DeAngelo Bill Clarifying Training Requirements for HVACR Contractors Signed into Law

Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo clarifying training requirements of certain HVACR contactors was signed into law by Governor Murphy Friday. “HVACR is an incredibly lucrative and necessary field, and this law is designed to encourage people with a certain set of hands-on and entrepreneurial skills to get involved,” said DeAngelo (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “We need talented individuals filling the skills gap we currently have, and I believe this law will help remedy this.” The law (A-3704) clarifies the training requirements for qualification as a Master HVACR contractor under the same State HVACR law. Previous law required applicants for licensure as Master HVACR contractors to have at least five years of experience working in the HVACR contracting business, with at least four of the five years spent in an HVACR apprenticeship or other training program approved by the United States Department of Labor. This law provides that the other training programs, in lieu of an HVACR apprenticeship, may include, but are not limited to, steamfitter, pipefitter, or sheet metal apprenticeship programs approved by the United States Department of Labor. This is relevant because plumbers and pipefitters are presently not certified for HVACR work immediately upon graduation from apprenticeship school, despite being trained specifically to construct and install HVACR systems such as ducts, pipe fitting and steam fitting. This law will change that. The law was advanced by the General Assembly a vote of 74-0 on June 21 and was initially moved through the Assembly Regulated Professions Committee on June 11.