815 Ky. Admin. Regs. 8:010

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 5, November 1, 2024

Section 815 KAR 8:010 - Licensing requirements for master HVAC contractors and journeyman HVAC mechanics

RELATES TO: KRS 198B.650, 198B.654, 198B.656, 198B.658, 198B.659, 198B.660, 198B.664, 198B.668, 198B.672, 198B.676

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 198B.654(1) requires the department to promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to administer, coordinate, and enforce the provisions of KRS 198B.650 through 198B.689 and to conduct HVAC examinations. KRS 198B.658 requires the department to establish fees for HVAC licensure and certification. KRS 198B.664 requires the department to establish requirements, including fees, for license renewal and inactive licenses. KRS 198B.676(1) requires the department to establish fees by administrative regulation. This administrative regulation establishes the licensure requirements for master HVAC contractors and journeyman HVAC mechanics.

Section 1. General Requirements.

(1) Master HVAC Contractor.

(a) Supervision. The master HVAC contractor shall supervise and be primarily responsible for all HVAC work performed by the employees and subcontractors of the licensee or the company that the licensee represents, whichever is applicable.

(b) Company license. If a licensee, who is an employee of a company and whose license represents the company, if the licensee ceases to represent the company or if the name of the company changes, the licensee shall:

1. Notify the department in writing; and

2. Request a change of information.

(c) Death of a master HVAC contractor.

1. If the master HVAC contractor representing a company dies, the company shall notify the department within ten (10) days of the master HVAC contractor's death.

2. The 180-day interim period described in KRS 198B.667 shall begin on the date the master HVAC contractor dies.

3. The company shall not be required to renew the deceased's master HVAC contractor license, if the license renewal date falls within the 180-day interim period.

4. The company shall not use the deceased master HVAC contractor license after the expiration date of the interim period.

5. The company shall notify the department when the company has a replacement master HVAC contractor to represent the company on or before the expiration date of the interim period.

(2) Journeyman HVAC mechanic Supervision. The journeyman shall:

(a) Be physically on site;

(b) Personally observe and be responsible for each apprentice assigned to the journeyman in carrying out the installation, alteration, and repair of HVAC systems; and

(c) Otherwise operate under the general direction and supervision of the master HVAC contractor.

Section 2. Initial Application Requirements.

(1) Filing the application.

(a) Master HVAC contractor application. An applicant seeking a master HVAC contractor license shall submit to the department:

1. A completed Master HVAC Contractor License Application on Form HVAC 1;

2. An initial license application fee of $250 for a twelve (12) month license;

3. Proof of the applicant's experience as required by KRS 198B.658(1)(c) and this administrative regulation; and

4. Proof of insurance as required by KRS 198B.668.

(b) If the master HVAC contractor applicant is an employee representing a company, the applicant shall state the company name on the application form. The company may provide the insurance certificates and shall be subject to this administrative regulation.

(c) Journeyman HVAC mechanic application. An applicant seeking a journeyman HVAC mechanic license shall submit to the department:

1. A completed Journeyman HVAC Mechanic License Application on Form HVAC 2;

2. An initial license application fee of fifty (50) dollars for a twelve (12) month license; and

3. Proof of the applicant's experience as established by KRS 198B.658(2)(c).

(d) Initial license fees may be prorated for not less than seven (7) months or more than eighteen (18) months and shall expire on the final day of the applicant's birth month.

(e) Master HVAC contractor applicants and journeyman HVAC mechanic applicants shall provide to the department proof of satisfactory completion of the respective examination required by Section 4 of this administrative regulation.

(f) Master HVAC contractor applicants and journeyman HVAC mechanic applicants shall provide to the department a passport-sized, color photograph of the applicant taken within the past six (6) months.

(2) Termination of application.

(a) The initial application shall remain pending until all requirements are met, up to a period of one (1) year after the date the application is submitted to the department.

(b) At the end of one (1) year, the application shall be voided.

Section 3. An applicant for reciprocity shall:

(1) Comply with the requirements established in the reciprocity agreement between Kentucky and the state in which the applicant is licensed;

(2)

(a) For a Master HVAC Contractor license, comply with Section 2(1)(a) and (b) of this administrative regulation;

(b) For a Journeyman HVAC mechanic license, comply with Section 2(1)(c) of this administrative regulation; and

(c) If applying for both licenses, submit the application fee for each license with each application form.

Section 4. Examinations.

(1) The HVAC examinations shall be developed, administered, and scored by the department or its designee.

