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Pennsylvania HVAC License Requirements

No. Pennsylvania has no statewide HVAC license; cities and counties license HVAC work. Anyone who handles refrigerant also needs federal EPA 608 certification.

Local only · By BrazeJobs Team · Updated

Requirements

FeesHome improvement contractor registration (AG)
Local licenseVaries by city

Local licenses in Pennsylvania

  • Philadelphia

    City

    Sheet metal technician and apprentice licenses; contractor license

    Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections

    • Source: phila.gov · checked November 5, 2026

Federal: EPA 608 certification

RuleFederal 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.

  • Source: epa.gov page 1, page 2 · checked November 5, 2026
  • Source: ecfr.gov · checked November 5, 2026

Apprenticeship

Registering agencyState Apprenticeship Agency (Pennsylvania L&I Apprenticeship and Training Office)

Mechanical code

Code in force2021 IMC

UCC triennial update (2021 I-Codes) effective Jan 1, 2026. 2021 accessibility updates were enjoined by court order; 2018 accessibility standards apply. IMC adopted without modification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Official sources

Rules change. Confirm with your city or county licensing office before you start work.