Does a Duct Cleaner Need a License in Texas?

Updated 2026-10 · Lewisville, TX

The short answer

For the ducts alone, no. For the equipment, yes. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation licenses air conditioning and refrigeration contractors under Occupations Code Chapter 1302, and its rule at 16 TAC 75.100(c) carves out duct cleaning from that licence, but only within limits.

Where the line sits

Duct cleaning and air quality testing may be done without a contractor licence if all four of these are true:

• The work stays within the air distribution system: from the supply plenum to the supply grilles, and from the return grille to the air handler intake
• No cuts are made to ducts or plenums
• No changes are made to electrical connections
• Nothing is taken apart except grilles and registers that come off without cutting or removing anything else

Pulling a blower, cleaning a coil inside the air handler, or cutting a service opening into a trunk all go past those limits. That work belongs to a TDLR-licensed air conditioning and refrigeration contractor. The same rule says biomedical remediation also needs that licence.

Mold has its own licence

Mold assessment and remediation are licensed separately by TDLR. Remediating mold covering a total of 25 contiguous square feet or more requires a licensed remediation contractor; below that, a licence is not required. A duct company that offers "mold remediation" for a large area should be able to show that licence, or tell you it is bringing in someone who has one.

What NADCA is

The National Air Duct Cleaners Association is a trade association. It publishes ACR, the industry standard for assessing, cleaning and restoring HVAC systems, which it updated in 2025, and it runs a certification for technicians. Membership and certification are voluntary; the state does not require either. A company can follow the ACR method without being a member, and membership alone does not prove a particular crew did a particular job well. If a company says it is a member, NADCA's own website lets you check. One claim to treat as a red flag: "EPA certified". The EPA says plainly that it does not establish, certify or endorse duct cleaning companies.

How to check a licence

TDLR's license search on its website takes a name or licence number and shows the licence type and whether it is current. Ask the company quoting you for the ACR licence number of whoever will work on the air handler, and look it up before the appointment. Door-to-door sellers are a separate question: many North Texas cities require a solicitor permit, so if someone knocks offering a duct cleaning, ask to see theirs and check with the City of Lewisville.

Where to go next

• Air handler and coil cleaning
• Mold in ducts and the 25 square foot rule
• Choosing a company