HVAC Contractor License New Hampshire

To get a HVAC contractor license in New Hampshire, you don’t obtain a standalone “HVAC” card. Instead, contractors secure the correct NH Fuel Gas Fitter license (piping, installation, service, or hearth) and a Mechanical Business Entity license, then meet fees, hours, exam, insurance, and renewal/CE rules.

Requirements last verified: 2026-10-16

Requirement	Details
Licensing agency	NH Mechanical Licensing Board at the Office of Professional Licensure & Certification (OPLC). Rules Mec 100/300/400 govern mechanical licensing. Mec 100, Mec 300, Mec 400.
What license type do HVAC contractors need?	Appropriate Fuel Gas Fitter endorsement (Fuel Gas Piping Installer, Fuel Gas Installation Technician, Fuel Gas Service Technician, or Hearth System Installation & Service Technician) and, if operating a company, a Mechanical Business Entity license. Mec 305.02–305.05; RSA 153:29‑a.
Fees (2‑year term)	Fuel Gas Trainee $88; Fuel Gas service/installation/piping $198; Hearth $198; Domestic appliance $176; Mechanical Business Entity $275. Plc 1002.25 Table 1002.25.
Experience hours	• Piping Installer: 1,000 hours (within 60 months; up to 500 hours may be relevant oil heat) — NH plumbers may qualify with education only. Mec 305.02(b)–(c). • Installation Tech: 1,000 hours. Mec 305.03(b)(2). • Service Tech: 2,000 hours (within 60 months; up to 750 oil hours). Mec 305.04(b)(2).
Education	Piping 60 hours; Installation 100 hours; Service 140 hours (topic lists in rules). Mec 305.02(b)(1), 305.03(b)(1), 305.04(b)(1).
Exam	Proof of successful completion of the licensing exam given at the end of approved coursework (submit with application). Mec 304.04(e)(3).
Minimum age	18 for individual mechanical licenses; 16 for trainee/apprentice. Mec 302.02.
Business entity license	Mandatory for companies performing fuel gas fitting/plumbing; must register with NH SOS and designate a responsible managing employee holding an appropriate NH mechanical license. Mec 302.05–302.06; RSA 153:29‑a.
Insurance/Bond	Proof of liability insurance is required to issue/renew a Mechanical Business Entity license (statute requires proof; no dollar minimum is set in the statute text). RSA 153:29‑a; renewal checklist in Mec 406.03(6).
Renewal cycle & CE	Licenses are 2‑year terms. Individuals must complete at least 6 CE hours per endorsement each cycle; trainees/apprentices show continued enrollment. Mec 302.03; Mec 404.01, 403.02. Mechanical business entity licenses expire biennially on the last day of January. Mec 406.01.

How to get a HVAC contractor license in New Hampshire

1. Pick your scope of work. Match your services to the correct Fuel Gas Fitter endorsement (piping, installation, service, or hearth) and determine if you also need plumbing. Mec 305.02–305.05.
2. Enroll in approved coursework. Complete the required classroom hours (60/100/140) covering code, safety, and technical topics. Mec 305 subparts.
3. Log supervised experience. Accrue the required on‑the‑job hours within 60 months and document them via sworn affidavits from your licensed sponsor/employer. Mec 305.02(b)(2), 305.03(b)(2), 305.04(b)(2).
4. Pass the course exam. Submit proof of passing the licensing exam administered at the end of your approved program. Mec 304.04(e)(3).
5. Apply to OPLC. File the Initial Application for Licensure and required addenda, with fees per Plc 1002.25. OPLC Universal Initial Application; Plc 1002.25.
6. License your company (if applicable). Obtain the Mechanical Business Entity license, provide proof of SOS good standing, designate a responsible managing licensee, and show liability insurance. RSA 153:29‑a; OPLC Business Entity Application.
7. Pull local permits and comply with code. Only licensed business entities may pull fuel gas/plumbing permits; follow state‑adopted codes. RSA 153:28; Mec 302.06.
8. Renew and maintain CE. Every 2 years, complete 6 hours of CE per endorsement and renew timely; business‑entity licenses renew biennially by January 31. Mec 404.01, 406.01.

