How to get a HVAC license in Texas
The full Texas hvac licensing path — experience hours, required exam, fees, and where to apply. Verified 5/26/2026.
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Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License (Class A or Class B)
Texas licenses HVAC contractors through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) under the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors program. Every person who installs, services, or maintains air-conditioning or commercial-refrigeration equipment for compensation must hold a license — there's no small-job exemption. This guide walks through the two license classes, the certified-technician requirement, exam scope, fees, and the compliance details that trip up most first-time applicants.
Step-by-step: how to get your Texas HVAC license
TDLR issues an ACR Contractor license to the qualifying party of a company; the company itself operates under that license. Plan on 90–150 days from decision to license-in-hand.
- Decide on your license class: Class A (unlimited tonnage) or Class B (systems up to 25 tons of cooling and 1.5 million BTU heating). Class A costs more and requires the harder exam.
- Pick your endorsement: environmental air conditioning (residential/light commercial), commercial refrigeration & process cooling, or both.
- Earn qualifying experience: 48 months (4 years) of practical, hands-on HVAC work within the last 6 years under a licensed contractor. Documented military HVAC training can substitute for up to 12 months.
- Pass the TDLR ACR Contractor exam through PSI (Class A or Class B, plus each endorsement you want). Open-book on codes; closed-book on math and refrigerant handling.
- Get a certificate of insurance: $300,000 per occurrence for property damage and bodily injury, $600,000 aggregate, with TDLR named as certificate holder.
- Submit the application with the $115 fee, exam scores, insurance certificate, and proof of experience. Clean apps issue in 4–8 weeks.
Class A vs. Class B: which Texas HVAC license do I need?
Most new residential contractors choose Class B because the exam is easier and covers everything a typical home-services company installs. Move up to Class A only if you'll bid rooftop package units, VRF systems, or commercial buildings.
- Class A ACR Contractor — no tonnage or BTU limits. Required for chillers, large rooftop units, and central-plant work. Exam: 100 questions, 4 hours, 70% to pass.
- Class B ACR Contractor — cooling up to 25 tons, heating up to 1.5M BTU. Covers 95% of residential and small commercial. Exam: 80 questions, 3 hours, 70% to pass.
- Endorsements: Environmental Air Conditioning is the default for residential; Commercial Refrigeration adds walk-in coolers, ice machines, and process cooling. Each endorsement is a separate exam.
- You must also hold a current EPA Section 608 Universal certification before you can buy or handle refrigerant — TDLR won't issue the license without proof.
Texas ACR exam: what's on it
PSI administers the exam at centers in Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and El Paso, plus remote proctoring. Bring the 2021 International Mechanical Code, the current TDLR ACR statute (Chapter 1302), and the 2020 NEC — those sections are open-book.
Closed-book sections cover load calculations (Manual J basics), duct sizing (Manual D), refrigerant charging by superheat/subcool, psychrometrics, and EPA refrigerant recovery rules. Roughly 25% of Class B questions are load/duct math; expect a scientific calculator to be required.
Texas HVAC license fees & ongoing costs (2026)
Budget $1,000–$1,600 in year-one costs, not counting insurance premium. Renewal is annual.
- Application fee: $115 (Class A or B, same price).
- PSI exam fee: $69 per exam attempt. Contractor + one endorsement = $138 minimum.
- EPA 608 Universal certification: $20–$150 depending on provider. Required before license issues.
- General liability insurance ($300k/$600k minimum): $800–$2,400/year for a single-truck operation.
- Annual license renewal: $75, plus 8 hours of continuing education (4 hours must be code-related).
- Registered technicians working under your license: $20/year each. Every field tech must be either a Certified Technician (exam-passed) or a Registered Technician (working toward it).
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a hvac license in Texas?
You need 48 months practical experience under a licensed acr contractor (or equivalent military / formal training credit). Then pass the ACR Contractor Exam (Class A unlimited / Class B ≤25 tons cooling, ≤1.5M BTU heating) administered by PSI Services. Applications go through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).
What exam do I need to pass?
ACR Contractor Exam (Class A unlimited / Class B ≤25 tons cooling, ≤1.5M BTU heating) — administered by PSI Services.
How much experience do I need?
48 months practical experience under a licensed ACR contractor (or equivalent military / formal training credit)
What about fees, insurance, and continuing education?
Application fee: $115. License fee: $115/year. $300K liability insurance required. EPA 608 mandatory. 8 hrs CE annually (incl 1 hr energy efficiency, 1 hr code update). Class A required for jobs >25 tons.
Can I do HVAC work in Texas as a handyman or under a general-contractor license?
No. Texas ACR licensing is a specialty license with no dollar-amount exemption. Even installing a mini-split for a friend for pay requires a license. A general-contractor license does not cover HVAC work — you either hold an ACR license yourself or subcontract to a licensed ACR contractor.
How does Texas HVAC reciprocity work with other states?
Texas does not have formal reciprocity, but TDLR accepts documented experience from any state. If you held an equivalent contractor license in another state for 4+ years, you can typically go straight to the Texas exam without re-verifying experience — you'll still need to pass both the trade exam and the Texas law portion.
Do I need a separate Texas HVAC license for each city?
The state license covers you everywhere in Texas. However, many cities (Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio) require a separate mechanical permit registration and pull-fee before you can pull permits — that's a paperwork registration, not a new exam. Some cities also require a bond in the $5,000–$25,000 range for permit pulling.
What's the difference between a Certified Technician and a Registered Technician in Texas?
A Certified Technician has passed the TDLR technician exam and can perform HVAC work unsupervised at a job site. A Registered Technician is registered with TDLR but has not passed the exam yet and must work under the direct supervision of a Certified Technician or the licensed Contractor. Every field tech in Texas must be one or the other.
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