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Key Facts: AL HVAC Exam

$175

Written Exam Fee

Rule 440-X-3-.10

70%

Passing Score

Prov CIB 2025.07.03

115 Q

Exam Questions

Prov CIB 2025.07.03

$20,000

Performance Bond

Rule 440-X-3-.09(5)

$220

Annual Active Fee

Rule 440-X-3-.10

3,000 hrs

Experience Required

Ala. Code 34-31-25(c)

130 Q

Practice Questions Available

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Sample AL HVAC Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the AL HVAC exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 130+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which Alabama state agency administers the HVAC contractor licensing examination and issues heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration licenses?
A.Alabama Department of Labor
B.Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors (HACR)
C.Alabama Building Commission
D.Alabama Department of Environmental Management
Explanation: The Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors (HACR) is the state agency responsible for administering HVAC licensing exams and issuing contractor certifications. The HACR Board oversees all heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration contractor licensing in Alabama.
2How many questions are on the Alabama Heating and Air Conditioning (HAC) Contractor examination?
A.60 questions
B.100 questions
C.115 questions
D.125 questions
Explanation: The Alabama HAC (Heating and Air Conditioning) Contractor examination consists of 115 questions. Candidates are given 5 hours to complete the exam and must score at least 70% to pass. (The separate Alabama Refrigeration exam also has 115 questions but allows 4 hours.)
3What is the minimum passing score for the Alabama HVAC Contractor examination?
A.65%
B.70%
C.75%
D.80%
Explanation: The minimum passing score for the Alabama HVAC Contractor examination is 70%. This applies to both the HVAC and Refrigeration contractor exams administered by the HACR Board through Prov Testing Services.
4What is the required performance bond amount for an active Alabama HVAC contractor certification?
A.$10,000
B.$15,000
C.$20,000
D.$25,000
Explanation: Alabama requires a performance bond of $15,000 for active HVAC contractor certification. The bond must be submitted with the license application listing the HACR Board as obligee using form BF-1.
5How many hours of supervised work experience are required to qualify for the Alabama HVAC contractor exam?
A.1,500 hours
B.2,000 hours
C.3,000 hours
D.4,000 hours
Explanation: Applicants for the Alabama HVAC contractor exam must complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience. Alternatively, candidates may qualify through two years of registered apprenticeship or graduation from an approved HVAC program.
6What is the annual renewal fee for an active Alabama HVAC contractor certification?
A.$95
B.$150
C.$175
D.$190
Explanation: The annual renewal fee for an active Alabama HVAC contractor certification is $190. Inactive contractors pay a reduced rate of $95 annually. Failure to renew on time may result in additional penalties.
7What is the examination fee for the Alabama HVAC Contractor exam?
A.$100
B.$125
C.$150
D.$175
Explanation: The Alabama HVAC Contractor examination fee is $175. This fee is paid when scheduling the exam through the testing provider authorized by the HACR Board.
8Which of the following is NOT a qualifying pathway to sit for the Alabama HVAC contractor exam?
A.Two years of registered apprenticeship
B.Graduation from an approved HVAC program
C.3,000 hours of supervised work experience
D.Completion of a 40-hour online training course
Explanation: A 40-hour online training course alone does not qualify an applicant for the Alabama HVAC contractor exam. The three qualifying pathways are: two years of registered apprenticeship, graduation from an approved HVAC program, or 3,000 hours of supervised work experience.
9What is the minimum age requirement to apply for an Alabama HVAC contractor license?
A.16 years old
B.18 years old
C.21 years old
D.25 years old
Explanation: Applicants must be at least 18 years old to apply for an Alabama HVAC contractor license. In addition to the age requirement, applicants must have a high school diploma or GED and meet one of the experience pathways.
10How many hours are allotted to complete the Alabama Heating and Air Conditioning (HAC) Contractor examination?
A.2 hours
B.3 hours
C.4 hours
D.5 hours
Explanation: The Alabama HAC (Heating and Air Conditioning) Contractor examination allows 5 hours for completion. The exam consists of 115 questions covering general knowledge, piping, systems and sizing, equipment, maintenance, plan reading, business and law topics, and electrical applications for HAC systems. (The separate Alabama Refrigeration exam allows 4 hours.)

About the AL HVAC Exam

The Alabama HACR Heating and Air Conditioning contractor exam is a 115-question, 5-hour open-book test administered by Prov across 18 scored subject areas, from Manual J and Manual D through NEC Article 440 and the NASCLA business and law blocks. Candidates qualify with 3,000 hours of Board-defined experience, a Board Apprentice Certificate, or an approved curriculum, and active status requires a $20,000 Form BF-1 performance bond.

