- Air Distribution is the largest domain at 15% - review it last so it's freshest.
- You need 70% on 120 scored items in 4 hours; 5 extra pretest items don't count.
- TDLR application ($115) plus PSI exam fee ($74) are separate line items - budget for both.
- The exam is open-book: pack tabbed, highlighted references and a compliant nonprogrammable calculator.
Quick Facts Snapshot
This page is designed to be the single sheet you skim the night before your Environmental Air Class A exam. Every number below comes straight from the PSI candidate handbook and TDLR rules for the Texas Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (ACR) Contractor License Exam - nothing borrowed from any other credential that happens to share the "ACR" initials. If you want the long-form explanation behind any of these numbers, the ACR Study Guide 2026 and ACR Requirements 2026 articles go deeper.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Administering body | PSI (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation exam) |
| Exam name | Environmental Air Class A |
| Scored items | 120 multiple-choice |
| Non-scored items | 5 (unidentified pretest questions) |
| Time allowed | 4 hours |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Format | Open-book, in-person, computer-based |
| Languages | English and Spanish |
| TDLR application fee | $115 |
| PSI exam fee | $74 |
| License renewal | $65 annually, 8 CE hours (1 hour Texas law/rules) |
Domain-by-Domain Cheat Sheet
The 120 scored items are pulled from PSI's official outline across fourteen domains. Memorize this weighting order before you touch a single practice question - it tells you where your study hours actually pay off. For the full breakdown of what each domain tests, see the ACR Exam Domains 2026 guide.
Domain 1: Air Distribution - 15%
The single largest domain. Expect duct sizing, static pressure, register/diffuser placement, and airflow balancing questions.
- Duct sizing tables and friction rate concepts
- Supply vs. return air balancing
Domain 5: Equipment Requirements and Design - 11.67%
Second-largest domain. Covers equipment selection, clearances, and design criteria for environmental air systems.
- Manufacturer clearance and access requirements
- Load-appropriate equipment selection
Domain 6: HVAC Systems - 9.17%
System-level knowledge: how components integrate across split systems, packaged units, and zoned setups.
- System type identification and application
- Component interaction under load
The remaining eleven domains are smaller individually but add up to more than half your score, so none can be skipped:
- Domain 10 (Service, 10%) and Domain 11 (Testing, 10%) - diagnostic and verification procedures
- Domain 2 (Basic Refrigeration Components, 5%), Domain 3 (Combustion Air, 5%), Domain 4 (Controls, 5%)
- Domain 7 (Piping, 5%), Domain 8 (Refrigeration Principles, 5%), Domain 9 (Safety, 5%)
- Domain 12 (Texas Laws and Rules, 5%), Domain 13 (Ventilation, 5%)
- Domain 14 (Venting, 4.17%) - the smallest weighting on the outline
Key Takeaway
Domains 1, 5, and 6 together account for roughly a third of your scored questions. Spend disproportionate review time there, then sweep the 5%-weighted domains in batches rather than one at a time.
Fees, Timeline, and Renewal Numbers
Budgeting for this license means tracking two separate payments and one recurring cost. Applicants owe TDLR $115 for the application and PSI $74 for the exam itself - these are not bundled, so don't be surprised when you pay twice. Once licensed, renewal is $65 per year, and it's tied to 8 hours of continuing education, with at least 1 hour specifically on Texas law and rules.
For a complete cost breakdown including what's optional versus mandatory, read the ACR Certification Cost 2026 article. If you're weighing whether the investment is worth it against your career goals, the Is the ACR Certification Worth It? analysis and ACR Salary Guide 2026 both dig into that question.
| Cost Item | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| TDLR application fee | $115 | One-time, at application |
| PSI examination fee | $74 | Per exam attempt |
| License renewal fee | $65 | Annually |
| Continuing education | 8 hours (1 hr Texas law/rules) | Annually, before renewal |
Exam Day Mechanics
Knowing the mechanics cold removes avoidable stress on test day. Here's what actually happens once you're seated at the PSI testing center:
- Format: Computer-based, in-person, multiple-choice.
- Length: 120 scored items plus 5 non-scored (pretest) items you can't distinguish from scored ones - answer everything with equal care.
