There is no single "HVAC licence" in Canada. The trade is a stack of overlapping certifications, and the one that travels is the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic, coded 313A in Ontario. The 313A is Red Seal designated and compulsory in most provinces, so the C of Q plus a Red Seal endorsement carries nationally, except in Quebec. On top of that, you need separate tickets for the gas-fired and refrigerant sides of the work, and the refrigerant side is governed by federal and provincial environmental law, not just trade certification.
The certifications you actually stack
A working HVAC and refrigeration contractor usually holds several credentials at once:
- 313A, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic (commercial): the Red Seal trade. Compulsory in most provinces and transferable across Canada, except Quebec. This is the ticket that anchors the business.
- A residential air conditioning credential where the province offers one: Ontario, for example, has a separate 313D residential ticket that is not Red Seal and is valid in Ontario only.
- A gas technician certificate (G2 or higher) for any gas-fired equipment such as furnaces and boilers. That is a separate regulated activity (see Starting Out as a Gasfitter in Canada).
- Refrigerant handling certification (ODP): you must hold an ozone-depleting substances (ODP) certification to buy, handle and recover refrigerants, under Environment and Climate Change Canada and provincial environmental rules. Venting refrigerant is an offence; it must be recovered.
Compulsory-versus-voluntary status varies by province, so confirm with your provincial authority before you quote.
The apprenticeship and the refrigerant rule
The 313A path is a long apprenticeship, on the order of 9,000 hours (roughly five years), followed by the C of Q exam and the optional Red Seal exam for interprovincial recognition. Separately, the refrigerant rule is not optional and not a trade-test formality: handling refrigerants without a current ODP certification, or venting them to atmosphere, exposes you to environmental penalties. Recovery equipment and a logged recovery process are part of the job, not an add-on.
Quebec is its own system
As with the other regulated trades, Quebec runs on a CCQ competency card and an RBQ contractor licence, not the Red Seal. A 313A from another province does not by itself let you trade in Quebec.
Code you work to
You work to CSA B52, the Mechanical Refrigeration Code, plus ASHRAE standards and the mechanical provisions of the building code. Most jurisdictions require a municipal permit for equipment replacements. Gas-fired work is additionally done under the gas code (CSA B149.1) and inspected by the gas authority.
Kit and start-up costs (estimates)
Approximate ranges, so confirm current prices:
- Refrigerant recovery and recharge equipment: roughly $3,000 to $8,000.
- Manifold gauges and a refrigerant scale: roughly $500 to $1,500.
- A combustion analyzer for the gas work: roughly $800 to $2,500.
- Sheet metal tools: roughly $2,000 to $5,000.
- A van and ladders: roughly $25,000 to $50,000.
- CGL insurance: roughly $3,000 to $6,000 a year.
A realistic first-year estimate lands around $40,000 to $80,000.
What you can charge (estimates)
Rates vary by region, so treat these as indicative ranges, not fixed prices:
- A service call first hour: roughly $150 to $250.
- A furnace install (supply plus labour): roughly $3,000 to $8,000, depending on efficiency.
- A central air conditioning install: roughly $3,500 to $7,500.
- An annual maintenance contract: roughly $150 to $300 per unit.
Confirm your own numbers against the local market before you quote.
Common mistakes
- Handling refrigerant without current ODP certification. It is a legal and environmental requirement, and venting refrigerant is an offence.
- Assuming 313A covers the gas work. Gas-fired equipment needs a separate gas technician ticket.
- Treating a residential-only ticket as transferable. A provincial residential credential such as Ontario's 313D is valid only in that province; the 313A is the Red Seal one.
- Treating a Red Seal as valid in Quebec. Quebec is the CCQ and RBQ system.
Know someone who needs this?
Keep reading
Was this guide useful?
Didn't find what you were looking for?
Spotted something wrong or out of date? Email us at hello@kilnguides.co.uk.
In crisis? 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline (call or text 988) ·