- None stated. All non-exempt air conditioning and refrigeration work must be provided through a Texas licensed ACR contractor. TDLR keeps a list of people who are exempt.
- 48 months of practical experience under a licensed contractor within the last 72 months, or 12 months holding technician certification plus 36 months under a licensed contractor within the last 48 months. Some HVAC schooling, engineering degrees and military training can substitute.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every year for $65. You need 8 hours of approved continuing education each year. Renewing within 90 days after expiration costs 1.5 times the fee, and after that 2 times.
Do you need a state license in Texas?
Texas licenses HVAC work at the state level through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
None stated. All non-exempt air conditioning and refrigeration work must be provided through a Texas licensed ACR contractor. TDLR keeps a list of people who are exempt.
Cities still issue building and mechanical permits and charge permit fees, but since September 1, 2021 they cannot charge registration fees to TDLR licensed AC contractors.
Texas license types for HVAC work
Texas splits the work into 4 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Class A | Any size unit |
| Class B | Cooling systems of 25 tons and under and heating systems of 1.5 million BTU per hour and under |
| Endorsements | Environmental Air Conditioning, Commercial Refrigeration, or Process Cooling or Heating |
| Technician registration and certification | For techs working under a licensed contractor. Registration is $20 with no exam |
Steps to get licensed in Texas
- Build 48 months of supervised experience, or 12 months as a certified tech plus 36 months.
- Get the experience verification form filled out by the licensed contractor you worked for.
- Apply to TDLR with your endorsement and class choice and pay the $115 fee.
- After TDLR approves you, pass the PSI exam for your endorsement and class.
- Send proof of liability insurance at the Class A or Class B minimum.
- Renew every year with 8 hours of continuing education.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. 48 months of practical experience under a licensed contractor within the last 72 months, or 12 months holding technician certification plus 36 months under a licensed contractor within the last 48 months. Some HVAC schooling, engineering degrees and military training can substitute.
The license to apply for. Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (ACR) Contractor license, Class A or Class B.
Texas HVAC exams
Trade exam. Yes. A PSI exam for each endorsement and class, such as TX Environmental Air A or B and TX Commercial Refrigeration A or B.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Separate from any state license, the EPA requires Section 608 certification for anyone who works on equipment with refrigerant. It is federal and applies in every state.
What it costs in Texas
The board lists 3 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Contractor application | $115 |
| Annual renewal | $65 |
| Technician registration | $20 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Class A: $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate for property damage and bodily injury, plus $300,000 aggregate products and completed operations. Class B: $100,000 per occurrence, $200,000 aggregate and $100,000 products and completed operations.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year for $65. You need 8 hours of approved continuing education each year. Renewing within 90 days after expiration costs 1.5 times the fee, and after that 2 times.
Reciprocity. Texas reciprocates with South Carolina and Georgia. TDLR also accepts ACR experience earned in states or cities with substantially equivalent licensing.
Good to know in Texas
- Every ACR company needs a licensed ACR contractor at each permanent office.
- Mini-split units are not self-contained, so contracting that work for the public needs the license.
- EPA Section 608 certification is a federal requirement for anyone who handles refrigerant.
- You must finish all requirements, including the exam, within one year of applying.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for HVAC repair near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how HVAC companies run on Koira.