- GA-CAC is 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 parts.
- A minimum final scaled score of 70 is required to pass; System Design carries the heaviest weight at 55%.
- Class II licensure requires five years of qualifying experience and Board approval before scheduling.
What Is GA-CAC?
GA-CAC stands for the Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor Class II (Unrestricted) License Exam. It is governed by the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board, through its Division of Conditioned Air Contractors, and it is administered as a computer-based test by PSI. This is not a generic HVAC certificate - it is the state-recognized licensing exam that authorizes a contractor to design, install, maintain, and repair conditioned air systems in Georgia without the restrictions attached to lower license classes.
Because "GA-CAC" is used loosely in some places, it's worth being precise: this site covers the Class II (Unrestricted) exam angle specifically, not any other credential that happens to share the same letters. Every fact on this page reflects the actual Class II licensing pathway as regulated in Georgia.
Who Needs This License
The Class II license is built for experienced HVAC professionals who want to operate as licensed contractors - running their own company, bidding commercial jobs, or supervising installation crews without a Class I or restricted-class ceiling. Employers hiring for lead mechanic, service supervisor, or contractor-owner roles typically require or strongly prefer this credential because it signals verified experience across supervision, service, and installation. If you're evaluating whether the license translates into better job opportunities or pay, the GA-CAC Jobs overview and the GA-CAC Salary Guide 2026 break down how the credential is used in the field.
For a broader look at what the designation actually represents before diving into exam mechanics, see GA-CAC Certification and GA-CAC Meaning.
Exam Format and Scoring
The GA-CAC Class II exam is computer-based and multiple-choice, and it is a reference-permitted exam - meaning candidates bring approved code books and reference materials into the testing session rather than relying purely on memorization. Structurally, the exam is split into two parts, each 3 hours and 30 minutes long, for a combined testing window built around 100 scored questions plus 20 unscored beta questions (the beta items are used for future exam development and are not counted toward your score, though you won't know which is which during the test).
To pass, a candidate needs a minimum final scaled score of 70. Scaled scoring means the raw number of correct answers doesn't map directly to a percentage - the score you see reflects a statistical adjustment across question difficulty. If you want the exact mechanics of how that scaled score is calculated and what it means for how many questions you can miss, read GA-CAC Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Key Takeaway
Because the exam is reference-permitted, success depends as much on knowing where to find an answer quickly in your approved code books as on memorizing formulas outright.
The Four Exam Domains
The GA-CAC Class II exam is organized into four content domains. Understanding how they're weighted changes how you should allocate study time - this is not a case where all four areas deserve equal attention.
Domain 1: Regulations, Laws, and Administrative Functions
Covers licensing law, Board authority, contractor obligations, and the administrative rules that govern how conditioned air work is legally performed in Georgia.
- Board rules and licensing statutes
- Contractor responsibilities and administrative procedure
Domain 2: System Design
The largest domain on the exam at 55% of content. Candidates must demonstrate mastery of heat-loss/heat-gain calculations and duct design using Manual J, Manual D, Manual N, and Manual Q methodology.
- Load calculations for heating and cooling
- Duct sizing and airflow design principles
Domain 3: Installation
Covers correct installation practices for equipment and systems, including code compliance for commercial and residential conditioned air systems.
- Installation sequencing and code-driven requirements
- Equipment placement and system commissioning basics
Domain 4: Maintain and Repair System
Focuses on diagnosing, servicing, and repairing conditioned air systems already in operation, including troubleshooting logic and service procedures.
- Diagnostic and troubleshooting approach
- Repair procedures and system maintenance standards
Because System Design dominates the scoring, candidates who under-prepare on Manuals J, D, N, and Q tend to struggle regardless of how strong they are on installation or repair knowledge. For a full domain-by-domain breakdown with study priorities, see GA-CAC Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 4 Content Areas.
| Domain | Focus Area | Relative Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Domain 1 | Regulations, Laws, Administrative Functions | Standard weighting |
| Domain 2 | System Design (Manuals J, D, N, Q) | 55% - largest domain |
| Domain 3 | Installation | Standard weighting |
| Domain 4 | Maintain and Repair System | Standard weighting |
Eligibility and Experience Requirements
Georgia doesn't let just anyone sit for the Class II exam. Current law requires five years of full-time qualifying experience, broken into specific categories:
- 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 working on systems exceeding 175,000 BTU of heating and 60,000 BTU of cooling
Beyond raw experience, applicants must submit experience affidavits and references, pass a criminal background check, hold EPA Section 608 Type II and Type III certification, and complete Board-approved heat-loss/gain and duct-design training documented through Manuals J, D, N, and Q. Identity and lawful-presence documentation is also required as part of the application packet.
