Virginia HVAC License Requirements
Yes. Virginia licenses HVAC technicians through the Virginia Board for Contractors, Tradesmen Program (DPOR). It issues apprentice, journeyman, master and contractor credentials. Anyone who handles refrigerant also needs federal EPA 608 certification.
State HVAC license · By BrazeJobs Team · Updated
License tiers
| Apprentice | Registered via VA apprenticeship |
| Journeyman | Journeyman HVAC (plus Residential HVAC tradesman) |
| Master | Master HVAC (1 year as journeyman) |
| Contractor | Class A/B/C contractor with HVA specialty (needs master) |
Requirements
| Journeyman experience | 4 years (or 5, 6, 10-year routes) |
| Classroom hours | 240 (or 160/80 with more years) |
| Exam | PSI tradesman exam |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Fees | Original tradesman license $160 |
| Renewal | 2 years |
| Continuing education | 3 hours |
| Local license | No (state license covers) |
| Board | Virginia Board for Contractors, Tradesmen Program (DPOR) |
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 DPOR Board for Contractors) |
Board for Contractors tradesman exams (electrician, plumber, HVAC) via PSI; regulations effective July 1, 2026.
- Source: dpor.virginia.gov · checked November 6, 2026
Licensed in another state or the military
| Military experience credit | Yes: honorably discharged veterans may apply equivalent military training, education or experience (Va. Code 54.1-118) |
| Military spouses | SCRA license transfer for duration of orders; expedited processing; 12-month temporary license (Va. Code 54.1-119) |
Service branches reimburse spouses up to $1,000 for license transfer costs; VA reimburses exam fees.
- Source: dpor.virginia.gov · checked November 6, 2026
Apprenticeship
| Registering agency | State Apprenticeship Agency (Virginia Works) |
- Source: apprenticeship.gov · checked November 6, 2026
- Source: virginiaworks.gov · checked November 6, 2026
Mechanical code
| Code in force | 2021 IMC with state amendments |
2021 Uniform Statewide Building Code effective Jan 18, 2024 (2021 I-codes, 2020 NEC, Virginia amendments); mandatory statewide.
- Source: dhcd.virginia.gov · checked November 5, 2026