- What Is a GA-CAC, Exactly?
- Who Governs and Administers the GA-CAC
- What the GA-CAC Exam Actually Tests
- Exam Format, References, and Question Style
- Eligibility: Experience, Certifications, and Paperwork
- Registration, Fees, and Scheduling
- What Happens If You Don't Pass
- Keeping Your License: Renewal and CE
- Who Hires GA-CAC-Licensed Contractors
- How to Approach Studying for This Specific Exam
- Frequently Asked Questions
- GA-CAC refers specifically to the Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor Class II (Unrestricted) License Exam, administered by PSI.
- The exam has 100 scored questions plus 20 unscored beta items, split into two 3.5-hour sessions.
- You need a minimum scaled score of 70, and System Design accounts for 55% of content.
- Eligibility requires five years of qualifying experience plus EPA 608 Type II and III certification.
What Is a GA-CAC, Exactly?
GA-CAC stands for the Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor Class II (Unrestricted) License Exam. It's the credentialing test that Georgia requires HVAC professionals to pass before they can legally operate as an unrestricted conditioned air contractor in the state. Unlike a Class I restricted license, which limits scope, a Class II license allows a contractor to design, install, maintain, and repair conditioned air systems without the tonnage or building-type restrictions attached to lower license tiers.
If you're researching this credential for the first time, you may also want a broader overview at What Is GA-CAC? or a plain-language breakdown of the acronym itself at GA-CAC Meaning. This article focuses specifically on what the license and exam involve, who administers them, and what a candidate needs to actually pass.
Who Governs and Administers the GA-CAC
The GA-CAC exam sits under the authority of the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board, specifically its Division of Conditioned Air Contractors. The Board sets licensure standards, reviews applications, and approves candidates before they're permitted to sit for the exam - approval isn't automatic just because you submit paperwork.
Once the Board approves an applicant, the exam itself is administered by PSI, a third-party testing organization that runs the computer-based sessions at approved testing centers. PSI handles scheduling, delivers the exam content, and reports scores back to the Board, but it does not set licensing requirements - that responsibility stays with the Board.
What the GA-CAC Exam Actually Tests
The GA-CAC Class II exam is built around four content domains. Understanding how these domains are weighted matters more than generic exam prep advice, because it tells you exactly where to concentrate your limited study hours.
Domain 1: Regulations, Laws, and Administrative Functions
Covers Georgia licensing law, Board rules, contractor obligations, and the administrative side of running a licensed conditioned air business.
- Georgia Gas and Mechanical Code requirements and amendments
- Contractor responsibilities and Board compliance obligations
Domain 2: System Design
The largest domain on the exam at 55% of scored content. Candidates must be comfortable with heat-loss/heat-gain calculations and duct sizing methodology.
- Manual J and Manual D application for residential load and duct design
- Manual N and Manual Q concepts for commercial load and duct design
Domain 3: Installation
Focuses on correctly installing conditioned air systems according to code and manufacturer specifications, including equipment sized above residential thresholds.
- Installation practices for systems exceeding 175,000 BTU heating / 60,000 BTU cooling
- Ductwork, venting, and equipment placement standards
Domain 4: Maintain and Repair System
Tests knowledge of diagnosing, servicing, and repairing existing conditioned air equipment in the field.
- Refrigerant handling consistent with EPA Section 608 Type II and III certification
- Troubleshooting logic for common system failures
Because System Design carries more than half the weight of the entire exam, candidates who under-study Manuals J, D, N, and Q are taking on unnecessary risk. For a deeper breakdown of how each domain is tested and weighted, see the GA-CAC Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 4 Content Areas.
Key Takeaway
Spend proportionally more study time on System Design than any other domain - it alone determines a majority of your scored answers.
Exam Format, References, and Question Style
The GA-CAC Class II exam is computer-based and multiple-choice, delivered in two parts of three hours and thirty minutes each. In total, candidates answer 100 scored questions plus 20 unscored beta questions that are indistinguishable from scored items during the test. A minimum final scaled score of 70 is required to pass.
This is an open-reference exam, but only approved references may be used - and the list is specific. For exams scheduled from May 1 through December 31, 2026, approved materials include the 2024 Georgia Gas and Mechanical Codes with Georgia amendments and the 2023 NEC. Permanent tabs, highlighting, and underlining inside these approved books are allowed; photocopies and handwritten notes are not. Bringing unauthorized materials, or marking up a reference in a prohibited way, can jeopardize your ability to sit for the exam that day.
For a full explanation of the scoring cutoff and how the scaled score is calculated, see GA-CAC Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass. If you want a realistic sense of how challenging candidates find the two-part format, How Hard Is the GA-CAC Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 walks through the format in more depth.
