Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs · checked 2026-10-20
Michigan HVAC License Requirements
A mechanical contractor license is required to install, alter or service work in the mechanical classifications (MCL 339.5809). Licenses are issued by work classification. Mechanical Contractor (per classification): 3 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- 1MC · Mechanical Contractor (per classification) 3 years
License levels in Michigan
Michigan has one credential on this path: the Mechanical Contractor (per classification). The source counts experience in hours; the "time from start" column turns those hours into full-time years at 2,000 hours a year.
| Level | Experience | Classroom | Time from start | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MC Mechanical Contractor (per classification) | 6,000 hours | — | 3 years | Yes | Not printed |
Mechanical Contractor (per classification) (MC)
A minimum of 3 years or 6,000 hours of experience in the work classification sought (or an equivalent the board accepts), then the classification examination. MCL 339.5807. Source: MCL 339.5807.
Michigan also issues narrower classes on the same page: Hydronic heating and cooling and process piping, HVAC equipment, Ductwork, Refrigeration, Limited heating service, Limited refrigeration and air conditioning service, Unlimited heating service, Unlimited refrigeration and air conditioning service, Fire suppression and Specialty.
Exam
1 of the 1 level listed here requires an exam: Mechanical Contractor (per classification). The source does not print a pass mark.
Fees
The Michigan source read prints no dollar amounts for this license. The statute sections read do not print fee amounts.
Reciprocity
The Michigan sources read for this trade name no reciprocity agreement and no route for out-of-state licensees.
How Michigan compares
Among the 8 states on this site that state a minimum time to the top hvac credential, Michigan ranks 3 of 8 from shortest (1 year) to longest (5 years). Massachusetts sets the same 3 years.
Same trade elsewhere: California · Texas · Florida · Ohio · Georgia. All states side by side: HVAC license requirements by state.
Other trades in Michigan
- Electrician: Master Electrician: 6 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- Plumber: Plumbing Contractor: 5 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- General contractor: Maintenance and Alteration Contractor: the source states no minimum time, plus an exam.
All covered trades on one page: Michigan trade licenses.
Background reading: From apprentice to master: how long each state takes · How trade license exams work.
Questions
Who issues the hvac license in Michigan?
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes (Board of Mechanical Rules). A mechanical contractor license is required to install, alter or service work in the mechanical classifications (MCL 339.5809). Licenses are issued by work classification.
How long does it take to qualify for the Mechanical Contractor (per classification) in Michigan?
3 years by this site's count. A minimum of 3 years or 6,000 hours of experience in the work classification sought (or an equivalent the board accepts), then the classification examination. MCL 339.5807.
Does Michigan have hvac license reciprocity?
The Michigan sources read name no reciprocity agreement for this trade.
Sources and last checked
| What | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes (Board of Mechanical Rules) | 2026-10-20 |
| MC requirements | MCL 339.5807 | 2026-10-20 |
| Law cited | MCL 339.5807, 339.5809 | 2026-10-20 |
This page summarises what the Michigan source said on 2026-10-20. It is general information, not legal advice; the board's own page and the statute are the authority and can change. Confirm with Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs before applying. The free official route is the board itself: its page, application forms and staff answer eligibility questions.