Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic License in California

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic is not licensed at the state level in California; licensing is typically handled locally. Confirm requirements with your city or county building department.

Yes. California licenses refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics through California Contractors State License Board (CSLB), with tiers such as C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Contractor License (CSLB).

It varies by trade and province. Most Red Seal apprenticeships run about 6,000–9,000 on-the-job hours over roughly four to five years, plus three to four levels of in-school technical training, then the Interprovincial Red Seal exam. Always confirm the current hours with your provincial apprenticeship authority.

The Red Seal is the national standard for skilled trades in Canada. Passing the Interprovincial Red Seal exam in a designated trade adds a Red Seal endorsement to your provincial certificate, letting you work in that trade across participating provinces and territories without re-certifying.

Yes. Required hours, technical-training levels and exam rules are set by each provincial authority and are updated periodically. The figures here were verified on their effective date, but you must confirm the current requirements with the official authority linked on every page before relying on them.

No. Your logged hours, completed levels and weekly average are saved in your browser on this device only — there is no sign-up and nothing is sent to a server.