Exemptions to Contractor Experience Requirement
You may be able to qualify for licensure as an Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor without meeting the experience qualifications, if you can show evidence of meeting one the following conditions.
Education
To claim any of the following exceptions, include with your application materials a diploma, transcript or completion certificate from a certification program. Your degree, diploma, or certification can be used no matter how long ago it was earned.
Four-Year Degree
If you have completed a four-year degree in one of the following areas, you will be eligible to substitute education for 24 months of practical experience:
- Air conditioning engineering or technology
- Refrigeration engineering or technology
- Mechanical engineering
Two-Year Degree or Certification
If you have completed a two-year associate’s degree, diploma, or certification program primarily focused on air-conditioning and refrigeration-related work, you will be eligible to substitute education for 12 months of practical experience.
One-Year Certification
If you have completed a one-year certification program, or a program of at least two semesters, in air conditioning and refrigeration-related work, you will be eligible to substitute education for 6 months of practical experience.
Apprenticeship Program
Every 2,000 hours in an apprenticeship program spent conducting on-the-job training is equivalent to 12 months of practical experience.
Other Related Education
Other related degrees, diplomas, and certifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the department to arrange for an evaluation of your qualifications.
International Degrees
Degrees earned outside the United States will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the department to arrange for an evaluation of your qualifications.
On-the-Job Experience
Having four or more years experience performing air conditioning and refrigeration-related work in the following areas will qualify you to take the Texas exam:
Regulated Utility
If you work for a regulated electric or gas utility, and you engage in air conditioning and refrigeration contracting, then your experience may be used to satisfy the entire 48 month requirement.
Licensed Engineers
If you are licensed as an engineer in Texas, you engage in air conditioning and refrigeration contracting as part of your employment, and you do not provide services to the public, your experience may be used to satisfy the entire 48 month requirement.
Industrial Operation
If you are employed by an industrial operation, such as a chemical plant or natural gas plant, and you perform process cooling or heating work for the operation, your experience may be used to satisfy the entire 48 month requirement.
Government Employee
Performing air conditioning and refrigeration-related work while employed by a governmental entity may be used to meet the practical experience qualification. Examples of government entities include: Federal and State agencies, school districts, universities, municipalities, hospital districts, water districts, navigation districts, etc.
Military Experience
Your military experience may be used to satisfy the entire 48 month requirement, if you can verify that air-conditioning and refrigeration work was part of your military occupational specialty, to include training received and/or actual duties performed.
Your military experience must be at least 24 months in duration and verified with a Department of Defense Form DD-214 or other supporting orders/documents showing the type and amount of air conditioning and refrigeration-related work performed as part of your military occupational specialty.