New Hampshire HVAC contractor license: what it really means

New Hampshire does not issue a single “HVAC contractor license.” Work touching fuel gas piping, equipment installation, or service is regulated under the Mechanical Licensing Board’s Fuel Gas Fitter endorsements, and businesses must hold the Mechanical Business Entity license. Mec 302.01; RSA 153:29‑a.

Exact fees you’ll pay

Expect $198 per individual fuel‑gas license (service/installation/piping), $176 for domestic appliance, $88 for trainee, and $275 for the Mechanical Business Entity, each on a 2‑year cycle. See OPLC’s master fee rule. Plc 1002.25. For a deeper cost breakdown with budgeting tips, see our analysis of HVAC contractor license cost in New Hampshire.

Required hours, education, and the exam

Endorsements require specific classroom hours and recent (60‑month window) supervised experience: 60/1,000 for piping, 100/1,000 for installation, and 140/2,000 for service. Proof of passing the program’s licensing exam is filed with your application. Mec 305.02–305.04; 304.04(e)(3).

Company licensing, insurance, and permits

Any company performing fuel gas fitting or plumbing must be licensed as a Mechanical Business Entity, maintain proof of liability insurance, and employ a responsible managing individual who holds the appropriate NH mechanical license to qualify for municipal permits. RSA 153:29‑a; Mec 302.05–302.06; Mec 406.03.

Working with refrigerants (EPA 608)

Handling regulated refrigerants requires federal EPA Section 608 certification, which is separate from NH mechanical licensing. You’ll keep this alongside your NH license and your entity credential when you contract for A/C work that involves refrigerant systems.

Renewals and CE

Individual licenses renew every 2 years; complete 6 hours of board‑approved CE per endorsement. Mechanical business entity licenses expire biennially on January 31 and require proof of insurance and good standing. Mec 404.01; 406.01; 406.03.

Exploring other regulated professions in NH? Our step‑by‑step on the New Hampshire Private Investigator License shows how entity rules, insurance, and renewal timing vary across licenses statewide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a state HVAC contractor license in New Hampshire?

No. New Hampshire regulates HVAC gas‑side work through Fuel Gas Fitter endorsements and requires companies to hold a Mechanical Business Entity license. There’s no standalone “HVAC contractor” license. See Mec 302.01 and the business‑entity statute RSA 153:29‑a.

Which endorsement should I get for residential furnace and A/C installs?

Most contractors pair Fuel Gas Installation Technician for new HVAC equipment installs and venting, or Fuel Gas Service Technician for diagnostics/repairs. If you only run gas piping, Piping Installer may suffice. Requirements are listed in Mec 305.02–305.04.

How many hours and classes are required?

Piping: 60 education hours + 1,000 experience hours; Installation: 100 + 1,000; Service: 140 + 2,000. Hours must be within 60 months, with limited oil‑heat credit allowed. Mec 305.02(b)–(c), 305.03(b)(2), 305.04(b)(2).

What are the exact New Hampshire licensing fees?

Fuel Gas Trainee $88; Fuel Gas service/installation/piping $198; Hearth $198; Domestic appliance $176; Mechanical Business Entity $275—each for a 2‑year license term. See Plc 1002.25. Our guide to HVAC contractor licensing costs in NH breaks down typical totals.

Do I need insurance to get licensed?

Yes, at the company level. To issue/renew a Mechanical Business Entity license, the Board requires proof of liability insurance and SOS good standing; the statute doesn’t set a dollar minimum. RSA 153:29‑a; Mec 406.03.

How often do I renew, and what CE is required?

Individual licenses renew every 2 years with 6 CE hours per endorsement; business‑entity licenses expire biennially on January 31. Mec 302.03; Mec 404.01 and Mec 406.01.

Ready to map your path and budget precisely? License Navigator can assemble your exact steps, forms, and fees for New Hampshire so you get licensed once—and right—the first time.