Alaska HVAC: How to get certified and licensed in AK

The HVAC industry in Alaska poses unique challenges, and skilled professionals capable of working on heating and cooling systems for extreme temperatures are in high demand. From HVAC business owners to apprentices and entry-level techs, the job prospects for HVAC professionals in Alaska are stable, and salaries are competitive.

Our guide contains all the information you need to secure an Alaska HVAC license and start a thriving career as a heating and cooling system professional.

What are the different types of HVAC licenses in Alaska?

There is no state-wide licensing for an HVAC technician or mechanic. However, the state requires any HVAC professional who is working on refrigerant units to hold an EPA License.

Instead of an HVAC license (Alaska refers to HVAC professionals as “journeymen”, which can be confusing), the state has certain Regulated Professions that typically require a Mechanical Administrator license. You may only perform work in the categories you’re licensed in, per Alaska law.

These are:

• Heating, Cooling, and Process Piping (HCPP)
• Mechanical Systems Temperature Control (CNTL)
• Residential HVAC (RHVC)
• Residential Plumbing and Hydronic Heating (RPHH)
• Unlimited Commercial and Industrial Plumbing (UCIP)
• Unlimited HVAC/Sheet Metal (UHVCS)
• Unlimited Refrigeration (UR)
• Construction Contractors

Each Regulated Profession has certain education and experience requirements, which we will discuss below in more detail. A two-year HVAC trade school degree should cover most of the educational requirements for many of these professions; the state also offers continuing education courses that can help make up the difference in the educational requirements. Some Regulated Profession licenses also require a certain number of hours of continuing education.

EPA License

An EPA license, or, technically, a Section 608 Technician Certification issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, permits HVAC workers to operate on refrigerant units or cooling systems that use refrigerants.

NATE Certificate

The North American Technical Excellence, a nationwide non-profit organization certifying HVAC technicians, issues certificates for people who demonstrate a certain level of knowledge and skill in the HVAC trade. It’s a voluntary certification, but NATE-certified HVAC professionals can typically command 10-20% more than someone without the NATE Certification.

Benefits of Getting an HVAC License

You may be unable to work in HVAC if you do not have a Regulated Profession license. In fact, you may need more than one, depending on the type of jobs you wish to take. Your customers will likely seek a licensed HVAC professional rather than an unlicensed one, as any repairs or installation you perform may not be compliant with Alaska building code requirements.

Average Salary For HVAC Professionals in Alaska

The average wage for an HVAC technician in Alaska is $37.13 per hour, although it ranges from a low of $22.60 to a high of $61.03. HVAC professionals with multiple Regulated Profession licenses and lengthier experience tend to make more than those with just one license or who are just starting their careers. Additionally, hourly workers may be paid overtime or may have a pay differential if they work nights or weekends, to handle emergency calls.

As a licensed HVAC supervisor, you can expect to earn an average salary of $77,111 per year; the salary range for this position is $61,164-97,217. If you are an HVAC business owner, you have more control over how much you make, such as if you have a niche skill or multiple licenses.

How much does it cost to get an HVAC license in Alaska?

Licensing costs in Alaska:

• Application fee: $150
• License fee: $200
• EPA exam fee: $120

Depending on where you live, you may be required to have a municipal license, such as in a city or county. These requirements and the cost of a local license vary.

For example, many HVAC techs in Anchorage must have a Municipal Contractors License (“Muni card”). If you’ll be working on gas fittings, sheet metal work, or plumbing, you’ll be required to submit proof of a certain number of hours worked in the field and take an exam.

How to get an HVAC license in Alaska

HVAC professionals in Alaska require a Mechanical Administrator license in at least one of the following Regulated Professions. The experience requirements for Alaska Mechanical Administrator license applicants must be immediately preceding the date of the application. For example, three years of experience in hydronic heating 15 years ago would not be acceptable.

The specific requirements for each license are as follows:

Residential HVAC (RHVC)

• Two to four years of practical journeyman experience

Residential Plumbing and Hydronic Heating (RPHH)

• Two to four years of journeyman experience in hydronic heating and residential plumbing

Mechanical Systems Temperature Control (CNTL)

• Two to four years of practical journeyman experience in mechanical systems temperature control
• Four to six years of management experience (supervisor or field superintendent, e.g.) in mechanical systems temperature control, OR
• Degree in mechanical engineering from an accredited college or trade school

Unlimited Refrigeration (UR)

• Two to four years of practical journeyman experience in refrigeration, OR
• Degree in refrigeration from an accredited college, trade school, or university

Unlimited HVAC/Sheet Metal (UHVCS)

• Four to six years of practical experience as an HVAC journeyman
• Four to six years of management experience in sheet metal and HVAC work (field supervisor or similar position)
• Degree in mechanical engineering from an accredited college or university PLUS one to three years of practical experience as a journeyman or field engineer in sheet metal and HVAC work, OR
• State registration as a professional mechanical engineer PLUS management experience in metal contracting as a field engineer (or similar position) for at least one to three years

Heating, Cooling, and Process Piping (HCPP)

• Four to six years of practical journeyman experience in heating, cooling, and process piping
• Four to six years of construction management experience in heating, cooling, and process piping work (field supervisor or similar position)
• Degree in mechanical engineering from an accredited college or university PLUS one to three years of practical experience as a journeyman pipe fitter OR as a field engineer in heating, cooling, and process piping, OR
• State registration as a professional mechanical engineer PLUS one to three years of management experience in mechanical contracting (field engineer or similar position)

Exams Required for an Alaska HVAC License

Each Mechanical Administrator exam requires a passing score of at least 70%

EPA Section 608 certification requires a passing score of 70%

Insurance and Bonding for Alaska HVAC Professionals

Contractors must carry general liability insurance, although the minimum coverage requirements vary according to your specialty (different Regulated Professions have different insurance requirements). The minimum for any position is $20,000 in property damage and $100,000 in bodily injury

Mechanical contractors must hold a surety bond of at least $10,000

Alaska HVAC Licensing and Renewal Requirements

Alaska Regulated Profession licenses must be renewed every two years

Eight hours of continuing education are required to renew the license