- What Is the MD-JHVACR, Exactly?
- Who Issues and Administers the Exam
- Eligibility: What You Need Before You Apply
- Exam Format, Timing, and Scoring
- The Six Content Domains
- Approved References and What You Can Bring
- Fees, Retakes, and Licensing After You Pass
- Who Actually Needs This Credential
- How to Sequence Your Study Around the Domains
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The MD-JHVACR is a 100-question, open-book, computer-administered exam with a 240-minute limit and 70% passing standard.
- PSI Services LLC administers the exam on behalf of the Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors.
- Eligibility requires an active Maryland HVACR apprentice license, four years as a licensed apprentice, and 6,000 supervised training hours.
- Refrigeration and Air Conditioning is the largest domain, with 25 of 100 items.
What Is the MD-JHVACR, Exactly?
The MD-JHVACR is the Maryland Journeyman HVACR License Exam - the full journeyman-level test administered for candidates seeking a Maryland HVACR journeyman license, distinct from the state's Journeyman Restricted pathway. It is not a national certification or a manufacturer credential; it is a state licensing exam tied directly to Maryland's Business Regulation statute and overseen by the Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors.
Passing the MD-JHVACR demonstrates that a candidate has the electrical, mechanical, and safety knowledge required to work as a licensed journeyman in Maryland, under the direction and control of an appropriately licensed contractor. If you're just starting to research this credential, it helps to read a broader breakdown like What Is MD-JHVACR? or the plain-language explainer at MD-JHVACR Meaning before diving into logistics.
Who Issues and Administers the Exam
Two entities matter here. The Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors sets the licensing rules, eligibility requirements, and the legal framework under Business Regulation section 9A-302. PSI Services LLC is the testing vendor that actually delivers the computer-administered exam and manages scheduling once your application is approved.
You do not schedule your exam directly. You apply through PSI with documented eligibility, and approval must happen before you can book a testing appointment. This two-step process - Board eligibility review, then PSI scheduling - trips up candidates who assume they can register the same way they'd sign up for a generic certification test.
Eligibility: What You Need Before You Apply
Current Maryland eligibility rules require:
- An active Maryland HVACR apprentice license
- At least four years as a licensed apprentice
- 6,000 hours of supervised training accumulated during that apprenticeship period
These requirements are subject to Board-approved credit or exemption routes in certain cases. Notably, graduates of an approved Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council program who apply for licensure within two years of graduation qualify for a journeyman exam-waiver route - meaning some candidates may not need to sit the exam at all if they meet that timing window.
Key Takeaway
Always check the current Board requirements and Business Regulation section 9A-302 directly rather than relying on older eligibility language that may appear in outdated bulletins. Requirements can be updated, and the statute is the authoritative source.
For a full breakdown of documentation, apprenticeship credit, and how the waiver route works, see MD-JHVACR Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Exam Format, Timing, and Scoring
The MD-JHVACR is a computer-administered, open-book examination consisting of 100 multiple-choice questions. Candidates have a 240-minute time limit, and the passing standard is 70%. Being open-book doesn't make it easy - it means you're expected to know where to find information quickly in your approved references rather than memorize every code table, and the question volume relative to the time limit still demands real fluency with the material.
| Exam Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Question count | 100 multiple-choice questions |
| Time limit | 240 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Format | Computer-administered, open-book |
| Administered by | PSI Services LLC |
If you want a deeper dive into what "70%" actually requires in terms of correct answers and how scoring is applied, read MD-JHVACR Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass. For scheduling logistics and windows, see MD-JHVACR Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
The Six Content Domains
The blueprint, sourced from the Board-linked PSI bulletin updated September 1, 2024, breaks the 100 questions into six domains with the following official item allocations:
Domain 1: Electrical Knowledge, Motors, and Controls - 20 items
Covers electrical fundamentals as applied to HVACR systems, motor types, and control circuits used in residential and light commercial equipment.
- Motor starting and control components
- Circuit troubleshooting logic
Domain 2: Piping - 15 items
Focuses on refrigerant and system piping practices, sizing, and installation standards relevant to journeyman-level work.
- Piping materials and joining methods
- Line sizing considerations
Domain 3: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning - 25 items
The largest domain on the exam. Candidates must understand refrigeration cycles, AC system components, and diagnostic approaches.
- Refrigerant cycle fundamentals
- Equipment sizing and load-related concepts
Domain 4: Heating Systems - 20 items
Covers combustion, heat exchangers, and heating equipment installation and service knowledge.
- Heating equipment types and controls
- Venting and combustion basics
Domain 5: Air Distribution Systems - 15 items
Ductwork design principles, airflow, and distribution equipment as they apply to journeyman fieldwork.
