Texas ACR contractors — air conditioning and refrigeration, Class A and Class B — must complete 8 hours of TDLR-approved continuing education every year to renew their license. Registered and certified technicians are exempt. Here's the full breakdown.
Who Needs HVAC CE — and Who Doesn't
Class A ACR Contractor: 8 hours/year — can work on units of any size
Class B ACR Contractor: 8 hours/year — cooling up to 25 tons, heating up to 1.5 million BTU/hr
Registered technician: no CE — renews for $20/year
Certified technician: no CE — renews for $35/year
A common point of confusion: EPA Section 608 certification is a separate federal refrigerant-handling credential. It never expires and has nothing to do with TDLR's CE requirement. More on license classes: Class A vs. Class B explained.
What the 8 Hours Must Cover
- 1 hour (mandatory): Texas law and rules for ACR contractors — Occupations Code Chapter 1302 and 16 TAC Chapter 75
- 7 hours (flexible): mechanical codes (IMC/UMC), safety protocols, refrigerant handling and the A2L transition, energy efficiency standards, diagnostics, and new HVAC technology
One CE credit hour equals 50 minutes of actual instruction time, you cannot repeat the same course for credit (each approval year's course is a new approved course), and there is no final exam. Our 8-hour A/C + HVAC course satisfies the full requirement with a deep pass through Chapter 1302 and Chapter 75 — including the mechanical codes they adopt — plus professional ethics.
Deadlines and Costs
ACR contractor licenses renew every year on the anniversary of the issue date, and all 8 hours must be finished before the expiration date. The renewal fee is $65; renewing late costs $97.50 (expired 1–90 days) or $130 (expired more than 90 days).
Step-by-step instructions, late-fee details, and what to do if your license already expired: Texas HVAC license renewal guide. Working past your expiration date carries real penalties — see what an expired TDLR license actually costs and our full Texas HVAC license guide.
How Are CE Hours Reported?
You don't mail anything to the state. As a TDLR-approved provider, OnlineTexasCE reports your completion electronically within 24 hours, and your certificate downloads instantly. Keep the certificate for at least 1 year and verify your reported hours anytime with the TDLR license & CE search.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.01How many CE hours do Texas HVAC contractors need?
Texas ACR contractors — Class A and Class B — need 8 hours of TDLR-approved continuing education every year, including at least 1 hour covering Texas law and rules (Occupations Code Chapter 1302 and 16 TAC Chapter 75).
Q.02Do HVAC technicians need continuing education in Texas?
No. Registered and certified ACR technicians have no CE requirement — they renew annually ($20 for registered, $35 for certified technicians) with no coursework. Only licensed ACR contractors must complete the 8-hour annual CE requirement.
Q.03What topics count for Texas HVAC CE?
At least 1 hour must cover Texas law and rules for ACR contractors. The remaining 7 hours may cover mechanical codes (IMC/UMC), safety, refrigerant handling and transitions, energy efficiency, and new HVAC technologies.
Q.04Is there a test for Texas HVAC CE?
No. TDLR continuing education is completion-based — finish the 8 hours and your certificate is issued immediately. There is no exam.
Q.05Does EPA 608 certification count toward TDLR CE?
No. EPA Section 608 is a separate federal refrigerant-handling credential that never expires. It does not satisfy or replace TDLR's annual 8-hour CE requirement for ACR contractors.
Q.06How are HVAC CE hours reported to TDLR?
Your CE provider reports your completion electronically. OnlineTexasCE, TDLR-approved Provider #2273, reports within 24 hours. Keep your completion certificate for at least 1 year.
Last updated August 26, 2026