HVAC contractor license Rhode Island

Direct answer (47 words): In Rhode Island, “HVAC contractor” licensing is issued through the mechanical trades. To run HVAC jobs you’ll test and license as a Refrigeration Master (and often Pipefitter Master and Sheet Metal Contractor), then license your company. Exact fees, forms, exams, insurance, and renewals are set by RI law and DLT.

Requirements last verified: 2026-10-18

Requirement	Details
Licensing agency	RI Department of Labor & Training (DLT), Division of Professional Regulation – Mechanical Board (DLT Professional Regulation); Business registration/insurance overseen by the Contractors’ Registration & Licensing Board (CRLB) (CRLB Apply).
Core HVAC trade licenses	Refrigeration Master I (RM1); Pipefitter Master I (PM1); Sheet Metal Contractor (for duct/air-moving scope). See scope/mandates in statute (§28-27-5, §28-27-28).
Optional all-in HVAC permit authority	Master Mechanical Contractor (MMC) – requires 10 years as RI Pipefitter Master I and 10 years as RI Refrigeration Master I (§28-27-4.4).
Exams & filing window	$75 test fee per master/contractor exam; applications due ≥15 days before exam date (§28-27-10, §28-27-17; exam info: DLT Exam Info).
Experience	Masters: at least 1 year as a licensed journeyperson before testing (§28-27-10(a)(3)). Journeyperson: completion of a registered RI apprenticeship in the applicable trade (§28-27-18.1).
Minimum age	Apprentices must be at least 18; journeyperson/master levels flow from apprenticeship completion and journeyperson licensure (§28-27-4.3).
License fees (initial/renewal)	Per statute: Master Mechanical Contractor $480/$480; Contractor Master $240/$240; Pipefitter Master I $240/$240; Refrigeration Master I $240/$240; Sheet Metal Contractor $240/$240; test fee $75 each (§28-27-17 (amended 2024)).
Company/Entity license	Corporations/LLCs/partnerships must obtain a Mechanical Corporation/Contractor license; fee equals the applicable master/contractor license fee in §28-27-17 (§28-27-6; form: Mechanical Corporation Application).
Required forms	Mechanical Trade License Application (individual) and Apprentice Completion & Application for Examination (for journeypersons) (DLT Mechanical Applications; direct form: Mechanical Trade App, Apprentice Completion).
Insurance/Bond	All contractors must maintain at least $500,000 liability/property damage insurance and required workers’ comp under the CRLB; licensed trades are exempt from CRLB registration but NOT from §5-65-7 insurance (§5-65-2(10), §5-65-7; see also CRLB FAQs).
Renewal cycle	Licenses renew on the holder’s birthday in odd/even years matching birth year; pay renewal fees listed above (§28-27-17(c)).

How to get a HVAC contractor license in Rhode Island

1. Start as a registered apprentice (age 18+). Enroll in a DLT-registered apprenticeship for Refrigeration and/or Pipefitting until completion (§28-27-4.3, §28-27-18.1).
2. Obtain journeyperson licensure. Use the Apprentice Completion form to sit for the journeyperson exam in your trade and, upon passing, pay the fee (Apprentice Completion, §28-27-11).
3. Qualify and test for Master. After at least one year as a RI journeyperson, file the Mechanical Trade Application and take each master/contractor exam you need (Refrigeration Master I, Pipefitter Master I, Sheet Metal Contractor). Pay the $75 test and applicable license fees (Mechanical Trade App, §28-27-10, §28-27-17).
4. License your business entity. If operating as a corporation/LLC/partnership, apply for the Mechanical Corporation/Contractor license; fees mirror §28-27-17. An appropriately licensed master must supervise work and be an officer or employee as required (Mechanical Corporation Application, §28-27-6).
5. Carry required insurance. Maintain at least $500,000 liability coverage (and workers’ comp, if applicable) for the duration of contracting activity in Rhode Island (§5-65-7).
6. Optional: Pursue Master Mechanical Contractor. Once you hold PM1 and RM1 for 10+ years each, you can qualify as an MMC for broad HVAC permitting authority (§28-27-4.4).
7. Renew on time. Your license(s) renew on your birthday (odd/even year rule) with the same statutory fees listed in §28-27-17 (§28-27-17(c)).

