How to Get an HVAC License in Texas: Classes, Requirements, and Costs

Texas requires most people and businesses that independently offer air-conditioning, refrigeration, or heating services to hold the proper credential from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, or TDLR. The state calls this an Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, or ACR, contractor license rather than simply an HVAC license. A contractor must choose both a license class and the endorsement that matches the work the business plans to perform.

The rules are different for technicians working under a licensed contractor. Those workers generally need either an ACR technician registration or the higher voluntary certified technician designation, but neither credential lets a technician advertise services or operate independently. Federal EPA Section 608 certification can also be required when the work involves regulated refrigerants.

This guide explains the Texas HVAC license classes, endorsements, experience requirements, examinations, fees, insurance limits, technician credentials, renewals, reciprocity, and application process. It also covers the state code update that took effect September 1, 2026, and the local permits that can still apply after TDLR issues a license. Because regulations and fees can change, confirm current details with the TDLR Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program before applying or contracting for work.

Important: This article provides general information and isn't legal advice. Review the current Texas statutes, TDLR rules, adopted codes, local permitting requirements, and federal refrigerant regulations before advertising, contracting for, or performing HVAC work.

Do you need an HVAC license in Texas?

A person who contracts to install, repair, or maintain air-conditioning, refrigeration, or heating systems in Texas generally needs a state ACR contractor license. This is the credential that allows someone to offer covered services to the public, enter into contracts, and take responsibility for the work. The license must have the class and endorsement needed for the equipment and service being sold.

A technician who assists a licensed contractor with maintenance or repair work generally needs to be registered or certified by TDLR. The technician must work under the supervision of a licensed ACR contractor and can't advertise ACR services independently. A technician registration is therefore a supervised-worker credential, not a smaller contractor license.

Texas law includes exemptions for certain people, work, and equipment. Examples can include qualifying homeowners working on their own homes, certain new-construction installers working under licensed supervision, some building maintenance personnel, regulated utilities, industrial operations, and specified equipment. An exemption from technician registration doesn't necessarily eliminate permit, inspection, code, electrical, plumbing, or refrigerant-handling requirements.

Texas HVAC license classes and endorsements

A Texas contractor license has two separate parts that answer different questions. The class determines the maximum equipment capacity the contractor can work on, while the endorsement determines the type of work the contractor can perform. Choosing Class A or Class B without choosing the correct endorsement doesn't create the authority to offer every kind of HVAC or refrigeration service.

Class A ACR contractor license

A Class A license allows the contractor to work on units of any size or capacity within the license's endorsement. It doesn't impose the tonnage and heating-capacity limits attached to Class B. This makes Class A the broader choice for companies that expect to work on large commercial systems or don't want their permitted work capped by equipment size.

Class A doesn't automatically cover environmental air conditioning, commercial refrigeration, and process cooling or heating at the same time. The license must still carry the correct endorsement for the contracted work. A company should choose its class and endorsement based on the actual services it intends to advertise and perform.

Class B ACR contractor license

A Class B license allows work on cooling systems of 25 tons or less and heating systems of 1.5 million BTUs per hour or less. That range covers a large share of residential and light-commercial equipment, but the limits remain legally important. A Class B contractor shouldn't accept a project that exceeds either capacity limit.

The contractor must also hold the appropriate endorsement. A Class B Environmental Air Conditioning license can fit a residential comfort-heating and cooling business, while a refrigeration-focused operation needs the corresponding refrigeration endorsement. Contractors planning to move into larger commercial work should consider whether Class A better matches their long-term service mix.

Environmental Air Conditioning endorsement

The Environmental Air Conditioning endorsement covers treating air to control temperature, humidity, cleanliness, ventilation, and circulation for human comfort. It includes the central heating and cooling work most homeowners and building managers think of as HVAC. The endorsement can cover common comfort systems, but it doesn't replace the separate authorization needed for commercial refrigeration or process applications.

This is generally the relevant endorsement for a company focused on residential air conditioning, furnaces, heat pumps, ventilation, and similar comfort systems. The contractor must pair it with Class A or Class B according to the equipment capacity. The license number commonly uses the endorsement code E.

Commercial Refrigeration endorsement

The Commercial Refrigeration endorsement covers mechanical or absorption equipment used to control temperature or humidity for the intended use of a space rather than for human comfort. It includes work involving coolers, freezers, ice machines, and qualifying temperature-control equipment. A contractor with only an Environmental endorsement shouldn't assume it can service every walk-in cooler or commercial refrigeration system.

