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Skilled trades are enjoying a recent revival, with high demand for workers in fields like plumbing, electrical, and contract work. With on-the-job training, you can earn a decent salary while you learn your trade and enjoy opportunities for advancement with proper licensing. 

Oklahoma requires that skilled workers be licensed to operate legally, so you must obtain licensure from the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board. What are the requirements to get a license, and what work will you be permitted to perform? 

What Type of Work Is Permitted With a Refrigeration License? 

There are two licenses available to professionals working in refrigeration — journeyman and contractor. As a refrigeration journeyman, you’re permitted to complete a variety of tasks related to electrical components, piping, refrigerants, and refrigeration parts, including: 

• Operation 
• Installation 
• Fabrication 
• Alteration 
• Expansion 
• Maintenance 
• Repair 

However, a journeyman must work under the supervision of a licensed refrigeration contractor. A contractor may complete the same work as a journeyman, but they are also allowed to obtain permits and manage projects and are responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance on jobs. 

How to Obtain Your License 

To get a refrigeration journeyman license, you must be at least 18 years old and provide proof of relevant experience in the field. This could include three years of work experience, with at least 2,000 hours per year. 

You may also qualify through a combination of board-approved education (at least 250 hours), such as an associate’s degree, and one year of work experience. Completing an apprenticeship program may be the most direct path to qualifying for a license. 

Before you apply for a refrigeration contractor license, you must complete an additional year of verified work experience, obtain a $5,000 surety bond, and show proof of general liability insurance. Both licenses also require that you pass associated state exams. 

Testing Requirements 

To obtain a refrigeration journeyman license, you must pass the Refrigeration Journeyman Exam. This open-book test features 60 questions covering topics like: 

• Electrical knowledge and controls 
• Refrigerants 
• Piping 
• Refrigeration equipment and components 
• Refrigeration systems operations 
• Safety 

You will have 150 minutes to complete the exam, and you must answer at least 42 questions (70%) correctly to pass.  

The Refrigeration Contractor Exam covers the same topics but has 80 questions. This open-book exam must be completed in 210 minutes and requires that you answer a minimum of 56 questions (70%) correctly to pass. 

Contractors must also pass the Mechanical Business and Law Exam, consisting of 50 multiple-choice questions about the following topics: 

• Bidding and estimating 
• Project management and supervision 
• Contracts 
• Financial 
• Labor and personnel 
• Risk management 
• Payroll and payroll taxes 
• Licensing requirements 

You will have two hours to complete this open-book exam, and you must answer at least 35 questions (70%) correctly to pass. 

Getting Started With the Right Exam Prep 

As a working professional, you need an exam prep program designed by industry experts and educators that offers self-paced learning with 24/7 online access to course materials. 

If you’re ready to move your career forward by obtaining an Oklahoma refrigeration journeyman or refrigeration contractor license, contact RocketCert to learn more.