- What GA-CAC Actually Means
- Who Governs and Administers the Exam
- Exam Format and Structure
- What the Four Domains Cover
- Eligibility Before You Can Schedule
- Approved References and Materials
- Fees and Scheduling Mechanics
- After You Pass: Renewal and CE
- Building a GA-CAC-Specific Study Plan
- Frequently Asked Questions
- GA-CAC stands for the Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor Class II (Unrestricted) License Exam.
- The exam has 100 scored questions plus 20 unscored beta items, split into two 3.5-hour sessions.
- A minimum scaled score of 70 is required to pass; System Design carries the heaviest domain weight at 55%.
- Class II requires five years of qualifying experience, including specific commercial-system hour and BTU thresholds.
What GA-CAC Actually Means
GA-CAC refers to the Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor Class II (Unrestricted) License Exam. This is a state licensing credential, not a generic industry certificate - it is the legal gateway to operating as an unrestricted conditioned air contractor in Georgia, covering installation, service, and system design work without the tonnage or BTU limitations that apply to lower license classes. Because the acronym is shared with other unrelated credentials across different industries, it's worth being precise: on this site, and throughout this article, GA-CAC means exactly this Georgia licensing exam and nothing else.
If you're just starting to research the credential, our companion piece on What Is GA-CAC? walks through the basics in more depth, while GA-CAC Certification covers the full licensing pathway from application to renewal.
Who Governs and Administers the Exam
The Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board, through its Division of Conditioned Air Contractors, sets the licensing requirements and approves candidates for testing. Once the Board has approved an applicant, PSI administers the actual exam as a computer-based, multiple-choice test. This two-step structure - Board approval first, then exam scheduling - is a detail candidates frequently overlook. You cannot simply register and sit for the exam; the Board must clear your application, experience documentation, and background check before PSI will let you book a seat.
Exam Format and Structure
The GA-CAC exam is reference-permitted, meaning you bring approved code books and manuals into the test rather than relying purely on memorization. This changes how you should study - knowing where to find an answer quickly matters as much as knowing the answer outright. The exam totals 120 questions, but only 100 are scored; the remaining 20 are unscored beta questions used to evaluate future exam content. You won't know which questions are which, so every item deserves full attention.
The test is split into two parts, each allotted three hours and thirty minutes, for a substantial total testing window. Pacing across two long sessions is a real factor in performance, and our How Hard Is the GA-CAC Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 breaks down where candidates tend to lose time and momentum.
Key Takeaway
Because 20 of 120 questions are unscored beta items, treat the entire exam as scored - you have no way to identify which questions don't count.
What the Four Domains Cover
The GA-CAC exam blueprint is organized into four domains, and understanding their relative weight is essential for allocating study time wisely.
Domain 1: Regulations, Laws, and Administrative Functions
Covers the legal framework governing Class II contractors, including licensing law, Board rules, and administrative obligations that every unrestricted contractor must know before working on a job site.
- Know how Georgia's licensing law defines contractor responsibilities and scope
Domain 2: System Design
The largest domain by far, at 55% of the exam. This section tests your ability to apply Manual J and Manual D principles for heat-loss/gain and duct design, along with Manual N and Manual Q documentation standards.
- Expect heavy emphasis on load calculations and duct sizing methodology
Domain 3: Installation
Focuses on correct installation practices for conditioned air systems, particularly commercial equipment exceeding the BTU thresholds required for Class II experience eligibility.
- Installation sequencing and code compliance for larger commercial systems
Domain 4: Maintain and Repair System
Covers ongoing service, diagnostics, and repair work - the kind of hands-on troubleshooting knowledge typically gained through service technician or service supervisor experience.
- Diagnostic logic and repair procedures across common system failures
Because System Design so dominates the scoring weight, candidates who shortchange Manuals J, D, N, and Q in their prep tend to struggle disproportionately. For a full breakdown of subtopics and how to sequence your review across all four areas, see GA-CAC Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 4 Content Areas.
Eligibility Before You Can Schedule
Current Class II law requires five years of full-time qualifying experience, broken into specific segments rather than just "five years in the trade":
- Two years of commercial supervisory experience
- One year as a service technician or service supervisor
- Two years of installation experience as a lead mechanic, with at least one commercial year involving systems exceeding 175,000 BTU of heating and 60,000 BTU of cooling
This structured experience requirement means not all HVAC work history qualifies equally - the Board is specifically looking for supervisory, service, and lead-installation time on systems at a commercial scale. Beyond the hours themselves, applicants must submit experience affidavits and references, pass a criminal background check, hold EPA Section 608 Type II and Type III certification, complete Board-approved heat-loss/gain and duct-design training documented against Manuals J, D, N, and Q, and provide identity and lawful-presence documents.