Application, Approval, and Fees
Board approval is required before you're allowed to schedule the exam with PSI - you can't simply register on your own timeline. The Class II licensure-by-examination application fee is $110. Once the Board approves your application and confirms your experience documentation, you become eligible to book a testing appointment.
If you're mapping out the full cost of pursuing this license - application fee, training costs, and any retake expenses - the detailed breakdown in GA-CAC Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown lays out each line item. For scheduling windows and deadlines tied to the 2026 testing calendar, see GA-CAC Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Approved References for 2026
Since this is a reference-permitted exam, knowing exactly which materials you're allowed to bring - and how you can mark them up - is part of exam readiness. 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.
Only these approved references may be used during the test. Permanent tabs, highlighting, and underlining are allowed inside your reference books, but photocopies and handwritten notes are strictly prohibited. That means your prep time should include physically tabbing and organizing your code books, not just reading them - a well-indexed reference book can save critical minutes during each 3.5-hour testing block.
Key Takeaway
Build your tabbing system around the sections you'll need fastest - load calculation tables, duct sizing charts, and NEC sections relevant to conditioned air equipment - since Domain 2 alone represents more than half the scored content.
Retakes, Renewal, and Continuing Education
If you don't pass on your first attempt, you can retake the exam, but after two failed attempts, Georgia requires completion of a Board-approved review course before a third attempt is permitted. This makes first-attempt preparation meaningfully more valuable than treating the exam as something you can simply retry casually. For a realistic sense of how demanding the exam is and what trips candidates up, see How Hard Is the GA-CAC Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 and the data-driven look in GA-CAC Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows.
Once licensed, Class II license holders must renew by November 30 of odd-numbered years, completing four continuing education hours per year, for a total of eight hours per renewal cycle. Building CE tracking into your calendar early avoids a scramble near the renewal deadline.
How to Approach Preparation
Generic study advice only goes so far here - the exam's structure should drive your schedule. Because Domain 2: System Design carries 55% of the exam's weight, it deserves the largest and earliest block of dedicated study time, followed by focused review of Domains 1, 3, and 4 in whatever order matches your existing field experience gaps.
System Design Deep Dive
- Work through Manual J load calculation problems
- Practice Manual D duct sizing scenarios with your tabbed code references
Regulations and Installation Review
- Study Board rules, licensing law, and administrative procedures
- Review installation code requirements and sequencing
Maintenance, Repair, and Full-Length Practice
- Review diagnostic and repair procedures
- Run full-length timed practice sessions mimicking the two 3.5-hour parts
For a structured, week-by-week plan built specifically around passing on the first attempt, see the GA-CAC Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. You can also run through timed, domain-weighted practice questions on the main practice test site to get comfortable with the pacing before exam day. If you're still deciding whether the time investment is worth it relative to your career goals, Is the GA-CAC Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 walks through the tradeoffs.
Frequently Asked Questions
GA-CAC refers to the Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor Class II (Unrestricted) License Exam, governed by the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board and administered by PSI. For more on the terminology itself, see What Does GA-CAC Stand For? and What Does GA-CAC Mean?
The exam includes 100 scored multiple-choice questions plus 20 unscored beta questions, delivered across two parts of 3 hours and 30 minutes each.
You need a minimum final scaled score of 70. Scaled scoring adjusts for question difficulty rather than reflecting a simple raw percentage.
No. Only Board-approved references - for 2026, the 2024 Georgia Gas and Mechanical Codes with Georgia amendments and the 2023 NEC - are permitted, with permanent tabs, highlighting, and underlining allowed. Photocopies and handwritten notes are prohibited.
After two failed attempts, Georgia requires completion of a Board-approved review course before you're allowed to schedule a third attempt.
For additional foundational explainers, you can also browse What Is GA-CAC?, What Is A GA-CAC?, What Is GA-CAC Certification?, and GA-CAC Training, or start practicing directly on the main practice test platform.