Doing Business in Ohio

Licensing Rules in Ohio

Contractors must hold a state license do electrical, HVAC, refrigeration, plumbing, or hydronics work in Ohio. General construction contractors may also need to be licensed at the local level, and should check with the city or county for licensing information and requirements.

To apply for a plumbing, electrical, HVAC, hydronics, or refrigeration license, applicants need at least five years of experience in the field and must also be U.S. citizens. For information on licensing, applicants should contact the Ohio Department of Commerce at http://www.com.state.oh.us/dic/dicocieb.htm.

Ohio has a reciprocal agreement with West Virginia for electrical only.

The Board reviews applications, and if the applicant is found eligible, it forwards information on the exam that is required. Applicants must have five years’ experience to qualify to take the exam. The exam has two parts – one on business and law and the other on HVAC, electrical, plumbing, refrigeration, or hydronics. All applicants must take the business and law part.

For more information on the exams or practice exams, applicants should contact the International Code Council at http://www.iccsafe.org/.

Licenses are renewed each year by last name (A-F - December 31 st; G-L - March 31 st; M-R - June 30 th, S-Z - September 30 th).

The cost is $40 to renew, and contractors must show proof of insurance ($500,000 liability minimum) and have completed continued education requirements. The continued education requirements for HVAC are 10 hours per year.

The contractor’s qualification certification exam fees are $25 (nonrefundable) to file an application to take an exam and the exams cost $70 each. Once an applicant has passed both parts of the exam, he/she sends a copy of the scores with $25 to the Board and it issues a certificate which is good for at least 12 months.