For the complete checklist of prerequisites, timelines, and how to verify your experience qualifies, see GA-CAC Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Approved References and Materials
The GA-CAC exam is reference-permitted, but only within strict limits. For exams scheduled from May 1 through December 31, 2026, the approved references are the 2024 Georgia Gas and Mechanical Codes with Georgia amendments, along with the 2023 NEC. No substitutions and no additional materials are allowed beyond what the Board designates.
Within those approved books, you're permitted to use permanent tabs, highlighting, and underlining to mark up your references for faster navigation during the exam. However, photocopies and handwritten notes are strictly prohibited - bringing either into the test center can jeopardize your exam attempt entirely.
| Allowed | Not Allowed |
|---|---|
| Permanent tabs on approved code books | Photocopied pages from any reference |
| Highlighting and underlining in approved texts | Handwritten notes or annotations of your own |
| 2024 Georgia Gas and Mechanical Codes (with amendments) | Older code editions not on the approved list |
| 2023 NEC | Unapproved third-party reference guides |
Learning to navigate your tabbed references quickly is a skill in itself. Our GA-CAC Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts can help you build muscle memory for where key tables and code sections live before test day.
Fees and Scheduling Mechanics
The Class II licensure-by-examination application fee is $110, paid as part of the Board approval process rather than at the testing center. Because Board approval must be granted before you can schedule with PSI, this fee is tied to the application step, not the test-day step - plan your budget and timeline accordingly.
Passing requires a minimum final scaled score of 70. If you fail twice, Georgia requires completion of a Board-approved review course before you're permitted a third attempt - a rule that makes early, thorough preparation far more valuable than a "just try it and see" approach.
Key Takeaway
Two failed attempts trigger a mandatory review course requirement. Treat every attempt as if it's your only shot to avoid this added cost and delay.
For a full accounting of application fees, review course costs, and other expenses tied to licensure, see GA-CAC Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. If you want the exact scoring mechanics explained in plain terms, GA-CAC Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass covers how the scaled score of 70 is determined. And if you're mapping out when testing windows open and close, GA-CAC Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling has the scheduling specifics.
After You Pass: Renewal and CE
Earning your Class II license isn't the finish line. Licenses renew by November 30 of odd-numbered years, and license holders must complete four continuing education hours per year, totaling eight hours per two-year renewal cycle. Missing these deadlines can put your unrestricted license status at risk, so mark your renewal dates as soon as you're licensed.
Once licensed, Class II holders are positioned for supervisory, lead installation, and design-focused roles across commercial and residential conditioned air work in Georgia. If you're weighing whether the investment of time and documentation is worth pursuing, Is the GA-CAC Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and GA-CAC Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis offer a deeper look, and GA-CAC Jobs outlines the kinds of positions that call for this unrestricted license specifically.
Building a GA-CAC-Specific Study Plan
Given that System Design accounts for 55% of the exam, your study schedule should weight time toward Manuals J, D, N, and Q disproportionately compared to the other three domains. A useful approach is to front-load the heaviest domain early, when your energy and focus are freshest, then rotate through Regulations, Installation, and Maintain and Repair in the following weeks - using short recall sessions to keep earlier material fresh rather than cramming everything at once.
System Design Deep Dive
- Work through Manual J load calculations and Manual D duct sizing exercises
- Practice locating relevant tables in your tabbed reference books
Regulations, Laws, and Administrative Functions
- Review Board rules and licensing law as they apply to Class II scope
Installation and Maintain/Repair
- Focus on commercial installation standards above the 175,000 BTU heating threshold
- Run through diagnostic and repair scenarios for Domain 4
Mixed Review and Pacing
- Take timed practice sessions matching the two 3.5-hour exam parts
- Confirm tab placement and reference navigation speed
For a more detailed week-by-week breakdown built specifically around exam content weighting, see GA-CAC Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. And if you want to gauge realistically how much preparation time you'll need before committing to a schedule, GA-CAC Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows and How Hard Is the GA-CAC Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 both offer useful context. You can also start practicing directly on the main practice test platform to get a feel for question style before diving into full-length study sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
GA-CAC stands for the Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor Class II (Unrestricted) License Exam, governed by the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board's Division of Conditioned Air Contractors and administered by PSI. See What Does GA-CAC Stand For? for more detail.
The exam includes 100 scored questions plus 20 unscored beta questions, for a total of 120 items split across two parts, each allotted three hours and thirty minutes.
No. Only the Board-approved references are permitted, currently the 2024 Georgia Gas and Mechanical Codes with Georgia amendments and the 2023 NEC for exams scheduled May 1 through December 31, 2026. Permanent tabs, highlighting, and underlining are allowed in those approved texts, but photocopies and handwritten notes are prohibited.
After two failed attempts, Georgia requires completion of a Board-approved review course before you're allowed to sit for a third exam attempt.
Five years of full-time qualifying experience: two years of commercial supervisory work, one year as a service technician or service supervisor, and two years of installation as a lead mechanic, including at least one commercial year on systems exceeding 175,000 BTU heating and 60,000 BTU cooling. Full detail is in GA-CAC Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.