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Technician servicing an outdoor air conditioning unit

Texas license lookup / Get licensed / A/C contractor (HVAC license)

How to get an HVAC license in Texas

What people call an HVAC license in Texas is the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor license. It needs years of supervised experience, a class, an endorsement, an exam and insurance.

Reviewed 8 October 2026 against TDLR's application page

At a glance

Experience48 months in the last 72 under a licensed ACR contractor, or 12 months as a certified technician plus 36 months in the last 48
Minimum age18
ClassesA: any size. B: up to 25 tons cooling and 1.5 million BTU/hour heating
Application fee$115
License term1 year

Official TDLR application page Exam guide and pass rates

Step by step

  1. Meet the experience rule, or an exception. 48 months of practical experience in the past 72 months under a licensed contractor, or the certified technician shortcut. A degree or certification in ACR, a mechanical engineering degree or license, military ACR training, or work in industrial process cooling or heating can replace the practical experience.
  2. Have supervisors fill in the verification forms. TDLR is explicit: the supervisor completes the Experience Verification Form, not you.
  3. Choose a class and one endorsement. Endorsements are Environmental Air Conditioning, Commercial Refrigeration, or Process Cooling or Heating. Your exam depends on what you choose.
  4. Apply and pass the exam. Submit the application and $115. Once TDLR approves you, test with PSI. You can retake until the application expires, one year after you submitted it.
  5. File your insurance. After passing, send a Certificate of Insurance showing the license holder and business names, and keep coverage active for as long as the license is.

Insurance minimums

ClassPer occurrenceAggregateProducts and completed operations
A$300,000$600,000$300,000
B$100,000$200,000$100,000

One policy can cover both classes if it meets the Class A minimums. From 1 September 2026 the ACR rules adopt the 2024 editions of the IRC, IMC, IFGC and UMC; see what changed.

How many people hold this license

The public TDLR license file dated 20 September 2026 shows 19,105 active A/C contractor (HVAC license) licenses, of which 18,395 come up for renewal in the next twelve months.

Where they are: Harris County (2,945), Dallas County (1,686), Tarrant County (1,316), Bexar County (1,266), Travis County (668).

See the full county breakdown and renewal calendar

After you are licensed

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.
  • Lawful presence. TDLR may ask for proof of lawful presence in the United States. Send documents only if it asks. What TDLR accepts.
  • Military. Service members, veterans and spouses may qualify for fee waivers and other provisions.

Questions

How long does it take to get an HVAC license in Texas?

The standard route is 48 months of supervised experience within the last 72 months. With 12 months as a certified technician, it is 36 months within the last 48.

What is the difference between Class A and Class B in Texas?

Class A covers units of any size. Class B is limited to 25 tons of cooling and 1.5 million BTU per hour of heating.

How many people hold this license in Texas?

The public TDLR license file dated 20 September 2026 shows 19,105 active A/C contractor (HVAC license) licenses.

Related licenses

Sources

TDLR: Apply for a Contractor License (ACR); TDLR: ACR examinations; TDLR: Exemptions to the contractor experience requirement. License counts compiled from the public TDLR license file 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 get an HVAC license in Texas. Retrieved from https://permitpulled.com/get-licensed/hvac-license-texas

Figures compiled from the public TDLR license file and published under CC BY 4.0. Attribution required.

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