When building owners need to plan a central air conditioning system, the first question they face is often not "which brand to choose," but "who should design it." Taiwan's HVAC professional personnel system is divided into two major tracks: "Licensed Engineers" and "Technicians." While the names may seem similar, they represent fundamentally different qualification thresholds, scopes of practice, and legal responsibilities. As the first article in our "Professional Standards" series, this piece clarifies this industry's most basic yet most commonly confused distinction.

Why Do You Need an HVAC Licensed Engineer? Series
  1. HVAC Licensed Engineer vs. Technician: Professional Licensing System (This Article)
  2. Building Code Article 13 and Engineering Certification
  3. Central AC System Selection Guide
  4. HVAC Engineering Procurement and Government Bidding

1. Two Systems, Two Tracks

Taiwan's HVAC professional personnel certification falls under two entirely separate legal frameworks[1]:

  • Licensed Engineer (Professional Engineer): Administered by the Examination Yuan under the Professional Engineers Act, this is a national senior-level examination equivalent to those for architects, lawyers, and other specialized professionals. Those who pass receive the "Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineering" professional engineer qualification and can perform engineering planning, design, construction supervision, and certification services
  • Technician: Administered by the Ministry of Labor under the Vocational Training Act, this skills certification is divided into Class A, B, and C levels. Holders demonstrate technical proficiency in HVAC installation and repair — this is a skills certification rather than an engineering professional certification

Key Differences

  • Examination Authority: Licensed engineers are examined by the Examination Yuan (national examination); technicians are examined by the Ministry of Labor (skills certification)
  • Education Requirements: Licensed engineers must hold a university degree in a related field and pass the senior-level examination; Class A technicians require relevant work experience, while Class B and C have lower thresholds
  • Scope of Practice: Licensed engineers can perform engineering design, certification, and construction supervision; technicians are responsible for installation, repair, and maintenance operations
  • Legal Liability: Licensed engineers bear legal responsibility (both criminal and civil) for the engineering designs they certify; technicians are responsible for construction quality
  • Nationwide Numbers: Approximately 500 licensed HVAC engineers; tens of thousands of technicians (across all Class A, B, and C levels)

2. The Class A/B/C Classification of the HVAC Industry

The Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Management Act[2] classifies HVAC businesses into three tiers based on capital, technical personnel requirements, and project capacity:

  • Class A: Requires capital of NT$20 million or more, must employ a licensed HVAC engineer, and may undertake HVAC projects of any scale
  • Class B: Requires capital of NT$5 million or more, must employ Class A technicians or personnel with equivalent qualifications, with a limited scope of projects
  • Class C: Requires capital of NT$1.5 million or more, may undertake small-scale HVAC installation and maintenance projects

It is worth noting that an engineering office (established under the Professional Engineers Act) operates as a parallel practice model alongside engineering companies (registered under the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Management Act). An engineering office is led by the licensed engineer and specializes exclusively in engineering planning, design, construction supervision, and certification — it does not engage in construction or installation. This relationship is analogous to that between an architecture firm and a construction company[3].

3. Why "Engineer Certification" Is Indispensable

Article 13 of the Building Code stipulates that the specialized engineering portions of buildings with five or more floors, or buildings intended for public use, must be designed and certified by a licensed professional engineer in the relevant field[4]. This means:

  • HVAC system design for large commercial buildings, hospitals, and factories is legally required to be certified by a licensed HVAC engineer
  • Engineer certification is more than just "stamping a document" — the engineer assumes legal responsibility for the design's rationality, safety, and regulatory compliance
  • Engineering designs without proper engineer certification will fail to pass building permit reviews and occupancy permit applications

We will explore the detailed certification requirements and case studies in depth in the next article in this series.

4. How Building Owners Can Evaluate an Engineering Team's Qualifications

For building owners, evaluating the professional qualifications of an HVAC engineering team can be approached from the following perspectives:

  • Verify Engineer Credentials: You can check a licensed engineer's practice registration status through the Examination Yuan or the National Federation of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers Associations
  • Confirm Company Registration Level: The Class A/B/C registration of an HVAC business determines the scope of projects it may undertake
  • Distinguish Between Design and Construction: Quality engineering projects typically separate the design (engineering office) from construction (engineering company), ensuring design independence and objective construction supervision
  • Review Past Projects: Request design case studies of similar project types and owner references

5. The Value and Future of the Licensed Engineer System

The core value of the HVAC licensed engineer system lies in "professional independence" — engineers are not affiliated with any equipment brand or contractor, and their recommendations are based on engineering expertise rather than commercial interests. This independence is particularly important in central HVAC system planning and design: system selection should be based on building requirements, energy efficiency analysis, and lifecycle cost rather than the sales interests of a specific brand[5].

With the development of green buildings, net-zero emissions, and smart buildings, the complexity of HVAC engineering continues to increase. The role of licensed engineers in energy-efficient design, regulatory compliance, and professional certification will become even more critical.

Conclusion

The difference between licensed engineers and technicians is not a matter of educational background or certification difficulty, but rather the division of roles within the engineering quality assurance system. Licensed engineers are responsible for "getting it right" — ensuring design rationality and safety; technicians are responsible for "doing it right" — ensuring construction quality and standards compliance. The greatest benefit for building owners lies in each party fulfilling their respective roles in proper coordination. In the next article of this series, we will delve into the Building Code Article 13 engineer certification requirements, clarifying which projects require engineer certification, the specific content of certification, and its legal implications.