Field guide · 5 states

Refrigeration licensing, state by state

There is no national refrigeration license. 5 states, 5 rulebooks — experience, exams, fees and the surety bond, compared side by side.

Commercial refrigeration — walk-in coolers, refrigerated rooms and warehouses, process cooling — is licensed as its own trade in only a handful of states; most fold it into an HVAC or mechanical contractor license. Where a dedicated license exists (California's C-38 is the clearest example), expect the same core requirements as HVAC: documented experience, a trade exam, a surety bond and insurance. Regardless of state, EPA Section 608 certification is required nationwide to handle refrigerants. Pick a state below for the verified figures.

Moving states? Refrigeration license reciprocity, all 50 states →

Bond type: Fixed set amount · Tiered scales by volume · Credit-based financial responsibility in lieu of a bond · None no bond required