Snowy winters and hot, humid summers mean that Massachusetts HVAC license contractors can earn 22% more than the national average salary for this profession, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Learn what it takes to be an HVAC professional in this state, including:
HVAC contractors in Massachusetts only need a license if their work involves refrigerants. Any technician who performs refrigeration work with a capacity of 10 tons or more must have a Massachusetts refrigeration technician license, according to the state’s Division of Occupational Licensure. This type of work is typically limited to commercial areas and industrial sites.
The Division of Occupational Licensure Boards of Registration oversees the licensing of refrigeration technicians and contractors in Massachusetts.
To begin the licensing process, you must first submit a license application and pay a non-refundable processing fee of $150. Once your application is approved, the next step is to pass a written exam by answering at least 70% of the questions correctly.
You can renew your refrigeration license online through the Office of Public Safety and Inspection (OPSI) Licensing. Refrigeration technicians must renew their licenses every two years.
If you want to become a refrigeration technician in Massachusetts, you’ll need to meet certain criteria.
To start, the basic eligibility criteria require you to be at least 18 years old. Along with your license application, you must provide:
Your application for a refrigeration technician license requires you to submit two types of certifications:
Work experience documentation is crucial. The minimum requirement is 2,000 hours of work experience as a refrigeration apprentice, verified by an employer. However, you may need more hours depending on the amount of educational coursework you’ve completed.
Your education in refrigeration also needs to be documented. Ensure your courses include practical shop-related work, refrigeration theory and code and Massachusetts electrical code training.
The less work experience you’ve acquired, the more education you’ll need to show and vice versa. Applicants must fulfill one of the following requirements for work experience and education:
| If you have this much work experience: | You’ll need this much refrigeration coursework: |
| 2,000 hours | 1,000 hours |
| 4,000 hours | 500 hours |
| 6,000 hours | 250 hours |
You can expect to spend at least three years completing the required hours, work experience and classroom training to get a Massachusetts HVAC license.
After submitting your application for a refrigeration license, you can expect to hear back from the Division of Professional Licensure Boards of Registration within four to eight weeks. You can schedule your exam as soon as you receive approval for your application.
When working as a refrigeration or HVAC technician, the following types of Massachusetts business insurance may help to protect your business.
General liability insurance can help provide coverage in case of an accident, such as damage to someone’s property or a customer injury. Some clients may request proof of liability insurance before hiring you as an HVAC contractor.
If you’re an employer in Massachusetts, you’re required to have workers’ compensation insurance, according to the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. This insurance offers coverage for medical expenses, lost wages and other costs related to on-the-job injuries.
Tools and equipment insurance can help pay for repairs or replacement of your work gear due to damage or theft.
If you or an employee gets into an accident in a work vehicle, commercial auto insurance can help cover related costs, such as property damage and medical expenses.
Massachusetts commercial property insurance can help protect you from damage if vandalism or other incidents involve business property that you own or rent.
Massachusetts does not have reciprocity agreements with other states for refrigeration licenses. Those with a refrigeration technician license from another jurisdiction must provide a copy of their license with their application.
However, they must still fulfill the same work experience and education requirements as all other applicants.
NEXT helps HVAC and refrigeration business owners in Massachusetts get reliable insurance coverage. We specialize in small businesses and help protect you, your team and your work.
Apply online, secure coverage and get your certificate of insurance immediately. We offer competitive pricing to help you save on insurance coverage.
Ashley Henshaw was a contributing writer at NEXT. She specializes in small business topics, covering everything from insurance and branding to web hosting and cryptocurrency.
Her work has appeared in The Huffington Post, AOL City's Best, Citysearch, USA Today, The San Francisco Chronicle and Livestrong.
