Planning to run air conditioning and refrigeration work in Texas? You'll license through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) — and here's the rule that trips up a lot of growing companies: every permanent company location must employ a licensed ACR contractor. This guide covers the technician-to-contractor ladder, the exams, and what TDLR expects at each step.
Is an HVAC license required in Texas?
Yes. A business or individual that offers air conditioning and refrigeration contracting to the public must hold the proper TDLR contractor license. A person assisting a licensed contractor with ACR maintenance or repair work must be either a registered technician or a certified technician, unless an exemption applies.
Texas HVAC credentials at a glance
- Registered ACR technician — required for a person who assists a licensed ACR contractor with ACR maintenance or repair work. Applicants must be at least 16, pay a $20 application fee, and renew yearly.
- Certified ACR technician — a voluntary higher designation. Certified technicians must still work under a licensed ACR contractor and may not advertise ACR services independently.
- ACR contractor license — required to offer, install, repair, or maintain regulated ACR systems for the public. Applicants must be at least 18, meet experience requirements, pass the licensing exam, and maintain liability insurance.
Registered technician requirements
To register as an ACR technician, apply through TDLR and pay the $20 non-refundable application fee. The registration is valid for one year from the issue date.
Registered technicians must work under the supervision of a licensed ACR contractor and may not advertise ACR services.
Certified technician requirements
TDLR describes certified technician status as a voluntary qualification above registration. To qualify, an applicant must meet one of TDLR's approved pathways:
- Practical experience: 24 months of ACR-related work under the supervision of a licensed ACR contractor.
- Training program: completion of a TDLR-approved certification program with 2,000 hours of combined instruction and practical experience.
- Military experience: qualifying military ACR training or work may count toward the requirement.
Certified technician applicants must be at least 18 and pay a $50 non-refundable application fee. The certification is valid for one year from the issue date.
Contractor license requirements
For an ACR contractor license, TDLR requires either:
- 48 months of practical ACR-related experience under the supervision of a licensed ACR contractor within the past 72 months, or
- a certified technician credential held for the past 12 months plus at least 36 months of practical ACR-related experience under a licensed contractor within the past 48 months.
Applicants must submit a completed contractor license application, document experience on TDLR's experience verification form, pay the $115 application fee, and pass the required exam.
Texas license classes and endorsements
Texas contractor licenses are issued by class and endorsement.
- Class A — may work on any size unit.
- Class B — limited to cooling systems of 25 tons or less and heating systems of 1.5 million BTU/hour or less.
Endorsements determine the kind of work the license covers:
- Environmental Air Conditioning
- Commercial Refrigeration
- Process Cooling or Heating
Texas HVAC exam
All applicants seeking an ACR contractor license or certified technician designation must pass a licensing exam. TDLR approves eligibility after the application, required documents, and fees are submitted. PSI then sends scheduling instructions.
TDLR says the test depends on the license class and endorsements selected. If you fail an exam, you may schedule a retake with PSI within 24 to 48 hours, and you may continue retaking the written exam until the application expires one year from the date it was filed.
Fees and insurance
Key TDLR fees currently listed on official pages:
- Registered technician application: $20
- Certified technician application: $50
- Contractor license application: $115
- Registered technician renewal: $20
- Certified technician renewal: $35
- Contractor license renewal: $65
- Class B to Class A upgrade exam fee: $74
TDLR requires active contractor licensees to maintain commercial general liability insurance from a provider authorized to sell liability insurance in Texas.
- Class A minimums: $300,000 per occurrence for property damage and bodily injury, $600,000 aggregate for property damage and bodily injury, and $300,000 aggregate for products and completed operations.
- Class B minimums: $100,000 per occurrence for property damage and bodily injury, $200,000 aggregate for property damage and bodily injury, and $100,000 aggregate for products and completed operations.
Renewal and continuing education
Texas ACR contractor licenses, registered technician designations, and certified technician designations are valid for one year from the issue date.
ACR contractors must complete 8 hours of approved continuing education each year, including 1 hour of Texas law and rules. TDLR says CE must be completed before the contractor license expires and must come from an approved provider.
Out-of-state applicants and reciprocity
Out-of-state applicants may ask TDLR to review an equivalent state or municipal ACR contractor license. TDLR may still require some or all Texas requirements, including the licensing exam.
TDLR separately notes licensing agreements for applicants who hold an air conditioning license in South Carolina or Georgia. Everyone else should treat the path as a Texas application with TDLR review of the existing license and qualifications.
Penalties for unlicensed HVAC work
TDLR's ACR penalties and sanctions page lists unlicensed ACR contracting, acting as an ACR technician without registration or certification, and using an unregistered or uncertified person for ACR maintenance work as sanctionable violations. Penalties vary by violation class and can include monetary penalties and license discipline.