Washington HVAC license requirements and insurance
To work for yourself as an HVAC contractor in Washington, you need the Specialty Contractor Registration, HVAC/R classification license. Washington has 4 HVAC license types, and which one you need depends on the work you take on. The state's minimum liability insurance is $200,000 for injury and $50,000 for property damage, and workers' comp is required as soon as you hire one employee. A $15,000 bond is required.
1Who needs a heating and air conditioning license in Washington? What is this?
Specialty Contractor Registration, HVAC/R classification: any business that installs, services, or maintains heating, cooling, ventilation, or refrigeration equipment for customers. A specialty contractor can only work in its own classification and cannot hire subcontractors. If you want to hire subs or do other trades, register as a general contractor instead
| License | Who needs it | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty Contractor Registration, HVAC/R classification | Any business that installs, services, or maintains heating, cooling, ventilation, or refrigeration equipment for customers. A specialty contractor can only work in its own classification and cannot hire subcontractors. If you want to hire subs or do other trades, register as a general contractor instead | Fabricating, installing, servicing, and maintaining heating and cooling equipment, duct work, air filters, water treatment devices, pneumatic controls, control piping, insulation, and gas piping to the equipment. Boilers and steam fitting are a separate classification. Food-storage refrigeration below 50 degrees is a separate classification |
| Electrical contractor license with the HVAC/refrigeration (06A) specialty | The business, if your crews do any electrical work on the equipment, including low-voltage control wiring. Most HVAC installers need this on top of the contractor registration | Installing, repairing, replacing, and maintaining HVAC and refrigeration systems, and their Class 2 low-voltage control wiring |
| Specialty Electrician Certificate, 06A HVAC/refrigeration | Each technician who does the electrical part of HVAC work. A trainee can work under supervision until they pass | Same as the 06A contractor scope above |
| Specialty Electrician Certificate, 06B HVAC/refrigeration restricted | A shorter path for technicians on smaller systems | Same work as 06A but only where the power connection is 250 volts single phase or less and 120 amps or less, in homes and non-residential buildings up to three stories |
| Plumber certificate for hydronic and water-connected work | The HVAC/R classification says the work may also need plumber certification under RCW 18.106. Piping that connects to the building water system, such as hydronic heating or a water-fed humidifier, is plumbing. Check with L&I before you take that work on | — |
2Who issues HVAC contractor licenses in Washington? What is this?
Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Contractor Registration and Electrical Program issues HVAC licenses in Washington.
See how this compares in every state: How to check a contractor's license, state by state
| Name | Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Contractor Registration and Electrical Program |
|---|---|
| Website | lni.wa.gov |
| Look up a license | secure.lni.wa.gov |
| The law | RCW chapter 18.27 (contractor registration) and RCW chapter 19.28 (electrical work) |
| The rulebook | WAC chapter 296-200A (contractor registration) and WAC chapter 296-46B (electrical) |
3How to become an HVAC contractor in Washington What is this?
Washington has 5 licenses that matter to an HVAC contractor: Specialty Contractor Registration, HVAC/R classification, Electrical contractor license with the HVAC/refrigeration (06A) specialty, Specialty Electrician Certificate, 06A HVAC/refrigeration, Specialty Electrician Certificate, 06B HVAC/refrigeration restricted, Plumber certificate for hydronic and water-connected work. Each is below, with what you need before you apply.
| License | Experience required | Training required | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specialty Contractor Registration, HVAC/R classification | None | None | No |
| Electrical contractor license with the HVAC/refrigeration (06A) specialty | None for the business. You must name an electrical administrator or master electrician to L&I who is responsible for the company following the electrical rules | None | No for the business. The administrator has to pass an exam |
| Specialty Electrician Certificate, 06A HVAC/refrigeration | 4,000 hours of work in the specialty, supervised at least 75 percent of the time. Up to half can come from an approved training program. Hours from the 06B restricted card count toward it | 48 hours of basic classroom instruction before you can sit the exam | Yes, an L&I electrician exam |
| Specialty Electrician Certificate, 06B HVAC/refrigeration restricted | 2,000 hours, supervised 100 percent of the time until you pass the exam | — | Yes, an L&I electrician exam |
| Plumber certificate for hydronic and water-connected work | — | — | — |
4How much does an HVAC license cost in Washington? What is this?
