Maryland experiences a wide range of temperatures with winter nights dropping down into the high 20s and summer days reaching into the low 90s. Due to the state’s ability to have both brisk winter conditions along with scorching summers, professionals with a Maryland HVAC license remain busy throughout all times of the year.
Maryland HVAC License Options
Maryland HVAC Apprentice License
Prior to obtaining a HVAC-R journeyman license, HVAC professionals must obtain a HVAC-R apprentice license. The fee for this license is $10 and the license must be renewed every two years. HVAC apprentices must complete at least 1,875 training hours within their apprenticeship program before they are able to obtain journeyman licensure.
Maryland Journeyman HVAC License
The journeyman license comes in two forms- full unrestricted and restricted. The full unrestricted license allows HVAC professionals to perform work on all systems whereas the restricted license limits HVAC professionals to working only on forced air or hydronic systems. The license fee for the journeyman license is $20 and it must be renewed every 2 years.
Maryland HVAC Contractor and Master License
For those who wish to further their HVAC professional status and become either a contractor or master level HVAC professional must obtain required licensure as well as carry both liability insurance coverage of $300,000 as well as property damage insurance of $100,000. HVAC professionals who are not yet at the master level but are journeymen who want to obtain a contractor’s license may do so through acquiring a limited license which restricts them to performing jobs on specific types of systems. Professionals who obtain a master license are able to complete work on all HVAC systems which includes their installation. The license options available for HVAC professional working at the master level include Limited, Master Restricted and Master. Each license has a fee of $75 and must be renewed every two years. HVAC professionals who have obtained equivalent licensure in the states of Virginia and Delaware are recognized by the state’s reciprocity agreement.
Maryland HVAC Education
Maryland has several programs which offer HVAC education including All-State Career School, Lincoln College of Technology, Montgomery College, North American Trade Schools and TESST College of Technology.
Maryland HVAC Exam Overview
The general HVAC exam is 4 hours long and contains 100 multiple choice questions. A minimum score of 70% is required to pass and the fee is $55. HVAC contractors must take either the limited, master restricted, or master exam. The limited and master restricted licenses each have a fee of $44 and the master license test has a fee of $132. HVAC contractors must also pass the business and law exam in addition to their specialty exam. This exam is 2 hours long and has 50 multiple choice questions. A minimum score of 70% is required to pass.
Maryland EPA Section 608 Certification
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires all HVAC technicians that work with refrigerants to be certified. In order to obtain EPA certification, HVAC technicians must take an exam which has 80 multiple choice questions that must be completed within 3 hours. A score of 70% is required to pass the exam and the exam fee is $120.
The three different EPA certification types that HVAC technicians can acquire are Type I, II and III. Type I limits HVAC technicians to working on appliances which contain no more than five pounds of refrigerant. Type II permits HVAC technicians to perform work on high pressure appliances. Type III limits HVAC technicians to working on low-pressure appliances. This certification is transferable among all states and does not expire.
Maryland HVAC Salary
HVAC professionals in the state of Maryland earn on average over $54,000 per year with top performers earning over $62,000 annually. Cities which pay some of the highest rates for HVAC professionals include Baltimore, Towson, Cumberland, Washington, Arlington and Alexandria with the most skilled HVAC professionals earning over $78,000 annually.