ACR — Air Conditioning and Refrigeration — is the official name TDLR uses for the licensed HVAC trade in Texas. The term comes straight from the governing statute: Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1302, the "Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License Law."
Under Chapter 1302, ACR contracting means the design, installation, construction, repair, maintenance, service, or modification of equipment in three categories of systems:
- Environmental air conditioning systems — the heating and cooling most people mean by "HVAC"
- Commercial refrigeration systems
- Process cooling or heating systems
Anyone who performs or offers to perform that work for the public needs a TDLR credential — either a contractor license (Class A or Class B) or a technician designation (registered or certified) working under a licensed contractor. An ACR contracting company must also employ a licensed ACR contractor at each permanent location.
In practice, "ACR license" and "HVAC license" mean the same thing in Texas — TDLR paperwork, renewal notices, and the CE rules all say ACR.
What it means for your renewal
Your renewal obligations depend on which ACR credential you hold: Class A and Class B contractors renew annually for $65 and must complete 8 hours of continuing education each year, while registered technicians renew for $20 and certified technicians for $35, with no CE requirement at all.
OnlineTexasCE is TDLR-Approved Provider #2273 — our 8-hour online ACR contractor course is $22.95, has no final exam, and completions are reported to TDLR within 24 hours.
Authority: Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1302