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Skilled trades offer unique opportunities for rewarding career paths, especially for adults concerned about the high cost and time commitment of traditional four-year degree programs. When you enter a trade like plumbing, electrical, or HVAC, you can learn on the job and earn a living as you advance in your field. 

With a license from the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction Division of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning, HVAC professionals are permitted to perform activities like installing, maintaining, and repairing HVAC systems and equipment so residential and commercial clients can enjoy comfortable interior settings.  

However, whether you hold a journeyman HVAC mechanic license or a master HVAC contractor license, you must renew it periodically. What does the renewal process entail, and what happens if your license lapses? 

License Renewal Requirements 

It’s common for states to set license expirations based on the date a license was issued, but Kentucky takes a different approach. Much like a driver’s license, your HVAC license will expire during your birth month, although not on your birthday. Instead, it expires on the last day of your birth month. 

To qualify for license renewal, you must complete six hours of approved continuing education (CE). A suitable course will cover topics like: 

• Business 
• Job safety 
• Codes relating to HVAC 
• Subject matter directly related to the HVAC trade 

Although knowing your license renewal falls during your birth month should help you remember, the state also sends license holders a renewal application notice when the deadline approaches. It’s best to complete the required CE well in advance so you don’t miss the renewal date. 

What Happens if You Miss Your Renewal Deadline? 

It is illegal to perform HVAC work in Kentucky without a license. If your license expires, it will either prevent you from working or result in potential penalties like fees and legal action if you continue to work unlicensed. 

The state offers a 60-day grace period if you miss your license renewal date, but you will have to pay an additional restoration fee to renew during this period. If you pass the grace period without renewing, your license will be terminated, and you’ll have to go through a reactivation process, which entails additional fees.  

You have up to two years to complete this process, but again, you will not be able to legally work in HVAC without a valid license. 

Advantages of Using Online Exam Prep 

As a working professional, it can be hard to find time to complete six hours of CE annually. However, it’s easier with an exam prep program designed to fit your schedule, with 24/7 online access to course materials, allowing for self-paced learning.  

You should also choose a program that offers an instant certificate of completion for your records and daily reporting to the state for your convenience. 

RocketCert offers state-approved continuing education courses designed by and for professionals in skilled trades. If it’s time to renew your Kentucky HVAC license, contact us now to sign up for a suitable CE program.