Exam sponsor: Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors (HACR). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

115 questions

Time Limit

5 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam / Certification Fees

$175 (written exam) + $220 (annual active certification)

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

22%

Systems & Sizing

ACCA Manual J 8th edition load calculations, Alabama design conditions, and ACCA Manual D duct sizing - 25 of the 115 items

20%

General Knowledge & Piping

Thermodynamics, psychrometrics, refrigerants, refrigerant and condensate piping, and IRC Chapter 24 fuel gas sizing - 23 items combined

20%

Equipment & Maintenance

Heat pumps, furnaces, compressors and metering devices, plus preventative maintenance, service procedures, and diagnostics - 23 items combined

11%

Electrical Applications & Plan Reading

NEC 2020 Article 440 minimum circuit ampacity and overcurrent protection, motors and controls, mechanical drawings and schedules - 13 items combined

27%

Business, Law & Safety

The NASCLA block: business organization, risk management, project management, estimating, safety and environmental, labor laws, payroll taxes, financial management, contracts, lien laws, and Alabama licensing laws - 31 items combined

Preparing for the AL HVAC Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70%
  • Exam length: 115 questions
  • Time limit: 5 hours
  • Exam / certification fees: $175 (written exam) + $220 (annual active certification) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 130 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

AL HVAC: Suggested Study Strategy

1Learn the Board numbers exactly: a $20,000 Form BF-1 bond, $220 active and $110 inactive annual fees, a December 31 expiration, a $250 late fee, and administrative fines up to $2,000 per violation
2Answer mechanical and fuel gas questions out of the 2021 IRC Chapter 24 and Part V, since the International Mechanical Code is not on the HAC reference list
3Master EPA Section 608 evacuation levels from 40 CFR 82.156 Table 1 and the AIM Act leak-repair rule that took effect January 1, 2026 at a 15-pound full charge
4Practice ACCA Manual J load calculations for Alabama design conditions - Birmingham near 94 F dry bulb and Mobile near 93 F dry bulb with a 78 F coincident wet bulb
5Work the NASCLA business blocks separately; estimating, labor laws, payroll taxes, and financial management are each scored on their own and total 31 of the 115 items
6Know Alabama lien deadlines: six months to file in probate for an original contractor, four months for others, thirty days for day laborers, and six months to sue after the debt matures

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Alabama HACR HVAC contractor exam?

The Alabama HACR Heating and Air Conditioning (HAC) contractor exam is a 115-question, 5-hour open-book test administered by Prov, Inc. for the Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors. A minimum score of 70% is required to pass, and the score report is issued at the testing center.

What are the experience requirements for the Alabama HVAC license?

Code of Alabama Section 34-31-25(c) makes an applicant eligible to test after 3,000 hours of work experience as defined by the Board, or upon graduating from a Board-approved heating, air conditioning, or refrigeration curriculum. The Board also accepts its own Apprentice Certificate with certificates for the previous two years. There is no statutory minimum age and no high school diploma or GED requirement.

How much does the Alabama HVAC contractor license cost?

The written examination fee is $175.00, paid to the State of Alabama. Active annual certification is $220.00 and inactive annual certification is $110.00 under Rule 440-X-3-.10, effective October 14, 2024. Active contractors must also file a $20,000 performance bond on Board Form BF-1. Prov charges no separate testing fee.

What topics are covered on the Alabama HVAC exam?

The Prov Candidate Information Bulletin lists 18 scored subject areas for the HAC exam: General Knowledge (12), Piping (11), Systems & Sizing (25), Equipment (12), Maintenance (11), Plan Reading (3), Electrical Applications for HAC Systems (10), Business Organization (3), Risk Management (3), Project Management (2), Estimating (3), Safety and Environmental (3), Labor Laws (3), Payroll and Employment Taxes (3), Financial Management (3), Contracts (3), Lien Laws (2), and Licensing Laws (3).

Is the Alabama HVAC exam open book?

Yes. The HAC exam is open book, and only eight titles are admitted: the NASCLA Contractors Guide 14th edition, the 2021 International Residential Code, the Alabama HACR Laws, Rules and Regulations, ACCA Manual D 3rd edition version 2.5, ACCA Manual J 8th edition, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology 9th edition, the ACCA Duct Slide Rule, and the 2020 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code. The International Mechanical Code is on the Refrigeration exam list, not the HAC list. Permanent tabs and highlighting are allowed; moveable tabs, sticky notes, photocopies, and handwritten notes other than formulas are not.