Rhode Island HVAC contractor licensing: what “license” do you actually need?

Rhode Island regulates HVAC through mechanical trade licenses rather than a single “HVAC” credential. Most firms combine Refrigeration Master I (cooling), Pipefitter Master I (heating/boilers/process piping), and, when ductwork is involved, a Sheet Metal Contractor license. A Master Mechanical Contractor credential unifies authority across both pipefitting and refrigeration (§28-27-5, §28-27-28, §28-27-4.4).

Exact Rhode Island HVAC license fees

State law (effective June 25, 2024) sets fees: Master Mechanical Contractor $480; Contractor Master $240; Pipefitter Master I $240; Refrigeration Master I $240; Sheet Metal Contractor $240; exam fee $75 each; renewals match initial fees. Birthdate-based renewal schedule applies (§28-27-17).

Forms and where to file

Use DLT’s current Mechanical Trade Application for individual master exams and licensing, and the Mechanical Corporation Application for entities. Journeypersons testing out of apprenticeship submit the Apprentice Completion & Application for Examination to DLT (DLT Mechanical Applications; direct: Mechanical Trade App, Mechanical Corporation, Apprentice Completion).

Insurance you must carry to contract HVAC work

Regardless of mechanical licensure, contractors working on structures must maintain at least $500,000 liability coverage and required workers’ comp throughout their work in Rhode Island; licensed mechanical trades are exempt from CRLB registration, but not from the insurance mandate (§5-65-2(10), §5-65-7, CRLB FAQs).

Exam timing, study materials, and processing

DLT posts exam dates and recommended study resources for mechanical trades. Applications must arrive at least 15 days before the exam, and a $75 test fee is required (DLT Exam Information, DLT Study Material, §28-27-10).

Plan your licensing budget

Because Rhode Island sets mechanical license fees in statute, you can forecast costs precisely before you scale crews or add trades. For a broader view of how licensing costs vary across industries, see our breakdown of Rhode Island security guard licensing costs, and for market-wide trends in credentials this year, read Navigating HVAC Contractor Licensing in 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a single “HVAC contractor” license in Rhode Island?

No. Rhode Island licenses HVAC work through mechanical trades: Refrigeration, Pipefitting, and Sheet Metal. Many firms hold RM1 and PM1; duct/air-movement requires a Sheet Metal Contractor license. Broad, all-in permitting authority is the Master Mechanical Contractor credential (§28-27-5, §28-27-28, §28-27-4.4).

What experience do I need to test for a master HVAC trade license?

Complete a registered RI apprenticeship, earn journeyperson licensure, then accrue at least one year as a RI journeyperson before applying for the master exam. File at least 15 days pre-exam and pay the $75 test fee (§28-27-18.1, §28-27-10).

How much are Rhode Island HVAC license and renewal fees?

By law: MMC $480; Contractor Master $240; Pipefitter Master I $240; Refrigeration Master I $240; Sheet Metal Contractor $240; exam $75. Renewals equal initial fees; licenses renew on your birthday following the odd/even birth-year rule (§28-27-17).

Do I need to license my HVAC company separately?

Yes, corporations/LLCs/partnerships need a Mechanical Corporation/Contractor license, with a properly licensed master supervising as an officer/employee; the entity license fee matches §28-27-17. Use DLT’s Mechanical Corporation application (§28-27-6, form).

What insurance is required to perform HVAC work?

All contractors working on structures must keep at least $500,000 in liability/property damage coverage and workers’ compensation if applicable. Licensed mechanical trades are exempt from CRLB registration but not from the insurance mandate (§5-65-2(10), §5-65-7).

When should I consider the Master Mechanical Contractor credential?

When you’ve held PM1 and RM1 for 10+ years each and want unified, statewide authority to bid, permit, and supervise comprehensive HVAC scopes under one license. Fees are set in §28-27-17; experience is defined in §28-27-4.4 (definition, fees).

Want a step-by-step checklist and reminders as you apply? License Navigator tracks forms, fees, and renewal dates so you can scale your Rhode Island HVAC business without compliance surprises.