Texas HVAC and ACR continuing education is an 8-hour annual requirement set by TDLR — including 1 hour of Texas laws and rules and 3 hours of EPA refrigerant content. But the local service environment varies widely across the state. Whether you're looking for a Houston HVAC workshop, a Dallas classroom alternative, or just want to understand what's available in your metro, this guide compares TDLR-approved CE options city by city.
The Statewide Requirement
TDLR requires 8 hours of continuing education annually for all Class A, Class B, and Environmental Air Conditioning licensees — plus supplementary hours for ACR contractors and technicians. The mandatory breakdown includes 1 hour Texas-specific laws and rules, 3 hours of EPA refrigerant regulation content, and 4 hours of technical/safety material. Our 8-hour TDLR-approved online course (Provider #2437) satisfies the full requirement.
Houston — Harris County
Houston HVAC contractors work under some of the most demanding conditions in Texas — Gulf Coast humidity, 9-month cooling seasons, and constant commercial expansion. Approximately 9,500 licensed ACR professionals work the Harris County metro. In-person Houston HVAC workshop options typically run a full 8-hour day at classrooms off Highway 290 or Beltway 8 — tough to commit to during peak summer service season when techs run 10+ calls per day. Online CE lets you break the 8 hours into manageable sessions.
→ See the Houston HVAC CE page for local market details and FAQs.
San Antonio — Bexar County
San Antonio's ACR trade serves long cooling seasons across the Hill Country, expanding medical-district construction near the South Texas Medical Center, and relentless Northside residential growth. About 6,200 licensed ACR professionals work Bexar County. An in-person San Antonio HVAC workshop typically runs 8 hours at a Northside or Medical Center classroom — a full day off during peak season most contractors can't afford.
→ See the San Antonio HVAC CE page.
Dallas — Dallas County
Dallas HVAC contractors service the DFW Metroplex's massive data-center buildout, corporate HQ HVAC retrofits, and residential growth pushing north toward Frisco and McKinney. Approximately 7,800 licensed ACR professionals work Dallas County. A Dallas HVAC workshop typically means a full 8-hour day at classrooms near the Tollway or in Plano/Richardson. Online CE lets you distribute the hours across multiple sessions on your schedule.
→ See the Dallas HVAC CE page.
Austin — Travis County
Austin HVAC contractors juggle year-round residential construction, tech-campus HVAC commissioning at Samsung and Tesla facilities, and Austin's green-building overlay requirements. Approximately 5,000 licensed ACR professionals work Travis County. An in-person Austin HVAC workshop typically means a drive to Round Rock or South Austin for a full 8-hour day — not trivial given Austin's rush hour. Online CE is the pragmatic alternative.
→ See the Austin HVAC CE page.
Fort Worth — Tarrant County
Fort Worth HVAC contractors service aerospace facilities at Lockheed Martin and Bell Helicopter, Alliance Corridor warehouse conditioning, and rapid residential growth toward Keller and Mansfield. Approximately 4,800 licensed ACR professionals work Tarrant County. In-person Fort Worth HVAC workshop options run through IEC Fort Worth or Arlington training centers — an 8-hour commitment plus the Loop 820 commute.
→ See the Fort Worth HVAC CE page.
Which CE format is right for you?
Classroom workshops still have their place — hands-on component access, peer networking, and structured instruction. But for most Texas HVAC contractors juggling summer service demand, online TDLR-approved CE offers the flexibility to split 8 hours across several sessions without losing a full day of service calls. The curriculum is identical. The certification is identical. The only real difference is whether you spend your day at a classroom or getting paid on service calls while completing CE between appointments.