- ACR stands for Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, referring to the Texas Class A Contractor License Exam administered by PSI for TDLR.
- The Class A designation covers environmental air-conditioning work with no equipment-size limit.
- Candidates need 70% on 120 scored items in 4 hours, and the FY2026 first-time pass rate through May 31, 2026 was 36.62%.
- Air Distribution is the heaviest of the 14 domains at 15%, followed by Equipment Requirements and Design at 11.67%.
What ACR Stands For
ACR stands for Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, and in the context this site covers, it specifically refers to the Texas Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License Exam. This is the credentialing exam that the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) requires for individuals who want to hold a Class A air conditioning and refrigeration contractor license in Texas. The exam itself is developed and delivered by PSI, a third-party testing vendor that TDLR contracts with to administer the Environmental Air Class A examination.
If you've landed here because you searched "ACR" and want to be sure you're reading about the right credential, you're in the right place. This site is built entirely around the Texas TDLR/PSI version of ACR - not any other industry group's use of the same three letters. For a broader introduction to the acronym and what it unlocks professionally, see What Is ACR? and ACR Meaning, which walk through the same core definition from different angles.
Who's Behind the Letters: TDLR and PSI
Two organizations sit behind the ACR name, and understanding their roles clears up a lot of confusion for first-time applicants.
- TDLR (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation) is the state agency that owns the license. It sets eligibility requirements, collects the application fee, issues the license once you pass, and enforces continuing education and insurance rules.
- PSI is the private testing company TDLR contracts with to build and deliver the exam itself. PSI writes the item bank, publishes the candidate bulletin, staffs the testing centers, and collects the separate exam fee.
Because two organizations are involved, there are two separate fees to budget for: a $115 TDLR application fee and a $74 PSI examination fee. Neither fee substitutes for the other - you pay TDLR to be approved as a candidate, and you pay PSI to sit for the test. For a full breakdown of every dollar involved, including renewal costs, see ACR Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Why the Name Matters for Scope of Work
The "AC" in ACR isn't just descriptive - it defines the legal scope of what a licensed contractor can install, service, and repair. The Class A version of this exam, called the Environmental Air Class A examination, covers environmental air-conditioning work with no equipment-size limit. That's a meaningful distinction in Texas licensing: other classes of ACR-related licenses cap the tonnage or capacity a contractor may work on, but Class A removes that ceiling entirely.
In practical terms, this means the exam is written to confirm you can be trusted with everything from small residential split systems up through large commercial rooftop units and central plant equipment. That breadth is exactly why the exam blueprint spans 14 distinct domains rather than a narrow slice of HVAC knowledge. A contractor who holds this credential is signaling to clients, general contractors, and building inspectors that they're qualified across the full range of environmental air work recognized under Texas law.
Key Takeaway
Because Class A has no equipment-size limit, the exam questions won't stay in your comfort zone - expect residential, light commercial, and heavy commercial scenarios mixed together across the same domains.
What the Exam Actually Tests
Beyond the name, candidates need to understand the mechanics of the test itself, since these details shape how you prepare and how you pace your test day.
- Format: Computer-based, in-person, multiple-choice, open-book. You may bring approved references that already contain notes, highlighting, underlining, and permanent tabs - this is not a closed-book memorization test.
- Length: 120 scored items plus 5 non-scored (pretest) items, for 125 total questions, with 4 hours allotted.
- Passing score: 70%. For the exact math behind that threshold and how many of the 120 scored items you need correct, see ACR Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
- Language: Offered in English and Spanish.
- Calculator policy: A compliant nonprogrammable calculator is allowed alongside your reference materials.
- Difficulty signal: The first-time pass rate for fiscal year 2026 through May 31, 2026 was 36.62% - a number worth sitting with before you assume the open-book format makes this easy. For more context on what that figure means for your prep, see ACR Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows and How Hard Is the ACR Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
One detail candidates frequently miss: the PSI bulletin was updated July 9, 2026, and the 2024 IMC, IFGC, and UMC code references take effect September 1, 2026. If you're scheduling around that transition, confirm which reference edition your test date falls under before you build a study binder - see ACR Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling for scheduling specifics.
The 14 Domains Behind the Acronym
The ACR exam blueprint breaks the "Air Conditioning and Refrigeration" scope into 14 measurable domains, each weighted by the percentage of scored items it contributes. These weights are calculated from PSI's official 120-scored-item outline and rounded to two decimals.
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| Air Distribution | 15% |
| Equipment Requirements and Design | 11.67% |
| HVAC Systems | 9.17% |
| Service | 10% |
| Testing | 10% |
| Basic Refrigeration Components | 5% |
| Combustion Air | 5% |
| Controls | 5% |
| Piping | 5% |
| Refrigeration Principles | 5% |
| Safety | 5% |
| Texas Laws and Rules | 5% |
| Ventilation | 5% |
| Venting | 4.17% |
Air Distribution is the single largest domain at 15%, which means duct sizing, airflow balancing, and distribution system design questions will show up more often than any other single topic area. For a full breakdown of every domain with sample question themes, read ACR Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 14 Content Areas.
Air Distribution (15%)
The heaviest domain on the exam, covering how conditioned air moves from equipment to occupied space.
- Duct sizing and layout for varying load conditions
- Airflow balancing and static pressure concepts
- Register, grille, and diffuser placement logic
Equipment Requirements and Design (11.67%)
The second-largest domain, testing whether you can match equipment specifications to installation requirements.
- Manufacturer clearance and access requirements
- Equipment selection for load and application type
- Design constraints tied to Class A's unlimited equipment size
Texas Laws and Rules (5%)
A smaller domain by weight, but a domain you cannot skip - Texas Laws and Rules questions test your knowledge of the licensing statute itself, and this same subject reappears in your annual continuing education requirement.
- TDLR licensing authority and scope
- Contractor responsibilities under state rule
- Alignment with the one hour of law-and-rules continuing education required each renewal cycle
Who Can Sit for the ACR Exam
Before you register, TDLR requires you to document real-world experience. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and generally satisfy one of two experience pathways, subject to approved substitutions:
| Pathway | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Standard supervised experience | 48 months of supervised practical experience within the preceding 72 months |
| Certified technician pathway | 12 months as a certified technician plus 36 months of qualifying experience within the preceding 48 months |
Both pathways expect the experience to be documented and verifiable, and TDLR does allow approved substitutions in some circumstances. If you're not sure which pathway fits your work history, or how substitutions are evaluated, ACR Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify walks through the documentation process in detail.
Turning the Acronym Into a Study Plan
Because the exam is open-book, your goal isn't pure memorization - it's building the speed and confidence to locate the right answer in your references within a 4-hour window across 125 questions. That's roughly two minutes per question if you want a buffer for the harder scenario-based items, which tend to cluster in the Air Distribution, Equipment Requirements and Design, and HVAC Systems domains.
Air Distribution and Equipment Requirements and Design
- Tab your reference books for duct sizing tables and airflow formulas
- Work practice scenarios covering both residential and unlimited-size commercial equipment
HVAC Systems, Service, and Testing
- Drill system troubleshooting sequences and diagnostic testing steps
- Practice locating relevant code sections quickly under time pressure
The remaining lower-weight domains
- Cover Refrigeration Principles, Controls, Piping, Combustion Air, Ventilation, Venting, Basic Refrigeration Components, and Safety
- These domains are individually lighter but collectively make up a large share of the exam
Texas Laws and Rules plus full-length timed practice
- Review TDLR statute basics tied to the continuing education law-and-rules requirement
- Simulate full 4-hour, 125-question sessions using your actual tabbed references
This isn't a generic study calendar - it's sequenced by domain weight, so the heaviest-tested material gets the most runway. For a more detailed week-by-week breakdown with practice question strategy, see ACR Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and consider running full-length practice sessions on our practice test platform to get comfortable with the open-book pacing before your real exam date.
After You Pass: License, Renewal, Insurance
Passing the PSI exam is a milestone, not the finish line. Once TDLR issues your Class A license, it's valid for one year and renews for $65, with eight hours of continuing education required each cycle - including one hour specifically on Texas law and rules, echoing the same domain tested on the exam itself.
Licensed Class A contractors also carry a specific insurance obligation: commercial general liability coverage of $300,000 per occurrence, $600,000 aggregate, and $300,000 for products and completed operations. This coverage is part of what separates a licensed Class A contractor from an unlicensed installer, and it's worth confirming with your insurer before you start bidding jobs under your new license.
If you're weighing whether the time, fees, and ongoing insurance and CE obligations are worth it relative to the career upside, Is the ACR Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and ACR Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis dig into the career-side picture, while ACR Jobs looks at who's hiring licensed Class A contractors in Texas.
Frequently Asked Questions
On this site, ACR always refers to the Texas Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License Exam administered by PSI for TDLR. Other industries use the same three letters for unrelated credentials, so always confirm context when researching elsewhere.
No. It's specifically the Environmental Air Class A examination, which qualifies a candidate for a TDLR Class A air conditioning and refrigeration contractor license with no equipment-size limit.
The exam includes 120 scored items and 5 non-scored items, for 125 total multiple-choice questions, with 4 hours to complete the test.
Yes. It's an open-book exam, and approved references may already contain notes, highlighting, underlining, and permanent tabs. A compliant nonprogrammable calculator is also allowed.
You need 70% on the scored portion of the exam. The fiscal year 2026 first-time pass rate through May 31, 2026 was 36.62%, so thorough preparation matters even with open-book access to references.