18VAC50-30-39. Qualifications for examination approval for a tradesman, gas fitter, liquefied petroleum gas fitter, or natural gas fitter provider license.
A. An applicant for examination to be licensed as a residential HVAC tradesman or residential plumber tradesman must furnish evidence that one of the following experience and education standards has been attained:
Education | Experience |
160 hours of formal vocational training in the trade | Two years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired |
120 hours of formal vocational training in the trade | Three years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired |
80 hours of formal vocational training in the trade | Four years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired |
40 hours of formal vocational training in the trade | Five years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired |
None | Six years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired |
B. An applicant for examination to be licensed as a journeyman electrician, plumber, or HVAC tradesman must furnish evidence that one of the following experience and education standards has been attained:
Education | Experience |
Bachelor's degree in an engineering curriculum related to the trade | One year of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired |
Associate degree or a certificate of completion from at least a two-year program in a tradesman-related field | Two years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired |
240 hours of formal vocational training in the trade | Four years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired |
160 hours of formal vocational training in the trade | Five years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired |
80 hours of formal vocational training in the trade | Six years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired |
40 hours of formal vocational training in the trade | Seven years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired |
None | Eight years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired |
C. An applicant for examination to be licensed as a journeyman liquefied petroleum gas fitter, natural gas fitter provider, or gas fitter tradesman must furnish evidence that one of the following experience and education standards has been attained:
License | Education | Experience |
Journeyman liquefied petroleum gas fitter or natural gas fitter provider | 80 hours of formal vocational training in the trade | Four years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired |
40 hours of formal vocational training in the trade | Five years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired | |
Journeyman gas fitter | Bachelor's degree in an engineering curriculum related to the trade | One year of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired |
Associate degree or a certificate of completion from at least a two-year program in a tradesman-related field | Two years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired | |
120 hours of formal vocational training in the trade | Four years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired | |
80 hours of formal vocational training in the trade | Five years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired | |
40 hours of formal vocational training in the trade | Six years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired | |
None | Eight years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired |
D. An applicant for examination to be licensed as a master in a trade must furnish evidence that one of the following experience standards has been attained:
1. Having held a valid residential HVAC tradesman or residential plumber tradesman license in the trade for which licensure is desired for three years;
2. Having held a valid journeyman license in the trade for which licensure is desired for a minimum of one year; or
3. Nine years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-201 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 41, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 2025.