New Hampshire HVAC Exam Cost and Registration

The New Hampshire gas fitter exam is a gate you must pass before you can even submit a license application to the OPLC. That sequencing detail — exam first, application second — is the single most common reason applications get rejected or delayed. Technicians who come from states where you apply to the board and then sit for an exam are especially likely to get this backwards.

The Examination-First Rule

Unlike most states, New Hampshire requires you to:

1. Register with an approved third-party testing provider
2. Pay the exam fee
3. Pass the exam and receive your score certificate
4. Then submit your OPLC license application with the passing certificate attached

If you send in your application without a passing exam score, the OPLC will return it as deficient. The $190 application fee is not refunded in that scenario.

Exam Costs

Two separate fees are involved:

• Testing provider fee: $100 for the computerized exam
• OPLC application fee: $190 for individual gas fitter licensing (paid separately, after passing)

Budget roughly $290 total for the exam-through-application sequence, not including the cost of code reference books.

Approved Testing Providers

The Mechanical Licensing Board authorizes specific organizations to administer the gas fitter exam. Current approved providers and training schools in the pathway include:

• NH Gasfitters Continuing Education Online — offers exam registration and testing
• Granite State Trade School — provides both classroom training and exam administration
• NH School of Mechanical Trades — classroom training
• Advanced Trade School — classroom programs with integrated testing
• Prov — a national exam provider that administers mechanical exams in multiple states

The exam is computerized and proctored. You register directly with the testing provider, not with the OPLC. Scheduling availability varies by provider — during busy seasons, exam slots can fill weeks out, so register early rather than assuming walk-in availability.

Exam Format and References

The gas fitter exam is open-book. You are allowed to bring physical copies of:

• 2018 NFPA 54 (National Fuel Gas Code)
• 2017 NFPA 58 (Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code)

These must be physical books — electronic devices are not permitted during the exam. Both codes are available from NFPA's website and through trade bookstores. Buying used copies is fine as long as the editions match.

The exam covers gas piping sizing, appliance venting requirements, clearance distances, testing procedures, and safety protocols. The specific content varies by the license tier you are testing for — the Service Technician exam covers diagnostics and troubleshooting topics that the Piping Installer exam does not.

Passing Scores

The minimum passing score ranges from 70% to 75% depending on the license tier. This is straightforward, but be aware that you will not know your exact score threshold until you are in the exam — check with your testing provider for the specific cutoff for your credential tier.

After an unsuccessful attempt, check with the testing provider about retake eligibility, fees, and scheduling before booking again.

After You Pass

With your exam certificate in hand, you can submit the OPLC license application. The complete application packet includes:

• Universal Application for Initial Licensure
• License-specific addendum form
• Affidavit for Proof of Field/Work Experience (signed by your supervising fitter)
• Photocopy of government-issued photo ID
• Exam certificate from the approved provider
• $190 application fee

The board has a 30-day statutory window to notify you of any deficiencies. If you receive a deficiency notice, you have 60 days to provide the corrective documents — after that, the application is automatically denied and fees are forfeited.

The New Hampshire HVAC License Guide includes a pre-submission checklist for the complete application packet so nothing gets missed in the filing sequence.

See more New Hampshire guides →