Mississippi HVAC License Requirements (2026)

Mississippi does not issue an individual journeyman or master HVAC license at the state level. HVAC technician licensing is handled city-by-city — Jackson, Hattiesburg, Tupelo, Gulfport, Biloxi, and most other municipalities run their own examination and licensing programs. At the state level, the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) licenses HVAC and mechanical contractors as businesses on commercial projects of $50,000 or more (or $5,000 or more for hazardous and certain specialty work) under the Mechanical / Air Conditioning, Heating and Ventilation classification of the Commercial Contractor Certificate of Responsibility. Federal EPA Section 608 certification is required for any technician handling refrigerants, regardless of state or municipal status.

The Licensing Authority

Licensing for this trade is governed by Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC), the agency that issues and regulates the credential under Mississippi Code Title 31, Chapter 3 (Public Contracts) and Title 73, Chapter 59 (Residential Builders). The Mississippi State Board of Contractors licenses commercial contractors on projects of $50,000 or more and residential builders and remodelers on projects of $50,000 or more, administers examinations through PSI, and enforces bonding and financial-statement requirements statewide.

Official portal: https://www.msboc.us/
Address: 2679 Crane Ridge Drive, Suite C, Jackson, MS 39216
Phone: (601) 354-6161

Baseline Eligibility

Eligibility begins with two baseline checks: the applicant must be 18 or older and must provide a valid Social Security Number. No state residency requirement. Municipal licenses may impose local requirements.

Good moral character

MSBOC reviews fitness on every qualifying party for the contractor license. Municipal boards apply their own standards.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the MSBOC application. Municipal applications vary.

Experience and Education Requirements

At least 4 years of most Mississippi municipalities require approximately four years of practical HVAC experience or completion of an approved apprenticeship before sitting for a journeyman exam, and an additional one to two years for a master credential. The MSBOC contractor classification expects three or more years of qualifying experience by the qualifying party. has to be evidenced and confirmed. Retain payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records, since the board may audit the experience claimed.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

W-2 statements, pay stubs, or 1099 records covering the qualifying period
Affidavits from prior licensed master HVAC supervisors
Approved HVAC apprenticeship completion certificate (where applicable)
Trade school transcripts
EPA Section 608 certification card

Education substitution

Approved HVAC apprenticeship and accredited HVAC trade school programs may substitute for portions of the experience requirement under municipal rules.

The Licensing Examination

Municipal testing (varies by city, often ICC or PSI) for the individual credential; PSI Services LLC for the MSBOC contractor classification administers the required examination. Each part below must be passed before the license will issue:

Municipal Journeyman or Master HVAC Examination — adopted mechanical and fuel gas codes (typically IMC and IFGC), calculations, and local amendments — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%
PSI Mississippi Business and Law / Management Survey for Contractors (for the MSBOC contractor classification) — 50 questions, 140 minutes, passing score 70%
PSI Mississippi Mechanical / HVAC trade examination (for the MSBOC contractor classification) — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: Municipal exam fees range $50 – $150. PSI MSBOC exams run $80 – $110 per part.

Retake policy: Failed municipal or PSI exams may be re-taken individually by paying a new exam fee.

Financial Security and Insurance

There is no statewide surety bond tied to this credential in the cited record. Bonding can still surface at the project level — permit, license, or public-works bonds — so check before you bid.

General liability

Most Mississippi municipalities require a general liability minimum of $300,000 – $1,000,000 for individual HVAC licensees. MSBOC does not impose a state-level minimum.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory in Mississippi for any business with five or more regular employees under §71-3-5.

Additional financial requirements

MSBOC Commercial Contractor classification requires a CPA-prepared financial statement; the monetary limit is set by working capital and net worth.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$150
Examination	$190
Initial license	$200
Renewal (every year)	$200

License Renewal

The Mississippi HVAC — No State License (Municipal Only) / MSBOC Mechanical Classification must be renewed every year. The fee to renew is presently $200. MSBOC contractor licenses renew annually. Municipal renewal cycles vary. EPA 608 is a one-time certification.

Continuing education: MSBOC does not currently mandate continuing education for the Commercial Contractor classification. Many municipalities require continuing education hours for individual HVAC licensees on a one- to three-year cycle.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Mississippi HVAC License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

Mississippi grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Alabama	Bilateral municipal reciprocity in many border cities	Several Mississippi cities accept Alabama HVAC credentials by agreement.
Louisiana	Bilateral municipal reciprocity in many border cities	Border-city agreements with Louisiana licensing boards.
Tennessee	Bilateral municipal reciprocity in many border cities	Border-city agreements with Tennessee licensing boards.

