A registered ACR technician is the entry-level designation in TDLR's Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program. Registered technicians work under the supervision of a licensed ACR contractor — and the registration has no experience prerequisites beyond the application and a $20 fee.
The renewal terms are the simplest in the ACR program:
- $20 annual renewal through TDLR Online Services
- No continuing education requirement — CE applies only to Class A and Class B contractors
- Late renewal: $30 within 90 days, $40 after that — with TDLR executive-director approval once expired 18 months to 3 years
An expired registration means you cannot legally perform ACR work until you renew; once expired 3 years or more you cannot renew and must reapply as a new applicant.
Registration is also the on-ramp to bigger credentials. The standard route to a contractor license is 48 months of practical experience under a licensed contractor within the past 72 months plus the TDLR contractor exam; many registered technicians pursue the certified technician designation along the way. EPA Section 608 certification — required federally for refrigerant handling — is separate from the TDLR registration, and most technicians hold both. Details: HVAC technician CE requirements.
What it means for your renewal
If you hold a technician registration, your renewal is just the $20 fee — do not let anyone sell you CE hours you do not need. The 8-hour annual CE requirement begins only when you earn a contractor license.
When that day comes, our TDLR-approved 8-hour contractor course is online and $22.95, with no final exam.
Authority: Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1302