Utah HVAC / Mechanical Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) Contractors Board licenses HVAC contractors at the business level as Mechanical Contractors under Utah Code Title 58 Chapter 55 and Utah Admin. Code R156-55a. Utah does not issue an individual HVAC tradesman credential separate from the contractor license; instead, the qualifying individual for a Mechanical Contractor business must demonstrate four years of supervisory-level experience in mechanical, refrigeration, or HVAC work, complete the 25-hour DOPL pre-license course, and pass the Prometric Mechanical Contractor trade exam and Business and Law exam at 70%. The most common HVAC classifications are S350 (Mechanical Contractor — full scope including process piping and refrigeration) and S354 (HVAC Contractor — heating, ventilation, and air conditioning only).

Governing Authority

Under Utah Code Title 58 Chapter 55 (Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act); Utah Admin. Code R156-55a, Utah Division of Professional Licensing — Contractors Board (DOPL) is the body that issues this license and enforces compliance with it. The Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) Contractors Board licenses general contractors, electricians, plumbers, and mechanical contractors statewide, adopts the International Building Code by reference, and conducts disciplinary proceedings under Title 58 Chapter 55.

Official portal: https://dopl.utah.gov/contractor/
Address: 160 East 300 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone: (801) 530-6628

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, an applicant must have reached age 18 and hold a valid Social Security Number. No Utah residency requirement; out-of-state applicants accepted.

Good moral character

DOPL conducts a fitness review on every qualifying individual. Felony convictions, prior license revocations, and unpaid civil judgments are reviewed individually by the Contractors Board.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application; DOPL may require fingerprint-based BCI/FBI background checks for applicants with disclosed convictions.

Disqualifying conditions

Construction- or HVAC-fraud convictions within the prior five years
Unresolved judgments or liens arising from contracting activity
Prior contractor license revocation in any state

Experience & Education Matrix

Plan to substantiate four years of practical experience at the supervisory, journey, or equivalent level in mechanical, refrigeration, or HVAC work, with the qualifying individual serving as a full-time employee, owner, or officer of the business with hard records. Payroll, tax, project logs, and supervisor verification are what the board relies on when it reviews the claim.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

DOPL Verification of Work Experience form signed by each prior employer or licensed Mechanical Contractor supervisor
W-2 statements, 1099 records, or pay stubs covering the qualifying period
EPA Section 608 refrigerant handling certification (Universal preferred)
NATE, RSES, or HVAC Excellence certifications (where applicable)

Education substitution

A bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, HVAC technology, or a related discipline substitutes for two years of the four-year experience requirement. The 25-hour DOPL pre-license course is mandatory regardless of experience level.

Examination Structure

The licensing examination is delivered by Prometric (under contract to DOPL). All of the following parts must be cleared prior to issuance:

Utah Contractor Business and Law Examination — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%
Utah Mechanical / HVAC Contractor Trade Examination (S350 or S354) — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $77 per Prometric exam part paid on the day of testing.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be re-taken individually after a 30-day waiting period by paying a new $77 fee. Each application remains open for one year.

Insurance & Financial Security

Licensure is conditioned on filing a $50,000 contractor license surety bond with the DOPL.

General liability

General liability is mandatory under Utah Admin. Code R156-55a. Most commercial owners contractually require $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate.

Workers' compensation

Workers compensation is mandatory in Utah under Utah Code §34A-2-103 for any contractor with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

No minimum net worth requirement; the $50,000 contractor surety bond satisfies the financial responsibility standard.

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$230
Examination	$154
Initial license	$230
Renewal (every 2 years)	$82

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the Utah Mechanical Contractor (S350 / S354) every 2 years. Renewal currently costs $82. Utah Mechanical Contractor licenses renew every two years on November 30 of even-numbered years.

Continuing education: Six hours of DOPL-approved continuing education each two-year renewal cycle: three hours of core (Utah law and rules) and three hours of professional (mechanical or HVAC trade).

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

Utah does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Arizona	Trade exam waived	Bilateral DOPL–Arizona ROC reciprocity for active mechanical contractors in good standing for at least two years.
Nevada	Trade exam waived	Bilateral DOPL–Nevada State Contractors Board reciprocity for matching mechanical classifications.
Idaho	Trade exam waived	Bilateral DOPL–Idaho HVAC Board reciprocity for active mechanical contractors.
Colorado	Trade exam waived	Bilateral DOPL–Colorado reciprocity (Colorado licenses HVAC at the local level; state-level recognition through DOPL agreement).
Wyoming	Trade exam waived	Bilateral DOPL–Wyoming reciprocity for active mechanical contractors.

