Master Mechanical Contractor (HVAC) License

Rhode Island Master Mechanical Contractor (HVAC) License

To qualify for the Rhode Island Master Mechanical Contractor license, you need 10 years of licensed experience in two separate trades — Pipefitter Master I and Refrigeration Master I — before the DLT Mechanical Board will accept your application.

10 Years in Each Trade — Before You Can Apply

To qualify, you must hold a Rhode Island Licensed Pipefitter Master I credential with at least 10 years of licensed experience and a Rhode Island Licensed Refrigeration Master I credential with at least 10 years of licensed experience. Rhode Island General Laws § 28-27-4.4 sets both prerequisites. The dual requirement reflects the full scope of the license: a Master Mechanical Contractor may plan, supervise, and pull permits for both refrigeration and pipefitting systems, not just HVAC in the consumer sense.

$480 Biennial, With a Monthly Late Accrual

The renewal fee is $480 every two years, administered by the RI Department of Labor and Training (DLT). If the license lapses, DLT assesses an additional fee for each month or fraction of a month past expiration — on top of the standard $480. Check the current monthly rate at ri.gov/Licensing. Renew through the DLT Professional Regulation portal.

Scope: HVAC, Refrigeration, and Pipefitting Permits

This license authorizes the installation, alteration, and repair of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, and mechanical pipefitting systems throughout Rhode Island, along with the mechanical permits required for that work.

Statutory Violation: Fines and Criminal Penalties

Performing mechanical contracting work without a valid Master Mechanical Contractor license is a statutory violation under RIGL Chapter 28-27, subject to fines and potential criminal penalties.