AL-REFRIG Certification

What Is the AL-REFRIG Certification?

AL-REFRIG is the site identifier used here for the Alabama Refrigeration Contractor Certification Exam, administered under the authority of the Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors. The Board's official name for this exam is the Refrigeration Contractors Examination; the testing vendor, Prov, Inc., lists the same exam under the title "Refrigeration." This site focuses specifically on the commercial refrigeration contractor examination pathway, not on residential HVAC or general mechanical licensing tracks the Board also oversees.

If you're still sorting out terminology, our companion pieces What Is AL-REFRIG?, AL-REFRIG Meaning, and What Does AL-REFRIG Stand For? walk through the naming conventions in more detail. For a broader look at what the credential covers day to day, see What Is AL-REFRIG Certification?

Exam Format and Question Breakdown

The AL-REFRIG written exam is a computer-based test with 90 multiple-choice questions and a 4-hour time limit. Candidates need a 70% passing score to move forward. The blueprint referenced throughout this site comes from the Prov candidate bulletin revised September 4, 2026.

Unlike many trade exams, AL-REFRIG allows open-book testing. You can sit for it at a Prov test center or remotely through Examroom after completing a system check. However, "open-book" comes with real constraints:

• Only a simple four-function calculator is permitted - no scientific or programmable calculators.
• Highlighting, permanent tabs, and formulas handwritten in ink directly in your approved reference books are allowed.
• Handwritten notes on separate paper, movable tabs, photocopied inserts, and exam-prep guides are prohibited inside the testing room.

The 2021 International Mechanical Code and the 2020 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code appear on both the Board's and Prov's reference lists, but the lists diverge elsewhere. Confirm every other title and edition directly with Prov before you buy anything - don't assume a book that worked for a different Alabama trade exam will be accepted here.

The 17 AL-REFRIG Domains Explained

The official blueprint spreads 90 questions across 17 domains. Question counts, in order, are: 14, 13, 14, 13, 2, 8, 1, 2, 2, 3, 2, 2, 3, 3, 2, 2, and 4. Two domains tie for the largest share at 14 questions each, and two more tie at 13 each - meaning roughly 60% of the exam sits in just four domains.

The remaining 13 domains are weighted much lighter, from 1 to 8 questions each, but they are not optional: Domain 6, Electrical Applications for Refrigeration Systems, carries 8 questions on its own - more than several business-focused domains combined. Business and law topics are explicitly included in this exam, spread across Domains 7 through 17 (Business Organization, Risk Management, Project Management, Estimating, Safety and Environmental, Labor Laws, Payroll and Employment Taxes, Financial Management, Contracts, Lien Laws, and Licensing Laws). Each of these carries only 1-4 questions individually, but collectively they represent a meaningful share of the exam that technical-only study plans often neglect.

For a full breakdown of what each of the 17 domains actually tests, including subtopics not covered here, read AL-REFRIG Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 17 Content Areas.

Eligibility and Application Requirements

Before you can even schedule the exam, the Board must approve your application. Under Code of Alabama section 34-31-28(c), candidates qualify one of two ways:

• 3,000 hours of qualifying work experience in refrigeration, documented through notarized employer affidavits and matching W-2s.
• Graduation from an approved heating, air conditioning, or refrigeration curriculum, supported by graduation documentation.

All applicants must also provide citizenship or lawful-presence documentation. One important note: the application packet still contains older eligibility wording, so if you're planning to qualify through an apprenticeship- or coursework-only route, confirm the current interpretation with the Board directly before submitting anything.

Once your application is approved, your eligibility window lasts one year - plan your test date accordingly rather than letting approval lapse. For the complete rundown of documentation and edge cases, see AL-REFRIG Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.

Fees, Scheduling, and Retake Rules

The written examination fee is $175, paid directly to the Board and non-refundable once submitted. Paying by credit card adds a 4% service fee on top. Budget for this before you apply - approval and payment typically happen before a test date is even locked in.

If your schedule changes, you must cancel or reschedule with Prov at least 3 business days before your appointment, or you forfeit the exam fee entirely. Given the 4% surcharge for card payments and the strict cancellation window, many candidates plan their test date only after their reference materials and open-book tab system are fully ready.

If you don't pass on the first try, you submit a re-examination request through Form EA-5 or the Board's re-examination portal, and pay another full $175 fee. Separately, Rule 440-X-3-.07 allows the Board to approve a $375 practical examination after a failed written attempt, but only upon written request - it is not a mandatory second stage, and it must be scheduled within 6 months of your last unsuccessful written attempt.

For a granular look at every dollar amount tied to this credential - application, exam, retake, bonding, and renewal costs - see AL-REFRIG Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. And if you're wondering whether a 70% threshold is harder than it sounds given the domain spread, AL-REFRIG Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass breaks down the scoring math further.

After You Pass: Licensing and Bonding

Passing the exam is not the same as being licensed. You must file a separate licensing application with the Board afterward. At that stage, you choose between two certification statuses:

Note that the $20,000 figure is the bond amount, not the premium you'd pay a surety company for it - actual premium costs depend on your credit and the bonding company. Active certification also requires an associated business name on file with the Board. If you're not ready to actively contract yet, inactive status keeps your credential on record at a lower cost without the bonding requirement.

Renewal and Continuing Education

Both active and inactive certifications renew annually, with a December 31 deadline. Miss it, and a $250 late renewal fee applies on top of your normal renewal cost.

Active certificate holders must also complete 4 Board-approved continuing-education hours annually. A few flexibility provisions matter here:

• Up to 4 hours can be carried forward to the next renewal cycle.
• First-time renewals are exempt from the CE requirement under Rule 440-X-4-.10.
• Proof of completed hours must be submitted before November 1.

Under Rule 440-X-4-.03, effective July 14, 2025, hours submitted after November 1 but before January 1 trigger a $25 deficiency fee, and any deficiency-extension application must reach the Board before December 31. Missing these dates compounds quickly - a late CE submission plus a late renewal can mean paying both the $25 deficiency fee and the $250 late fee in the same cycle.

Building an AL-REFRIG Study Timeline

Because the exam is open-book, your prep time is best spent on navigation speed and domain weighting rather than pure memorization. A simple way to allocate weeks: spend the most time on the four heaviest domains (General Knowledge, Systems & Sizing, Piping, Maintenance/Troubleshooting), then dedicate a single consolidated week to the 13 lighter domains, including all the business and law content bundled together.

For a step-by-step version of this approach with more tactical detail, read AL-REFRIG Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. If you're unsure how much total effort the exam demands relative to other trade tests, How Hard Is the AL-REFRIG Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 and AL-REFRIG Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows are useful companion reads. You can also run full-length timed simulations on our practice test platform to get comfortable with the 4-hour format before test day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still deciding whether this certification path fits your career plans? See Is the AL-REFRIG Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and AL-REFRIG Jobs for context on where this credential leads, or start practicing directly on the AL-REFRIG practice test platform.