TDLR groups commercial refrigeration with process cooling and heating for licensing purposes and limits the scope as provided by law and rule. The endorsement code is commonly R. Contractors should compare every new service line with the official definition before adding it to their marketing or contracts.

Process Cooling or Heating endorsement

Process Cooling or Heating covers controlling temperature, humidity, or cleanliness solely for production requirements or the proper operation of equipment. That purpose differs from maintaining human comfort in a home, office, or occupied commercial space. Manufacturing, industrial, and specialized equipment environments can raise this licensing question.

TDLR's licensing materials place this work with the Commercial Refrigeration endorsement and its R code. The contractor still needs the appropriate Class A or Class B license. A company expanding from comfort HVAC into industrial process work should verify that its existing credential covers the new contracts.

Combined endorsement

A contractor authorized for both Environmental Air Conditioning and Commercial Refrigeration or Process Cooling and Heating can hold a combined endorsement. The combined endorsement uses the code C and broadens the types of systems the contractor can service within the applicable license class. It can make sense for a company serving both comfort-HVAC customers and refrigeration accounts.

The combined endorsement doesn't erase the difference between Class A and Class B. A Class B combined license still carries the Class B equipment-capacity limits. Businesses should verify both parts of the license whenever evaluating whether a job falls within their authority.

Texas HVAC contractor license requirements

Texas doesn't issue an ACR contractor license based only on completing trade school or passing an examination. The applicant must be at least 18, document the required practical experience or qualify through an accepted alternative, submit the application and fee, pass the correct examination, and provide proof of insurance. The entire application process must generally be completed within one year after filing.

Age requirement

An applicant for a Texas ACR contractor license must be at least 18 years old. The contractor application requests identifying, contact, employment, business, and criminal-history information. Applicants should use the current form because TDLR periodically revises its applications and instructions.

Standard experience path

The standard path requires at least 48 months of practical air-conditioning and refrigeration experience obtained under the supervision of a licensed ACR contractor. That experience must fall within the 72 months immediately before the application. In simpler terms, the applicant generally needs four years of qualifying supervised experience from the preceding six years.

The experience must be documented on TDLR's Experience Verification Form. The person who supervised the work completes the verification rather than the applicant filling it out for the supervisor. Applicants who worked for more than one contractor may need multiple verification forms.

Certified technician experience path

Texas provides a second path for someone who has held the state's certified technician designation for the preceding 12 months. That applicant needs at least 36 months of supervised practical experience obtained within the preceding 48 months. The technician certification must remain current while it's being used toward contractor qualification.

This route doesn't let someone become a contractor after only one year as a certified technician. The applicant still needs three years of recent practical experience, plus the required 12 months holding the designation. Its advantage is that it recognizes the higher technician credential while reducing the required practical-experience total from 48 months to 36 months.

Education and training credit

Approved education can replace part of the standard experience requirement. A four-year degree in air-conditioning engineering or technology, refrigeration engineering or technology, or mechanical engineering may substitute for 24 months of practical experience. A two-year associate degree, diploma, or certification program primarily focused on ACR work may substitute for 12 months.

A one-year certification program, or a program lasting at least two semesters, may substitute for six months of practical experience. Every 2,000 hours of qualifying on-the-job apprenticeship training can equal 12 months of practical experience. Other related education can be considered individually, so applicants should submit the documentation TDLR requests rather than estimating their own credit.

Military and other qualifying experience

Qualifying military experience can satisfy some or all of the experience requirement when the applicant documents HVAC or refrigeration training and duties performed as part of a military occupational specialty. TDLR generally requires supporting military records, including a DD-214 or other documents showing the type and duration of the work. At least 24 months of relevant military experience may qualify for the full exception described by TDLR.

Experience with a regulated utility, government entity, licensed engineering work, or an industrial operation may also qualify under specific conditions. These aren't automatic shortcuts, and the details matter. Applicants should review the official contractor experience exceptions and provide verifiable records.

How to get an HVAC contractor license in Texas

The Texas process starts with deciding what work the business will perform, because that choice controls the class, endorsement, examination, and insurance requirements. TDLR reviews the applicant's qualifications before PSI allows the person to schedule the examination. The license isn't active until every application, examination, and insurance requirement has been completed.

1. Choose Class A or Class B

Choose Class A if the company needs authority to work on equipment of any size within its endorsement. Choose Class B if the business will remain within the 25-ton cooling and 1.5-million-BTU-per-hour heating limits. Consider future projects as well as the equipment the company handles today.

