AL-REFRIG Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify

Who Needs to Meet AL-REFRIG Requirements

The Alabama Refrigeration Contractor Certification Exam (AL-REFRIG) is administered by the Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors, which refers to it formally as the Refrigeration Contractors Examination. Testing itself is delivered through Prov, Inc., which labels the exam simply "Refrigeration" on its scheduling platform. If you plan to legally contract commercial refrigeration work in Alabama - installing, servicing, or maintaining commercial refrigeration systems under your own business name - this is the credential the state requires before you can operate.

This exam is distinct from EPA Section 608 technician certification, which covers refrigerant handling and is a federal environmental requirement, not a state contracting license. Many candidates hold both, but they are separate credentials with separate governing bodies and separate exams. Before diving into requirements, it helps to understand exactly what AL-REFRIG certification is and how it differs from other refrigeration-related credentials that share similar names.

Route 1: 3,000 Hours of Qualifying Work Experience

Under Code of Alabama section 34-31-28(c), the most common path to eligibility is documenting 3,000 hours of qualifying work experience in refrigeration contracting. This isn't a self-reported number - the Board requires supporting paperwork before it will approve your application to sit for the exam.

• Notarized employer affidavits: Each employer who contributed to your qualifying hours must complete and notarize an affidavit confirming your role, duties, and time worked.
• Corresponding W-2s: These affidavits must be backed by matching W-2 forms for the same employment periods, giving the Board a paper trail that ties your claimed hours to actual payroll records.

If you've worked for multiple employers to accumulate your 3,000 hours, expect to gather affidavits and W-2s from each one. Missing or inconsistent documentation is one of the most common reasons applications stall, so start collecting these records well before you intend to apply.

Route 2: Approved Curriculum Graduation

The second eligibility path is graduation from an approved heating, air conditioning, or refrigeration curriculum. If you completed a qualifying program, you submit graduation documentation in place of the work-experience affidavits and W-2s. This route can shorten the path to eligibility for candidates coming out of trade school programs rather than years of field employment.

Documentation You'll Need to Submit

Regardless of which eligibility route applies to you, the Board also requires citizenship or lawful-presence documentation as part of the application packet. This is a standard part of Alabama's occupational licensing process and applies to every applicant, not just those using the work-experience route.

Before you submit anything, it's worth reviewing the complete guide to all 17 content areas the exam covers, since understanding the scope of the test can help you decide how much lead time you need between assembling your paperwork and actually sitting for the exam.

Board Approval and the One-Year Eligibility Window

You cannot simply register for the exam once you meet the experience or education threshold. The Board must approve your application first, and only after approval can you schedule a testing appointment with Prov. Once approved, your eligibility to test lasts exactly one year from the date of approval.

Exam Format, Domains, and Fees

The blueprint behind this exam comes from the Prov candidate bulletin revised September 4, 2026. The written exam consists of 90 computer-based multiple-choice questions, with a 4-hour time limit and a required passing score of 70%. The exam fee is $175, paid directly to the Board and non-refundable; paying by credit card adds a 4% service fee, so budget accordingly if you're not paying by check or money order.

Business and law topics are woven directly into this examination alongside technical refrigeration content, which surprises some candidates who expect a purely mechanical test. The official question allocation across all 17 domains looks like this:

General Knowledge and Systems & Sizing are jointly the largest domains at 14 questions each, with Piping and Maintenance/Troubleshooting close behind at 13 each. Together these four domains account for well over half the exam, which should shape how you allocate study time.

The remaining 13 domains cover everything from electrical applications to lien laws and licensing laws. For a full breakdown of what each domain actually tests, see the complete guide to all 17 content areas, and pair it with a look at the exact passing score requirements so you know precisely what target you're studying toward.

Registration, Testing Options, and Test-Day Rules

Once the Board approves your eligibility, you can schedule your exam at a Prov test center or remotely through Examroom after completing a system check. This is an open-book exam, but "open-book" comes with specific limits:

• Allowed: A simple four-function calculator, highlighting, permanent tabs, and formulas handwritten in ink directly in your approved reference material.
• Prohibited: Other handwritten notes, movable tabs, added photocopied sheets, and exam-preparation guides brought into the testing session.

The 2021 International Mechanical Code and 2020 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code are common to both the Board's and Prov's reference lists, but the lists differ on other titles and editions. Confirm which books Prov will actually allow into the testing room before you purchase anything - this is a frequent source of last-minute stress for candidates who assume any current-edition reference book will be accepted.

If You Don't Pass: Re-Examination and the Practical Option

A failed written attempt isn't the end of the road, but it does cost you again. To retest, submit a re-examination request through Form EA-5 or the Board's re-examination portal and pay another $175 examination fee.

Separately, under Rule 440-X-3-.07, the Board may approve a $375 practical examination after a failed written attempt, but only upon written request. This practical option must be scheduled within 6 months of the last unsuccessful written examination, and it is not a mandatory second stage - it's an alternative path some candidates pursue rather than retaking the full written exam. If you're weighing your odds before attempting the exam at all, the difficulty guide and pass rate breakdown are worth reading first.

From Passing the Exam to Holding a License

Passing the written examination does not automatically grant you a license. You must file a separate licensing application afterward. At that point, you choose between two certification statuses:

Active certification also requires a registered business name. Note that $20,000 is the bond amount, not the premium you'll actually pay to obtain the bond - the premium is typically a much smaller percentage cost set by your bonding company. For a full cost picture across every stage of this process, see the complete pricing breakdown.

Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements

Certification isn't a one-time event. Renewal is due annually by December 31, and missing that date triggers an additional $250 late fee on top of your regular renewal cost.

• Normally 4 Board-approved continuing-education hours are required each year.
• Up to 4 unused hours can carry forward to the next renewal cycle.
• A first-renewal exemption applies under Rule 440-X-4-.10, giving new certificate holders some breathing room.
• Continuing-education proof must be submitted before November 1.
• Under Rule 440-X-4-.03 (effective July 14, 2025), a $25 deficiency fee applies to hours submitted after November 1 but before January 1, and any deficiency-extension application must reach the Board before December 31.

Aligning Your Prep Timeline with the Requirements

Because eligibility approval starts a one-year clock, and because the exam's question distribution is so heavily weighted toward four domains, your prep schedule should mirror that structure rather than treating all 17 domains equally.

For a structured walkthrough of this kind of preparation, the first-attempt study guide goes deeper into technique, and you can run realistic timed sessions using the Alabama refrigeration practice test platform to get comfortable with the 90-question, 4-hour format before your real appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions