Maryland Master Restricted Air Conditioning Contractor Exam Book Package

Maryland Master Restricted Air Conditioning Contractor Exam Book Package

If you’re working toward the Maryland Master Restricted Air Conditioning Contractor exam, your prep gets a lot easier when your core references are already in place. This book package brings together the key code and technical resources commonly used to build exam-day confidence—plus a Business and Trade course to help you strengthen the professional knowledge that supports real-world contracting work.

This package is built for serious candidates who want to study with the same types of materials they’ll rely on in the field: mechanical code application, refrigeration and air conditioning fundamentals, residential load calculations, and jobsite safety standards. Instead of piecing together your study stack one book at a time, you can start preparing with a structured set of references and a course designed to keep your progress consistent.

Whether you’re brushing up on equipment sizing, refining troubleshooting skills, or getting faster at finding answers inside code language, the goal is the same: create a repeatable study routine that prepares you to perform under timed test conditions.

Exam Details

Exam: Master Restricted Air Conditioning (Maryland HVACR)

Testing provider: PSI administers Maryland HVACR licensing examinations for the Board.

• Number of questions: 50
• Minimum passing score: 70%
• Time allowed: 120 minutes
• Exam fee (Master Restricted Air Conditioning): $50

The official content outline for the Master Restricted / Journeyman Restricted Air Conditioning exam covers multiple knowledge areas, including electrical knowledge, piping, refrigeration and air conditioning, and safety. The outline also emphasizes applied trade understanding—exactly the kind of knowledge that improves when you study from real code language and technical references instead of disconnected notes.

• Electrical knowledge, motors, and controls: AC/DC circuits, DC circuits, electric motors, and controls
• Piping: blueprints/schematics, materials and applications, installation requirements, joints and connections, hangers/supports, valves and fittings, testing and troubleshooting, and piping insulation
• Refrigeration and air conditioning: theory, refrigerants, equipment sizing and design, equipment/components, installation, and system operation/troubleshooting/maintenance
• Safety: core jobsite safety expectations used in HVACR work environments

Open Book Test

The Maryland Master Restricted Air Conditioning Contractor examination is an OPEN BOOK exam. Candidates may bring reference books into the testing room, and reference books may be indexed and may contain highlighted or underlined text. The exam rules state that materials must be unmarked (not written in) and may not contain additional papers (loose or attached). The testing center does not provide references, and only the approved references are allowed in the testing room.

Because open-book exams reward speed and navigation, your preparation should include two parallel skills:

• Concept mastery: knowing what the code or technical standard is saying and when to apply it
• Reference navigation: quickly locating the relevant section, table, or requirement without wasting time

That’s why this package is designed to support both—helping you learn the content while also training you to work efficiently with the references that matter most.

Licensing Steps

1. Confirm eligibility for the Master Restricted category: Review the experience and licensing requirements for Maryland’s HVACR Master Restricted pathway so you know you’re applying under the correct category and specialty.
2. Apply to sit for the exam: Maryland HVACR candidates submit an application with PSI to sit for the test, and PSI reviews the application to determine eligibility.
3. Schedule and take the PSI examination: PSI administers the HVACR licensing examinations by appointment at Maryland test centers.
4. Pass the exam and complete the licensing process: After passing the examination, the Board mails an application for original licensure.

State Requirements

Maryland’s HVACR Master Restricted license is a statewide credential that authorizes installation and maintenance work in one or more HVACR specialty areas, including air conditioning. The Master Restricted pathway includes specific experience, licensure, and exam requirements.

Eligibility and experience (Master Restricted): Maryland outlines requirements that include being licensed at a journeyman level (or higher), active experience under appropriate direction and control, meeting minimum work-hour expectations, and passing the Master Restricted examination with the required score.

Insurance requirements (when applicable): Certain individuals holding Master, Master Restricted, or Limited Contractor licenses must carry personal liability and property damage insurance coverage. The bulletin lists minimum coverage amounts of $300,000 personal liability and $100,000 property damage (combined total $400,000 per occurrence) for qualifying situations such as owner-operators, contractors who approve HVACR contracts on behalf of a company, and those who plan to pull permits.

Advertising and identification requirements (for qualifying licensees): The Maryland HVACR candidate bulletin also describes requirements to display the Maryland HVACR license number (category and registration number) on vehicles used in providing HVACR services and in advertisements for owner-operated or responsible-contractor situations.

This page focuses on exam preparation and study readiness. For your application and compliance steps, use the current Maryland HVACR guidance and PSI instructions for your category and specialty.

Reference Books

This package includes the following study resources for Maryland Master Restricted Air Conditioning exam preparation and trade skill reinforcement:

• International Mechanical Code, 2018
  Supports code-based installation and mechanical system requirements. Building comfort with code language, definitions, and key sections can make it easier to answer code-driven questions efficiently.
• Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, 22nd Edition
  A comprehensive technical reference to strengthen refrigeration and air conditioning knowledge, from fundamentals through components, operation, and troubleshooting. Ideal for building deeper understanding that supports exam performance and field decision-making.
• Residential Load Calculation – Manual J, 8th Edition
  Helps you sharpen residential sizing and load calculation concepts so you can interpret requirements, make informed decisions, and understand how sizing principles connect to safe and effective HVAC performance.
• Code of Federal Regulations – 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  Builds familiarity with construction safety standards and jobsite expectations. Safety knowledge is not only essential for exam content areas, but also for professional contracting practice.

Important reference alignment note: Maryland’s HVACR candidate bulletin lists approved exam-room references for the Master Restricted / Journeyman Restricted Air Conditioning examination, including the International Mechanical Code (2012 or 2018), Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (19th, 20th, or 21st Edition), Manual J (Eighth Edition), Code of Federal Regulations – 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA), and the ACCA Ductulator (duct slide rule). This package is designed to help you study with the right categories of materials and build strong reference navigation habits.

Test Information and Study Materials

To prepare efficiently for a timed, open-book HVACR exam, your study plan should mirror how the questions are built: applied trade scenarios that require you to interpret information, choose correct requirements, and solve practical problems. The official outline reinforces that approach across core systems knowledge areas.

Here are practical, study-focused ways to use the materials in this package to match the exam outline:

• Electrical knowledge, motors, and controls: Review fundamentals (AC/DC concepts, motor behavior, and controls logic) and practice identifying what a question is asking before you hunt for a detail. Many missed questions come from rushing the interpretation—not from lacking a book.
• Piping: Train yourself to read the question like a job plan: identify materials, installation constraints, and testing/troubleshooting steps. Use a consistent method—definitions first, then requirements, then any tables or exceptions.
• Refrigeration and air conditioning: Use your refrigeration and air conditioning reference to strengthen understanding of refrigerants, sizing logic, components, installation, and troubleshooting. Aim to connect “what should happen” in a system to “what’s happening” in a scenario.
• Manual J sizing mindset: Load calculations can be intimidating if you treat them like isolated math. Approach them as comfort-and-safety decisions: inputs, assumptions, and correct interpretation. Make sure you know what each factor represents and how it changes outcomes.
• Safety and OSHA readiness: Build familiarity with common standards and responsibilities. Safety questions often reward candidates who know where a rule lives and what it requires—so indexing and structured review can make a real difference.

Open-book exams still require preparation. The strongest candidates are the ones who can (1) recognize the correct path to an answer and (2) confirm it quickly inside the right reference. That’s the difference between “having the books” and “using the books well.”

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

Preparing for a Maryland HVACR Master Restricted Air Conditioning exam is about more than collecting references—it’s about learning how to use them with purpose. 1 Exam Prep supports your progress with structured, trade-focused study guidance that helps you build both knowledge and exam-day efficiency.

• Organized study guidance: Instead of bouncing between chapters and random topics, you can follow a clear path that helps you build momentum and stay consistent.
• Trade-focused review: The content is aligned to real HVACR decision-making—so your study time supports both exam readiness and practical confidence.
• Practice-oriented preparation: You’re encouraged to apply what you learn through review and scenario-style thinking, so concepts stick and become easier to recall under timed conditions.
• Reference navigation (when applicable): Open-book success depends on speed and accuracy. Building the habit of finding information quickly helps you stay calm and productive throughout the exam.
• Confidence-building structure: A clear plan reduces overwhelm and helps you track progress—so you know what you’ve covered, what needs review, and what to prioritize next.

This package is designed to support serious candidates with the materials and learning structure needed to prepare strategically—so you can walk into the exam focused, prepared, and ready to work through questions with a method you trust.

FAQ

Who is this book package for?

This package is designed for candidates preparing for the Maryland Master Restricted Air Conditioning Contractor exam who want to study with core HVACR code and technical references, along with a Business and Trade course to strengthen professional readiness.

How many questions are on the Maryland Master Restricted Air Conditioning exam?

The Maryland Master Restricted Air Conditioning examination is listed as 50 questions.

What score do I need to pass?

The Maryland HVACR candidate bulletin lists a minimum passing score of 70% for the Master Restricted / Journeyman Restricted Air Conditioning examination.

How long is the exam?

The time allowed for the Master Restricted / Journeyman Restricted Air Conditioning examination is listed as 120 minutes.

Is the Maryland Master Restricted Air Conditioning exam open book?

Yes. The candidate bulletin states this examination is an open-book examination and allows approved reference books to be brought into the testing room under specific material rules.

Can I highlight or tab my books?

The candidate bulletin states reference books may be indexed and may contain highlighted or underlined text, and it also outlines tab rules. It also states materials must be unmarked (not written in) and may not contain additional papers (loose or attached).

Are the reference books provided at the test center?

No. The candidate bulletin states references are not provided at the test center and only the approved references are allowed in the testing room.

Does this package guarantee I will pass?

No. This package and course are designed to support structured study and reference-based preparation, but exam outcomes depend on your experience, preparation, and performance on test day.