Nebraska HVAC Exam: What to Expect in Omaha, Lincoln, and Grand Island

There's no single "Nebraska HVAC exam." Because the state doesn't issue a statewide mechanical license, each city runs its own testing program — different exam providers, different code references, different passing scores, and different scheduling logistics. Knowing which exam you're sitting for matters as much as studying for it.

Omaha ACAD Exams

Omaha's Air Conditioning and Air Distribution Board contracts with the International Code Council (ICC) for its journeyman and master exams.

Journeyman ACAD exam: Requires a minimum score of 75% to pass. Before you can sit, you need five years of verifiable field experience — or four years as a registered Omaha ACAD apprentice. Up to two years of experience credit is available if you hold a degree from an accredited HVAC program or a valid NATE Core installation certificate. The exam application fee is $64.80, plus a $37.80 initial license fee once you pass.

Master ACAD exam: Also requires 75% on an ICC-administered test. Eligibility requires eight years of ACAD installation experience, or four years as an Omaha-licensed journeyman working under an active master. The exam fee is $81 with a $54 license registration fee.

Both exams test against ICC mechanical code baselines — the International Mechanical Code and International Fuel Gas Code that Omaha has adopted. Confirm the current exam-book rules with the ACAD Board before testing.

Lincoln Mechanical Exams

Lincoln handles its exams internally through the Department of Building and Safety, administered via VisualVault (not through ICC or PSI).

Journeyman mechanical exam: Costs $100 to sit. You need three years of practical experience in the design, layout, and installation of mechanical systems. Lincoln offers education credits: a two-year associate degree in mechanical technology counts as one year, a four-year engineering degree as two years, and a registered Professional Mechanical Engineer in Nebraska gets three years of credit.

Master mechanical exam: The exam fee is $350, with a $150 registration fee. You must hold a valid Lincoln journeyman license for at least one year before sitting. Master exams are offered on the third Wednesday of January, April, July, and October — miss the window and you wait three months.

Both Lincoln exams cover the Lincoln Fuel Gas Code, Lincoln Gas Piping Code, and ICC mechanical code baselines. This is broader than Omaha's scope because Lincoln's mechanical license encompasses gas piping work.

Lincoln also offers testing accommodations for applicants with documented disabilities. Submit a written request with supporting healthcare documentation to the Chief Inspector at least 45 days before the exam date.

Grand Island Exams

Grand Island uses IAPMO (International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials) as its testing provider, which means the exam is based on the 2021 Uniform Mechanical Code — a completely different code family from the ICC-based exams in Omaha and Lincoln.

Journeyman exam: 100 questions, minimum 70% passing score. Candidates must be at least 20 years old.

Master exam: 125 questions, minimum 80% passing score. Requires four years as a journeyman under an active master contractor.

Both Grand Island exams are open-book, but only original, bound code books matching the exam year are permitted. No handwritten notes, no loose sheets, no photocopied sections. If your code book has sticky notes or margin annotations, leave it home and bring a clean copy. Failed candidates must wait 30 days before retaking.

Bellevue Exams

Bellevue routes its mechanical exam candidates through Pearson VUE under the "Contractor/Trade Licensing" category. The city enforces the 2021 International Mechanical Code and Fuel Gas Code. Exam scheduling is handled through the Pearson VUE registration system; Bellevue maintains a separate local fee schedule.

The NSED Specialty Exam Is Separate

If your HVAC work involves electrical connections above 25 volts — which it almost always does — you'll also need to pass the NSED Heating/AC/Refrigeration specialty exam. This is a state-level exam administered entirely separately from any municipal test. It's given at the NSED office in Lincoln on specific scheduled dates, not through PSI or any of the municipal testing providers. You'll need to submit your application to NSED and coordinate the testing date directly with their office.

Study Strategy

The biggest trap is studying the wrong code book. If you're sitting for a Grand Island exam, the Uniform Mechanical Code is your primary reference. For Omaha or Lincoln, you need the International Mechanical Code and the relevant fuel gas codes. Using ICC study materials for an IAPMO-based exam — or vice versa — wastes your preparation time.

The Nebraska HVAC License Guide includes the exam logistics for each city — which codes to study, the testing provider, scheduling windows, and the experience documentation you'll need to submit with your application.

See more Nebraska guides →