Utah maintains bilateral reciprocity with Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Colorado, and Wyoming. Reciprocal applicants still must pass the Utah Business and Law examination and meet bonding and insurance requirements.

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

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Choose the classification. S350 (Mechanical Contractor — full mechanical scope including process piping and commercial refrigeration) or S354 (HVAC Contractor — heating, ventilation, and air conditioning only).
Document the qualifying individual's experience. Four years of supervisory-level mechanical or HVAC experience, or two years plus a qualifying mechanical or HVAC degree.
Obtain EPA Section 608 certification. Federal EPA Section 608 refrigerant handling certification is required for any technician working with refrigerants. Universal certification covers all appliance types.
Complete the 25-hour DOPL pre-license course. Mandatory for every applicant regardless of experience level. Approved providers are listed on the DOPL website.
Pass the Prometric examinations at 70%. Both the Business and Law and the trade-specific Mechanical or HVAC exam must be passed at 70% or better.
Secure the $50,000 contractor surety bond and insurance. Obtain the bond from a Utah-admitted surety, plus general liability and workers compensation coverage.
Submit the DOPL application and receive the license. File the completed application with the application fee, exam pass certificates, course completion certificate, bond, and insurance certificates. DOPL issues the license after approval.

Pre-Submission Checklist

The most critical documents or confirmations the applicant should have in hand before filing with DOPL:

☐ DOPL contractor application with $230 fee and qualifying individual designation
☐ 25-hour DOPL-approved pre-license course completion certificate
☐ Verification of Work Experience form covering four years of mechanical or HVAC experience
☐ EPA Section 608 refrigerant handling certification (Universal preferred)
☐ Prometric Business and Law exam pass certificate at 70%+
☐ Prometric Mechanical / HVAC trade exam pass certificate at 70%+
☐ $50,000 contractor surety bond plus general liability and workers compensation certificates

Study and Reference Materials

The references below are either cited by the board, used during the application, or standard preparation for the trade. They are listed purely for convenience — CLR earns no commission on any of them.

International Mechanical Code (IMC), Utah-adopted edition — International Code Council. Primary technical reference for the trade exam. Open-book at the Prometric test center.
NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — Utah edition — NASCLA. Standard reference for the Utah Business and Law portion.
Utah Code Title 58 Chapter 55 and Utah Admin. Code R156-55a — State of Utah. Licensing law and rules. Required reading for the core CE and Business and Law exam.

Common Filing Mistakes

Working from the cited board instructions, here are the snags most likely to trip up a Utah HVAC filing.

Choosing S354 then needing process piping or refrigeration scope

S354 is limited to comfort HVAC. Process piping and commercial refrigeration require the full S350 Mechanical Contractor classification. Upgrading requires a new application, exam, and bond endorsement.

Skipping EPA Section 608

Federal EPA Section 608 certification is required for any technician handling refrigerants. DOPL will not issue the Mechanical or HVAC contractor license without proof of certification for the qualifying individual.

Skipping the 25-hour pre-license course

The 25-hour DOPL pre-license course is mandatory for every applicant regardless of experience. DOPL rejects applications missing the course completion certificate.

Underestimating the bond

The $50,000 contractor surety bond is non-negotiable. Bond premiums vary widely with credit; a poor credit applicant may pay 5%–15% of the face amount annually.

Missing the workers compensation requirement

Utah requires workers compensation for any contractor with one or more employees. Sole proprietors with no employees may file a workers comp waiver, but that waiver expires and must be renewed.

Other Utah Trade Licenses

If the HVAC license is not the right fit, the following published Utah trade guides are also covered by CLR:

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Utah issue an individual HVAC tradesman license?

No. Utah licenses HVAC at the contractor business level only as a Mechanical Contractor (S350) or HVAC Contractor (S354). Individual technicians work under the contractor license, but federal EPA Section 608 certification is required for any technician handling refrigerants.

What is the difference between S350 and S354 in Utah?

S350 (Mechanical Contractor) authorizes the full mechanical scope including process piping, commercial refrigeration, boilers, and HVAC. S354 (HVAC Contractor) is limited to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems only.

How much experience does Utah require for a Mechanical Contractor license?

Four years of supervisory or journey-level experience in mechanical or HVAC work, or two years plus a qualifying mechanical engineering or HVAC technology degree. The 25-hour DOPL pre-license course is mandatory regardless of experience.

What bond and insurance does Utah require for HVAC contractors?

Utah requires a $50,000 contractor surety bond from a Utah-admitted surety. General liability and workers compensation are also mandatory.

How often does the Utah Mechanical Contractor license renew?

Every two years on November 30 of even-numbered years. Renewal requires six hours of DOPL-approved continuing education (three hours of core, three hours of professional).

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-04-13 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-12