Maryland HVAC License Requirements
Yes. Maryland licenses HVAC technicians through the Maryland Board of HVACR Contractors. It issues apprentice, journeyman, master and contractor credentials. A journeyman license takes 6,000 hours of work experience. Anyone who handles refrigerant also needs federal EPA 608 certification.
State HVAC license · By BrazeJobs Team · Updated
License tiers
| Apprentice | Apprentice license |
| Journeyman | Journey (4 years as licensed apprentice, 6,000 hours) |
| Master | Master; Master Restricted (3 years as journeyman + 1,875 hours in prior year) |
| Contractor | Master (contractor); Limited (2 years as journeyman) |
Requirements
| Journeyman experience | 6,000 over 4 years |
| Exam | Exam (70%) |
| Renewal | 2 years |
| Local license | No (state license covers) |
| Board | Maryland Board of HVACR Contractors |
Federal: EPA 608 certification
| Rule | Federal certification required to service or dispose of refrigerant equipment and to buy refrigerant |
Who: anyone who maintains, services, repairs or disposes of equipment that could release refrigerant (attaching gauges, adding or removing refrigerant). Types: Type I (small appliances), Type II (high- and very high-pressure), Type III (low-pressure), Universal (all types). Expiry: credentials do not expire. Buying refrigerant: sellers may sell only to certified technicians or employers of one, with limited exceptions (e.g. small cans of MVAC refrigerant). EPA does not issue cards; approved certifying organizations do. Universal requires a proctored core exam.
Exam
| Exam provider | PSI (for Board of HVACR Contractors) |
| Format | Open book |
| Passing score | 70 points |
| Bulletin date | 2024-09-01 |
Experience before exam: 1,875 hours (or 1,000 for some routes).
Licensed in another state or the military
| Military spouses | Active-duty servicemembers and spouses with Maryland orders may practice on a good-standing out-of-state license for the duration of orders |
Not permanent licensure; separate application for a full Maryland license.
- Source: labor.maryland.gov · checked November 6, 2026
Apprenticeship
| Registering agency | State Apprenticeship Agency (Maryland Labor Office of Apprenticeship) |
- Source: apprenticeship.gov · checked November 6, 2026
- Source: labor.maryland.gov · checked November 6, 2026
Mechanical code
| Code in force | 2021 IMC with state amendments |
HVACR Board: 2021 IMC and 2021 IRC with HVACR amendments; local jurisdictions may adopt their own mechanical code.
- Source: labor.maryland.gov · checked November 5, 2026