Texas HVAC Certification, License and Training Schools

| Last Updated: August 22, 2021
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Every state has different HVAC licensing requirements and regulations regarding certification for providing air conditioning, refrigeration, ventilation and cooling system repair, installation and maintenance services.

Texas HVAC license requirements are similar to those in other states, but this state does make a clear distinction between “environmental air conditioning” and the “commercial refrigeration and process cooling or heating” creating two different classes of licensing.

When you complete a Texas HVAC certification program, you’ll need to prepare for a state-administered exam and fill out forms that include a Texas ACR Contractor License Application.

Here’s what you need to know about getting a Texas HVAC license and completing an HVAC certification program.

Texas HVAC Licenses

In the State of Texas, you can have either a Class A license or a Class B license in the field of heating, air conditioning and refrigeration. The Class A Texas HVAC license allows you to work on a unit of any size. The Class B Texas HVAC license allows you to work on cooling systems that are 25 tons and under, and heating systems of 1.5 million BTUs/hour and under.

Entitles the license holder to engage in air conditioning and refrigeration contracting for commercial refrigeration and process cooling or heating within the class of license held, A or B.

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Remember that you may have the option to take your Texas HVAC certification program online or offline, giving you more flexibility with your schedule and some more options when you are working part-time or taking care of a family.

Make sure you have reviewed all of the Texas HVAC license requirements in detail so that you have everything you need to prepare for and pass the Texas HVAC certification exam.

Texas HVAC License Requirements

Here's the steps to getting a HVAC certification in Texas:

  1. Be at least 18 years old
  2. Register as an ACR technician (no exam)
  3. Have at least 4 years of experience working with AC and refrigerators under the supervision of a licenses technician within the past 6 years.
  4. Apply for the ACR contractors certification exam
  5. Determine which license you want
  6. Take the ACR contractors certification exam
  7. Find a job 

You must be at least 18 years of age and show proof of 36 months of hands-on experience in order to qualify for the Texas HVAC license exam. You can find details about taking this exam and also review various rules, laws and guidelines on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation website.

As of 2011, the fee for a Texas HVAC license is $115. If your application is approved, the state will notify the exam provider and you will be notified to set up your exam.

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You can take the Texas HVAC license exam as often as you need to within one year from the time you file your application, but you will still need to pay a fee every time you take it. Once you pass this exam, you will be certified and licensed to provide HVAC services to the general public and work as a contractor in this field.

As discussed earlier in the first section of this article, once you are certificated you will need the proper liability insurance before you start working on the appropriate systems or equipment.

ACR Certification Exam Process

Pre-approval is required to sit for the examination according to the requirements for eligibility outlined above. After you have been approved to schedule your exam, contact PSI at 1-800-733-9267.

The two different exams for Class A and Class B vary in length and time limit:

  • Class A Exams have 120 questions with a 240 minute time limit
  • Class B Exams have 100 questions with a 180 minute time limit

In order to pass your exam you will need to get 70% of the questions correct.

Here is a list of the different topics covered on the exam:

Absorption systems, basic refrigeration components, boilers, business and law, combustion air, controls, design and responsibility, equipment requirements, heat loads, HVAC systems, piping, pressure relief protection, refrigeration principles, service, testing, ventilation, and venting.

For environmental air exams the topics covered are similar, but more specific to environmental impact of the systems rather than the systems themselves. For a more in depth preparation for the exam, check out our practice tests here.

Job Outlook

It is projected that HVAC will see a nearly 30% jump in job growth. With more and more jobs available each year in HVAC, there is no better time than the present to get your certifications.

Entry level salaries vary from region to region within the state of Texas. The average starting salary in San Antonio is around $37,730; Austin, $38,790, and Houston, $40,420. In Fort Worth it's about $40,257 and in Dallas $40,623 (2011 estimates).

Conclusion

With the amount of HVAC jobs available in Texas on the rise and tech jobs paying well over the national average, there has never been a better time to take your exams. By putting a little bit of time, money, and effort into your career you can secure higher paying jobs through getting certified.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a TACLA License? What is a TACLB License? 

TACLA and TACLB refer to the two classes of HVAC license in Texas. They stand for "Texas Air Conditioning License (Class) A" and Texas Air Conditioning License (Class) B."


Looking For Information On Nearby States?

You might also be interested in HVAC licensing requirements in bordering states:

