Do You Need an HVAC License in Texas?

If you install, repair, or maintain air conditioning, refrigeration, or heating systems for anyone other than yourself in your own home, you need an HVAC license in Texas. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) issues the credentials and splits them into two tracks: a contractor license for people who run jobs independently, and a technician registration for people who work under a licensed contractor.1Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors Working without the right credential is a violation of Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1302 and can cost up to $5,000 per violation plus revocation.2Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors Penalties and Sanctions

When You Need a License

The rule covers a wide range of work: new installations, repairs, routine maintenance, and equipment replacement. Every company doing this work must also employ a licensed ACR contractor at each permanent business location. Technicians who work under a licensed contractor don’t need their own contractor license, but they do need to be either a Registered Technician or a Certified Technician with TDLR.

Who Is Exempt

Several situations fall outside the licensing requirement, and people often assume they need a license when they don’t.

  • Homeowners can work on HVAC systems in a building they own and live in, as long as they don’t perform HVAC work for the general public. The exemption covers only the homeowner personally, not friends, family, or handymen helping out.3Cornell Law Institute. Texas Administrative Code 16-75.30 – Exemptions
  • Portable and self-contained equipment is exempt: ductless AC products of three tons or less, portable heaters that don’t force air outside the unit, temporary environmental AC equipment not fixed in place, and residential refrigerators, freezers, and ice machines.
  • Employees of a regulated electric or gas utility performing HVAC work in connection with the utility’s business are exempt.
  • Installing or repairing a residential or commercial kitchen vent hood is exempt, as long as the person doesn’t touch any other part of the exhaust system.
  • Students enrolled in a public high school or higher-education certification program can perform HVAC work solely as part of their coursework.
  • A person licensed under the Texas security industry chapter (Chapter 1702) can install, replace, or repair a thermostat or other temperature-control interface without an HVAC license.

General contractors who aren’t HVAC-licensed can still bid on and contract for jobs that include HVAC work, provided the job doesn’t consist solely of licensed HVAC work. The actual system work must then be subcontracted to a licensed ACR contractor.3Cornell Law Institute. Texas Administrative Code 16-75.30 – Exemptions

The Two Contractor Classes and Two Technician Tiers

Class A and Class B Contractor Licenses

A Class A license covers HVAC systems of any size or capacity. A Class B license is limited to cooling systems of 25 tons or less and heating systems of 1.5 million BTUs per hour or less.4Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors at a Glance Most residential work fits within Class B, but commercial projects often exceed those limits. If you expect to touch any system over 25 tons of cooling or 1.5 million BTUs of heating, you need Class A.

Registered Technician and Certified Technician

A Registered Technician is the entry-level credential. There are no experience or education prerequisites. You register with TDLR and begin working under a licensed contractor. A Certified Technician is a voluntary step up that requires either 24 months of hands-on HVAC work under a licensed contractor or completion of a TDLR-approved 2,000-hour training program.5Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Apply for a Technician Certification Both tiers must work under the supervision of a licensed contractor at all times. The Certified Technician designation also opens a shorter path to a contractor license.

How to Qualify as a Contractor

To qualify for a Class A or Class B contractor license, you must be at least 18 and meet one of two experience requirements:6Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Apply for an Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License

  • Standard path: at least 48 months of practical HVAC experience under a licensed ACR contractor, earned within the past 72 months.4Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors at a Glance
  • Certified Technician path: at least 12 months holding a Certified Technician designation plus 36 months of practical experience under a licensed contractor, all within the past 48 months.5Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Apply for a Technician Certification

Experience is documented on an Experience Verification Form, filled out and signed by your supervising licensed contractor. Vague descriptions or gaps can delay the application, so make sure every supervisor accounts for the months you worked and the types of systems you handled.

After meeting the experience requirement, you must pass the TDLR competency exam with a score of at least 70%.4Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors at a Glance

EPA Section 608 Certification

Federal law adds a layer on top of the state license. Any technician who works with equipment that could release refrigerants into the atmosphere must hold EPA Section 608 certification.7Environmental Protection Agency. Section 608 Technician Certification Requirements That includes connecting gauges to measure pressure, adding or removing refrigerant, and any activity that opens a sealed refrigerant circuit. Apprentices working under continuous, direct supervision of a certified technician are temporarily exempt.

There are four certification levels:

  • Type I covers small appliances containing less than five pounds of refrigerant, such as household refrigerators, window AC units, and dehumidifiers.
  • Type II covers medium- and high-pressure equipment, including residential split systems, commercial rooftop units, and cold storage systems.
  • Type III covers low-pressure equipment, primarily large commercial chillers and industrial cooling systems.
  • Universal combines all three.

Most residential and light commercial technicians in Texas need at least Type II. Universal saves you from tracking which jobs you’re authorized for. The certification requires passing an EPA-approved exam and does not expire.8U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Section 608 Technician Certification

Applying, Fees, and Insurance

Applications go through TDLR’s online portal or by mail. The current fees are $115 for a contractor license, $50 for Certified Technician, and $20 for Registered Technician.4Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors at a Glance Once TDLR approves a contractor application, you’re authorized to schedule the exam through a third-party testing vendor and pay the exam fee directly to that vendor.

Passing the exam isn’t the last step. Every licensed HVAC contractor must carry commercial general liability insurance, and the insurer has to submit a certificate directly to TDLR on the agency’s required form. Minimum coverage depends on your class:9Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor Certificate of Insurance

  • Class A: $300,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and property damage, $300,000 aggregate for products and completed operations, and $600,000 total aggregate.
  • Class B: $100,000 per occurrence, $100,000 aggregate for products and completed operations, and $200,000 total aggregate.

Your license will not activate until that certificate is on file, and letting coverage lapse later can trigger suspension.

Renewal and Continuing Education

Contractors renew with TDLR and pay a $65 renewal fee, and each renewal requires 8 hours of approved continuing education per year.10Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Renew an Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License TDLR publishes a list of approved CE providers. Working on an expired license is treated the same as never having been licensed, so if you miss a deadline, stop performing HVAC work until the renewal clears.

What Happens If You Work Without a License

TDLR separates unlicensed activity into tiers. Working outside the scope of your classification, working on an expired license, or falsely using the Certified Technician title carries a $1,000 to $3,500 penalty and up to a one-year license suspension. Performing HVAC work with no license at all, collecting fees for unlicensed work, or subcontracting entire jobs to unlicensed workers carries $2,000 to $5,000 and a one-year probated suspension up to full revocation.2Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors Penalties and Sanctions

The practical fallout often hurts more than the fine. An unlicensed person cannot legally enforce a contract or collect payment for HVAC services, so a customer can refuse to pay and the contractor has no recourse. Equipment manufacturers may void warranties on systems installed or serviced by unlicensed workers. A history of unlicensed activity can also disqualify you from obtaining a license later.