Maryland HVACR License Renewal

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

Maryland HVACR licenses from the State Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors renew for 2-year terms. The renewal fee runs from $12 for an apprentice to $94.50 for a master or limited contractor, and there's no continuing education. Masters, master restricted and limited contractors who sign HVACR contracts must also show at least $300,000 of general liability and $100,000 of property damage insurance: the Board can't renew their license without it. Within 4 years of a license expiring, the Board may restore it on payment of the renewal fee.

At a glance

Who needs it: With exceptions the HVACR law lists (such as a homeowner working on their own single-family home), anyone who provides or helps provide heating, ventilation, air-conditioning or refrigeration services in Maryland must be licensed by the Board first. Licenses: master, master restricted, limited contractor, journeyman, journeyman restricted, apprentice and inspector
Renews every: 2 years. The HVACR law sets licenses to expire on October 1 of an odd-numbered year, but lets the Secretary of Labor stagger expiration dates: check the date on your own license
Renewal fee: Master $94.50; master restricted $31.50 for each area licensed (the Board caps it once you hold three areas); limited contractor $94.50; journeyman $25; journeyman restricted $25 for each area licensed; apprentice $12; inspector $56; inactive license $31.50. The fees are nonrefundable
Continuing education: None: the Board does not require continuing education credits
Insurance: Masters, master restricted and limited contractors who sign or approve HVACR contracts need general liability insurance of at least $300,000 and property damage insurance of at least $100,000 (at least $400,000 combined). The Board can't renew their license without it. Apprentices and journeymen working for a licensed contractor don't need their own
Certificate of insurance: It must show the policy number and expiration date and name the State Board of HVACR Contractors as certificate holder. Tell the Board at least 10 days before the insurance is cancelled
Renew: Before the license expires: online with your Maryland Department of Labor license registration number and password (first-time users create a password), paying the renewal fee and sending proof of insurance where it applies. Renewal help: 410-230-6231 or toll free 1-888-218-5925, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Criminal convictions: A licensee eligible for renewal must report any felony or misdemeanor conviction to the Board, with a true-test copy from the court's clerk
Inactive status: Master, master restricted and limited licenses can be renewed as inactive ($31.50) at renewal time. You can't provide HVACR services on it and don't need the insurance, but you still renew it each renewal period. Reactivating between renewals costs the full license fee for your old category, and you must meet the renewal requirements again, insurance included
After expiration: Within 4 years of expiration, the Board may restore your license if you're otherwise entitled to be licensed and pay the renewal fee
After 4 years: You file a letter explaining why the license lapsed, may have to appear before the Board, and the Board may require past-due fees, the licensing exam, or a new application as if you'd never been licensed

If you sign or approve HVACR contracts, the Board can't renew your master, master restricted or limited license without proof of insurance: ask your agent for a certificate naming the State Board of HVACR Contractors as certificate holder well before your date.

How to renew

Check the expiration date on your license.
If you hold a master, master restricted or limited license and sign contracts, get a current certificate of insurance showing at least $300,000 general liability and $100,000 property damage, with the policy number, the expiration date and the Board named as certificate holder.
Renew online with your license registration number and password, and pay the fee, before the license expires.
Not working in the trade? Renew a master, master restricted or limited license as inactive instead of letting it expire.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

60 days outCheck your license's expiration date. Masters, master restricted and limited contractors who sign contracts: ask your insurer for a certificate naming the State Board of HVACR Contractors as certificate holder.
30 days outRenew online with your license registration number and password, and pay the fee.
7 days outCheck that the renewal went through and your license shows its new expiration date.
Expiration dateThe license expires today: renewal is due before this date. Without a license you can't provide HVACR services; within 4 years the Board may restore it if you pay the renewal fee.

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Your general liability and property damage policies: the Board needs them in force, and 10 days' notice before they're cancelled
Your journeymen's and apprentices' HVACR licenses
Your Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) license, if you also do home improvement work outside HVACR
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How often do Maryland HVACR licenses renew?

Every 2 years. The HVACR law sets licenses to expire on October 1 of an odd-numbered year, but lets the Secretary of Labor stagger expiration dates: check the date on your own license.

How much does it cost to renew a Maryland HVACR license?

Master $94.50; master restricted $31.50 for each area licensed (capped once you hold three areas); limited contractor $94.50; journeyman $25; journeyman restricted $25 for each area licensed; apprentice $12; inspector $56; inactive license $31.50.

Do Maryland HVACR contractors need continuing education?

No: the Board does not require continuing education credits.

What insurance do I need to renew a Maryland master HVACR license?