Eligibility: Experience, Certifications, and Paperwork
You cannot simply register and take the GA-CAC exam - Board approval is required first, and that approval hinges on documented experience and credentials. Current Class II law requires five years of full-time qualifying experience, broken down as:
- Two years of commercial supervisory experience
- One year as a service technician or service supervisor
- Two years of installation work as a lead mechanic, with at least one commercial year on systems exceeding 175,000 BTU heating and 60,000 BTU cooling
Beyond experience, applicants must also:
- Submit experience affidavits and professional 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, with documented use of Manuals J, D, N, and Q
- Provide identity and lawful-presence documentation
Every one of these pieces has to be assembled and approved before you're cleared to schedule a seat with PSI. For the complete eligibility checklist with more detail on each requirement, see GA-CAC Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Registration, Fees, and Scheduling
Once the Board approves your application, the Class II licensure-by-examination application fee is $110. This fee covers your application review, not your PSI testing session logistics separately - but you should treat it as one piece of a larger cost picture that includes training courses, reference materials, and any review course fees if a retake is required.
Scheduling only becomes available after Board approval, so plan your timeline with that gate in mind - you cannot pick an exam date first and get approved later. For a full cost breakdown across every stage of the licensing process, read GA-CAC Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown, and for testing windows and deadlines specific to 2026, check GA-CAC Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
| Exam Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Administering body | PSI (under Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board) |
| Format | Computer-based, multiple-choice, reference-permitted |
| Question count | 100 scored + 20 unscored beta questions |
| Time allowed | Two parts, 3 hours 30 minutes each |
| Passing score | Minimum scaled score of 70 |
| Application fee | $110 |
| Largest domain | System Design (55%) |
What Happens If You Don't Pass
If you don't clear the scaled score of 70 on your first attempt, you're allowed to retest. However, after two failed attempts, Georgia requires you to complete a Board-approved review course before you're permitted to sit for a third try. This rule exists to prevent candidates from repeatedly guessing their way through the exam without addressing knowledge gaps, particularly in System Design, where most of the scored questions live.
If you're concerned about your odds heading in, it's worth reviewing GA-CAC Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows and building a study plan around the specific domains that tend to trip candidates up, rather than generic test-taking advice.
Keeping Your License: Renewal and CE
Passing the exam and getting licensed is not the end of the compliance obligation. Georgia Class II licenses renew by November 30 of odd-numbered years, and license holders must complete four continuing education hours per year - eight hours total per renewal cycle. Missing continuing education requirements can put your active license status at risk even if you never fail an exam question again.
Key Takeaway
Mark your renewal deadline as soon as you're licensed - November 30 of odd-numbered years - and track CE hours annually rather than scrambling at renewal time.
Who Hires GA-CAC-Licensed Contractors
Because the Class II license is unrestricted, it opens the door to a wider range of work than a restricted license does. Licensed holders commonly work for or run mechanical contracting firms, commercial HVAC installation companies, design-build mechanical contractors, and service companies handling both residential and larger commercial systems - including the higher-BTU commercial equipment the license explicitly covers.
Employers value this license because it signals verified experience across supervision, service, and installation, plus documented competency in load calculations and code compliance. If you're evaluating whether the credential is worth pursuing given the time and experience investment, Is the GA-CAC Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and GA-CAC Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis go deeper into career outcomes, and GA-CAC Jobs looks at the kinds of roles this license unlocks.
How to Approach Studying for This Specific Exam
Generic study techniques only help if they're applied to the right material in the right order. Given that System Design makes up 55% of the exam, a practical approach is to front-load your preparation weeks on Manual J, Manual D, Manual N, and Manual Q calculations before moving to Installation and Maintain and Repair System topics, then closing with a focused review of Regulations, Laws, and Administrative Functions closer to your test date, since code and administrative details are easier to retain when reviewed right before the exam.
System Design
- Work Manual J and Manual N load calculations until they're automatic
- Practice Manual D and Manual Q duct sizing problems
Installation and Maintain/Repair
- Review installation standards for systems above 175,000 BTU heating / 60,000 BTU cooling
- Refresh EPA 608 Type II/III refrigerant handling knowledge
Regulations and Reference Navigation
- Review Georgia Gas and Mechanical Code amendments and the 2023 NEC
- Practice locating answers quickly in your tabbed approved references
For a structured walkthrough of this exact approach, including how to allocate time across all two 3.5-hour exam parts, see the GA-CAC Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. A quick-reference summary of the highest-yield facts is also available in the GA-CAC Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts. And once you're ready to test your recall under realistic conditions, the practice exams on the main GA-CAC practice test site simulate the two-part, multiple-choice format so there are no surprises on exam day.
Frequently Asked Questions
GA-CAC stands for Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor Class II (Unrestricted) License Exam. For a more detailed explanation of the terminology, see What Does GA-CAC Stand For?
The exam is administered by PSI, a third-party testing provider, under the authority of the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board's Division of Conditioned Air Contractors.
The exam includes 100 scored questions plus 20 unscored beta questions, split across two sessions of three hours and thirty minutes each.
You need a minimum final scaled score of 70. See GA-CAC Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass for more detail.
After two failed attempts, Georgia requires completion of a Board-approved review course before you can attempt the exam a third time.
Understanding what the GA-CAC actually is - a specific Georgia licensing exam with its own domains, fee structure, and eligibility rules - is the first step toward approaching it strategically rather than generically. If you're still getting oriented, related overviews like GA-CAC Certification and What Is GA-CAC Certification? can round out your understanding before you move into focused domain study and GA-CAC Training.