Because Mississippi does not issue a state HVAC license, formal reciprocity is municipal. Confirm directly with the city where the work will occur.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares HVAC license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

The Licensing Roadmap

Identify the city or cities where you will work. Mississippi has no state HVAC license. Each municipality sets its own rules.
Document HVAC experience. Roughly four years for journeyman, plus one to two more for master, is the typical municipal threshold.
Obtain EPA Section 608 certification. Federal refrigerant handling certification is required for any work involving refrigerants.
Pass the municipal journeyman or master exam. Most cities use ICC or PSI exams covering the adopted mechanical code, fuel gas code, and local amendments.
Obtain the municipal license and required insurance. Provide proof of insurance and pay the municipal license fee.
For commercial projects $50,000+, obtain the MSBOC Mechanical classification. File a Commercial Contractor application designating the qualifying party and the Mechanical classification.
Pass the PSI MSBOC Business and Law and Mechanical trade exams. Required for the contractor classification. NASCLA is not accepted for Mechanical specialty.
Maintain all credentials. Renew the municipal license on its local cycle and the MSBOC certificate annually. Keep EPA 608 current.

Preparation Resources

The list below collects the board's cited references and the materials applicants typically study from. CLR is not paid to recommend any of them.

International Mechanical Code (current adopted edition) — International Code Council. Primary technical reference. Open-book at most municipal and PSI test centers.
International Fuel Gas Code (current adopted edition) — International Code Council. Required for gas-fired equipment.
NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — Mississippi edition — NASCLA. Standard reference for the MSBOC Business and Law portion.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Have each of the following squared away before the packet goes to MSBOC:

☐ Municipal journeyman or master HVAC license (where work occurs)
☐ EPA Section 608 certification
☐ Proof of approximately four years of HVAC experience or apprenticeship completion
☐ MSBOC Commercial Contractor application with Mechanical classification (for projects $50,000+)
☐ CPA-prepared financial statement (for the MSBOC contractor classification)
☐ PSI Mississippi Business and Law exam pass certificate
☐ PSI Mississippi Mechanical / HVAC trade exam pass certificate
☐ Workers compensation coverage certificate for any business with five or more employees

Common Application Pitfalls

The following pitfalls summarize the issues most likely to delay, return, or derail a Mississippi HVAC application based on the published board instructions and source materials cited on this page.

Assuming a state license exists

Mississippi has no statewide individual HVAC license. Plan around municipal credentials and the MSBOC contractor classification instead.

Skipping EPA 608

EPA Section 608 is federal and required before touching any refrigerant. Municipalities and MSBOC will reject incomplete applications.

Working in the wrong city without local credentials

A Jackson master HVAC license does not automatically authorize work in Hattiesburg or Gulfport. Confirm reciprocity before bidding.

Skipping the MSBOC classification on commercial work

Any commercial HVAC project at or above $50,000 requires an MSBOC Commercial Contractor Certificate of Responsibility with the Mechanical classification.

Missing local continuing education

Some Mississippi cities require CE hours to renew the individual license. Missing CE blocks renewal even if the MSBOC classification is current.

Other Mississippi Trade Licenses

Looking at a different trade? CLR also publishes these Mississippi licensing guides:

Answers to Common Questions

Does Mississippi issue a state HVAC license?

No. Mississippi has no statewide journeyman or master HVAC license. Individual HVAC licensing is handled by each municipality, while the Mississippi State Board of Contractors licenses HVAC and mechanical contractors as businesses on qualifying commercial projects.

Which Mississippi cities license HVAC technicians?

Most large and mid-sized Mississippi cities run their own programs, including Jackson, Hattiesburg, Gulfport, Biloxi, Tupelo, and Meridian. Always confirm with the local building department before working in a new jurisdiction.

Is EPA Section 608 required?

Yes. Federal Section 608 certification is required for any technician handling refrigerants regardless of state or municipal license status.

When do I need an MSBOC mechanical classification?

When you bid or contract for commercial, industrial, or public HVAC and mechanical work of $50,000 or more (or $5,000 or more for hazardous or specialty work).

Can I work statewide with one municipal license?

Not automatically. Some Mississippi cities maintain reciprocity agreements with neighbors, but coverage is patchwork. Check each jurisdiction individually.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-05-11 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-09