Connecticut HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical License Requirements
Last updated 2026. Requirements may change — always verify with your state licensing board.
- Renewal
- Annual — expires August 31
- CE hours
- No CE required for HVAC license renewal
- Initial cost
- $150 contractor license fee + exam fees (~$430 total)
- License types
- S-1 Unlimited Heating, Piping and Cooling Contractor; S-2 Limited; Journeyperson levels
- Experience
- 8,000 hours as journeyperson + 2 years post-journeyperson for contractor; apprenticeship with 144 hours/year classroom
- Exam
- CT Business & Law exam + Trade exam (PSI administered)
- Bond
- Not required at state level
- Insurance
- General liability recommended; workers' comp with employees
- Reciprocity
- No reciprocity agreements with any state for any trade
- Board
- Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP)
- Notes
- Connecticut explicitly states it has no reciprocity for any contractor or trade license. All applicants go through the standard process regardless of existing credentials.
- Renewal
- Annual
- CE hours
- 5 CE hours per 2-year period (unlimited); 3 CE hours per 2-year period (limited)
- Initial cost
- $150 contractor / $120 journeyperson + exam fees
- License types
- P-1 Unlimited Plumbing Contractor, P-2 Unlimited Journeyperson Plumber, Limited classifications
- Experience
- 8,000 hours apprenticeship + additional years for contractor
- Exam
- CT Business & Law exam + Trade exam
- Bond
- Not required
- Insurance
- Workers' comp with employees
- Reciprocity
- None
- Board
- Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP)
- Notes
- Plumbing CE must be completed between Aug 1 of an even-numbered year and July 31 of the next even-numbered year — at least 3 months before renewal.
- Renewal
- Annual
- CE hours
- 4 CE hours per year (due June 30 each year); first-time renewals exempt
- Initial cost
- $150 contractor + exam fees
- License types
- E-1 Unlimited Electrical Contractor, E-2 Limited Electrical Contractor, C-5/C-6 classifications, Journeyperson levels
- Experience
- 8,000 hours apprenticeship + additional years for contractor
- Exam
- CT Business & Law exam + Trade exam
- Bond
- Not required
- Insurance
- Workers' comp with employees
- Reciprocity
- None
- Board
- Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP)
- Notes
- Electrical CE must be completed by June 30 each year — different deadline than the August 31 license expiration. Plan accordingly.
Connecticut licenses all trade contractors through the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) using a well-organized classification system. HVAC uses S-1/S-2 designations, plumbing uses P-1/P-2, and electrical uses E-1/E-2 (with additional C-5/C-6 limited classifications). All require passing both a CT Business & Law exam and a trade-specific exam, administered by PSI.
CE requirements differ by trade — which catches many multi-trade contractors off guard. HVAC has no CE requirement. Plumbing requires 5 hours per 2-year period (unlimited) or 3 hours (limited). Electrical requires 4 hours every year, due by June 30 — not by the August 31 license expiration date. If you hold multiple licenses, track each CE deadline separately.
Connecticut explicitly has no reciprocity agreements with any state for any trade license. This is stated directly on the DCP's licensing pages. Out-of-state contractors must apply through the standard process — no shortcuts regardless of existing credentials.
All licenses expire August 31 each year. Renewal fees are $150 for contractors and $120 for journeypersons across all trades.
TradesIQ tracks each of your Connecticut trade licenses independently — including the different CE deadlines for electrical (June 30) vs. license expiration (August 31) — so nothing slips through the cracks.
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Renewal cycles, CE hours, fees, and licensing board links.
Connecticut
Full Connecticut guide →- Renewal
- Annual — expires August 31
- CE
- No CE required for HVAC license renewal
- Cost
- $150 contractor license fee + exam fees (~$430 total)
- Board
- Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP)
- Renewal
- Annual
- CE
- 5 CE hours per 2-year period (unlimited); 3 CE hours per 2-year period (limited)
- Cost
- $150 contractor / $120 journeyperson + exam fees
- Board
- Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP)
- Renewal
- Annual
- CE
- 4 CE hours per year (due June 30 each year); first-time renewals exempt
- Cost
- $150 contractor + exam fees
- Board
- Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP)
Requirements may change. Always verify with your state licensing board.