2. Choose the correct endorsement

Select Environmental Air Conditioning, Commercial Refrigeration and Process Cooling or Heating, or the applicable combined authorization. The endorsement affects the services the contractor can offer and the examination the applicant takes. Don't choose based only on the everyday label “HVAC,” because Texas separates comfort systems from refrigeration and process work.

3. Gather experience and education records

Prepare a complete employment history and obtain an Experience Verification Form from each qualified supervisor needed to document the required months. Gather transcripts, diplomas, completion certificates, military documents, or government employment records if claiming an experience exception or credit. Dates and duties should be consistent across the application and supporting materials.

4. Submit the contractor application and fee

Submit the current Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License Application with the $115 nonrefundable application fee. The applicant must be at least 18 and choose the license class and endorsement on the form. An incomplete or unsupported application can delay approval to test.

5. Wait for examination eligibility

TDLR reviews the application and proof of qualifications before approving examination eligibility. Once approved, the applicant receives an eligibility notice from PSI with scheduling instructions. Sending an application directly to an exam provider before TDLR approval doesn't create eligibility.

6. Pass the required contractor examination

The examination depends on the class and endorsement selected. TDLR currently lists Environmental Air A, Environmental Air B, Commercial Refrigeration A, and Commercial Refrigeration B contractor examinations. Applicants pursuing both endorsements should follow TDLR and PSI instructions for the examinations required for that license combination.

The PSI Candidate Information Bulletin provides the current number of questions, time limit, passing score, examination fee, approved references, and testing procedures. Applicants can retake a failed examination while the application remains active. All requirements must be finished before the application expires one year after filing.

7. Obtain the required liability insurance

After passing the examination, submit a Certificate of Insurance showing the license holder and business name. The insurance must come from a company authorized to sell liability coverage in Texas. The required limits depend on whether the contractor holds Class A or Class B.

8. Receive and verify the active license

Don't advertise, bid, contract, or operate as an independent ACR contractor until TDLR issues the license. Check that the class, endorsement, business affiliation, name, and address are correct. The license is valid for one year and isn't transferable to another person.

Texas HVAC contractor examination

Texas uses different contractor examinations for Class A and Class B Environmental Air Conditioning and Commercial Refrigeration applicants. TDLR must approve the application before PSI opens scheduling. The exam should be treated as one part of the licensing process rather than the first or only requirement.

Current exam details belong in the TDLR examination information and PSI Candidate Information Bulletin. Those documents identify reference books, subject areas, fees, question counts, time limits, and testing rules. Exam details can change, so a prep provider's older page shouldn't override the current bulletin.

Texas updated the code editions adopted for ACR contracting effective September 1, 2026. The rules now reference the 2024 editions of the International Residential Code, International Mechanical Code, International Fuel Gas Code, and Uniform Mechanical Code. Applicants and licensees should use the current TDLR rules and exam bulletin to determine which references apply to their examination and work.

Texas HVAC license costs and insurance requirements

The state application fee is only one part of the cost of becoming licensed. Applicants should also budget for the PSI examination, commercial general liability insurance, education or exam preparation, local permits, business setup, tools, vehicles, and any additional trade credentials. Registered and certified technicians have separate application and renewal fees.

Contractor application and renewal fees

The current ACR contractor application fee is $115. The contractor license is valid for one year, and the current renewal fee is $65. Examination fees are paid separately according to the current PSI bulletin.

Late renewals can cost more and can leave the contractor unable to lawfully operate while the license is expired. Starting the renewal 30 to 60 days before expiration gives the business time to resolve continuing-education or application issues. The contractor should also make sure its insurance remains continuously in force.

Class A liability insurance

A Class A contractor must maintain at least $300,000 per occurrence for property damage and bodily injury. The minimum aggregate for property damage and bodily injury is $600,000. The minimum aggregate for products and completed operations is $300,000.

Class B liability insurance

A Class B contractor must maintain at least $100,000 per occurrence for property damage and bodily injury. The minimum aggregate for property damage and bodily injury is $200,000. The minimum aggregate for products and completed operations is $100,000.

A contractor holding both Class A and Class B may use one policy if it satisfies the higher Class A requirements. These are state minimums rather than a recommendation for every business. Contract terms, customer requirements, payroll, fleet size, job risk, and the company's assets may support carrying more coverage.

Registered technician vs. certified technician in Texas

Texas offers two technician credentials, and both require the technician to work under a licensed ACR contractor. Registration is the entry-level requirement for most non-exempt technicians assisting with covered maintenance or repair work. Certification is a voluntary higher designation that requires experience or approved training plus an examination.

