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Texas HVAC Technician license renewal
Last reviewed 2026-09-19. Not legal advice — confirm fees, hours, and forms on the official .gov page before you file. Rules change.
Texas does not use a generic mechanical board for HVAC contractors. TDLR’s ACR program licenses Class A and Class B contractors and registers or certifies technicians. EPA Section 608 is a federal card that never expires and must be tracked next to the state license, not instead of it.
Texas HVAC contracting is TDLR Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, not a municipal “HVAC board.” Contractor licenses renew every year with 8 hours of CE (1 hour Texas law). EPA 608 still does not expire.
- Board / agency
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation — Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
- Renewal cycle
- ACR contractor licenses renew annually. Technician registration/certification also annual.
- Continuing education
- Contractors: 8 hours of TDLR-approved CE each year, including 1 hour of Texas ACR law and rules. Registered/certified technicians: no contractor-style 8-hour CE.
- Fees (verify before paying)
- ACR contractor renewal $65. Late: 1.5× within 90 days, 2× from 91 days to 18 months. Registered tech $20 / certified tech $35 class of fee — confirm TDLR.
- Official source
- TDLR ACR contractor renewal
Contractor vs technician
The ACR Contractor license is what lets a company contract air-conditioning and refrigeration work. Class A and Class B both renew annually at the same $65 contractor renewal fee. You should start 30–60 days before expiration.
Registered technicians ($20-class renewal) and certified technicians ($35-class) are individual credentials. They do not replace the contractor license. A shop that only tracks techs and lets the contractor license die cannot legally contract.
Eight hours of CE
Contractors must complete 8 hours of TDLR-approved CE before the license expires, including one hour of Texas laws and rules that regulate ACR contractors. The other seven hours come from approved ACR or related subjects. Providers report hours; keep certificates one year.
If you renew late, CE must have been completed in the one-year period immediately before the late renewal date. Hours do not roll forward. College classes count only if TDLR approved that section as CE.
EPA 608 and municipal overlays
EPA 608 (core plus Type I/II/III or Universal) does not expire under federal rules. Employers still need a copy on every tech who opens the refrigerant circuit. Do not invent a fake 608 expiration; do record “no federal expiry — keep proof on file.”
Cities may still require contractor registration or permit accounts. Those dates are local. Combined with TDLR’s annual contractor clock, a Texas HVAC shop usually has more rows than “HVAC license.”
What to track
- TDLR ACR contractor class (A/B), number, and annual expiration
- 8-hour CE including the 1-hour Texas law course
- Registered or certified technician numbers and annual dates
- EPA 608 type and certificate image (no federal expiry)
- City registration / permit-portal dates
Renewal checklist
- Finish all 8 CE hours before you pay the $65 contractor renewal
- Check TDLR’s CE lookup if the provider has not posted
- Renew technician cards as separate tasks
- Keep 608 cards in the same packet as TDLR pocket licenses
- Start 30–60 days out — expired contractor licenses add 1.5× or 2× fees
Common mistakes
- Tracking only EPA 608 and skipping TDLR
- Giving technicians the 8-hour contractor CE plan as if it were required for every helper
- Missing the 1-hour Texas law course inside the 8
- Letting the contractor license lapse while techs are still current
FAQ
Who licenses HVAC contractors in Texas?
TDLR’s Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program — not TSBPE and not a generic mechanical board.
How often does a Texas ACR contractor license renew?
Annually, with 8 hours of TDLR-approved CE including 1 hour of Texas law and rules. Fee is $65 for a timely contractor renewal.
Does EPA 608 expire?
No. Track it as proof-on-file, not as an annual TDLR renewal.
Sources
Published HVAC Technician guides
Other published Texas guides
Pillars: when OSHA 10/30 expires · CDL medical card timeline · audit checklist · NYC SST vs OSHA
Track renewals for your whole crew — reminders before anything lapses.
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