ACR Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows

The 2026 Pass Rate Number and What It Actually Means

Through May 31, 2026, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) reported a 36.62% first-time pass rate for the Environmental Air Class A examination administered by PSI. That number covers candidates sitting for the exam for the first time during the current fiscal year, and it is one of the clearest signals available about how demanding this particular license test is compared to how candidates typically assume it will be going in.

A pass rate in this range doesn't mean the material is impossible - it means the majority of first-time test-takers are underestimating either the breadth of the content outline or the pace required to work through 120 scored questions in four hours. If you're weighing how much preparation time to budget, this figure alone is a strong argument for treating the exam as a serious professional licensing test rather than a formality tacked onto years of field experience.

Why the First-Time Pass Rate Sits Where It Does

Several structural features of this exam contribute to the pass rate landing where it does, and understanding them changes how you prepare far more than generic test-taking advice ever will.

• Breadth across 14 domains: The content outline spans everything from Air Distribution and Combustion Air to Texas Laws and Rules, meaning a candidate can be strong in field installation work but still get exposed on domains like Testing or Venting that receive less daily attention on the job.
• Experience doesn't automatically equal exam readiness: Years of hands-on refrigeration or ductwork experience build muscle memory, but the exam asks candidates to recall code language, sizing rules, and safety standards in a multiple-choice format under time pressure - a different skill than field troubleshooting.
• Open-book format creates a false sense of security: Because approved references are allowed, some candidates assume they can look everything up. With 125 total items in 4 hours, there isn't time to search a reference manual for more than a fraction of the questions.

For a deeper breakdown of exactly why the test trips up experienced technicians, see How Hard Is the ACR Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.

Domain Weighting and Where Candidates Lose Points

The 120 scored items are distributed across 14 domains according to PSI's official outline, and the percentages are not evenly split. Knowing exactly how many questions come from each area lets you allocate study time proportionally instead of spreading effort evenly across topics that don't carry equal weight.

Air Distribution alone accounts for 15% of scored content, roughly 18 questions on a typical form - more than any other single domain. Equipment Requirements and Design, HVAC Systems, Service, and Testing together make up another sizable chunk. If your study plan treats every domain identically, you're spending equal time on a 4.17%-weighted domain like Venting as you are on the 15%-weighted Air Distribution domain, which is not an efficient use of limited prep hours.

For a full walkthrough of all 14 domains with study priorities for each, review ACR Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 14 Content Areas.

Exam Format Factors That Affect Pass Rates

Beyond content weighting, the mechanics of the exam itself shape outcomes. The Environmental Air Class A exam is a computer-based, in-person test offered through PSI in English and Spanish, with 120 scored and 5 non-scored multiple-choice items and a 4-hour time limit. A passing score requires 70% correct.

It's open-book, and approved references may include preexisting notes, highlighting, underlining, and permanent tabs - meaning candidates who prepare a well-organized, tabbed reference set going in have a real advantage over those who bring an untouched manual and hope to find answers cold. A compliant nonprogrammable calculator is also permitted, which matters for domains involving sizing and load calculations.

One more format detail worth knowing: the PSI bulletin was updated July 9, 2026, and 2024 IMC, IFGC, and UMC references take effect September 1, 2026. Candidates testing near that transition should confirm which code edition their exam session will reference. Full scheduling detail is covered in ACR Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.

Experience Requirements Before You Ever Sit for the Exam

The pass rate data only applies to candidates who actually qualify to sit for the exam in the first place, and TDLR's eligibility path is not trivial. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and generally need 48 months of supervised practical experience within the preceding 72 months, or alternatively 12 months as a certified technician plus 36 months of qualifying experience within the preceding 48 months, subject to approved substitutions.

This experience threshold matters for interpreting the pass rate: these are not entry-level test-takers. Most candidates arrive with years of field experience, yet the first-time pass rate still sits at 36.62%. That gap between experience level and pass rate is exactly why exam-specific preparation - not just job experience - is the deciding factor for most candidates. A complete breakdown of qualifying paths is available in ACR Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.

The Real Cost of a Failed Attempt

Every failed attempt carries a real financial and time cost. The TDLR application fee is $115, and the PSI examination fee is $74 - and a retake means paying the PSI fee again, plus rescheduling around work commitments. For candidates budgeting the full path to licensure, including the $65 annual renewal and required continuing education, a first-time pass is worth protecting.

For a full accounting of every fee involved from application through renewal, see ACR Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.

A Domain-Focused Approach to Improving Your Odds

Generic study techniques only help if they're pointed at the right material. Given that Air Distribution, Equipment Requirements and Design, HVAC Systems, Service, and Testing together represent the bulk of scored questions, a structured multi-week plan should front-load those domains while still touching every content area before test day.

A short daily review cycle applied consistently across these weeks - rather than long, infrequent cram sessions - tends to produce better retention for candidates juggling full-time field work. For a step-by-step first-attempt strategy built around this exact weighting, read ACR Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and for a quick pre-exam review of must-know facts, bookmark the ACR Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts. You can also run through timed practice questions on our practice test platform to get a feel for the pacing before test day.

What Happens After You Pass

Passing at 70% or higher is only the midpoint of the licensing process. Licensed Class A contractors must maintain commercial general liability coverage of $300,000 per occurrence, $600,000 aggregate, and $300,000 for products and completed operations - a requirement worth confirming with an insurance provider before you finalize your license application. The one-year license then renews for $65 and requires eight hours of continuing education, including one hour specifically on Texas law and rules.

Understanding what the credential unlocks professionally - and whether the investment of time and fees pays off - is covered in Is the ACR Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and ACR Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis. If you're still exploring what the license actually authorizes you to do, start with What Is ACR Certification?.

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