Apply for a Contractor License
Experience Requirements
To be eligible for licensure, you must meet one of the following experience requirements:
- You have at least 48 months of practical experience in air-conditioning and refrigeration-related work under the supervision of a licensed air conditioning and refrigeration contractor in the past 72 months, OR
- You have held a technician certification for the past 12 months and you have at least 36 months of practical experience in air-conditioning and refrigeration-related work under the supervision of a licensed air conditioning and refrigeration contractor in the past 48 months
All experience must be documented on an Experience Verification Form (PDF), which must be completed by the person or persons who supervised your experience. Do NOT complete this form yourself. Use multiple forms, if necessary.
The completed experience verification form(s) should be submitted with your application materials.
Exceptions
You may qualify for an exception to the practical experience requirements, if you meet one or more of the following:
- You have a degree, diploma, or certification in air-conditioning and refrigeration
- You are a licensed engineer or have a degree in mechanical engineering
- You have military training in air-conditioning and refrigeration
- You are employed by an industrial operation performing process cooling or heating work for the operation
Please see the exemptions to practical experience requirements page for more information regarding exemptions.
Application and Fee
To apply for a new license, submit a completed Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License Application (PDF) along with the fee of $115. Licenses are valid for a period of 1 year from the date of issue.
You must be at least 18 years old to apply.
The license class and endorsements that you choose will determine what type of work you can perform, the licensing exam that you will take, 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
The available endorsements are:
- Environmental Air Conditioning – includes treating air to control temperature, humidity, cleanliness, ventilation, and circulation to meet human comfort requirements
- Commercial Refrigeration – includes 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
Note: "Commercial Refrigeration" and "Process Heating and Cooling" are limited to coolers, freezers, ice machines, and equipment that provides temperature and humidity controls.
License numbers have the following form: [Title] / [Class] / [License Number] / [Endorsement]
(e.g. TACL/A/000000/C).
Multiple License Classes
If you apply for both a Class A and Class B license, you will receive a single document with two license numbers. Each license may only have one endorsement. Both licenses must have the same business affiliation and addresses.
Exam Requirement
After submitting your application and proof of qualifications, TDLR will approve your eligibility to take the licensing exam. Please see the examination requirements page for further information.
You must complete all requirements of the application process, including passing the licensing exam, within one year of the date the application is filed.
Insurance Requirement
After passing the licensing exam, you must submit a Certificate of Insurance, which includes the license holder name and business name to the Department. You may submit the documents to customer service by email.
See the Sample Certificate of Insurance (PDF) for an example.
You must maintain commercial general liability insurance at all times while your license is active. Insurance must be obtained from an insurance provider authorized to sell liability insurance in 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 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.