Texas HVAC License Types: Class A vs. Class B Contractor Explained [2026]

Texas regulates heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration work through the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (ACR) program administered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). The program is governed by Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1302 and administrative rules in 16 TAC Chapter 75.

If you perform or offer to perform the design, installation, construction, repair, maintenance, service, or modification of HVAC and refrigeration systems in Texas, you are required to hold a TDLR-issued license. TDLR issues two levels of contractor license: Class A and Class B. Each comes with a different scope of work, but both share the same 8-hour annual continuing education requirement.

This guide explains the differences between the two Texas HVAC license types, what each license allows you to do, how to qualify, and how to stay compliant with your annual CE. Whether you are a working contractor deciding which license to pursue or an existing licensee approaching your renewal, this page covers everything you need to know in 2026.

The simplest way to understand the difference between the two Texas HVAC contractor license types is with a direct comparison. The table below covers scope, fees, experience requirements, and CE obligations for each.

Feature	Class A Contractor	Class B Contractor
Cooling Scope	Unlimited tonnage	25 tons and under
Heating Scope	Unlimited BTU	1.5 million BTU/hour and under
Typical Jobs	Commercial, industrial, residential (any size)	Residential and light commercial
Experience Required	48 months under licensed contractor (past 72 months)	48 months under licensed contractor (past 72 months)
Exam	Class A contractor exam	Class B contractor exam
Initial Application Fee	$115	$115
Annual Renewal Fee	$65	$65
CE Hours (Annual)	8 hours	8 hours
Insurance Required	$300K/$600K CGL minimum	$100K/$200K CGL minimum
Governing Statute	TX Occupations Code Ch. 1302	TX Occupations Code Ch. 1302

As the comparison shows, the primary difference is scope of work. Class A contractors have no restrictions on equipment size, while Class B contractors are limited to smaller residential and light commercial units. All other obligations — fees, CE hours, and renewal cycle — are identical; only the insurance minimums differ, and Class B's are lower.

Understanding the scope of each license is critical before you choose which exam to take and which license to pursue. Working outside your license scope is a violation that can result in fines and license suspension.

Class A Contractor — Unlimited Scope

A Class A HVAC license in Texas allows you to work on air conditioning and refrigeration equipment of any size. There are no tonnage or BTU restrictions. This license covers:

• Large commercial HVAC systems (rooftop units, chillers, cooling towers)
• Industrial refrigeration systems
• Process cooling and heating systems
• All residential HVAC work
• Light commercial systems

If you plan to bid on projects at hospitals, data centers, manufacturing facilities, schools, or large commercial properties, you need a Class A license.

Class B Contractor — Limited Scope

A Class B HVAC license in Texas limits you to cooling units of 25 tons and under and heating units of 1.5 million BTU/hour and under. In practice, this covers the majority of residential work and much of the light commercial market:

• Single-family residential HVAC systems (typically 2-5 tons)
• Multi-family residential units
• Small retail stores and restaurants
• Small office buildings
• Mini-split and ductless systems

Many contractors build successful businesses with only a Class B license, especially those focused on the residential market. The 25-ton cooling limit covers the vast majority of homes and small businesses in Texas.

The experience requirements for Class A and Class B licenses are the same. What differs is the exam content and the scope of work you are tested on.

Standard Path (Both Class A and Class B):

1. Gain 48 months of practical ACR experience working under a licensed contractor within the past 72 months
2. Submit your application to TDLR with the $115 non-refundable application fee
3. Pass the TDLR contractor exam for your chosen license class (Class A or Class B)
4. Obtain commercial general liability insurance meeting the TDLR minimums (Class A: $300,000 per occurrence / $600,000 aggregate / $300,000 products and completed operations; Class B: $100,000 / $200,000 / $100,000)
5. Submit your Certificate of Insurance to TDLR
6. Receive your contractor license

Certified Technician Path (Shortened Timeline):

If you hold a TDLR certified technician designation, you can qualify with a shorter experience window:

• Hold certified technician status for at least 12 months
• Have 36 months of practical experience under a licensed contractor in the past 48 months
• Pass the contractor exam and meet insurance requirements

The certified technician path recognizes the qualifying route you already completed — TDLR certifies technicians who have either 24 months of supervised ACR experience or a TDLR-approved 2,000-hour certification program (applied for within 48 months of finishing it), are at least 18, and pass the certification exam. It reduces the total timeline to contractor licensure by about 12 months.

