Generally, one works for a Contractor as a registered Apprentice to gain verifiable experience requirements to become a journeyman, who also works for a contractor, to earn verifiable experience requirements to become a contractor.
All mechanical contractors must be a permanent employee, owner, partner or officer in the mechanical firm. The following are the license categories for mechanical contracting which is the highest ranking mechanical license.
An HVAC/R Unlimited Contractor license entitles the licensee to install, alter, modify, service, maintain, or repair:
(A) any cooling product, system, or equipment, including the process piping, and/or
(B) heating equipment, including the process piping, and/or
(C) sheet metal, natural gas piping and refrigeration.
An HVAC/R Limited Contractor license entitles the licensee to install, alter, modify, service, maintain, or repair:
(A) any cooling product, system, or equipment including the process piping, that has a cooling capacity of no more than twenty-five (25) tons; and/or
(B) all heating equipment including the process piping that have a heat input of no more than 500,000 Btu/h per appliance; and/or
(C) sheet metal, natural gas piping and refrigeration.
A Refrigeration Contractor license entitles the licensee to install, alter, modify, service, maintain, or repair refrigeration products, systems, or equipment, including the process piping.
A Natural Gas Piping Contractor license entitles the licensee to install, alter, modify, service, maintain, or repair all natural gas piping (from the point of delivery to the connections with the appliances).
A Process Piping Contractor license entitles the licensee to install, alter, modify, service, maintain, or repair all process piping.
A Sheet Metal Contractor license entitles the licensee to install, alter, modify, service, maintain, or repair all ferrous and nonferrous duct and exhaust systems.
A Ground Source Piping Contractor license entitles the licensee to install, alter, modify, service, maintain, or repair all piping buried below the earth’s surface or submerged in a water well, lake or pond and used in conjunction with a heat pump to provide heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning to a structure. Proof of certification in the proper installation of ground source piping by an organization approved by the Committee is required. No exam required.
Once a contractor please see the contractor requirements to keep an active license concerning bond and insurance, apprentices and the display of licenses.
For complete information on licensing requirements see the Rules and Laws for Mechanical Regulations.