Rhode Island to Texas: master HVAC technician license reciprocity
Texas has no reciprocity agreement with Rhode Island. A Rhode Island master HVAC technician applies by endorsement.
Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.
Out-of-state or municipal contractor license without a reciprocity agreement
The board reviews your out-of-state credentials case by case. Some exam is usually still required, often only a law or code exam.
A contractor licensed in a state other than Georgia or South Carolina (or by a municipality) files the standard Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License Application with the $115 fee, a copy of the current license, a list of the requirements met to obtain it and proof of its issue date and duration. TDLR reviews whether those requirements were substantially equivalent to Texas's and counts qualifying experience toward the 48-month requirement, but its out-of-state page warns that 'depending on the requirements of your current license, you may be required to complete some or all of the Texas requirements for licensure, including taking a licensing examination.' Applicants should therefore expect to take the PSI exam for the class and endorsement they want, and must file proof of Texas-compliant liability insurance after passing before the license issues.
TDLR does not publish which states it has found substantially equivalent or the criteria for waiving the exam; the FAQ says only that experience from states or municipalities with substantially equivalent requirements is accepted. Texas has no separate business or law exam for ACR contractors.
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Required
- Law / code exam
- Not required
- Out-of-state hours
- Count toward eligibility
What you must already have
- Your Rhode Island license must be active and in good standing.
- You must document at least 48 months of qualifying work experience.48 months of practical ACR experience within the past 72 months under a licensed contractor (Occupations Code §1302.255 as applied by 16 TAC §75.20); out-of-state experience under a substantially equivalent license counts
What you'll do to get licensed in Texas
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($115). Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor license application fee (non-refundable, 16 TAC §75.80); renewal $65 per year.
- 2Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. PSI contractor exam for the class and endorsement applied for (Environmental Air or Commercial Refrigeration, Class A or B; 70% to pass; 2024 IFGC/IMC/UMC from September 1, 2026) unless TDLR finds the origin license substantially equivalent.
- 3Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($74). PSI exam fee per Class A exam ($60 per Class B exam), paid to PSI.
- 4Insurance. Carry the required insurance. Commercial general liability insurance from a Texas-authorized insurer: Class A $300,000 per occurrence, $600,000 aggregate, $300,000 products/completed operations; Class B $100,000 / $200,000 / $100,000 (16 TAC §75.40).
- 5Continuing education. Complete continuing education. 8 hours of TDLR-approved continuing education each year for renewal.
- 6Other. Hold EPA Section 608 technician certification to handle refrigerant; federal law requires it, but it is not a condition of this state license (if applicable).
Published fees on this path total $189, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.
What you'll need to buy or arrange
Exam preparation
Most boards contract PSI, Prov, or ICC for exams. Check which code edition the exam is written to before buying a prep course.
- Trade exam
- Exam fee · $74
- Other · if applicable
Liability insurance
Some states require proof of general liability or workers' compensation coverage at licensing time.
- Insurance
Continuing education
Renewals usually need approved CE hours, often on the latest NEC. Reciprocal licensees are rarely exempt.
- Continuing education
How Texas licenses master HVAC technicians
Texas master HVAC technician · “Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor (Class A or Class B)”
Statewide license
Issued by Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
Texas's highest HVAC credential is the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor license issued to an individual by TDLR, so it is mapped here to the master level. The license comes in Class A (units of any size) and Class B (cooling up to 25 tons and heating up to 1.5 million Btu/h) with Environmental Air Conditioning, Commercial Refrigeration and Process Cooling or Heating endorsements. A new applicant must be 18, document 48 months of practical ACR experience under a licensed contractor in the past 72 months (or 12 months as a certified technician plus 36 months of experience, with substitutions for HVAC/R degrees, engineering licenses and military training), pay a $115 application fee, pass the PSI exam for each class and endorsement ($74 Class A, $60 Class B, 70% to pass) within one year of filing, and file proof of commercial general liability insurance ($300,000 per occurrence/$600,000 aggregate for Class A; $100,000/$200,000 for Class B). The license is valid one year, renews for $65 and requires 8 hours of continuing education a year; a company must employ a licensed contractor at each permanent location. TDLR has reciprocity agreements with Georgia and South Carolina only; licensees from every other state or municipality apply under TDLR's substantial-equivalence review and may be required to take the Texas exam.
Common questions
- Do I have to take the Texas master HVAC technician exam if I'm licensed in Rhode Island?
- Yes. Texas requires the trade exam on this path.
- What does it cost to get a Texas master HVAC technician license from Rhode Island?
- Published fees on this path total $189, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- Do my Rhode Island work hours count in Texas?
- Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Texas's eligibility requirements.
- Does it work the other way, from Texas to Rhode Island?
- Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Texas to Rhode Island, the mechanism is experience credit.
Sources
- EPA Section 608 Technician Certification Requirements · 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F (Clean Air Act §608) · U.S. Environmental Protection Agency · Other · verified September 15, 2026
- TDLR Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Candidate Information Bulletin (PSI) · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation / PSI Services · Other · verified September 23, 2026
- 16 TAC §75.20 - Contractor Licensing Requirements: Application and Experience Requirements · 16 TAC §75.20 · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (mirrored by Cornell LII) · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- 16 TAC §75.22 - Contractor Licensing Requirements: General · 16 TAC §75.22 · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (mirrored by Cornell LII) · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- 16 TAC §75.80 - Air Conditioning and Refrigeration: Fees · 16 TAC §75.80 · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (mirrored by Cornell LII) · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- TDLR - Apply for a New Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- TDLR - Renew an Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- TDLR - Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors Exam Information · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- TDLR - Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors FAQs · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · Faq · verified September 23, 2026
- TDLR - Air Conditioning and Refrigeration: Out of State Applicants · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- TDLR - Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors program · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- TDLR - Air Conditioning and Refrigeration: Licensing Reciprocity · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.