Iowa HVAC Exam
Two-Step Process: Board Approval, Then Kirkwood
You can't just book an exam slot. Iowa's mechanical trade exams require pre-approval from the Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board (PMSB) before you can schedule with the testing provider.
Step 1 — Submit an Exam Approval Application to the PMSB through the DIAL portal. This costs $35 per trade discipline. The board reviews your experience documentation (apprenticeship completion for journeyperson, two years of journeyperson work for master) and issues an authorization letter once approved.
Step 2 — Take that authorization to Kirkwood Community College, which administers all PMSB trade exams. Register through Kirkwood's State Disciplines portal and schedule your test session. Kirkwood charges $119 per exam attempt, paid directly to them.
Kirkwood operates 15 testing locations across Iowa, so you're not locked into traveling to Cedar Rapids. Check their portal for available dates at the site nearest you.
Journeyman vs. Master Exam
The two exams differ in scope:
For the HVAC-Refrigeration exams, the documented format is:
| Journeyperson | Master | |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 75 | 100 |
| Time limit | 3 hours | 4 hours |
| Passing score | 75% | 75% |
| Prerequisite | Completed 4-year apprenticeship | 2 years licensed journeyperson work |
Both exams are computer-based. The documented reference materials include the 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) and the 2024 NFPA 54 (National Fuel Gas Code). Confirm current candidate instructions for any discipline-specific content.
Open-Book Rules
Both exams allow reference materials. You can bring:
- 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — the currently adopted edition
- 2024 NFPA 54 (National Fuel Gas Code)
- Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning — the standard industry reference text
Books can be highlighted and tabbed with permanent index tabs. The tabs need to be the permanent, adhesive-backed kind — not removable sticky notes. No handwritten notes or loose papers are allowed inside the books.
This is a significant advantage if you prepare your reference materials well. Tab the sections you reference most — equipment clearances, duct sizing tables, fuel gas piping requirements — and you can look up answers during the exam instead of memorizing every code provision.
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If You Don't Pass
A failed attempt isn't the end. You must re-register with Kirkwood, pay the $119 exam fee again, and schedule a new test session.
The $35 PMSB pre-approval fee is separate from Kirkwood's per-attempt examination fee.
What Happens After You Pass
Passing the exam doesn't automatically give you a license. You still need to submit a Post-Examination Licensure Application to DIAL. The license fee is prorated based on the current three-year cycle (July 2026–June 2029): up to $180 for a journeyperson, up to $240 for a master.
Your individual trade license must be active before you can apply for the contractor license that authorizes your business to bid on projects and pull permits. The exam is the technical gate; the contractor application is the business gate.
For a complete walkthrough of the exam preparation logistics, post-exam application steps, and the full licensing sequence, the Iowa HVAC License Guide covers everything from exam booking through your first permit pull.
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