(2) Master HVAC Contractor examination requirements. The examination shall test the applicant's knowledge of:

(a) Codes, standards, and current technological and industry recommended practices with respect to the proper installation, maintenance, repair, remodeling, or alteration of all types of HVAC systems; and

(b) Law and regulation relating to HVAC business.

(3) Journeyman HVAC mechanic examination requirements.

(a) The examination shall test the applicant's knowledge of codes, standards, and current technological and industry recommended practices with respect to the proper installation, maintenance, and repair, remodeling, or alteration of all types of HVAC systems.

(b) A journeyman HVAC mechanic applicant may apply the passage of a master HVAC contractor's examination for the journeyman HVAC mechanic's examination requirement. The applicant may use the same master HVAC contractor's examination score to satisfy the master HVAC contractor's examination requirement if the examination score is valid pursuant to subsection (7) of this section.

(4) Except as provided in subsection (8) of this section, an applicant shall pass with a score of at least seventy (70) percent on the examination.

(5) Examination requests.

(a) Examination applicants who wish to take any HVAC examination provided by the department shall submit to the department:

1. A completed HVAC Examination Registration Form, Form HVAC-4;

2. The appropriate, non-refundable examination fee:

a. For a master HVAC contractor, $150; or

b. For a journeyman HVAC mechanic, fifty (50) dollars; and

3. A passport-sized color photograph of the applicant taken within the past six (6) months.

(b) Notice of the time and place of examinations shall be given by the department at least one (1) week prior to the date of the examination to each person who has a registration form on file.

(c) If an applicant fails to complete the department-provided examination within one (1) year from the date of the first notice of examination, the application shall be void.

(d) An applicant who fails an examination may request to retake the examination. Except for the examination fee, an applicant shall not resubmit the requirements in paragraph (a) of this subsection.

(e) A request to sit for an examination provided by any facility other than the department shall be made directly to a testing facility approved by the department.

(f) A list of facilities and contact information shall be provided by the department to applicants upon request.

(6) The examination shall be provided as set forth in KRS 198B.660.

(7) A passing score on the examination shall be valid for a period of three (3) years.

(8) Upon application by a testing agency, a national code group, or by an applicant for licensure, the department shall recognize another examination as equivalent to the examinations administered by the department if the person or group submitting the examination demonstrates that the examination covers the same material and requires the same level of knowledge as the department's examination.

(9) Reasonable accommodations shall be made if necessary to provide accessibility to disabled applicants, upon request.

Section 5. Experience Requirements.

(1) Records of experience. An applicant's experience shall be listed on the application form.

(a) Proof of experience shall be provided by:

1. A W-2 form;

2. An affidavit by a master HVAC contractor who directed and supervised the applicant;

3. A copy of a current master HVAC contractor license, journeyman HVAC mechanic license, or equivalent, held by the applicant in a state other than Kentucky, if the state requires licensure or equivalent;

4. Verifiable documentation demonstrating the nature and extent of HVAC contracting work performed in a state other than Kentucky, if the state does not require licensure or the equivalent; or

5. Department of Defense form DD 214.

(b) Additional proof of experience shall be requested by the department, prior to or after licensing, if the department has reason to believe that the experience shown is insufficient or nonexistent;

(2) One (1) year of HVAC experience shall consist minimally of 1,500 hours of HVAC work in a continuous twelve (12) month period.

Section 6. Inactive License Status.

(1) A licensee may request that his or her license be placed in inactive status.

(2) A master HVAC contractor licensee in inactive status shall not be required to maintain insurance as required by KRS 198B.668.

(3) A license that is in inactive status shall be exempt from annual renewal.

(4) A certified HVAC inspector may be licensed as a master HVAC contractor or licensed as a journeyman HVAC mechanic, but shall place the license in inactive status while having an active HVAC inspector certification.

(5) Performing HVAC work while holding an inactive license shall be grounds for revocation or suspension of all HVAC licenses and certifications held by the licensee.

Section 7. Renewal, Restoration, Reinstatement, and Reactivation Requirements and Procedures.

(1) Filing for renewal. A master HVAC contractor and a journeyman HVAC mechanic shall submit to the department:

(a) A completed Licensing Renewal Application, Form DHBC L-1;

(b)

1. A renewal fee of $250 made payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer for a master HVAC contractor; or

2. A renewal fee of fifty (50) dollars made payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer for a journeyman HVAC mechanic;

(c) Proof of annual continuing education attendance in accordance with 815 KAR 2:010; and

(d) Proof of insurance as required by KRS 198B.668 for a master HVAC contractor.

