How to Get Your HVAC License in Texas

Texas doesn’t issue a general HVAC license. Instead, contractors are licensed through the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor program administered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), and the credential is called a TACL license.

If you want to legally operate an HVAC business in Texas, you’ll need a Texas Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License (TACL). To qualify, you’ll need documented field experience, a passing score on the PSI licensing exam, commercial general liability insurance, and the correct license class and endorsement for the work you intend to do.

This guide covers the full process: who needs a license, the different HVAC license types in Texas, experience requirements, how to apply, costs, and how long it takes.

Who Needs an HVAC License in Texas?

Most air conditioning and refrigeration work performed for compensation in Texas requires a TDLR credential. The specific credential depends on your role.

Business owners and independent contractors running their own HVAC operation, bidding jobs, or working without supervision need a contractor license. This is the credential that lets you advertise services, take on clients, and operate under your own name.

Technicians working under a licensed contractor doing maintenance or repair need at least a registered technician registration.

Helpers and apprentices assisting with air conditioning or refrigeration work fall under the same requirement. You must be 16 or older to register.

Even if the business owner isn’t personally doing the work, every permanent business location must employ a licensed HVAC contractor.

Some categories may qualify for exemptions, including employees of regulated electric or gas utilities, licensed engineers not serving the public, industrial facility workers doing process cooling or heating, and certain government employees. Full details at tdlr.texas.gov/acr/acrexempt.htm.

Texas HVAC License Types

Texas offers three HVAC credential types.

The contractor license allows you to operate an HVAC business in Texas.

Certified technician is a voluntary step up from registered. Although optional, becoming a certified technician shortens the contractor experience requirement from 48 months to 36 months. It requires passing an exam and documenting 24 months of supervised field experience.

Registered technician is the baseline registration. It allows you to legally work under a licensed contractor. You can’t go out on your own with it.

Class A vs Class B

TDLR contractor licenses come in two classes. Class A covers any size system. Class B is limited to cooling systems of 25 tons and under and heating systems at or below 1.5 million BTUs per hour.

Most residential HVAC companies operate under a Class B license because nearly all residential systems fall below the 25-ton limit. If you want to perform larger commercial work, you’ll need Class A. You can hold both at the same time, and TDLR issues a single document with two license numbers.

Endorsements

Every contractor license carries one endorsement. The three options are Environmental Air Conditioning, Commercial Refrigeration, and Process Cooling or Heating.

Environmental Air Conditioning covers systems managing temperature, humidity, ventilation, and circulation for human comfort. That’s the standard residential and commercial AC work most contractors are after. Commercial Refrigeration covers coolers, freezers, and ice machines. Process Cooling or Heating covers industrial equipment controlling conditions for production purposes, not human comfort.

Experience Requirements

To qualify for a Texas HVAC contractor license, you need documented field experience in air conditioning and refrigeration work. General construction or handyman experience doesn’t count. It has to be AC and refrigeration-specific, performed under the supervision of a licensed contractor.

Two paths qualify you.

Standard path

48 months of practical experience under a licensed air conditioning and refrigeration contractor, all earned within the past 72 months.

Certified technician path

Hold a certified technician designation for at least 12 months and document 36 months of experience under a licensed contractor within the past 48 months. This path saves a year if you’ve already gone through the certified tech process.

Either way, your experience has to be verified by the contractor who supervised it. The supervising contractor must complete and sign the Experience Verification Form before you submit your application.

Education and Military Experience

Relevant education can substitute for a portion of the field time requirement. A four-year degree in air conditioning engineering, refrigeration engineering, or mechanical engineering counts for 24 months. A two-year associate’s degree or certification program in HVAC-related work counts for 12 months. A one-year certification program counts for 6 months. Every 2,000 hours in a TDLR-qualified apprenticeship program equals 12 months.

Military experience can satisfy the full 48-month requirement if AC or refrigeration work was part of your military occupational specialty for at least 24 months. You’ll need a DD-214 or supporting orders.

Full details at tdlr.texas.gov/acr/acrexempt.htm.

How to Apply for a Texas HVAC Contractor License

The application process runs in three stages: application, exam, and insurance.

1. Submit your completed Contractor License Application along with your Experience Verification Form(s) and the $115 application fee to TDLR. You must be at least 18. (tdlr.texas.gov/acr/contractor-apply.htm)
2. TDLR reviews your materials and approves your exam eligibility. PSI, the third-party exam vendor, emails you with scheduling instructions. The test you take depends on your license class and endorsement.
3. After passing the exam, submit your Certificate of Insurance to TDLR. Your license isn’t active until that’s on file.

You have one year from your application date to complete all three stages. Miss that window and you’ll start over with a new application. If you fail the exam, you can reschedule with PSI within 24 to 48 hours and keep retaking until your application expires.

Insurance Requirements

Commercial general liability insurance is required as long as your Texas HVAC contractor license is active. Coverage must come from a provider authorized to sell liability insurance in Texas.

Class A

Requires at least $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate for property damage and bodily injury, plus $300,000 aggregate for products and completed operations.

Class B

Requires $100,000 per occurrence, $200,000 aggregate, and $100,000 for products and completed operations.

If you hold both a Class A and Class B, one policy can cover both as long as it meets the Class A minimums.

How Much Does an HVAC License Cost in Texas?

Here’s what to budget for.

• Application fee: $115 (paid to TDLR)
• PSI exam fee: $74 (paid directly to PSI when you schedule)
• Annual renewal: $65
• Insurance: varies based on coverage level, business size, and insurer
• Continuing education: varies by provider; TDLR requires 8 hours per year

Actual startup costs are typically higher once you factor in tools, a vehicle, insurance, and business registration.

If your license lapses before you renew, there are penalty fees: 1.5 times the normal renewal fee for licenses expired 90 days or less, and twice the renewal fee for licenses expired between 90 days and 18 months.

How Long Does It Take?

The timeline breaks into two parts: accumulating experience and moving through the application steps.

Experience accumulation takes the longest. The standard path requires 48 months of field work under a licensed contractor. That’s four years from scratch. The certified technician path gets you there in 36 months if you already hold the designation. Degrees and military experience can shorten it further.

Once you apply, TDLR’s eligibility review typically takes a few weeks. PSI scheduling adds another week or two after that. Passing the exam and submitting your insurance certificate is usually quick. Most applicants finish the application process in two to four months.

The most common delays are incomplete Experience Verification Forms and missing or incorrect insurance documentation. Get both sorted before you submit the application.

Renewals and Continuing Education

Contractor licenses are valid for one year. The renewal fee is $65. To renew, you must complete 8 hours of continuing education, including at least 1 hour covering Texas state laws and rules. Before your license expires, hours must come from a TDLR-approved provider. Courses from unapproved providers won’t count.

Once your TACL number is issued, it needs to appear on every estimate and invoice that goes out. Cinderblock automatically carries your license number through to both so it’s there without manual entry each time.

Look Up an HVAC License

Every licensed HVAC contractor in Texas has a public record at tdlr.texas.gov. You can verify a contractor’s license status, expiration date, and whether any disciplinary actions are on file. License numbers follow the format TACL/[Class]/[License Number]/[Endorsement], so TACL/A/000000/C is a Class A contractor with the Environmental Air Conditioning endorsement.

If you’re vetting a sub, hiring a crew, or verifying another contractor’s license, that’s where you start.

Because licensing requirements can change, always verify current requirements with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation before submitting your application.

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Licensing requirements can change. Consult the relevant licensing authority or a qualified attorney for guidance specific to your situation.