for refrigerant work, local mechanical permits, and city licenses where required.
- Keep everything current. Registration renews every two years, the electrical contractor license every 24 months, and each electrician certificate every three years.
Where a Qualifying Agent Fits
The HVAC/R registration has no qualifying person; the bond, insurance and fee are enough. The electrical contractor license is different: it rests on one named master or administrator who works for the company full time, and it is void within 90 days of losing that person unless another is qualified.
If you own the company but hold no master or administrator certificate, or you are bringing an HVAC company into Washington from another state, the statute leaves two routes. You can earn an administrator certificate yourself, or you can employ a certified master or administrator full time, as a W-2 employee, not a 1099 contractor, who supervises the electrical work and carries the statutory duties. That second person is a qualifying agent, and our founders, Marshall Schofield and Jeremiah Jaskulski, built The Licensing Company around placing them the lawful way in Washington and beyond.
Learn what a qualifying agent is, see how to hire a qualifying agent, or read about the HVAC qualifying agent path.
Costs to Budget For
Bond premiums and underwriting requirements vary by bonding company, as L&I notes, and L&I points registrants to a licensed insurance agent for the liability policy. We do not publish a single price for placing a qualifying agent, because it depends on your trade mix, the states involved and your volume. For other states, see contractor bond requirements by state and contractor insurance requirements by state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Washington have a state HVAC license?
Not a standalone one. The company registers with L&I as an HVAC/R specialty contractor, technicians carry 06A or 06B certificates for the electrical work, and the company holds an electrical contractor license if it contracts that work.
Is there an exam to register an HVAC contractor in Washington?
No. Registration takes a bond, insurance, a notarized application and the $150.20 fee. The exams sit on the electrical side: the 06A or 06B certificate and the master or administrator exam.
How much does HVAC contractor registration cost in Washington?
The L&I fee is $150.20 for two years, the amount in effect since the July 1, 2026 fee update, plus your premiums on the $15,000 bond and liability insurance. The electrical side adds its own fees, starting with $353.90 for the electrical contractor license.
What insurance does a Washington HVAC or mechanical contractor need?
Registration requires $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or a $250,000 combined single limit, with L&I listed as certificate holder. A lapse suspends the registration automatically.
Do heat pump installs require an electrician?
The electrical connections do. A 06A technician can wire the controls and the components inside the heat pump, but a new branch circuit and a disconnect outside the unit fall to a general (01) electrician, or a residential (02) electrician on a home, under WAC 296-46B-920.
Does my HVAC company need an electrical contractor license?
If it advertises, bids or performs electrical work, yes: RCW 19.28.041 makes that unlawful without one. It needs a $4,000 bond and a full time master or administrator designee.
What happens if our master electrician or administrator leaves?
The departing designee must notify L&I in writing within 10 days, and the license is void within 90 days unless another master or administrator is qualified. If the designee dies or is incapacitated, the company notifies L&I within 10 days and the window is 180 days.
Does Seattle require a separate HVAC license?
For refrigeration and air conditioning work, yes: a city contractor license backed by a designated journeyman refrigeration mechanic, both renewed every June 30, on top of your state credentials. Mechanics qualify with three years of experience or a set mix of trade school and experience, and need a 70 percent exam score.
Related Washington and HVAC Guides
- Washington General Contractor License
- Washington Electrician License
- Washington Electrical Contractor License
- Washington Plumbing License
- Washington Plumbing Contractor License
- HVAC Contractor License, National Guide
- HVAC Licensing in Colorado
- Become a Qualifying Agent
Talk to Our Team
Washington splits HVAC between a registration with no exam and an electrical license that stands on one certified person. To talk through your structure, call The Licensing Company at 615-219-2110 or start at hire a qualifying agent.
Fees, bond amounts and insurance minimums are set by L&I and the legislature and can change. The figures on this page were checked against L&I, the statutes and the rules on September 28, 2026.
Sources
- Washington L&I, Register as a Contractor, retrieved 2026-09-28
- L&I, 2024 Contractor Bond Questions and Answers, retrieved 2026-09-28
- WAC 296-200A-016, Specialty Contractor Classifications, retrieved 2026-09-28
- WAC 296-200A-900, Contractor Registration Fees, retrieved 2026-09-28
- WSR 26-10-060, L&I Fee Rule Effective July 1, 2026, retrieved 2026-09-28
- RCW 18.27.010, Contractor Definitions, retrieved 2026-09-28
- RCW 18.27.040, Contractor Registration Bond, retrieved 2026-09-28
- RCW 18.27.050, Contractor Insurance, retrieved 2026-09-28
- RCW 18.27.100, Contractor Advertising, retrieved 2026-09-28
- RCW 18.27.114, Disclosure Statement, retrieved 2026-09-28
- Washington L&I, Electrician Certification, retrieved 2026-09-28
- L&I Application for Electrical Examination, form F626-001-000 (09-2026), retrieved 2026-09-28
- Washington L&I, Electrical Contractor, retrieved 2026-09-28
- Washington L&I, Electrical Exam Information, retrieved 2026-09-28
- PSI Candidate Bulletin, Washington Electrical Exams, retrieved 2026-09-28
- WAC 296-46B-909, Electrical Fees, retrieved 2026-09-28
- WAC 296-46B-920, Electrical Certificate Types and Scope, retrieved 2026-09-28
- WAC 296-46B-945, Electrician Examination Eligibility, retrieved 2026-09-28
- L&I Form F500-097-000, 06B Exam and 0% Supervision Certificate (09-2026), retrieved 2026-09-28
- L&I Form F500-098-000, 2,000 Hour Specialty Certificate (09-2026), retrieved 2026-09-28
- WAC 296-46B-960, Electrical Examinations, retrieved 2026-09-28
- WAC 296-46B-970, Continuing and Classroom Education, retrieved 2026-09-28
- RCW 19.28.041, Electrical Contractor License, retrieved 2026-09-28
- RCW 19.28.061, Master Electrician or Administrator Designee, retrieved 2026-09-28
- RCW 19.28.161, Electrical Certification and Trainees, retrieved 2026-09-28
- RCW 19.28.191, Electrician Examination Eligibility, retrieved 2026-09-28
- RCW 19.27.031, State Building Code, retrieved 2026-09-28
- RCW 19.27.050, Enforcement by Counties and Cities, retrieved 2026-09-28
- Seattle SDCI, Refrigeration Licensing, retrieved 2026-09-28
- Spokane Municipal Code 10.29.030, Heating Mechanics License, retrieved 2026-09-28
- EPA, Section 608 Technician Certification Requirements, retrieved 2026-09-28
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.