The government fees on this page add up to about $150 in Washington. Add insurance, tools, and a vehicle to get the real number.
| License | Application | Exam | First registration | First certificate | Renewal | Getting a lapsed license back | Administrator certificate | Administrator exam | Renewal by mail | Renewal online | Trainee certificate | Trainee certificate, online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialty Contractor Registration, HVAC/R classification | — | — | $150.2 | — | $150.2 | $70.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Electrical contractor license with the HVAC/refrigeration (06A) specialty | $353.9 | — | — | — | — | — | $160 | $106.7 | $353.9 | $306.2 | — | — |
| Specialty Electrician Certificate, 06A HVAC/refrigeration | — | $80.3 | — | $106.4 | — | — | — | — | $106.4 | $92.6 | $56 | $48.1 |
| Specialty Electrician Certificate, 06B HVAC/refrigeration restricted | — | $80.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | $106.4 | $92.6 | — | — |
Added up
| Government fees, added up | $150 |
|---|---|
| Government fees including the electrical license, added up | $747 |
Does not include the administrator exam, the $15,000 and $4,000 bond premiums, insurance premiums, workers' comp, the EPA 608 test, tools, a vehicle, or city permits
5How much HVAC insurance do you need in Washington? What is this?
The least liability insurance Washington lets an HVAC contractor work with is $200,000 for injury and $50,000 for property damage. Most customers ask for more. Workers' comp is required as soon as you hire one employee.
| Minimum liability insurance (injury) | $200,000 |
|---|---|
| Minimum liability insurance (property damage) | $50,000 |
| Or one combined limit of | $250,000 |
| Type of policy | General liability insurance |
| Who this applies to |
|
| Who must be named on the certificate | File the certificate with L&I. If the policy lapses or is canceled, your registration is suspended on the spot until a new policy is filed |
| Workers' comp required? | Yes, as soon as you hire one employee. Coverage comes only from the L&I state fund. Private workers' comp policies are not allowed in Washington |
| Who can opt out |
|
·6 official pages
- lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/contractors/register-as-a-contractor/
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.27.050
- lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/electrical/electrical-licensing-exams-education/electrical-contractor
- lni.wa.gov/insurance/insurance-requirements/do-i-need-a-workers-comp-account/
- lni.wa.gov/insurance/insurance-requirements/how-to-get-a-workers-compensation-account
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=51.12.020
6Does Washington check your credit for an HVAC contractor license? What is this?
Washington does not check your credit for this license.
| Credit score you need | None |
|---|---|
| If your score is lower | Instead of a surety bond you can file an assigned savings account with L&I for the same amount. L&I can demand up to three times the normal bond if you lost a court case over residential work in the last five years |
7Does an HVAC contractor need a bond in Washington? What is this?
Washington requires a bond of $15,000. A bond is a promise, backed by an insurance company, that customers can be paid if you do not finish the job.
| Does the state require a bond? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Amount | $15,000 |
A continuous contractor surety bond (a promise, backed by an insurance company, that customers can be paid if you do not finish or do bad work) of $15,000 for a specialty contractor or $30,000 for a general contractor, or an assigned savings account instead. Older websites still say $6,000 and $12,000. The electrical contractor license needs its own separate $4,000 bond. Cities may ask for more before they let you pull permits
8Federal rules that also apply What is this?
Rules from the US government that apply to an HVAC contractor in Washington on top of the state's own.
| EPA refrigerant certification |
|
|---|
9Where must a Washington HVAC contractor show the license number? What is this?
In Washington: every ad that shows your name or address must show your contractor registration number, and so must every flyer or mailer sent to homeowners. Vehicle signs and signs on your own building are exempt, as are plain alphabetical listings. You may not advertise that you are bonded and insured just because the state makes you carry the minimums.
| The rule |
|
|---|---|
| If you forget | Up to $10,000 per violation after a hearing. Not charged for an honest mistake |
| Written notice you must give the customer | Before starting any home job of $1,000 or more, or a commercial job of $1,000 to $60,000, you must hand the customer a written disclosure statement about bonds, insurance, and liens. Without it you cannot file a lien on that job |
10Does an HVAC contractor charge sales tax on labor in Washington? What is this?
In Washington, taxed. Same rule as above. The rest of the rules are below.
See how this compares in every state: Can you charge sales tax on labor? The rule in 25 states
| Building for a customer | You charge retail sales tax on the whole contract price, labor and equipment, and show it as a separate line on the invoice. This is called retail or custom construction and covers most jobs an HVAC company does for a homeowner or a business |
|---|---|
| Labor on homes (repairs and remodels) | Taxed. Same rule as above |
| Repairs and remodels on businesses | Taxed. Same rule as above |
| Labor on new buildings | Taxed when you work for the landowner or a prime contractor. Building on land you own to sell (speculative building) is taxed differently |
| Equipment and materials | You buy furnaces, heat pumps, duct, and parts that become part of the building tax-free with a reseller permit. You pay sales tax on tools, supplies, and anything you use up on the job |
| Service contracts | Not covered in the state's guide. Ask the Department of Revenue before you sell maintenance plans |
| Business and occupation tax | Your gross receipts from custom construction are also taxed under the Retailing B&O classification, a tax on the business itself that you do not pass to the customer |
| Tax rate | 6.5 percent state rate plus the local rate for the job site |
11Getting paid: lien and notice deadlines for a Washington HVAC contractor What is this?
