Michigan HVAC Experience Affidavit — How to Document Your 6,000 Hours

Why the Affidavit Is the Hardest Part of Your Michigan HVAC License

Most technicians applying for a Michigan Mechanical Contractor license already have the hands-on hours. The problem is proving it. Under MCL 339.5807, LARA requires a minimum of three years — 6,000 hours — of documented field experience for each classification you want on your license. Self-certified hours don't count. Neither do general employment letters that say "worked as an HVAC tech from 2019 to 2024."

The state demands a signed statement under penalty of perjury from each contractor of record who acted as an employer for the hours you're claiming. LARA's licensing section rejects vague descriptions. Getting this documentation right is what separates applicants who get their Authorization to Test in four weeks from those who wait months chasing paperwork corrections.

What the Affidavit Must Include

Each employer affidavit needs to contain specific technical detail about the work you performed. LARA reviewers are looking for:

• Hours broken down by classification — If you're applying for Classification B (HVAC Equipment) and Classification C (Ductwork), the affidavit must show hours separately for each.
• Technical descriptions of work performed — Equipment BTU ratings, venting and duct configurations, fuel classes (natural gas, propane), and refrigerant types handled. "Performed residential HVAC service" will get your application sent back.
• Employer's contractor license number — The statement must identify the present or former contractor of record who acted as your mechanical contractor employer, including the applicable license number.
• Signature under penalty of perjury — The statement must be signed under penalty of perjury, not just signed and dated.

Think of the affidavit as a technical resume that someone else writes about you, under oath. The more specific it is, the faster LARA processes your application.

When Your Former Employer Won't Sign

This is more common than you'd expect. Former employers sometimes refuse — competitive concerns, company policy, or they just don't want the hassle. Michigan law accounts for this with a formal appeal process through the Board of Mechanical Rules.

Here's the procedure:

1. Send a notarized copy of the verification form to your former employer via certified mail with return receipt requested.
2. Wait 30 days. If the employer doesn't respond or refuses to sign, you can file a formal appeal with the Board of Mechanical Rules.
3. Your appeal must include the certified mail receipt, proof of delivery, and supplemental documentation — W-2 forms, pay stubs, or tax transcripts that prove you worked there.
4. The Board reviews these disputes at their quarterly meetings, so factor in at least a 3-month timeline on top of the 30-day waiting period.

The Board scrutinizes these appeals heavily. Having clear W-2s that match the employment period you're claiming is essential. Without them, the appeal is unlikely to succeed.

Military Service Credit

Veterans with qualifying active-duty mechanical experience and an honorable discharge or general discharge under honorable conditions can receive credit under MCL 339.5807(3)-(4). You'll need:

• DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty)
• DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214, if applicable)
• An experience affidavit or letter signed by a commanding officer, supervisor, or military superior detailing the mechanical work you performed

The statute treats qualifying military service as experience toward the classification requirement. If you have six years of documented military mechanical service, that documented work may satisfy the 6,000-hour requirement, subject to LARA's review. The affidavit or letter needs technical specifics about equipment types, systems worked on, and hours per classification.

Trade School and Apprenticeship Credits

LARA grants a maximum of one year (2,000 hours) of experience credit for completing an approved 2-year (or equivalent) HVAC technical program or a U.S. Department of Labor-approved apprenticeship program. This reduces your field requirement from three years to two years.

To claim education credit, submit:

• Official college transcripts (not photocopies) showing completion of the mechanical program
• A copy of your certificate or associate degree
• For apprenticeships, the Certificate of Completion from the DOL-approved program

The one-year cap means education can supplement field experience but can't replace it entirely. You still need at least 4,000 hours of verifiable contractor-supervised work to meet the minimum threshold.

Putting It All Together

Before you submit your application to LARA and pay the $300 non-refundable fee, run through this documentation checklist:

• Affidavits secured from every employer you're claiming hours under
• Each statement is signed under penalty of perjury and includes classification-specific hour breakdowns
• Technical descriptions reference actual equipment specs, not generic job titles
• Education credit transcripts are official and attached (if applicable)
• Military service documentation includes DD-214 and a command-signed affidavit or letter (if applicable)
• No gaps in the timeline that LARA reviewers will flag

Getting the experience documentation locked down before you apply saves you from the most common delay in Michigan's licensing process — and helps you avoid paying the $300 nonrefundable fee again if you must reapply.

The Michigan HVAC License Guide walks through every step of the experience verification process, including affidavit templates and classification-specific examples that match what LARA reviewers actually look for.

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