- Duct sizing and airflow concepts
- Distribution equipment troubleshooting
Domain 6: Safety - 5 items
The smallest domain by item count but still essential, covering job-site safety practices referenced against OSHA standards.
- General safety practices on HVACR job sites
Because Refrigeration and Air Conditioning carries the heaviest weight at 25 items, it deserves proportionally more study time than any other domain. For a domain-by-domain study breakdown with more detail on subtopics within each area, see MD-JHVACR Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 6 Content Areas.
Approved References and What You Can Bring
Because the exam is open-book, knowing exactly which references are approved - and how you're allowed to mark them up - is part of your preparation strategy. Approved references include:
- IMC 2012 (International Mechanical Code)
- Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning - 19th, 20th, or 21st edition
- ACCA Manual J, 2006 eighth edition
- The listed OSHA 29 CFR 1926 reference
- ACCA Ductulator
You're permitted to use advance highlighting and permanent tabs in your reference materials. However, handwritten reference notes, loose papers, and study guides are prohibited inside the testing room. A silent, nonprogrammable calculator without an alphabetic keyboard is allowed.
For a compact review of terminology and formulas you'll want at your fingertips (separate from the physical references you bring), check MD-JHVACR Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts.
Fees, Retakes, and Licensing After You Pass
The exam fee is $150 per attempt. Once you pass and complete licensure, the journeyman-license fee is $25 under the Board's fee schedule effective July 1, 2025. These are two separate charges - the testing fee paid to sit for the exam, and the licensing fee paid to actually receive your journeyman license after passing.
If you don't pass on your first attempt, current Board retake guidance requires waiting 30 days before reapplying after the first failure, and 60 days for any subsequent retake requests. This waiting period is a good planning consideration if you're weighing how quickly you could realistically retest.
Licenses renew for two-year terms, and the Board currently requires no continuing-education credits for renewal. If you're relocating, Delaware and Virginia reciprocity is available, requiring an equivalent active license, qualifying experience, and Board approval - but it is not automatic.
For a full cost breakdown including how the exam fee and license fee stack up against total time investment, see MD-JHVACR Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Who Actually Needs This Credential
The MD-JHVACR matters for HVACR apprentices in Maryland who have completed their required supervised hours and apprenticeship term and want to move into journeyman-level work. Since journeyman services remain under the direction and control of an appropriately licensed contractor, this exam is a career-progression milestone rather than a path to independent contracting on its own.
Employers hiring for residential and light commercial HVACR service, installation, and maintenance roles in Maryland typically look for this license once a technician has moved beyond apprentice-level supervision requirements. If you're weighing the career impact, MD-JHVACR Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis and Is the MD-JHVACR Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 are useful next reads. For job-market context specific to license holders, see MD-JHVACR Jobs.
How to Sequence Your Study Around the Domains
Given the fixed item allocations, your study time should roughly mirror domain weight rather than being spread evenly across all six areas. A practical sequencing approach:
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (25 items)
- Build deep fluency here first since it's the single largest domain
- Work through Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning chapters tied to cycle diagnostics
Electrical Knowledge, Motors, and Controls / Heating Systems (20 items each)
- Split time between these two equally-weighted domains
- Practice motor and control wiring scenarios alongside heating equipment logic
Piping / Air Distribution Systems (15 items each)
- Review piping sizing rules and duct/airflow calculations together
- Practice with the ACCA Ductulator since it's an approved reference
Safety (5 items) + Full Review
- Confirm OSHA 29 CFR 1926 reference points are tabbed
- Run full-length timed practice under the 240-minute limit
This isn't a generic study calendar - it's built around the exact 20/15/25/20/15/5 item split so your heaviest study hours land on the domain that decides the most points. For a more detailed walkthrough of pacing, question strategy, and common pitfalls, see MD-JHVACR Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt and How Hard Is the MD-JHVACR Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026. You can also run full-length simulated exams on our practice test platform to get comfortable with the 100-question, 240-minute format before test day.
Key Takeaway
Study time should follow the blueprint's item weights: prioritize Refrigeration and Air Conditioning first, then split time across the two 20-item domains, then the two 15-item domains, and finish with a light review of the 5-item Safety domain.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The MD-JHVACR refers specifically to the full HVACR Journeyman examination, which is distinct from Maryland's Journeyman Restricted licensing pathway.
The exam has 100 multiple-choice questions with a 240-minute time limit, and you need a 70% score to pass.
No. Handwritten reference notes, loose papers, and study guides are prohibited. You may use advance highlighting and permanent tabs in your approved reference books, along with a silent, nonprogrammable calculator without an alphabetic keyboard.
Current Board retake guidance requires waiting 30 days before reapplying after a first failure, and 60 days before subsequent retake requests.
No. Licenses renew for two-year terms, and the Board currently requires no continuing-education credits for renewal.