Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic License in Illinois
Experience hours, license tiers and the state exam — plus a progress tracker that estimates your time to licensure.
Requirements as of June 28, 2026 — official requirements vary by state and locality and change. Always confirm with City of Chicago Department of Buildings — Mechanical (HVAC) Licensing (representative; Illinois has no statewide HVAC license).
Verify with City of Chicago Department of Buildings — Mechanical (HVAC) Licensing (representative; Illinois has no statewide HVAC license)Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic is not licensed at the state level in Illinois.
Licensed locally, not by the state — check your city/municipality. Illinois has no statewide HVAC/refrigeration license through IDFPR, IDPH, or any other state agency. Federal EPA Section 608 certification required for refrigerant-handling work regardless of locality.
Track your hours to licensure
Enter the experience you have logged. Saved on this device only — no account needed.
You appear to qualify at pre-apprentice based on hours logged.
Experience hours remaining
0
- Percent complete
- 0%
- Hours logged
- 0
- Estimated eligibility
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License readiness
- Experience hours met
- Eligible to sit the
Keep logging experience hours. When the hours are met, you can apply to sit the .
Next step at City of Chicago Department of Buildings — Mechanical (HVAC) Licensing (representative; Illinois has no statewide HVAC license)Track your certifications on your Tradesppl profile
This tracker saves to this device only. With a free account, your certifications live on your profile and show up when you apply to jobs.
Frequently asked questions
How do you become a licensed refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic in Illinois?+
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic is not licensed at the state level in Illinois; licensing is typically handled locally. Confirm requirements with your city or county building department.
Does Illinois license refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics at the state level?+
No. Illinois does not issue a state refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic license — it is handled locally. Check with your city or county.
How many hours do you need to become a Red Seal tradesperson?+
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.
What is a Red Seal endorsement?+
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.
Do apprenticeship requirements change?+
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.
Does the tracker need an account?+
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.
Methodology & sources
Figures for the refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic license in Illinois were verified against City of Chicago Department of Buildings — Mechanical (HVAC) Licensing (representative; Illinois has no statewide HVAC license) on June 28, 2026 (City of Chicago Department of Buildings — Mechanical (HVAC) Work (representative municipal authority; Illinois issues no statewide HVAC license)). Licensing is set by the state board and may differ by city or county.
Requirements vary by state and locality and route and change over time. Confirm the current hours, levels and exam eligibility with City of Chicago Department of Buildings — Mechanical (HVAC) Licensing (representative; Illinois has no statewide HVAC license) before relying on them.
- Provincial/territorial apprenticeship authorities and the Interprovincial Red Seal Program (Canada); state licensing boards (United States) — verified June 28, 2026
- City of Chicago Department of Buildings — Mechanical (HVAC) Licensing (representative; Illinois has no statewide HVAC license) — verified June 28, 2026
Last reviewed June 28, 2026. Estimates are indicative — verify against current product specs and local requirements before ordering.
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