Tennessee to Texas: master HVAC technician license reciprocity
Tennessee does not issue a statewide master HVAC technician license, so there is nothing to transfer. Here is Texas's standard path for out-of-state applicants.
Your origin state does not issue a statewide license at this level, so there is no license to transfer. The destination's standard out-of-state path is shown; expect to meet it in full.
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
Your out-of-state credentials give no advantage. You meet the destination's requirements from scratch.
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
- Typical processing
- About 45 days
What you must already have
- Your Tennessee 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. EPA Section 608 technician certification (Type I/II/III/Universal) to handle refrigerants; federal, does not expire. Not listed on TDLR's contractor pages but required of anyone servicing refrigerant-containing equipment.
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
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.
Why Tennessee has nothing to transfer
Tennessee master HVAC technician
Licensed by cities and counties
Issued by Local code enforcement offices (Nashville, Memphis/Shelby County, Chattanooga, Knoxville and other exempt jurisdictions); the state issues only the CMC / CMC-C contractor license to businesses
Tennessee does not issue a master HVAC license. The state-level HVAC credential is a contractor license with the CMC (full mechanical: plumbing and HVAC) or CMC-C (HVAC/refrigeration) classification from the Board for Licensing Contractors, which is issued to a business that names a qualifying agent and is required for any project of $25,000 or more. The qualifying agent passes the Tennessee Business & Law exam and the CMC or CMC-C trade exam (Prov from July 1, 2026; CMC candidates need Board pre-approval, $50), and the business files a reviewed or audited financial statement (or, from July 1, 2026, a surety bond of at least half the requested limit) that sets its monetary limit, proves general liability and workers' compensation insurance, and pays $250 ($200 biennial renewal). The Board's trade-exam-waiver agreements let a contractor licensed in Alabama (HVAC), Louisiana (mechanical), Mississippi (mechanical), Ohio (HVAC), South Carolina (HVAC) or West Virginia (mechanical) skip the trade exam but not the Business & Law exam or any other requirement; North Carolina's and NASCLA's waivers do not cover HVAC. Master-level licenses issued to individuals exist only locally: Nashville's Master Mechanical (six years) and HVAC&R (four years) certificates, Memphis/Shelby County's First-Class and Third-Class Mechanical Contractor licenses, and Chattanooga's Master Mechanical Contractor license. A master HVAC license from another state has no state-level recognition in Tennessee; its holder either registers a business for the CMC-C license or applies for the local master card where they will work. EPA Section 608 certification is required federally to handle refrigerants.
How local licensing works in Tennessee
State contractor route (CMC / CMC-C). Required statewide for projects of $25,000 or more and accepted by the cities as a substitute for their own master cards for permit purposes (Nashville registers CMC/CMC-C firms for $100 with a $40,000 bond and $300,000 liability certificate; Memphis/Shelby County registers state mechanical licensees for $150). Requirements: Business & Law exam plus the CMC-C or CMC trade exam ($50 pre-approval for CMC), $250 application fee, reviewed or audited financial statement or a surety bond of at least 50% of the monetary limit (from July 1, 2026), general liability and workers' compensation insurance. Trade-exam waiver, on verification by the other board that the qualifying agent passed a comparable exam: Alabama HVAC (CMC-C), Louisiana Mechanical (CMC), Mississippi Mechanical (CMC), Ohio HVAC (CMC-C), South Carolina HVAC (CMC-C), West Virginia Mechanical (CMC). The Board stresses the waiver applies only to the trade exam, cannot be used by applicants with discipline, open complaints or felony convictions, and does not allow another state's license to be used in Tennessee.
Nashville (Davidson County). The Board of Mechanical, Plumbing and Electrical Examiners and Appeals issues the Master Mechanical certificate (six years' experience) and HVAC&R certificate (four years); a mechanical engineering degree may substitute. The application asks for licenses held in other cities or states, employer confirmations and a recommendation letter; the Chief Mechanical Inspector approves, Prov administers the exam (70% to pass, 30-day retest wait). The certificate holder then registers the firm as a Metropolitan Mechanical Gas Contractor with a Davidson County business license, $40,000 permit bond and $300,000 liability certificate. No exam waiver for out-of-state licenses is published.
Memphis and Shelby County. First-Class Mechanical Contractor (age 21, 4 years of full-time installation or design experience, unlimited scope) and Third-Class Mechanical Contractor (2 years, equipment up to 15 tons or 15 hp) after a written exam set by the Mechanical/Gas Code Board; $150 registration, $110 annual renewal, licenses expire December 31, $25,000 continuous permit bond. The mechanical code has no reciprocity provision for mechanical contractors.
Chattanooga. Master Mechanical Contractor license from the Board of Mechanical Examiners: three or more years as a Journeyman Mechanic Class 1 or 2, or a current or previously held unrevoked Master Mechanical Contractor or equivalent license from Chattanooga or any other governmental agency, or a Tennessee PE license, or acceptable education and experience; $415 per two-year cycle including the exam fee. A license from elsewhere establishes eligibility for the exam but is not stated to waive it.
Knoxville. Permits are pulled under a State Contractor Registration (CMC/CMC-C) or the other registration types on the city's permit page; the city's own mechanical license classes and fees could not be confirmed from an official page, so contact Plans Review & Inspections (865-215-4311).
Out-of-state holders. The only published recognition in Tennessee is the state Board's trade-exam waiver for contractors from AL, LA, MS, OH, SC and WV, which still requires the Business & Law exam and a full contractor application. The local master cards in Nashville, Memphis and Chattanooga treat an out-of-state master license as evidence of experience or exam eligibility, not as a substitute for their own examinations.