Registered ACR technician

A person can apply for technician registration at age 16. The current application fee is $20, and TDLR doesn't require practical experience or a licensing examination for the initial registration. The registration is valid for one year and currently costs $20 to renew.

A registered technician can't advertise ACR services or perform covered work independently. The technician works under a licensed contractor, with additional direct-supervision rules applying to workers under 18. Registration can provide the legal starting point for gaining the supervised experience needed to advance.

Certified ACR technician

A certified technician must be at least 18 and qualify through experience or an approved training program. The experience path requires 24 months of supervised ACR-related work, while the training path requires completion of a TDLR-approved 2,000-hour program within the preceding 48 months. The applicant must submit the $50 application fee and pass the certified technician examination.

The certified technician designation is valid for one year and currently costs $35 to renew. Certification still doesn't allow independent contracting or advertising. Its main licensing advantage is that someone who holds it for 12 months and has 36 months of qualifying recent experience can use the alternate contractor-license experience path.

EPA Section 608 certification in Texas

EPA Section 608 technician certification is a federal requirement separate from Texas licensing. Technicians who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of equipment in a way that could reasonably release regulated refrigerants generally need the appropriate certification. The test must be administered by an EPA-approved certification organization.

Type I covers small appliances, Type II covers high- or very-high-pressure appliances other than small appliances and motor-vehicle air conditioning, and Type III covers low-pressure appliances. Universal certification is earned by passing the core section and all three type sections. The correct credential depends on the equipment the technician services.

An EPA card doesn't replace a TDLR contractor license, technician registration, or certified technician designation. Likewise, a Texas credential doesn't replace federal refrigerant certification. HVAC companies should track both state and federal credentials for each employee and assign work accordingly.

Local permits and other Texas trade licenses

A TDLR ACR license provides statewide contractor authority within its class and endorsement, but it doesn't eliminate local permitting and inspection. Cities can collect building-permit fees even though Texas law prohibits municipalities from charging registration fees to TDLR-licensed ACR contractors. Permit, inspection, zoning, and code-administration procedures can still differ by jurisdiction.

HVAC projects can also include work regulated under other Texas programs. Major electrical alterations may require a properly licensed electrical contractor, and plumbing or fuel-gas work may require the appropriate plumbing authority. The ACR contractor should define responsibilities before pricing the project rather than assuming every connected task falls under the HVAC license.

The applicable code can also depend on project type and local adoption. TDLR's 2026 update moved the ACR rules to specified 2024 code editions, but local amendments and other state programs can affect a particular building. Confirm requirements with the authority having jurisdiction before work begins.

Texas HVAC license renewal and continuing education

A Texas ACR contractor license is valid for one year. Before renewal, the contractor must complete eight hours of TDLR-approved continuing education during the license period. At least one of those hours must cover Texas laws and rules governing ACR licensees.

The remaining approved hours can address applicable laws and rules, mechanical codes, ethics, business practices, or technical requirements. Courses must come from an approved provider and be completed before the license expires for an on-time renewal. Contractors should keep completion records and verify that the provider reports the hours.

Renewal also requires the current fee and continuous compliance with insurance requirements. A license that expires can create delays, added fees, and an interruption in the company's ability to contract. Calendar the renewal and continuing-education deadlines well ahead of the busy season.

Texas HVAC license reciprocity and out-of-state applicants

Texas currently has formal ACR reciprocity agreements with Georgia and South Carolina. The agreements apply only to specified license types and Texas equivalents, so holding any HVAC license from either state isn't enough by itself. An applicant generally must have held the qualifying out-of-state license for at least one year.

A Georgia Class II Conditioned Air unrestricted license in good standing can qualify for a Texas Class A Environmental Air Conditioning license. Texas recognizes several specific South Carolina licenses for identified Class A or Class B Environmental Air Conditioning and Commercial Refrigeration equivalents. A South Carolina heating license by itself doesn't qualify under the agreement.

Reciprocity applicants still submit a Texas application, $115 fee, letter of good standing, copy of the current out-of-state license, and proof of insurance. Contractors licensed elsewhere may ask TDLR to evaluate experience from a state or municipality with substantially equivalent requirements. An out-of-state license alone doesn't authorize contracting in Texas.

How to verify a Texas HVAC license

Customers, general contractors, and hiring managers can use TDLR's license search to check a contractor or technician credential. Confirm that the license is active and that the class and endorsement match the proposed work. A license number in an advertisement isn't enough if it belongs to someone else, has expired, or doesn't cover the service.

