- The exam has 100 scored questions plus 20 unscored pretest items, split across two 3.5-hour parts (7 hours total).
- You need a scaled score of 70 to pass, and the test is open book under PSI's approved-reference rules.
- Class II requires five years of qualifying experience on systems above Class I's 175,000 BTU heating / 60,000 BTU cooling limits.
- System Design is the dominant domain on the exam and deserves the largest share of your study time.
What the GCA-II Exam Actually Covers
The Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor Class II Examination is the licensing test administered by PSI on behalf of the Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board's Division of Conditioned Air Contractors. Passing it grants the Class II unrestricted license, which allows contractors to design, install, and service conditioned-air systems without the tonnage and BTU ceilings that apply to Class I. If you're still getting oriented, the overview at What Is GCA-II? and the plain-language breakdown in GCA-II Meaning are good starting points before you dive into technical prep.
This guide is written specifically for that exam - not a generalized HVAC credential, and not any other program that happens to share the acronym. Everything below reflects the Board-approved structure, fee schedule, and content areas that govern the Georgia Class II license.
Registration, Fees, and Eligibility Mechanics
Before you can sit for the exam, you need to clear a documented eligibility path. The Board requires:
- Five years of qualifying conditioned-air experience, including hands-on work above the Class I BTU limits
- Three professional references
- Current EPA certification
- Completion of Board-approved Manuals J&D and N&Q coursework
The initial application fee is $110. Once the Board approves your application, that approval is valid for one year - so you have a defined window to schedule and sit for the PSI exam before you'd need to reapply. For a full line-item look at what you'll spend from application through licensure, see GCA-II Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown, and if you're unsure whether your work history and coursework qualify, walk through GCA-II Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify before you submit paperwork.
Key Takeaway
Don't submit your application until your EPA certification, Manuals J&D/N&Q coursework, and references are fully documented - the one-year approval clock starts running the moment the Board signs off, not when you feel ready to test.
Domain-by-Domain Breakdown
The exam is organized into four domains. Understanding how they're weighted - and which one dominates - should drive how you allocate study hours. A full topic-by-topic walkthrough lives at GCA-II Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 4 Content Areas, but here's the working summary you need for planning.
Domain 1: Regulations, Laws, and Administrative Functions
Covers Georgia licensing law, Board rules, permitting obligations, and the administrative duties of a licensed contractor. This is memorization-heavy but low-volume relative to the rest of the exam.
- Know which activities require a permit versus which don't
- Understand the Board's authority and disciplinary process
Domain 2: System Design
This is the dominant domain on the exam, and it's where Class II candidates historically lose the most points because it demands calculation fluency, not just recall.
- Manual J-style load calculations and their real-world application
- Manual D duct sizing logic and airflow requirements
- Manual N/Q concepts as they apply to commercial and larger-scale system design
- Equipment selection matched to calculated load, not guesswork
Domain 3: Installation
Focuses on correct field practices for equipment, ductwork, refrigerant lines, and electrical tie-ins on systems that exceed Class I limits.
- Clearances, venting, and condensate requirements for larger equipment
- Refrigerant piping practices appropriate to Class II-scale systems
Domain 4: Maintain and Repair System
Tests diagnostic reasoning and repair sequencing rather than raw memorization.
- Systematic troubleshooting logic for airflow, refrigerant, and control faults
- Preventive maintenance intervals and documentation expectations
Exam Day Format and Open-Book Rules
The exam delivers 100 scored questions plus 20 unscored pretest questions embedded throughout - you won't know which is which, so treat every question with equal seriousness. Total time is 7 hours, split into two 3.5-hour parts, and you need a final scaled score of 70 to pass. For the exact scoring mechanics and what a scaled score actually means for your raw performance, read GCA-II Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
The exam is open book, but only under PSI's approved-reference rules - you cannot bring arbitrary notes or textbooks. A silent, non-programmable calculator is permitted, which matters heavily for Domain 2's load and duct-sizing calculations. Practice navigating your approved references quickly before test day; fumbling through an unfamiliar manual under time pressure is one of the most common ways candidates lose minutes they can't recover.
| Exam Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scored Questions | 100 |
| Unscored Pretest Questions | 20 |
| Total Time | 7 hours (two 3.5-hour parts) |
| Passing Score | 70 (scaled) |
| Reference Policy | Open book, PSI-approved references only |
| Calculator Policy | Silent, non-programmable |
| Application Fee | $110 |
| Approval Validity | One year from Board approval |
If you want a broader sense of how challenging the format feels in practice - two long sessions, calculation-heavy content, and unfamiliar-reference navigation - How Hard Is the GCA-II Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 covers that in detail, and GCA-II Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows looks at outcome data.
