Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic License in North Carolina
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 North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors (SBPHFSC).
Verify with North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors (SBPHFSC)Experience to top license
4,000
hours toward Heating Group No. 3 Contractor (cooling <=15 tons; Group No. 2 for >15 tons)
License tiers
2
apprentice → master
Licensing exam
PSI Services LLC
Heating Group No. 3 (and No. 2) Contractor Examination + Business & Law Examination
State-licensed
Yes
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic in North Carolina — license ladder
US SOC 49-9021 · Exams via PSI Services LLC
| License tier | Experience hours | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Heating Technician (Class I / Class II) | 3,000 | Heating Technician Examination |
| Heating Group No. 3 Contractor (cooling <=15 tons; Group No. 2 for >15 tons) | 4,000 | Heating Group No. 3 (and No. 2) Contractor Examination + Business & Law Examination |
HVAC/refrigeration licensed at state level by the same Plumbing/Heating board. AC/refrigeration/comfort cooling fall under Heating Group classifications: Heating Group No. 3 = forced-air heating/cooling with mechanical refrigeration <=15 tons (typical residential HVAC); No. 2 = >15 tons. Each has Class I (any building) and Class II (single-family). Contractor experience = 2 years (4,000 hours), up to 2,000 hrs academic/technical. Heating Technician (journeyman-style): Class I = 3,000 hrs, Class II = 2,500 hrs. Exams by PSI; Business & Law exam also required.
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
3,000
- Percent complete
- 0%
- Hours logged
- 0
- Estimated eligibility
- December 2027
License readiness
- Experience hours met (3,000 required)
- Eligible to sit the Heating Technician Examination (PSI Services LLC)
Keep logging experience hours. When the hours are met, you can apply to sit the Heating Technician Examination.
Next step at North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors (SBPHFSC)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 North Carolina?+
In North Carolina, becoming a licensed refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic typically requires about 4,000 hours of documented work experience to qualify for the Heating Group No. 3 Contractor (cooling <=15 tons; Group No. 2 for >15 tons) exam (administered via PSI Services LLC). Verified June 28, 2026 with North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors (SBPHFSC) — confirm current requirements there.
Does North Carolina license refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics at the state level?+
Yes. North Carolina licenses refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics through North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors (SBPHFSC), with tiers such as Heating Technician (Class I / Class II), Heating Group No. 3 Contractor (cooling <=15 tons; Group No. 2 for >15 tons).
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 North Carolina were verified against North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors (SBPHFSC) on June 28, 2026 (NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors (SBPHFSC)). 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 North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors (SBPHFSC) before relying on them.
- Provincial/territorial apprenticeship authorities and the Interprovincial Red Seal Program (Canada); state licensing boards (United States) — verified June 28, 2026
- North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors (SBPHFSC) — 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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