Both Class A and Class B contractors share the same fee structure and renewal obligations. Your license is renewed annually on the anniversary of your issuance date.

Fee Type	Amount
New contractor application	$115
Annual renewal (on time)	$65
Late renewal (1-90 days)	$97.50 (50% surcharge)
Late renewal (91 days - 18 months)	$130 (100% surcharge)
Late renewal (18 months - 3 years)	$130, with TDLR executive director approval (mail-in request)

CE Requirements (Both Classes): You must complete 8 hours of TDLR-approved continuing education every year before your renewal date. The hours break down as follows:

• 1 hour (mandatory): Texas state law and rules governing ACR licensees (Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1302 and 16 TAC Chapter 75)
• 7 hours (flexible): Mechanical codes (IMC, UMC), safety protocols, refrigerant handling and transitions, energy efficiency, diagnostic techniques, or other approved technical topics

At OnlineTexasCE.com, our TDLR-approved 8-hour HVAC/ACR CE course covers all required topics for $22.95 — one price for the complete 8-hour package. No final exam, instant certificate, and we submit your completion electronically through TDLR's provider reporting system. One CE hour equals at least 50 minutes of instruction time, so the full 8 hours is 400 minutes (6 hours 40 minutes) of content.

One of the most common questions in Texas HVAC licensing is whether technicians need continuing education. The answer is straightforward: only contractors need CE.

License/Designation	CE Required?	Renewal Fee	Notes
Class A Contractor	Yes — 8 hrs/year	$65/year	Unlimited scope
Class B Contractor	Yes — 8 hrs/year	$65/year	25 tons / 1.5M BTU limit
Registered Technician	No	$20/year	Entry-level, works under contractor
Certified Technician	No	$35/year	Advanced; 24 months supervised experience or a 2,000-hr program

Registered and certified technicians must still renew their TDLR designations annually and pay the renewal fee ($20 registered, $35 certified), but they are not required to complete any CE hours. They work under the supervision of a licensed contractor, and it is the contractor's responsibility to maintain CE compliance.

It is also important to note that EPA 608 certification is entirely separate from your TDLR license. EPA 608 is a federal certification for refrigerant handling that does not expire and has no CE requirement. Having an EPA 608 certificate does not fulfill your TDLR contractor CE obligation or substitute for a state license.

Your choice between Class A and Class B depends on your career goals and the types of projects you want to pursue.

Choose Class B if:

• You focus on residential HVAC installation and repair
• Your clients are homeowners and small businesses
• You want to start your own residential HVAC company
• Most of the equipment you work on is under 25 tons (the vast majority of residential units are 2-5 tons)
• You want to enter the contractor market quickly and upgrade later

Choose Class A if:

• You want to bid on commercial and industrial projects
• Your work includes hospitals, schools, data centers, or large commercial properties
• You plan to work on chillers, cooling towers, or large rooftop units
• You want maximum flexibility in the types of jobs you can take
• You are building a company that serves both residential and commercial markets

Many contractors start with a Class B license to enter the market and then upgrade to Class A as their experience and business grow. There is no penalty for starting at Class B — you simply take the Class A exam when you are ready to expand your scope.

With Texas projecting 17% growth in HVAC jobs through 2032 and 31,910 HVAC workers currently employed in the state, the demand for licensed contractors continues to climb. The ongoing R-454B refrigerant transition (replacing R-410A in new residential equipment as of January 2025) adds urgency to staying current through CE.

Whether you hold a Class A or Class B contractor license, your annual CE obligation is the same: 8 hours of TDLR-approved continuing education. At OnlineTexasCE.com, we make it easy to stay compliant.

Our TDLR-approved 8-hour HVAC/ACR course (Provider #2273) covers everything you need:

• 1 hour of Texas law and rules — Occupations Code Chapter 1302 and 16 TAC Chapter 75
• 7 hours of technical topics — mechanical codes, refrigerant handling, safety, energy efficiency, and industry updates

Course features:

• $22.95 for the complete 8-hour course — one price, no add-ons
• No final exam — completion-based, with short in-lesson knowledge or attendance checks
• 100% online and self-paced — work at your own speed, 24/7
• Mobile-friendly — complete your CE from any device
• Instant certificate upon completion
• TDLR reporting within 24 hours — we report your hours directly to TDLR

Don't wait until your renewal date is around the corner. Start your 8-hour HVAC CE course now and renew your contractor license with confidence. For more on the renewal process, see our complete Texas HVAC license and TDLR ACR program guide.