Out of State Applicants
If you currently hold the equivalent of an air conditioning and refrigeration contractor license from another state or municipality, and you intend to become licensed in Texas, you may be able to use your current qualifications to obtain licensure in Texas.
Note: If you hold an air conditioning license in South Carolina or Georgia, please see the licensing reciprocity page for information on licensing agreements between these states.
Application and Fee
If you are currently licensed by another state or municipality, begin your application process by submitting a completed Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License Application (PDF) along with the non-refundable application fee of $115. Licenses are valid for a period of 1 year from the date of issue.
The license class and endorsements that you choose will determine what type of work you can perform, the licensing exam that you will take (if applicable), and insurance coverage that you must maintain.
License Classes
The Class A license allows you to work on any size unit.
The Class B license allows you to work on cooling systems of 25 tons and under, and heating systems of 1.5 million BTUs/hour and under.
Endorsements
Endorsement codes are as follows:
E: Environmental Air Conditioning
R: Commercial Refrigeration & Process Cooling and Heating
C: Combined Endorsement, for both “E” and “R” endorsements
What is the difference between Environmental Air Conditioning and Commercial Refrigeration/Process Heating and Cooling?
- “Environmental Air Conditioning” means treating air to control temperature, humidity, cleanliness, ventilation, and circulation to meet human comfort requirements.
- “Environmental” includes central air conditioning and heating.
- “Commercial Refrigeration” means the use of mechanical or absorption equipment to control temperature or humidity to satisfy the intended use of a specific space.
- “Process Cooling or Heating” includes controlling temperature, humidity, or cleanliness solely for production requirements or the proper operation of equipment.
- “Commercial Refrigeration/Process Heating and Cooling” is limited to coolers, freezers, ice machines, and equipment that provides temperature and humidity controls.
Current License Information
Include with your application materials a copy of your current license and a list of the requirements you met in order to obtain the license.
Please also include information on when this license was issued and how long you have held it. TDLR will review and determine if you meet the Texas license requirements.
Depending on the requirements of your current license, you may be required to complete some or all of the Texas requirements for licensure, including taking a licensing examination.
Insurance Requirement
You must maintain commercial general liability insurance at all times while your license is active in Texas. Insurance must be obtained from an insurance provider authorized to sell liability insurance in Texas
Texas Minimum Insurance Coverage Requirements
|
Per Occurrence for Property Damage and Bodily Injury |
Aggregate for Property Damage and Bodily Injury |
Aggregate for Products and Completed Operations |
Class A License |
$300,000 |
$600,000 |
$300,000 |
Class B License |
$100,000 |
$200,000 |
$100,000 |
Multiple License Classes
If you have both Class A and Class B licenses, a single policy may be used to satisfy the insurance requirements of both, as long as the coverage meets the minimum requirements of a Class A license.
Applicants with Criminal Convictions
If you have ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor (other than a minor traffic violation) or pleaded guilty or no contest (resulting in a deferred adjudication) to any in-state, out-of-state or federal criminal offense, you must provide a completed Criminal History Questionnaire (PDF) along with your application materials.
The department will conduct a criminal history background check on all persons who apply for a hearing instrument fitter and dispenser license. Criminal convictions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Licenses may be denied based on the nature of the conviction and how long prior to the application the conviction occurred. Depending on your criminal history, a review can take from one to six weeks to complete.
Individuals may request TDLR review their criminal background before actually applying for a license. TDLR uses the same process for this pre-application evaluation as the process described below. See the Criminal History Evaluation Letter page for more information.
Please see the Guidelines for License Applicants with Criminal Convictions, which describe the process that TDLR uses to determine whether a criminal conviction renders an applicant an unsuitable candidate for the license, or whether a conviction warrants revocation or suspension of a license previously granted.