- Time: 4 hours total, which is generous if you've practiced pacing but tight if you're flipping through unfamiliar references.
- Language: Available in English and Spanish.
- References allowed: This is an open-book exam. Approved references may contain preexisting notes, highlighting, underlining, and permanent tabs - prepare your code books accordingly, well before exam day, not the morning of.
- Calculator: A compliant nonprogrammable calculator is permitted.
Because the passing threshold is fixed and public, there's no ambiguity about your target. The ACR Passing Score 2026 article walks through exactly how the 70% cutoff translates to a raw number of correct answers out of 120.
Key Takeaway
Tab your reference materials by domain name - Air Distribution, Piping, Venting, etc. - not by chapter number, so you can flip straight to the right section under time pressure.
Eligibility Recap
You must be at least 18 years old, and then satisfy one of two experience paths:
- Standard path: 48 months of supervised practical experience within the preceding 72 months.
- Certified technician path: 12 months as a certified technician plus 36 months of qualifying experience within the preceding 48 months.
Approved substitutions can apply to either path - check your specific circumstances against current TDLR guidance rather than assuming. The full eligibility mechanics, including how substitutions are documented, are covered in the ACR Requirements 2026 guide.
Insurance and Code Update Recap
Passing the exam isn't the finish line - Class A contractors must also maintain commercial general liability coverage of $300,000 per occurrence, $600,000 aggregate, and $300,000 for products and completed operations. Have this in place (or lined up) before you plan to activate your license, since it's a licensing condition, not an optional add-on.
On the technical content side, the 2024 IMC (International Mechanical Code), IFGC (International Fuel Gas Code), and UMC (Uniform Mechanical Code) references take effect September 1, 2026. If your exam date falls on or after that line, study from the 2024 editions. If it falls before, verify with your current PSI bulletin which edition is actually tested - don't assume.
Domain 12: Texas Laws and Rules - 5%
Smaller in weight but easy to underestimate. This domain draws directly from TDLR statutes and rules governing licensing, renewal, and contractor conduct - the same body of knowledge behind the required 1-hour CE requirement.
- TDLR licensing and enforcement authority
- Contractor obligations under Texas rules
Last-Week Review Plan
If you've already done the heavy lifting from a full study plan (see the ACR Study Guide 2026 for that), use your final week to consolidate rather than cram new material. This short timeline focuses purely on domain weighting, not generic study tricks.
Heavyweight Domains
- Re-drill Air Distribution (15%) and Equipment Requirements and Design (11.67%)
- Rebuild any duct-sizing or clearance calculations from scratch, unaided
Mid-Weight Domains
- Review HVAC Systems (9.17%), Service (10%), and Testing (10%)
- Practice diagnostic scenario questions under a timer
Five-Percent Cluster
- Batch-review Basic Refrigeration Components, Combustion Air, Controls, Piping, Refrigeration Principles, Safety, Texas Laws and Rules, Ventilation
- Confirm reference book tabs match these domain names
Smallest Domain and Logistics
- Quick pass on Venting (4.17%)
- Confirm calculator compliance, ID, and testing center address
Run a full-length timed simulation on our ACR practice test platform during this window so the 4-hour pacing feels familiar rather than foreign on exam day.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 125 total multiple-choice items, but only 120 are scored. The remaining 5 are non-scored pretest questions mixed in without identification, so answer every question as if it counts.
Yes. This is an open-book exam, and approved references may already contain preexisting notes, highlighting, underlining, and permanent tabs. Prepare and organize those materials well in advance.
Plan for a $115 TDLR application fee and a separate $74 PSI examination fee. After licensure, renewal is $65 annually along with 8 hours of continuing education. See the ACR Certification Cost 2026 guide for the full picture.
Air Distribution at 15% is the largest single domain, followed by Equipment Requirements and Design at 11.67% and HVAC Systems at 9.17%. Together these three domains represent a significant share of your scored questions.
The 2024 IMC, IFGC, and UMC references take effect September 1, 2026. Check your specific exam date against the current PSI bulletin, updated July 9, 2026, to confirm which code edition applies to you.
Keep this cheat sheet nearby as a final-week reference, and pair it with the domain-level detail in the ACR Exam Domains 2026 guide and a full timed run-through on our practice test platform before you sit for the real thing.