A Texas ACR contractor number commonly identifies the title, class, license number, and endorsement code. For example, A or B indicates the class, while E, R, or C identifies Environmental, Refrigeration, or Combined authority. The business name and affiliation should also match the company offering the contract.

Verification matters for subcontractor management as well as consumer protection. An HVAC company should maintain current records for its contractor license, technician registrations, technician certifications, EPA cards, continuing education, and insurance. That recordkeeping makes it easier to schedule qualified people and respond to audits, permits, and customer requests.

Running a Texas HVAC business after licensing

Getting licensed creates the authority to operate, but it doesn't solve the material problems that show up as the company grows. Texas HVAC contractors often carry equipment, refrigerant-related supplies, filters, capacitors, motors, controls, fittings, and repair parts across a warehouse and a fleet of service vehicles. Without a shared inventory process, technicians lose time looking for parts while managers struggle to see what needs to be purchased.

A stronger operation tracks materials from receiving through warehouse storage, truck replenishment, technician use, returns, and job allocation. That helps reduce emergency supply-house runs, duplicate purchases, missing truck stock, and materials that never reach the correct job record. It also gives the office better information for purchasing and cost control.

Ply helps HVAC contractors manage warehouse inventory, truck stock, purchasing, receiving, barcode scanning, replenishment, and field material requests. It connects material operations with common field-service and accounting systems, giving growing HVAC teams a clearer picture of what they own and where it's being used.

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Frequently asked questions

What HVAC license do I need in Texas?

To independently advertise and contract for HVAC work, you generally need a TDLR Air Conditioning and Refrigeration contractor license. Choose Class A for equipment of any size or Class B for cooling systems up to 25 tons and heating systems up to 1.5 million BTUs per hour. You also need the Environmental, Commercial Refrigeration and Process, or Combined endorsement that matches the work.

What is the difference between a Texas Class A and Class B HVAC license?

Class A allows work on units of any size within the license's endorsement. Class B is limited to cooling systems of 25 tons or less and heating systems of 1.5 million BTUs per hour or less. Both classes still require the correct work endorsement.

How many years of experience do you need for a Texas HVAC contractor license?

The standard path requires 48 months of supervised practical experience obtained during the preceding 72 months. Someone who has held a Texas certified technician designation for the preceding 12 months may qualify with 36 months of supervised experience from the preceding 48 months. Approved education, apprenticeship, military service, and certain other experience can affect the requirement.

How much does a Texas HVAC contractor license cost?

The current TDLR contractor application fee is $115. The PSI examination fee, liability insurance, training, business setup, permits, and other operating expenses are additional. The current annual contractor renewal fee is $65.

Can you do HVAC work in Texas without a license?

A person generally can't independently offer or contract for regulated ACR services without the proper contractor license. A registered or certified technician can perform covered work under a licensed contractor's supervision. Texas also has specific exemptions for certain people, equipment, and work, but local permits and other laws may still apply.

Do Texas HVAC technicians need to be registered?

Most non-exempt people assisting a licensed contractor with ACR maintenance or repair work must hold a technician registration or certified technician designation. A registered technician can apply at age 16, pays a $20 fee, and doesn't need experience or an exam for initial registration. The technician must remain supervised and can't advertise services independently.

What is a certified HVAC technician in Texas?

A certified ACR technician is a voluntary higher designation issued by TDLR. Applicants must be at least 18, complete 24 months of supervised experience or an approved 2,000-hour training program, pay the $50 application fee, and pass an examination. Certification still requires the technician to work under a licensed contractor.

Does Texas require EPA Section 608 certification?

EPA Section 608 is a federal requirement that applies in Texas when technicians perform work that could release regulated refrigerants. It is separate from the TDLR contractor license and technician credentials. A worker may need both the appropriate Texas credential and EPA certification.

Does a Texas HVAC contractor need liability insurance?

Yes, a contractor performing public ACR contracting must maintain the commercial general liability insurance required for the license class. Class A requires higher minimum limits than Class B. TDLR requires a Certificate of Insurance after the applicant passes the contractor examination.

How often do Texas HVAC licenses need to be renewed?

Texas ACR contractor licenses, technician registrations, and certified technician designations are generally valid for one year. Contractors must complete eight hours of approved continuing education for renewal, including one hour on Texas ACR laws and rules. Renew early enough to avoid an interruption in authority to work.

Does Texas have HVAC license reciprocity?

Texas currently has formal ACR reciprocity agreements with Georgia and South Carolina for specified license types. Applicants still need to complete the Texas application process and submit the required license, good-standing, fee, and insurance documents. Licenses from other states don't automatically authorize work in Texas.