The work options for HVAC specialists are numerous, and they are paid well. Additionally, there is job stability because there will always be a demand for qualified experts to build and repair the heating and cooling systems in our residences and places of business. Our homes and workplaces’ heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems are intricate and are always evolving in terms of technology. A vital employment that will always be in demand may result from learning how to design, install, and repair them.

The license requirements for HVAC contractors and employees differ from one state to the next and, in some situations, from one region to another. Let’s discuss the requirements for an HVAC license in Texas in this article.

1. Types of HVAC Licenses in Texas

In Texas, there are two different categories of HVAC contractor licenses. You are able to work on any size unit if you have a Class A contractor license. You can work on cooling systems no bigger than 25 tons and heating systems no bigger than 1.5 million BTUs/hour if you have a Class B contractor license.

You must first be a registered technician working for a licensed contractor in order to obtain your contractor’s license.

You can then choose whether to become a Certified Technician. That voluntary certification goes above and beyond what is required of a Registered Technician.

You must fulfill either the practical experience or training requirement before submitting an application for a technical certification. By completing a department-approved certification program with 2,000 hours of combined classroom and fieldwork, candidates can become eligible for technician certification.

>> Read more: 5 Things you should know about EPA 608 Certification

2. Benefits of Getting an HVAC License in Texas

Obtaining a Texas HVAC license has numerous advantages:

  • Most importantly, in Texas, in order to lawfully execute A/C and refrigeration work, one must be registered, certified, or licensed by the state.
  • A trade license is evidence of your knowledge and ability.
  • Only authorized ACR contractors are permitted to run a business, market services, get commercial insurance, obtain construction permits, complete inspections, and submit bids for public and government projects.
  • Having a license protects both your business and your clients.
  • You have a competitive advantage in the job market if you have a license.
  • Your potential for generating money is also increased.
Texas HVAC License sample
Sample of HVAC License

3. Average Wage for HVAC Technician in Texas

Although Texas’s average wage for HVAC technicians is below the national average, several areas of the state also have lower costs of living. The annual mean wage for HVAC mechanics and installers nationwide is $53,410, while it is $49,360 in Texas, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The following are the average earnings for HVAC specialists in Texas, which Indeed.com reports rise with experience and education:

HVAC Mechanic: The average pay for an HVAC Mechanic is $28.92 per hour in Texas and $7,875 overtime per year.

HVAC Installer: The average pay for an HVAC installer is $25.04 per hour in Texas and $6,250 overtime per year.

HVAC Technician: The average pay for an HVAC Technician is $28.42 per hour in Texas and $6,250 overtime per year.

HVAC Supervisor: The average base salary for an HVAC Supervisor is $74,131 per year in Texas and $9,375 overtime per year.

4. How Much Does It Cost to Get an HVAC License in Texas?

Texas charges $115 for an air conditioning and refrigeration license.

Anyone working as an A/C and refrigeration technician for a licensed contractor in Texas must register with the state by completing an online application and paying a $20 fee.

Texas HVAC technicians may choose to become a Certified ACR Technician by finishing a department-approved 2,000-hour certification program and paying the $50 application fee after accumulating 24 months of worksite experience under the supervision of a licensed contractor.

>> Read more: HVAC Career Pros And Cons

5. How to Get an HVAC License in Texas

Work experience: Worked for at least 48 months in the previous 72 months under the supervision of a licensed ACR Contractor, OR held a Texas ACR Technician Certification for the previous 12 months and had at least 36 months of practical experience working under the supervision of a licensed ACR Contractor in the previous 48 months.

Documentation of work experience: Fill out the Experience Verification Form and submit it. Don’t fill out this form by yourself. The certified air conditioning and refrigeration contractor who oversaw your experience must fill out the experience verification form.

Take the exam: The Texas Department of License & Regulation will authorize your eligibility to take the licensing exam after receiving your application and proof of credentials.

Proof of insurance: You must provide proof of insurance in the form of a Certificate of Insurance that attests to a business general liability policy.

Criminal background check: You must successfully complete a criminal background check by submitting a Criminal History Questionnaire if you have ever been found guilty of a crime or entered a plea of guilty to one. All license candidates must submit to a criminal history investigation.

HVAC in texas
Get a Texas HVAC license and become an HVAC Contractor

6. How long does it take to obtain a Texas license for HVAC contractors?

To be eligible to take the ACR Exam in Texas, you must be eligible for at least four years. However, you are still allowed to get paid while working as a registered technician for a licensed contractor.

7. Texas HVAC Licensing Exam Details

The test for a Class A License is expected to feature 120 questions and a four-hour time limit, according to The Training Center of Air Conditioning and Heating, an HVAC school in Houston. 100 questions must be answered in three hours for the Class B license exam. To pass each test, you must have a minimum score of 70%. Each will have particular questions, although the same general subjects will be covered, such as:

  • HVAC systems
  • Business and Law
  • Boiler systems
  • Heating and cooling
  • Ventilation
  • Refrigeration systems and principles
  • Equipment requirements
  • Pressure relief

8. Other Requirements Unique to Texas

Texas mandates that you complete eight hours of continuing education, including one hour of instruction, in order to maintain your state-issued license. Before your license expires, you must complete this continuing education. If appropriate, educational coursework must be finished within a year of the renewal date in order to qualify for a late renewal.