GA-CAC Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts

Exam Basics at a Glance

The Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor Class II (Unrestricted) License Exam is a computer-based, multiple-choice, reference-permitted test administered by PSI under the authority of the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Conditioned Air Contractors. If you need the full backstory on who runs it and what it actually certifies, What Is GA-CAC? and GA-CAC Certification cover the fundamentals in more depth than this quick-reference page allows.

Here's the format condensed into a single glance:

• Question count: 100 scored + 20 unscored beta questions
• Time: two parts, each 3 hours 30 minutes
• Passing score: minimum final scaled score of 70
• Format: multiple-choice, computer-based, open reference (approved materials only)
• Prerequisite: Board approval before you can schedule a seat

The Four Domains, Weighted

The exam content is organized into four domains, and one of them dominates the scoring. Candidates who under-prepare for System Design tend to struggle regardless of how strong they are elsewhere.

For a full breakdown of subtopics inside each domain, see GA-CAC Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 4 Content Areas. And if you're still calibrating how tough this exam actually is relative to your background, How Hard Is the GA-CAC Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 walks through that in detail.

Eligibility Snapshot

Before you can even schedule this exam, the Board has to approve your application. Class II eligibility under current law requires five years of full-time qualifying experience, broken down specifically:

• Two years of commercial supervisory experience
• One year as a service technician or service supervisor
• Two years of installation as a lead mechanic, with at least one commercial year on systems exceeding 175,000 BTU heating and 60,000 BTU cooling

Beyond the experience clock, applicants must also assemble:

• Experience affidavits and professional references
• A completed criminal background check
• EPA Section 608 Type II and Type III certification
• Board-approved heat-loss/gain and duct-design training documentation (Manuals J, D, N, and Q)
• Identity and lawful-presence documents

The full eligibility checklist, including how documentation is typically submitted, is broken out in GA-CAC Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify. This experience path is also why employers hiring for lead mechanic and service supervisor roles view the license as a meaningful credential - see GA-CAC Jobs and GA-CAC Training for how the license connects to career progression.

Approved References and Testing Rules

This is an open-reference exam, but "open" doesn't mean "anything goes." For exams scheduled May 1 through December 31, 2026, the approved references are:

• 2024 Georgia Gas and Mechanical Codes, with Georgia amendments
• 2023 NEC

Only these approved references may be brought into the testing session. You're permitted to use permanent tabs, highlighting, and underlining inside those references - but photocopies and handwritten notes are strictly prohibited. If a proctor finds unauthorized materials, expect them to be confiscated before you're allowed to continue.

Because the passing threshold is a scaled score, not a raw percentage, it helps to understand exactly how scoring works before test day. GA-CAC Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass explains the mechanics behind that minimum score of 70.

Fees, Scoring, and Scheduling Mechanics

The Class II licensure-by-examination application fee is $110. That fee covers the application review, not any prep materials or retake costs, so budget accordingly. A complete cost breakdown - including what happens financially if you need a retake - is available in GA-CAC Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.

Key mechanics to remember:

• Board approval must happen before you can schedule your PSI exam session
• The exam is delivered in two parts, each 3 hours 30 minutes
• You need a minimum final scaled score of 70 to pass
• After two failed attempts, a Board-approved review course is required before you're allowed a third attempt

That two-fail rule is a strong argument for treating your first attempt seriously rather than planning to "learn the exam" through repeated tries. If you want a realistic read on how candidates typically perform, GA-CAC Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows is worth reviewing alongside your study plan. And for exact testing windows and how far in advance to schedule, check GA-CAC Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.

A Fast Final-Review Timeline

If you're using this cheat sheet in the final stretch before your test date, sequence your remaining review time around the domain weights rather than reviewing everything equally.

This timeline intentionally mirrors the actual weight of each domain - heavier on System Design, lighter on Regulations. For a longer-range, start-to-finish study plan rather than a final-review sprint, see GA-CAC Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. You can also build timed, domain-specific practice sessions on our practice test platform to simulate the real two-part format before test day.

After You Pass: Renewal and CE

Passing the exam isn't the finish line - Georgia Class II licenses renew by November 30 of odd-numbered years. Maintaining the license requires four continuing education hours per year, totaling eight hours per renewal cycle. Mark this date now so it doesn't sneak up on you after you've invested years of experience and exam prep into earning the license.

If you're still deciding whether the time, experience requirements, and fees are worth pursuing this license at all, Is the GA-CAC Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and GA-CAC Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis take a closer look at the career case. For a plain-language explanation of the credential's scope, What Is GA-CAC Certification? and GA-CAC Meaning are useful starting points too.

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