A Realistic Study Timeline
Generic study techniques only help if they're mapped onto the actual weight of the exam. Because System Design dominates, your schedule should front-load it and leave regulatory memorization for the final stretch, when it's freshest for test day.
System Design Immersion
- Work through Manual J load calculation problems until they're fast, not just correct
- Practice Manual D duct sizing with your approved calculator
- Review Manual N/Q applications for larger, above-Class-I-limit systems
Installation and Repair Reasoning
- Study field installation standards for equipment above Class I BTU thresholds
- Build troubleshooting flowcharts for common airflow and refrigerant faults
Regulations and Administrative Review
- Memorize permitting triggers, Board authority, and licensing rules
- Cross-reference against a condensed review sheet
Simulated Exam Conditions
- Run full-length practice sessions timed at 3.5 hours per part
- Practice locating information in your approved references quickly
For a condensed reference you can review the night before the exam, bookmark GCA-II Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts. And regardless of where you are in your timeline, running full-length timed drills on our practice test platform is the fastest way to expose weak spots in System Design before they cost you on exam day.
Common Mistakes That Sink First Attempts
- Underestimating System Design's weight. Candidates who split study time evenly across all four domains consistently under-prepare for the domain that matters most.
- Assuming "open book" means casual. PSI's approved-reference rules are specific, and candidates who haven't rehearsed finding information quickly waste time flipping pages during a 3.5-hour session.
- Letting the one-year approval window lapse. Some applicants delay scheduling after Board approval and end up needing to reapply.
- Skipping calculator practice. A silent, non-programmable calculator changes how you approach Manual J and Manual D problems compared to a phone or spreadsheet - practice with the actual device you'll bring.
- Ignoring the experience-documentation details. The five-year requirement specifically involves systems above Class I's 175,000 BTU heating and 60,000 BTU cooling limits - general HVAC hours that don't meet that threshold can create eligibility problems later.
Key Takeaway
Most first-attempt failures trace back to time allocation, not raw knowledge gaps - study System Design like it's most of the exam, because functionally, it is.
Who Hires GCA-II Holders
The Class II unrestricted license is typically sought by contractors who want to bid and perform work on larger commercial and industrial conditioned-air systems without the Class I BTU restrictions. That includes mechanical contracting firms, design-build HVAC companies, and independent contractors expanding beyond residential-scale installs. If you're weighing whether the credential justifies the time and cost, Is the GCA-II Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and GCA-II Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis break down the career case in more depth, and GCA-II Jobs surveys where license holders actually work. For training programs that align with the Board's coursework requirements, see GCA-II Training.
Once licensed, remember that renewal isn't a one-time event: Class II licenses renew by November 30 of odd-numbered years, and you'll need 8 continuing-education hours per cycle to stay current. Building that into your long-term planning now avoids a scramble later.
Frequently Asked Questions
The exam has 100 scored questions plus 20 unscored pretest questions, for 120 total items. You get 7 hours split across two 3.5-hour parts.
You need a final scaled score of 70. See GCA-II Passing Score 2026 for how scaled scoring works in practice.
The exam is open book, but only under PSI's approved-reference rules - you can't bring arbitrary notes or outside textbooks. You may use a silent, non-programmable calculator.
Five years of qualifying conditioned-air experience, including work on systems above Class I's 175,000 BTU heating and 60,000 BTU cooling limits, plus three references, EPA certification, and Board-approved Manuals J&D and N&Q coursework.
Board approval is valid for one year, so you should schedule your PSI exam date with that window in mind rather than delaying indefinitely.
Passing the GCA-II exam on your first attempt comes down to matching your prep time to the exam's actual structure - heavy on System Design, precise on regulatory recall, and disciplined about the open-book reference rules. Start your domain-specific practice sessions on our practice test site early enough to correct weak areas before your one-year approval window runs out.