Masters, master restricted and limited contractors who sign or approve HVACR contracts need general liability insurance of at least $300,000 and property damage insurance of at least $100,000. The Board can't renew their license without it.

What if my Maryland HVACR license expired?

Within 4 years of expiration, the Board may restore your license if you're otherwise entitled to be licensed and pay the renewal fee. After 4 years, the Board may require past-due fees, the licensing exam, or a new application as if you'd never been licensed.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

Maryland State Board of HVACR Contractors, Licensing

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Maryland guides

All Maryland guides on one page

HVAC guides for other states

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for HVAC techs

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet

Maryland HVACR License Renewal

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

At a glance

Who needs it: With exceptions the HVACR law lists (such as a homeowner working on their own single-family home), anyone who provides or helps provide heating, ventilation, air-conditioning or refrigeration services in Maryland must be licensed by the Board first. Licenses: master, master restricted, limited contractor, journeyman, journeyman restricted, apprentice and inspector
Renews every: 2 years. The HVACR law sets licenses to expire on October 1 of an odd-numbered year, but lets the Secretary of Labor stagger expiration dates: check the date on your own license
Renewal fee: Master $94.50; master restricted $31.50 for each area licensed (the Board caps it once you hold three areas); limited contractor $94.50; journeyman $25; journeyman restricted $25 for each area licensed; apprentice $12; inspector $56; inactive license $31.50. The fees are nonrefundable
Continuing education: None: the Board does not require continuing education credits
Insurance: Masters, master restricted and limited contractors who sign or approve HVACR contracts need general liability insurance of at least $300,000 and property damage insurance of at least $100,000 (at least $400,000 combined). The Board can't renew their license without it. Apprentices and journeymen working for a licensed contractor don't need their own
Certificate of insurance: It must show the policy number and expiration date and name the State Board of HVACR Contractors as certificate holder. Tell the Board at least 10 days before the insurance is cancelled
Renew: Before the license expires: online with your Maryland Department of Labor license registration number and password (first-time users create a password), paying the renewal fee and sending proof of insurance where it applies. Renewal help: 410-230-6231 or toll free 1-888-218-5925, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Criminal convictions: A licensee eligible for renewal must report any felony or misdemeanor conviction to the Board, with a true-test copy from the court's clerk
Inactive status: Master, master restricted and limited licenses can be renewed as inactive ($31.50) at renewal time. You can't provide HVACR services on it and don't need the insurance, but you still renew it each renewal period. Reactivating between renewals costs the full license fee for your old category, and you must meet the renewal requirements again, insurance included
After expiration: Within 4 years of expiration, the Board may restore your license if you're otherwise entitled to be licensed and pay the renewal fee
After 4 years: You file a letter explaining why the license lapsed, may have to appear before the Board, and the Board may require past-due fees, the licensing exam, or a new application as if you'd never been licensed

How to renew

Check the expiration date on your license.
If you hold a master, master restricted or limited license and sign contracts, get a current certificate of insurance showing at least $300,000 general liability and $100,000 property damage, with the policy number, the expiration date and the Board named as certificate holder.
Renew online with your license registration number and password, and pay the fee, before the license expires.
Not working in the trade? Renew a master, master restricted or limited license as inactive instead of letting it expire.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

60 days outCheck your license's expiration date. Masters, master restricted and limited contractors who sign contracts: ask your insurer for a certificate naming the State Board of HVACR Contractors as certificate holder.
30 days outRenew online with your license registration number and password, and pay the fee.
7 days outCheck that the renewal went through and your license shows its new expiration date.
Expiration dateThe license expires today: renewal is due before this date. Without a license you can't provide HVACR services; within 4 years the Board may restore it if you pay the renewal fee.

Put this renewal in your calendar

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Your general liability and property damage policies: the Board needs them in force, and 10 days' notice before they're cancelled
Your journeymen's and apprentices' HVACR licenses
Your Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) license, if you also do home improvement work outside HVACR
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How often do Maryland HVACR licenses renew?

Every 2 years. The HVACR law sets licenses to expire on October 1 of an odd-numbered year, but lets the Secretary of Labor stagger expiration dates: check the date on your own license.

How much does it cost to renew a Maryland HVACR license?

Do Maryland HVACR contractors need continuing education?

No: the Board does not require continuing education credits.

What insurance do I need to renew a Maryland master HVACR license?

What if my Maryland HVACR license expired?

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

Maryland State Board of HVACR Contractors, Licensing

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Maryland guides

All Maryland guides on one page

HVAC guides for other states

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for HVAC techs

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet