Texas HVAC (ACR) Contractor License Renewal

Last reviewed October 2026 · 2 min read

Texas ACR contractor licenses are valid for one year, and the 8 CE hours have to be done before the license expires. TDLR recommends starting the renewal 30 to 60 days ahead: once the license expires you can't do ACR contracting, and renewing late costs more.

At a glance

Renews every: 1 year from the date of issue
Continuing education: 8 hours from a TDLR-approved provider, including 1 hour of Texas law and rules, completed before the license expires
When to start: About 30 to 60 days before expiration
Renewal fee: $65
Renew: Online, with the renewal application and fee
After it expires: You may not do air conditioning and refrigeration contracting on an expired license
Late renewal fee: Expired 90 days or less: 1.5 times the normal fee. More than 90 days but less than 18 months: 2 times. At least 18 months but less than 3 years: 2 times, and only with the executive director's approval
Renewing late: Your CE must have been completed within the year immediately before the renewal date
Certificates: Keep a copy of each CE completion certificate for one year: TDLR can ask for it

Registered and certified ACR technicians have different requirements from contractors. Check TDLR for your license type.

If you no longer provide services to the public, or you're employed by another contractor, you may qualify to waive the insurance requirement, but then you can't contract with the public under your license.

How to renew

Check your expiration date on TDLR's license search.
Complete 8 CE hours (including the 1-hour Texas law and rules course) from a TDLR-approved provider, and keep the certificates.
Start the renewal 30 to 60 days before expiration: renew online and pay the $65 fee.
If your contact information, addresses, legal name, class or endorsements changed, update them at or before renewal.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

90 days outConfirm the exact expiration date on TDLR's license search.
90 days outStart your 8 CE hours, including the 1-hour Texas law and rules course, with a TDLR-approved provider, and keep the certificates.
45 days outCheck the insurance your license class requires is current and will stay current through the renewal.
30 days outFinish all CE hours, then renew online and pay the $65 fee.
Expiration dateNot renewed? Stop ACR contracting. Within 90 days, renewing costs 1.5 times the normal fee.

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

The insurance coverage your license requires: your license class and endorsements set what you must keep
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How many CE hours does a Texas ACR contractor need?

8 hours from a TDLR-approved provider, including 1 hour of Texas law and rules, completed before the license expires.

When should I start my Texas HVAC license renewal?

About 30 to 60 days before the license expires.

What does it cost to renew a Texas ACR license late?

Expired 90 days or less: 1.5 times the normal fee. More than 90 days but less than 18 months: 2 times. At least 18 months but less than 3 years: 2 times, and only with the executive director's approval.

What if I renew my Texas ACR license late?

For a late renewal, your CE must have been completed within the year immediately before the renewal date.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Texas guides

All Texas guides on one page

HVAC guides for other states

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for HVAC techs

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet

Texas HVAC (ACR) Contractor License Renewal

Last reviewed October 2026 · 2 min read

At a glance

Renews every: 1 year from the date of issue
Continuing education: 8 hours from a TDLR-approved provider, including 1 hour of Texas law and rules, completed before the license expires
When to start: About 30 to 60 days before expiration
Renewal fee: $65
Renew: Online, with the renewal application and fee
After it expires: You may not do air conditioning and refrigeration contracting on an expired license
Late renewal fee: Expired 90 days or less: 1.5 times the normal fee. More than 90 days but less than 18 months: 2 times. At least 18 months but less than 3 years: 2 times, and only with the executive director's approval
Renewing late: Your CE must have been completed within the year immediately before the renewal date
Certificates: Keep a copy of each CE completion certificate for one year: TDLR can ask for it

Registered and certified ACR technicians have different requirements from contractors. Check TDLR for your license type.

How to renew

Check your expiration date on TDLR's license search.
Complete 8 CE hours (including the 1-hour Texas law and rules course) from a TDLR-approved provider, and keep the certificates.
Start the renewal 30 to 60 days before expiration: renew online and pay the $65 fee.
If your contact information, addresses, legal name, class or endorsements changed, update them at or before renewal.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

90 days outConfirm the exact expiration date on TDLR's license search.
90 days outStart your 8 CE hours, including the 1-hour Texas law and rules course, with a TDLR-approved provider, and keep the certificates.
45 days outCheck the insurance your license class requires is current and will stay current through the renewal.
30 days outFinish all CE hours, then renew online and pay the $65 fee.
Expiration dateNot renewed? Stop ACR contracting. Within 90 days, renewing costs 1.5 times the normal fee.

Put this renewal in your calendar

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

The insurance coverage your license requires: your license class and endorsements set what you must keep
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How many CE hours does a Texas ACR contractor need?

8 hours from a TDLR-approved provider, including 1 hour of Texas law and rules, completed before the license expires.

When should I start my Texas HVAC license renewal?

About 30 to 60 days before the license expires.

What does it cost to renew a Texas ACR license late?

What if I renew my Texas ACR license late?

For a late renewal, your CE must have been completed within the year immediately before the renewal date.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Texas guides

All Texas guides on one page

HVAC guides for other states

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for HVAC techs

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet