Doing Business in Texas

Licensing Rules in Texas

HVAC contractors must be licensed in Texas. Applications for licensing can be obtained from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation at http://www.license.state.tx.us/acr/acr.htm.

The Department issues two types of licenses – Class Class A and Class B. The Class A license allows contractors to work on any size HVAC equipment. The Class B license limits contractors to 25 tons of cooling and 1.5 million Btu of heating. For either the Class A or Class B license, applicants also need an endorsement for environmental air conditioning, commercial refrigeration and process cooling and heating, or both.

Applicants must pass an exam for each type of endorsement. To take an exam, applicants need at least three years of practical work experience in the preceding five years. If an applicant has a degree in air conditioning engineering, refrigeration engineering, or mechanical engineering from a Department-approved school, it can be used for up to two years of the work experience requirement.

After you pass the exams, you have these insurance requirements for a license:

Class A license: $300,000 per occurrence for property damage and bodily injury, $300,000 aggregate for property damage and bodily injury, and $300,00 aggregate for products and completed operations

Class B license: $100,000 per occurrence for property damage and bodily injury, $100,000 aggregate for property damage and bodily injury, and $100,00 aggregate for products and completed operations

If you are a contractor with a valid HVAC license in Georgia or South Carolina , you may use it to obtain a Texas license.

The cost is $50 to file an application and each exam costs $90. A license costs $125 and it's good for one year.