If you are not paid in Washington, a lien on the property is your backstop, but only if your notice goes out on time: send it early. The notice only protects work done in the 60 days before you send it, so anything older is lost (work started on March 1 and notice sent on June 1 covers only work from April 2 onward). On a new single-family house it covers only the 10 days before the notice.
- Day 0Your first day on the job
The clock starts here.
- Day 60Send your notice
Send it early. The notice only protects work done in the 60 days before you send it, so anything older is lost (work started on March 1 and notice sent on June 1 covers only work from April 2 onward). On a new single-family house it covers only the 10 days before the notice
- Day 90File your lien
Record the lien with the county where the property sits within 90 days of your last day of work or last delivery (last work on June 1 means the lien is recorded by August 30)
Each day count is counted from the day the rule beside it names, which is not always the same day. Read the sentence under each one.
| Who has to send a notice |
|
|---|---|
| The exception that catches people out |
|
| What the lien reaches on a home the owner lives in | Only money the owner has not yet paid the prime contractor when your notice arrives. If the owner has already paid the prime in full, there is nothing for your lien to reach |
| Send your notice by |
|
| File your lien by | Record the lien with the county where the property sits within 90 days of your last day of work or last delivery (last work on June 1 means the lien is recorded by August 30) |
12How do you renew an HVAC license in Washington? What is this?
The Specialty Contractor Registration, HVAC/R classification renews every 2 years. No training hours are required.
| License | Renewal | Training hours each year | Training hours each renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specialty Contractor Registration, HVAC/R classification | Every 2 years | — | — |
| Electrical contractor license with the HVAC/refrigeration (06A) specialty | Every 2 years | — | — |
| Specialty Electrician Certificate, 06A HVAC/refrigeration | Every 3 years | — | — |
| Specialty Electrician Certificate, 06B HVAC/refrigeration restricted | Every 3 years | — | — |
Renewal fees are in what the license costs. The official page for each license is linked under how you get it.
13What catches people out in Washington What is this?
The things people get wrong or do not expect about Washington, in a few sentences.
- Washington has no HVAC license. You register with L&I as a specialty contractor in the HVAC/R classification. No exam, no experience check, a bond and insurance are the whole test.
- The specialty contractor bond is $15,000 and the general contractor bond is $30,000. Many websites still show $6,000 and $12,000. Those are the old numbers.
- Connecting or wiring the equipment is electrical work. For that your business needs a separate electrical contractor license with a $4,000 bond and a named administrator, and your technicians need an 06A HVAC/refrigeration electrician card, which takes 4,000 supervised hours and a 48-hour class.
- Washington charges sales tax on your labor. On a normal job you collect retail sales tax on the whole bill, labor and materials, and buy the equipment tax-free with a reseller permit. A furnace in a house is taxed the same way as a rooftop unit on a shop.
- Workers' comp comes only from the L&I state fund, and you need an account as soon as you hire one employee. Private workers' comp policies are not allowed.
- Before an HVAC job of $1,000 or more starts, the customer must get a written disclosure statement from you. Without it, a lien on that job is off the table.
·8 official pages
- lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/contractors/register-as-a-contractor/
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.27.040
- app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=296-200A-016
- lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/electrical/electrical-licensing-exams-education/electrical-contractor
- lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/electrical/electrical-licensing-exams-education/electrician
- dor.wa.gov/education/industry-guides/construction/custom-construction
- lni.wa.gov/insurance/insurance-requirements/do-i-need-a-workers-comp-account/
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.27.114
14Where these numbers come from
The labels under each table are explained on how to read a page.
- lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/contractors/register-as-a-contractor/
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.27.040
- app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=296-200A-016
- lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/electrical/electrical-licensing-exams-education/electrical-contractor
- lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/electrical/electrical-licensing-exams-education/electrician
- dor.wa.gov/education/industry-guides/construction/custom-construction
- lni.wa.gov/insurance/insurance-requirements/do-i-need-a-workers-comp-account/
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.27.114
- app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=296-200A-900
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=19.28.041
- app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=296-46B-920
- app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=296-46B-909
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=19.28.191
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.106.010
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.27.050
- lni.wa.gov/insurance/insurance-requirements/how-to-get-a-workers-compensation-account
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=51.12.020
- epa.gov/section608
- epa.gov/section608/section-608-technician-certification-0
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.27.100
- dor.wa.gov/education/industry-guides/construction
- dor.wa.gov/taxes-rates/retail-sales-tax
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=60.04.031
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=60.04.091