Texas has an average year-round temperature of 69.4°F and generally maintains a temperate climate. Depending on where someone lives in the state residents may either face arid conditions or those that can be quite humid. Most residents in Texas will rarely experience temperatures that fall below the 40s but will oftentimes face much warmer temperatures that range anywhere from the mid-80s to just shy of 100°F. Professionals with a Texas HVAC license remain busiest during the months of April through September.

Texas HVAC License Options

HVAC contractors in Texas must obtain licensure prior to completing work in their field which is available through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TLDR).

The main form of licensure available for HVAC contractors includes the Class A and Class B license. The Class A license permits HVAC professionals to work on all unit sizes whereas the Class B license restricts professionals to working on cooling systems of no greater than 25 tons or heating systems which are 1.5 million BTUs/hour or less. In order to obtain either license all contractors must pass a required exam.

Prior to taking the contractor’s licensing exam all applicants must complete a minimum of 48 months of related work experience under the supervision of a licensed contractor.
Following the completion of the exam, HVAC contractors must obtain commercial general liability insurance. Those who obtain a Class A license are required to carry minimum insurance coverage of $300,000 per occurrence for property damage and bodily injury, $600,000 aggregate for property damage and bodily injury as well as $300,000 aggregate for products and completed operations.

Those with a Class B license must carry a minimum insurance coverage of $100,000, $200,000 and $100,000 for respective occurrences. Texas maintains a reciprocity agreement for contractor licensing with the states of Georgia and South Carolina.

Texas HVAC Education

Texas has over 20 schools which offer HVAC education ranging from certificate to degree programs including Cedar Valley College, Central Texas College, Eastfield College, El Paso Community College, Galveston College, North Lake College, Laredo Community College and Lincoln College of Technology. Programs which have HVAC Excellence accreditation include Laredo Community College and Lincoln College of Technology. The most popular education programs offered by these schools include an Associate of Science in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology; an Associate of Applied Science in Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and Repair; a Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Certificate of Completion; and a Residential HVAC Technician Certificate of Completion.

Texas HVAC Exam Overview

HVAC contractors in Texas must successfully complete either the Class A or Class B exam prior to obtaining licensure. The Class A Exam contains 120 multiple choice questions which must be taken within 240 minutes. The Class B Exam contains 100 multiple choice questions which have a time limit of 180 minutes. Both exams require a minimum score of 70% in order to pass.

Texas EPA Section 608 Certification

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires all HVAC technicians that work with refrigerants to be certified. In order to obtain EPA certification, HVAC technicians in Texas must take an exam which has 80 multiple choice questions that must be completed within 3 hours. A score of 70% is required to pass the exam and the exam fee is $120.

The three different EPA certification types that HVAC technicians can acquire are Type I, II and III. Type I limits HVAC technicians to working on appliances which contain no more than five pounds of refrigerant. Type II permits HVAC technicians to perform work on high pressure appliances. Type III limits HVAC technicians to working on low-pressure appliances. This certification is transferable among all states and does not expire.

Texas HVAC Salary

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires all HVAC technicians that work with refrigerants to be certified. In order to obtain EPA certification, HVAC technicians must take an exam which has 80 multiple choice questions that must be completed within 3 hours. A score of 70% is required to pass the exam and the exam fee is $120.