# How to Become an HVAC Technician in Texas (2026): Registered vs Certified

> Source: PermitPulled, https://permitpulled.com/get-licensed/ac-technician-certification-texas
> Compiled from the public TDLR license file. Published under CC BY 4.0; attribution to PermitPulled required.
> For an individual license record, use the official TDLR search: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch/

[Texas license lookup](</>) / [Get licensed](</get-licensed>) / A/C technician

# How to become an A/C technician in Texas

Anyone who helps a licensed A/C contractor with maintenance or repair in Texas must hold a technician credential. There are two levels, and the second one shortens the road to your own contractor license.

Reviewed 8 October 2026 against TDLR's application page

## At a glance

Registered technician| Age 16+, $20, no experience requirement stated  
---|---  
Certified technician| Age 18+, 24 months supervised (or a 2,000-hour approved program), exam, $50  
Supervision| Both work under a licensed ACR contractor and may not advertise ACR services  
Term| 1 year  
Continuing education| None for technicians  
  
[Official TDLR application page](<https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/acr/technician-apply.htm>) [Exam guide and pass rates](</exams/certified-technician-exam-texas>)

## Step by step

  1. **Register first.** Apply online or with form ACR-LIC-001 and pay $20. You must be at least 16.
  2. **Work under a licensed contractor.** Log supervised experience. The contractor will later sign your experience verification.
  3. **Get certified at 24 months.** With 24 months of supervised work, or a TDLR-approved 2,000-hour training program (apply within 48 months of finishing it), apply as a certified technician, pay $50 and pass the PSI exam within a year.
  4. **Move up to contractor.** After 12 months as a certified technician and 36 months of experience in the last 48, you qualify for the contractor license.

## Why certify at all?

Certification is optional on paper, since registered technicians can work. But it does two things: only certified technicians may use the title, and holding certification for a year cuts the contractor experience requirement from 48 months to 36. Military A/C experience can count toward certification.

## How many people hold this license

The public TDLR license file dated 20 September 2026 shows **40,840 active A/C technician licenses** , of which 39,624 come up for renewal in the next twelve months.

Where they are: Harris County (7,868), Dallas County (3,720), Bexar County (3,356), Tarrant County (2,808), Travis County (1,384).

[See the full county breakdown and renewal calendar](</trade/a-c-technician>)

## After you are licensed

  * **Renewal:** every year, judging by the expiration dates in the license file.
  * **Continuing education:** No CE: the requirement applies to contractor licenses. [TDLR CE rules](<https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/acr/acrce.htm>)
  * [Full renewal guide for this trade](</guides/hvac-license-renewal-texas>)

## Before you apply

  * **Criminal history.** TDLR runs a background check on every applicant. With any conviction other than a minor traffic offence, or a guilty or no-contest plea with deferred adjudication, include the Criminal History Questionnaire. Reviews take one to six weeks. You can ask TDLR in advance whether a conviction would bar you, through a [criminal history evaluation letter](<https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/crimHistoryEval.htm>).
  * **Lawful presence.** TDLR may ask for proof of lawful presence in the United States. Send documents only if it asks. [What TDLR accepts](<https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/lawful-presence.htm>).
  * **Military.** Service members, veterans and spouses may qualify for [fee waivers and other provisions](<https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/military/>).

## Questions

### Do HVAC technicians need a license in Texas?

They need a TDLR technician registration, or the higher certified technician credential, to assist a licensed ACR contractor.

### How old do you have to be to be an HVAC technician in Texas?

16 to register as a technician; 18 for certified technician.

### How many people hold this license in Texas?

The public TDLR license file dated 20 September 2026 shows 40,840 active A/C technician licenses.

## Related licenses

  * [How to get an HVAC license in Texas](</get-licensed/hvac-license-texas>)
  * [How to get an apprentice electrician license in Texas](</get-licensed/apprentice-electrician-license-texas>)
  * [All license guides](</get-licensed>)

## Sources

[TDLR: Apply for a Technician Registration](<https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/acr/technician-apply.htm>); [TDLR: Apply for Certified Technician](<https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/acr/certified-tech-apply.htm>). License counts compiled from the public [TDLR license file](<https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/licensesearch/licfile.asp>) dated 20 September 2026.

Reviewed 8 October 2026. Written by an independent site; not an official TDLR publication and not legal advice. Fees and requirements change: confirm them on the TDLR page before you apply.

**Cite this page**

PermitPulled (2026). _How to become an A/C technician in Texas._ Retrieved from `https://permitpulled.com/get-licensed/ac-technician-certification-texas`

Figures compiled from the public TDLR license file and published under [CC BY 4.0](<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/>). Attribution required.