Mandatory Individual Licenses (Technician Level)

HVAC technicians and specialty contractors are required to be licensed as specialty electricians because of the significant electrical components in HVAC systems.

• Electrical Trainee Certificate:
  
  • Requirements: Must be at least 16 years old, have a valid Social Security Number, and be working under the direct supervision of a certified journey-level electrician or a specialty electrician in the same specialty.
  • Education: Must complete 24 hours of approved electrical basic trainee classes annually to renew.
  • Fee: Varies, apply online.
  • Renewal: Yearly.
• Specialty Electrician HVAC/Refrigeration (06A) License: This is a journeyman-level license for HVAC work, with no voltage or phase limits.
  
  • Experience: At least 4,000 hours of work experience in HVAC/R as an electrical trainee under the supervision of a certified electrician.
  • Education: 48 hours of basic classroom instruction.
  • Examination: Pass the 06A HVAC-R Restricted NEC and Theory Exam, and the 06A HVAC-R WA Laws and Rules Exam. Both require a 70% passing score.
  • Fee: Exam fees: $45 for NEC/Theory, $45 for WA Laws/Rules (or $55 for both portions taken together).
  • Renewal: Every two years, with proof of 24 hours of continuing education (including 8 hours on code changes).
• Specialty Electrician HVAC/Refrigeration - Restricted (06B) License: This is a more limited specialty license.
  
  • Experience: At least 2,000 hours of work experience in HVAC/R as an electrical trainee under the supervision of an electrician certified in the same specialty. Trainees must be supervised 100% of the time.
  • Education: 24 hours of basic classroom instruction.
  • Examination: Pass the 06B HVAC-R Restricted NEC and Theory Exam, and the 06B HVAC-R WA Laws and Rules Exam. Both require a 70% passing score.
  • Fee: Exam fees: $45 for NEC/Theory, $45 for WA Laws/Rules (or $55 for both portions taken together).
  • Renewal: Every two years, with proof of 24 hours of continuing education (including 8 hours on code changes).
• EPA Section 608 Certification: Federally required for any individual who performs refrigerant line-pressure tests or handles/adds refrigerants to existing air-conditioning or refrigeration systems. 
  
  • Types: Type I (small appliances), Type II (high-pressure units), Type III (low-pressure appliances), or Universal.
  • Exam Fee: Varies by provider, typically $20-$150.
• Journeyman Electrician (EL01): While not specific to HVAC, a general journeyman electrician license covers all specialty electrical categories, including HVAC/R.
  
  • Experience: 8,000 hours as an electrical trainee under supervision (at least 4,000 in commercial/industrial). Beginning July 1, 2023, requires completion of a recognized electrical apprenticeship program.
  • Education: 96 hours of basic classroom instruction.
  • Examination: Pass the General NEC and Theory Exam, and the General WA Laws and Rules Exam.
  • Fee: Exam fees: $65 for NEC/Theory, $45 for WA Laws/Rules (or $75 for both portions taken together).
  • Renewal: Every two years, with continuing education.

Mandatory Business Licenses (Contractor Level)

If you plan to operate your own HVAC contracting business, you must register as a contractor with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.

• Contractor Registration (Specialty Contractor):
  
  • Business Structure: Choose your business structure (sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, corporation) and register it with the Washington Secretary of State if applicable (corporations/LLCs will get a Unified Business Identifier - UBI number). Sole proprietors and partnerships will get a UBI through the L&I registration process.
  • Surety Bond:
    
    • Specialty Contractors: Required to have a $6,000 surety bond. (Note: This increases to $15,000 on July 1, 2024).
    • Alternatively, you can set up a dedicated assigned savings account at a Washington bank instead of purchasing a bond.
  • Insurance:
    
    • General Liability Insurance: Minimum coverage of $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, OR a $250,000 combined single limit. 
    • Workers' Compensation Insurance: Mandatory if you have employees. You must have an industrial insurance account number.
  • Application: Complete and submit the "Application for Contractor Registration."
  • Age: The applicant must be 18 years or older to register as a construction contractor.
  • Fee: $132.60 application fee.
  • Renewal: Every two years.
• Local City Licenses: Many cities and counties in Washington, including Seattle, Spokane, Kennewick, Pullman, and Yakima, require additional local licenses for HVAC and refrigeration professionals. These often include their own specific exams and requirements for gas installation, heating journeyman, or refrigeration mechanic licenses. It is critical to check with the specific municipality where you plan to work.
  
  • Example (Seattle): Requires a "Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractor" license, which mandates that the contractor either holds a Master Refrigeration Mechanic license or employs at least one Master Refrigeration Mechanic. Seattle also has separate gas piping licenses.
  • Example (Kennewick): Requires a "Gas Installation License" with a written test.
• Federal Tax ID (EIN) Number: Required for almost all types of businesses.

State Tax ID Number: Issued by the Washington State Department of Revenue.

How to Get an HVAC Contractor License in Washington

1. Obtain Electrical Trainee Certificate: Start by registering as an electrical trainee and begin accumulating supervised work hours under a certified electrician. Fulfill the annual continuing education requirements for the trainee certificate.
2. Gain Experience and Education: Work the required hours (e.g., 4,000 for 06A, 2,000 for 06B) and complete the necessary classroom instruction for your chosen Specialty Electrician HVAC/R license.
3. Obtain EPA Section 608 Certification: Pass the federal EPA exam.
4. Apply for Specialty Electrician HVAC/R License:
   
   • Submit your application to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.
   • Provide documentation of your work experience and education.
   • Pay the application and exam fees.
5. Schedule and Pass Electrical Exams: Once approved, schedule and pass both the NEC/Theory and Washington Laws & Rules exams for your chosen Specialty Electrician HVAC/R license (06A or 06B).
6. Register Your Business (if applicable):
   
   • Choose your business structure (e.g., LLC, Corporation, Sole Proprietorship).
   • Register your business name with the Washington Secretary of State if required.
7. Secure Bond and Insurance: Obtain the required specialty contractor surety bond ($6,000, increasing to $15,000 on July 1, 2024) or set up an assigned savings account. Acquire general liability and workers' compensation insurance.
8. Apply for Contractor Registration:
   
   • Complete the "Application for Contractor Registration" form.
   • Submit proof of your bond, insurance, and business registration.
   • Pay the application fee ($132.60).
9. Obtain Local City Licenses (Crucial Step): Research and fulfill the specific HVAC, refrigeration, and/or gas-fitting licensing requirements for each city or county where you plan to operate. This often involves additional applications and exams.
10. Receive Licenses/Registrations: Upon successful completion of all state and local requirements, you will receive your Specialty Electrician license, Contractor Registration, and any necessary local city licenses.

Additional Considerations

• Fragmented Licensing: Washington's system is highly fragmented. You need both state-level electrical specialty licenses for the individual performing the work AND a state-level contractor registration for the business, AND often various city-specific licenses/certifications for gas and mechanical work.
• Continuing Education: All electrical licenses (trainee, specialty, journeyman, master) require ongoing continuing education hours for renewal.
• Reciprocity: Washington has limited reciprocity for electricians with some states (e.g., Oregon, Idaho) for certain license types, but it's not universal for HVAC-specific electrical specialties. There is generally no reciprocity for the contractor registration or local city-specific HVAC/gas licenses.
• Bond Increases: Be aware of the significant increase in surety bond requirements for contractors taking effect on July 1, 2024.
• Permits: Even with all licenses, you will need to pull permits from local building departments for most HVAC installations and major repair projects.

This information has been referenced from the following sites 1