What Is AL-REFRIG Certification?

What AL-REFRIG Certification Actually Is

AL-REFRIG is the site identifier used here for the Alabama Refrigeration Contractor Certification Exam - a credential the Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors requires before a contractor can legally bid, sign, and perform commercial refrigeration work in the state. The Board itself calls this the Refrigeration Contractors Examination; the testing vendor, Prov, Inc., lists it internally as "Refrigeration." Whatever name you see it under, it's the same 90-question commercial refrigeration contractor exam, and passing it is a prerequisite step toward holding an active refrigeration contractor certification in Alabama.

If you're arriving here confused about naming or scope, it helps to start with a plain-language primer like What Is AL-REFRIG? or the closely related AL-REFRIG Meaning before diving into exam mechanics. This article focuses specifically on what the certification covers, who requires it, and what it costs to earn and keep.

Who Issues It and Who Administers the Exam

Two organizations matter here, and it's worth keeping them distinct:

• Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors - the regulatory body that approves applicants, sets eligibility rules, issues certification, and enforces renewal requirements.
• Prov, Inc. - the third-party testing provider that delivers the exam itself, manages scheduling, and publishes the candidate bulletin that defines question counts and allowed materials.

The most current blueprint reference is the Prov candidate bulletin revised September 4, 2026. Anyone comparing older study material against this bulletin should confirm they're working from the current revision, since testing details can shift between bulletin updates.

Exam Format: Questions, Time, and Passing Score

The written exam consists of 90 computer-based multiple-choice questions delivered in a 4-hour testing window. Candidates need a 70% passing score to clear the exam - there's no separate cutoff per domain, so a weak showing in a small domain can still be offset by strength elsewhere, though skipping any domain entirely is risky given how many small-weight domains exist.

For a deeper breakdown of exactly how the scoring threshold works and what it means practically for how many questions you can miss, see AL-REFRIG Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass. And if you're trying to gauge how the format compares to other licensing exams you may have taken, How Hard Is the AL-REFRIG Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 walks through that comparison in more depth.

The 17 Domains and How Questions Are Allocated

This is where AL-REFRIG differs sharply from a generic trade exam: it blends technical refrigeration knowledge with a full slate of business, legal, and financial topics. The official question allocation across all 17 domains, in order, is 14, 13, 14, 13, 2, 8, 1, 2, 2, 3, 2, 2, 3, 3, 2, 2, and 4.

General Knowledge and Systems & Sizing are jointly the largest domains at 14 questions each, followed by Piping and Maintenance/Troubleshooting at 13 apiece. Together, these four domains account for more than half the exam - which means mastery of core refrigeration theory, system design/sizing logic, piping practices, and troubleshooting workflows should dominate your prep time.

Business and law topics - Business Organization, Labor Laws, Payroll and Employment Taxes, Financial Management, Contracts, Lien Laws, and Licensing Laws - are individually small but collectively meaningful. None carries more than 4 questions on its own, yet skipping this cluster entirely can cost you 20+ points. For a full walkthrough of every domain with study emphasis recommendations, see AL-REFRIG Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 17 Content Areas.

Eligibility Before You Can Sit for the Exam

You can't simply register and test. Under Code of Alabama section 34-31-28(c), applicants must demonstrate one of two paths:

• 3,000 hours of qualifying work experience, documented through notarized employer affidavits and corresponding W-2s, or
• Graduation from an approved heating, air conditioning, or refrigeration curriculum, documented with graduation records.

All applicants must also submit citizenship or lawful-presence documentation. One important caveat: the Board's application packet still carries some older eligibility wording, so if you're considering an apprenticeship-only or coursework-only route, confirm directly with the Board before submitting your application. Board approval must be granted before you can schedule a test date, and once approved, your eligibility window lasts one year from approval.

For the full eligibility breakdown, documentation checklist, and common pitfalls in the affidavit process, read AL-REFRIG Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.

Fees, Scheduling, and Retake Mechanics

The written examination fee is $175, paid to the Board and non-refundable. Paying by credit card adds a 4% service fee, so budget accordingly or plan to pay by another method if avoiding the surcharge matters to you.

Scheduling flexibility exists on both ends:

• Cancellation/rescheduling: Must occur at least 3 business days before your appointment with Prov, or you forfeit the exam fee.
• Retakes: A failed written attempt requires submitting Form EA-5 or using the Board's re-examination portal, plus paying another $175 fee.
• Optional practical exam: Under Rule 440-X-3-.07, the Board may approve a $375 practical examination after a failed written attempt, upon written request, to be held within 6 months of the last unsuccessful written attempt. This is not a mandatory second stage - it's an optional path some candidates request.

A full cost breakdown, including certification fees and bonding costs that come after passing, is covered in AL-REFRIG Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. If you're planning around specific testing windows or trying to time your application to the one-year eligibility clock, check AL-REFRIG Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.

Allowed References and Testing Environment

AL-REFRIG is an open-book exam, available at Prov test centers or remotely through Examroom after completing a system check. That said, "open book" comes with real restrictions:

• Only a simple four-function calculator is permitted - no scientific or programmable calculators.
• Highlighting, permanent tabs, and formulas handwritten in ink directly in your reference books are allowed.
• Handwritten notes on separate paper, movable tabs, added photocopied sheets, and commercial exam-preparation guides brought into the room are all prohibited.

The 2021 International Mechanical Code and the 2020 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code appear on both the Board's and Prov's reference lists, making them safe, confirmed purchases. Beyond those two, the Board and Prov lists diverge on other titles and editions - confirm the exact accepted references and editions with Prov before buying anything else, since an outdated edition could mean wasted money or a book you can't bring into the exam room.

After You Pass: Licensing, Bonding, and Renewal

Passing the exam is not the finish line. You must file a separate licensing application afterward. From there, two certification tracks exist:

• Active refrigeration certification: $220 initial and $220 annual renewal, requires a registered business name and a $20,000 performance bond (the bond amount, not the premium you'd pay an insurer for it). This tier authorizes actual contracting work.
• Inactive refrigeration certification: $110 initial and $110 annual, no bond required, but does not authorize contracting work.

Renewal is due annually by December 31; miss it and a $250 late fee applies on top of the renewal cost. Continuing education is normally 4 Board-approved hours per year, with up to 4 hours bankable toward the next cycle, and a first-renewal exemption available under Rule 440-X-4-.10. Proof of continuing education must be submitted before November 1. Under Rule 440-X-4-.03 (effective July 14, 2025), hours submitted between November 1 and January 1 trigger a $25 deficiency fee, and any deficiency-extension request must reach the Board before December 31.

These downstream costs and deadlines matter when you're weighing whether the certification pays off long-term - see Is the AL-REFRIG Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and AL-REFRIG Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis for a fuller picture, plus AL-REFRIG Jobs for where certified contractors typically find work.

Building a Study Sequence Around the Domain Weights

Rather than studying domains in the order they're listed, sequence your prep by question weight - heaviest first, so the material with the most exam impact gets the most repetition before test day.

A rotation like this respects the exam's actual weighting instead of spreading effort evenly across all 17 domains. For a more detailed week-by-week plan with practice test checkpoints, see AL-REFRIG Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. You can also gauge readiness against real exam conditions using timed practice questions on our AL-REFRIG practice test platform before you commit to a test date.

Frequently Asked Questions