Texas Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License requirements
Requirements for the Texas Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License: scope, eligibility, issuing authority and application evidence with official sources.
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Scope: which credential this guide covers
An ACR contractor license covers work within its class and environmental-air or refrigeration endorsement. Confirm the class and endorsement for the proposed work. Official source ↗
Requirements
Applicants must be at least 18. The standard experience path is 48 months of supervised practical work within the preceding 72 months. Official source ↗
An alternative uses 12 months of technician certification and 36 months of practical experience within the preceding 48 months. Document qualifying experience, pass the licensing examination and meet insurance requirements; TDLR lists additional exceptions. Official source ↗
Application fees
$115 application fee; other costs may apply. Official source ↗
Resolve the class before gathering experience
Start with the equipment and services the business plans to offer. Record the requested class and endorsement alongside the supervisor who can substantiate the experience. A technician certificate should not be filed as evidence that the business already holds its contractor license. Keep exam scheduling and insurance preparation as separate steps so an approved application does not get mistaken for permission to start a contract.
The checklist above is a suggested application workflow. The authority determines eligibility.
After issuance: plan the renewal
Renew annually; the license is valid for one year. Official source ↗
See the renewal requirements, education and expiration guidance →Employer compliance considerations
Build the roster around the licensed contractor and the business location or team that relies on that person. Keep technicians as separate people, with their own applicable credentials. Before dispatching a new type of installation, have a manager compare its scope with the contractor class and endorsement recorded from TDLR.
Open the complete employer checklist →Official sources
- TDLR contractor application ↗Verified 2026-09-05
- TDLR contractor renewal ↗Verified 2026-09-05
Frequently asked questions
Which authority issues this Texas credential?
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). This guide covers the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License; other categories require a separate review.
Is application approval the same as an active credential?
Keep application, examination and issuance evidence separate. Confirm the final authority record and its scope before treating an application as a completed license check.
Related licenses and state guides
- Texas Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License renewal
- HVAC contractor license checks for Texas employers
- Texas Journeyman Electrician License requirements
- Texas Journeyman Plumber License requirements
- Texas Registered Nurse License requirements
- California C-20 HVAC Contractor License requirements
- Florida Certified Class A Air-Conditioning Contractor License requirements
- HVAC license tracking for employers
How this guide is maintained
Regulatory facts cite official government or licensing-authority pages. Unconfirmed values stay unknown. Employer checklists are suggested internal workflows, not additional licensing rules. Reviewed records have a maximum 90-day review window; overdue records leave the sitemap and search indexing until rechecked. This guide does not cover every exception, local permit or individual circumstance.
Editorial update: . Browse verified coverage.