(2)

(a) Except for a license placed in inactive status, application for license renewal shall be filed no later than the last day of the licensee's birth month.

(b) A license shall be renewed each year.

(c) A license that is not timely renewed shall immediately expire.

(3)

(a) The renewal fee shall be paid prior to renewal.

(b) The department shall send a renewal application notice to each licensee each year to be returned with the required fee.

(4) A renewal application notice filed late, but not more than sixty (60) days after the expiration of the license, shall be accepted, but a restoration fee, as established in Section 8(1) of this administrative regulation, shall be added to the renewal fee.

(5)

(a) A former licensee whose license has terminated as established in KRS 198B.664(3) may have his or her license reinstated if the licensee satisfies the application requirements for renewal as established in subsection 1 of this section and submits a reinstatement fee as established in Section 8(4) of this administrative regulation no later than three (3) years from the date the former license was terminated.

(b) A former licensee seeking licensure under this administrative regulation, but whose terminated license was not timely reinstated as established in paragraph (a) of this subsection, shall be required to satisfy all requirements applicable to new applicants for initial licensure as established in this administrative regulation.

(6) An inactive license shall be reactivated upon payment of the annual renewal fee, the reactivation fee, and upon compliance with the continuing education requirements established in 815 KAR 2:010.

(7) If an initial license is for a period of less than twelve (12) months, the initial license fee shall be reduced on a pro rata basis.

(8) The application for renewal, restoration, reinstatement, or reactivation shall be denied if the applicant fails to:

(a) Pay any applicable department fee;

(b) Comply with the continuing education requirements established in 815 KAR 2:010; or

(c) Provide the current insurance certificate required by KRS 198B.668, if a master HVAC contractor.

(9) A licensee who has not previously provided a passport-sized color photograph shall provide one (1) with the licensee's next application for renewal.

Section 8. Special Service Fees. In addition to the other fees required by this administrative regulation, the special fees established in this section shall also be applied.

(1) Restoration fee.

(a) The fee for restoration of an expired master HVAC contractor license shall be $125.

(b) The fee for restoration of an expired journeyman HVAC mechanic license shall be twenty-five (25) dollars.

(2) Inactive status fee. The fee to place a license into inactive status shall be twenty (20) dollars.

(3) Reactivation fee. The fee for reactivation of an inactive license shall be twenty (20) dollars.

(4) Reinstatement fee.

(a) Master HVAC contractor. The fee for reinstatement of a terminated master contractor shall be $250 for each twelve (12) month period, or additional fraction thereof, following the date the license was terminated, not to exceed $750.

(b) Journeyman HVAC mechanic. The fee for reinstatement of a terminated journeyman HVAC mechanic license shall be fifty (50) dollars for each twelve (12) month period, or additional fraction thereof, following the date the license was terminated, not to exceed $150.

Section 9. Revocation or Suspension of License. A license issued pursuant to this administrative regulation shall be subject to suspension or revocation by the department for any of the reasons stated in KRS 198B.672.

Section 10. Incorporation by Reference.

(1) The following material is incorporated by reference:

(a) "Master HVAC Contractor License Application", Form HVAC 1, April 2023;

(b) "Journeyman HVAC Mechanic License Application", Form HVAC 2, April 2023;

(c) "HVAC Examination Registration Form", Form HVAC-4, March 2022; and

(d) "Licensing Renewal Application," Form DHBC L-1, April 2023.

(2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, Division of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning, 500 Mero Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is available online at http://dhbc.ky.gov.

815 KAR 8:010

21 Ky.R. 1610; eff. 2-10-1995; 22 Ky.R. 792; 1085; eff. 12-7-1995; 2335; 23 Ky.R. 436; eff. 9-11-1996; 24 Ky.R. 950; eff. 12-15-1997; 26 Ky.R. 1705; eff. 5-22-2000; 27 Ky.R. 3368; eff. 8-15-2001; 31 Ky.R. 1902; 32 Ky.R. 79; eff. 7-27-2005; 36 Ky.R. 1347; 1927; eff. 3-5-2010; 41 Ky.R. 1184; eff. 3-6-2015; 45 Ky.R. 800, 1539; eff. 1-4-2019; TAm eff. 5-29-2020; 48 Ky.R. 3056; 49 Ky.R. 813; eff. 1/3/2023; 49 Ky.R. 2141; eff. 12/5/2023.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 198B.654(1), 198B.658, 198B.664, 198B.676(1)