List of Texas HVAC Schools

School Name
Address
Phone
Recent Graduates
Kilgore College1100 Broadway Kilgore, TX 75662-3299 903-984-8531
55
Texas State Technical College-Waco3801 Campus Drive Waco, TX 76705 800-792-8784
39
The University of Texas at BrownsvilleOne West University Boulevard Brownsville, TX 78520 956-882-8201
10
Vista College6101 Montana Ave El Paso, TX 79925-2021 915-779-8031
290
Southwest Texas Junior College2401 Garner Field Rd Uvalde, TX 78801-6297 830-278-4401
17
Kaplan College-Brownsville1900 North Expressway, Suite O Brownsville, TX 78521 956-547-8200
63
Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie2915 Alouette Drive Grand Prairie, TX 75052 972-660-5701-41100
63
St Philip's College1801 Martin Luther King Dr San Antonio, TX 78203-2098 210-486-2000
0
Clarendon College1122 College Drive Clarendon, TX 79226 806-874-3571-107
2
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Corpus Christi2000 South Padre Island Dr Corpus Christi, TX 78416 361-232-5057
33
Lamar State College-Port Arthur1500 Proctor St Port Arthur, TX 77640 409-984-6342
40
Austin Community College District5930 Middle Fiskville Rd Austin, TX 78752 512-223-7000
36
Eastfield College3737 Motley Dr Mesquite, TX 75150-2099 972-860-7100
116
Del Mar College101 Baldwin Blvd. Corpus Christi, TX 78404-3897 361-698-1255
33
Coastal Bend College3800 Charco Rd Beeville, TX 78102 361-354-2200
29
Galveston College4015 Ave Q Galveston, TX 77550-7496 409-944-1220
33
Everest College-Arlington300 Six Flags Drive Arlington, TX 76011 817-652-7790
70
Texas State Technical College-West Texas300 Homer K. Taylor Drive Sweetwater, TX 79556 325-235-7300
6
South Plains College1401 S. College Ave Levelland, TX 79336 806-894-9611-2175
20
Everest Institute-San Antonio6550 First Park Ten San Antonio, TX 78213 210-732-7800-341
145
Houston Community College3100 Main Street Houston, TX 77002 877-422-6111
25
El Paso Community College9050 Viscount Blvd El Paso, TX 79925 915-831-2000
49
Midland College3600 N Garfield Midland, TX 79705 432-685-4500
8
Lone Star College System5000 Research Forest Drive The Woodlands, TX 77381-4399 832-813-6500
49
Paris Junior College2400 Clarksville St Paris, TX 75460 903-785-7661
56
Texas State Technical College-Harlingen1902 North Loop 499 Harlingen, TX 78550-3697 956-364-4000
25
Lamar Institute of Technology855 E Lavaca Beaumont, TX 77705 409-880-8321
10
Trinity Valley Community College100 Cardinal Drive Athens, TX 75751 903-675-6200
50
Lone Star College System5000 Research Forest Drive The Woodlands, TX 77381-4399 832-813-6500
113
Hill College112 Lamar Dr Hillsboro, TX 76645 254-659-7500
0
Laredo Community CollegeWest End Washington St Laredo, TX 78040-4395 956-721-5140
36
Grayson College6101 Grayson Drive Denison, TX 75020-8299 903-465-6030
32
Western Technical College9624 Plaza Circle El Paso, TX 79927 915-760-8107
60
Everest Institute-Bissonnet9700 Bissonnet St-Ste 1400 Houston, TX 77036-8001 713-772-4200-121
153
Texarkana College2500 N Robison Rd Texarkana, TX 75599 903-823-3456
99
Everest Institute-Austin9100 US Hwy 290 East, Bldg 1-Ste 100 Austin, TX 78724 512-928-1933
99
San Jacinto Community College8060 Spencer Hwy Pasadena, TX 77501-2007 281-998-6150
87
Fortis Institute-Houston450 N Sam Houston Pkwy E Ste 200 Houston, TX 77060 713-332-0062
28
Tyler Junior College1400 East Fifth Street Tyler, TX 75701 903-510-2200
32
Cisco College101 College Heights Cisco, TX 76437 254-442-5000
14
Brazosport College500 College Dr Lake Jackson, TX 77566-3199 979-230-3000
20
Vernon College4400 College Dr. Vernon, TX 76384-4092 940-552-6291
11
Cedar Valley College3030 North Dallas Ave Lancaster, TX 75134-3799 972-860-8201
126
Remington College-Dallas Campus1800 Eastgate Dr Garland, TX 75041 972-686-7878
0
South Texas College3201 W Pecan Mcallen, TX 78502-9701 956-872-8311
96
North Lake College5001 North MacArthur Blvd. Irving, TX 75038-3899 972-273-3000
0
Central Texas College6200 West Central Texas Expressway Killeen, TX 76549-4199 254-526-7161
31
Remington College-Fort Worth Campus300 E. Loop 820 Fort Worth, TX 76112-1225 817-451-0017
0
St Philip's College1801 Martin Luther King Dr San Antonio, TX 78203-2098 210-486-2000
18
Wharton County Junior College911 Boling Hwy Wharton, TX 77488 979-532-4560
22
Tarrant County College District1500 Houston St Fort Worth, TX 76102-6524 817-515-8223
115
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-San Antonio734 SE Military San Antonio, TX 78216 210-782-8000
16
Lee College511 S Whiting Baytown, TX 77520 281-427-5611
26
Southern Careers Institute-San Antonio6963 NW Loop 410 San Antonio, TX 78238-4114 512-437-7500
10
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My name is Bob Wells and I am a retired HVAC tech from Washington state. I am currently retired and no longer do much with HVAC, however, I feel like I have a lot of knowledge in the subject and I wanted to create a website where I could talk about what I've learned and help upcoming HVAC techs. Find more info about me and HVAC Training 101.