Common questions
- Do I have to take the Texas master HVAC technician exam if I'm licensed in Tennessee?
- Yes. Texas requires the trade exam on this path.
- What does it cost to get a Texas master HVAC technician license from Tennessee?
- Published fees on this path total $189, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- Do my Tennessee work hours count in Texas?
- Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Texas's eligibility requirements.
- How long does the application take?
- The board's published or typical processing time is about 45 days.
- Does it work the other way, from Texas to Tennessee?
- Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Texas to Tennessee, the mechanism is not applicable.
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, 2026Federal requirement in every state: technicians who maintain, service, repair or dispose of equipment that could release refrigerants into the atmosphere must be certified (Type I small appliances, Type II high-pressure, Type III low-pressure, Universal). Apprentices under direct supervision are exempt. Certification does not expire; the core exam must be proctored for Universal certification. State HVAC boards commonly require it before licensure, but it is not itself a state license.
- TDLR Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Candidate Information Bulletin (PSI) · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation / PSI Services · Other · verified September 15, 2026Linked from the TDLR exam page. Exam fees: Environmental Air Class A $74 (120 items, 230 minutes), Class B $60 (100 items, 170 minutes); Commercial Refrigeration Class A $74, Class B $60; Certified Technician $60 (60 items, 112 minutes); passing score 70%. Effective September 1, 2026 the exams reference the 2024 IFGC, 2024 IMC and 2024 UMC.
- 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 15, 2026To obtain a contractor license an applicant must file the application, satisfy Occupations Code §1302.255 as of the filing date, pass the examination, pay the fees, submit proof of insurance after passing the exam, and complete everything within one year of filing; experience must be documented as prescribed by the department.
- 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 15, 2026License term is one year and non-transferable; endorsement codes E (Environmental Air Conditioning), R (Commercial Refrigeration and Process Cooling or Heating) and C (combined); a Class B holder may upgrade an endorsement by passing the Class A exam.
- 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 15, 2026Read on the Cornell Legal Information Institute mirror because the Texas Secretary of State's texreg site has moved to a new portal that could not be opened. Contractor application $115, renewal $65, endorsement addition $25; registered technician application and renewal $20; certified technician application $50, renewal $35; all application fees non-refundable.
- TDLR - Apply for a New Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Eligibility: age 18; 48 months of practical experience under a licensed ACR contractor in the past 72 months, or 12 months as a certified technician plus 36 months in the past 48 months, with substitutions for HVAC/R degrees, engineering licenses, military training and industrial process work; experience documented on the Experience Verification Form by the supervisor; $115 application fee; exam must be passed within one year of filing; commercial general liability insurance (Class A $300,000 per occurrence/$600,000 aggregate/$300,000 products; Class B $100,000/$200,000/$100,000); Class A any size, Class B up to 25 tons cooling and 1.5 million Btu/h heating; endorsements Environmental Air, Commercial Refrigeration, Process Cooling or Heating.
- TDLR - Renew an Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Renewal fee $65 (1.5x if expired 90 days or less, 2x if more than 90 days); 8 hours of approved continuing education each year; adding an endorsement or upgrading a class costs a $74 exam fee plus a $25 change fee.
- TDLR - Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors Exam Information · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Exams are administered by PSI after TDLR approves eligibility; separate Environmental Air A/B and Commercial Refrigeration A/B contractor exams and a Certified Technician exam; failed exams may be retaken until the application expires one year after filing. Links to the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin.
- TDLR - Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors FAQs · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · Faq · verified September 15, 2026States that Texas reciprocates only with South Carolina and Georgia, that experience from states or municipalities with substantially equivalent licensing requirements is accepted, that anyone performing non-exempt air conditioning work must hold at least a technician registration, that 'there is no exam required' for technician registration ($20, one-page application, criminal background check), and that all work must be provided through a Texas-licensed ACR contractor holding the required liability insurance.
- TDLR - Air Conditioning and Refrigeration: Out of State Applicants · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Says Georgia and South Carolina have reciprocity agreements with Texas and that all other out-of-state or municipal licensees may apply with the standard contractor application, a $115 fee, a copy of the current license, a list of the requirements met to obtain it and its issue date; TDLR reviews whether the requirements were substantially equivalent and 'you may be required to complete some or all of the Texas requirements for licensure, including taking a licensing examination'. Also states the Class A/B definitions, endorsements and insurance minimums.
- TDLR - Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors program · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Program home page. Lists the three credentials (Contractor License, Technician Registration, Certified Technician) and states that a company must employ an ACR contractor at each permanent location. Links to the out-of-state and reciprocity pages.
- TDLR - Air Conditioning and Refrigeration: Licensing Reciprocity · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Texas has ACR reciprocal licensing agreements with South Carolina and Georgia only. The out-of-state license must have been held for at least one year. Georgia Class II Conditioned Air (unrestricted) maps to Texas Class A Environmental Air; South Carolina Air Conditioning & Heating maps to Class A Environmental Air and Commercial Refrigeration, Air Conditioning only to Class A Commercial Refrigeration and Class B Environmental Air, Mechanical Contractor Refrigeration to Class A Commercial Refrigeration, and AC & Heating (packaged equipment) to Class B Environmental Air; South Carolina heating-only licenses do not qualify. Applicants submit a letter of good standing showing they passed the origin state's exam, the contractor application, a copy of the license, proof of insurance and the $115 fee; the license is valid one year. Notes that an exam may still be needed for a class or endorsement outside the mapped equivalency.
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.