- GCA-II is the Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor Class II unrestricted license exam, regulated by the state Board and delivered by PSI.
- The test has 100 scored questions plus 20 unscored pretest items, split across two 3.5-hour parts totaling 7 hours.
- Passing requires a scaled score of 70, and the exam is open book under PSI's approved-reference policy.
- Applicants need five years of qualifying experience above Class I's 175,000 BTU heating and 60,000 BTU cooling limits.
What GCA-II Actually Stands For
GCA-II stands for the Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor Class II Examination, the credentialing test tied to Georgia's Class II unrestricted conditioned air contractor license. This is not a national trade certificate or a manufacturer badge - it is a state-regulated licensing exam that determines whether a contractor can legally design, install, and service conditioned air systems in Georgia at a scope beyond the state's Class I license.
Because the acronym "GCA-II" gets reused loosely online for other unrelated credentials, it's worth being precise here: everything on this site refers specifically to the Georgia license exam described above. If you found this page while researching Georgia HVAC licensing, you're in the right place. For a broader definitional overview, see What Is GCA-II? and GCA-II Meaning.
Who Regulates and Administers It
The Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Conditioned Air Contractors, is the regulatory body that oversees the Class II license. The Board approves applicants, sets qualification standards, and manages license renewal. Once an applicant is approved to test, PSI handles the actual delivery of the examination - scheduling, proctoring, scoring, and reporting results back to the Board.
This two-party structure matters practically: the Board decides who is eligible, and PSI decides how and where the test is delivered. If you're unclear on whether you meet the Board's eligibility bar, that's a separate question from exam logistics, and both deserve attention before you register. A full breakdown of eligibility lives at GCA-II Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Exam Format and Scoring
The GCA-II exam is built around 100 scored questions plus 20 unscored pretest questions mixed in without identification, meaning every question should be treated as if it counts. Candidates get 7 hours total, split into two 3.5-hour parts. That structure is intentional - it lets the Board test both regulatory/administrative knowledge and hands-on technical judgment without cramming everything into one sitting.
To pass, you need a final scaled score of 70. Scaled scoring means the raw number of correct answers doesn't map directly to a percentage you can calculate yourself - the reported score is adjusted through PSI's scaling process. For a deeper look at what that 70 actually represents and how scaled scoring works, read GCA-II Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
The exam is open book, but only within PSI's approved-reference rules - you cannot bring arbitrary notes or outside materials, only the specific references PSI authorizes for this exam. A silent, non-programmable calculator is permitted, which matters given how calculation-heavy the System Design domain can get.
Key Takeaway
Because the exam is open book with approved references only, your prep time is better spent learning how to quickly locate formulas and tables than memorizing every number cold. Know your reference material's structure before test day.
The Four Domains Explained
GCA-II content is organized into four domains, and understanding their relative weight helps you allocate study time realistically instead of spreading effort evenly across topics that aren't tested evenly.
Domain 1: Regulations, Laws, and Administrative Functions
Covers the legal and administrative framework contractors operate under in Georgia - licensing law, Board authority, and the compliance obligations that come with holding a Class II license.
- Board rules governing licensed conditioned air contractors
- Administrative and recordkeeping obligations
Domain 2: System Design
System Design is the dominant domain on the GCA-II exam, so it deserves the largest share of your preparation time. This is where Manual J and Manual D load-calculation and duct-design knowledge, along with Manual N and Manual Q principles, get applied directly to scored questions.
- Load calculation methodology (Manual J)
- Duct design and airflow sizing (Manual D)
- Equipment selection above Class I thresholds
Domain 3: Installation
Focuses on the practical execution of installing conditioned air systems correctly and up to code, including sequencing and system integration considerations that come up once design decisions are made.
- Installation sequencing and best practices
- Code-compliant equipment placement and connections
Domain 4: Maintain and Repair System
Tests ongoing service knowledge - diagnosing problems, performing maintenance, and repairing systems already in the field, which is distinct from the design and installation domains above.
- Diagnostic troubleshooting logic
- Preventive maintenance procedures
For a section-by-section breakdown with more granular topic lists, see GCA-II Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 4 Content Areas. If you're trying to gauge realistically how difficult the exam feels once you factor in domain weighting and the open-book format, How Hard Is the GCA-II Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 walks through that in detail.
Who Can Sit for the Exam
Class II eligibility is more demanding than Class I because the license authorizes work on larger systems. Applicants need:
- Five years of qualifying conditioned-air experience, including documented work on systems above the Class I limits (175,000 BTU heating / 60,000 BTU cooling)
- Three references attesting to that experience
- EPA certification
- Board-approved coursework in Manuals J&D and N&Q
None of this is optional paperwork - the Board reviews it before approving you to test with PSI. If you're still building your experience hours or haven't completed the Manual coursework, it's worth mapping out a timeline before you assume you're exam-ready. The full eligibility checklist is covered in GCA-II Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Fees, Approval Window, and Renewal
The initial application fee is $110. Once the Board approves your application to test, that approval is valid for one year - so you have a window to schedule and sit for the PSI exam before needing to reapply. Missing that window means restarting part of the application process, which is a costly mistake to make over simple scheduling delays.
After you pass and hold the Class II license, renewal happens by November 30 of odd-numbered years, and each renewal cycle requires 8 continuing-education hours. This is a two-year cadence tied to specific calendar dates, not a rolling anniversary system, so it's worth marking on a calendar well ahead of time.
For the complete cost picture - application fee, coursework costs, and what ongoing licensure adds up to - see GCA-II Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. If you want to plan around specific testing windows and deadlines, check GCA-II Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Regulating body | GA State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Conditioned Air Contractors |
| Exam administrator | PSI |
| 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 |
| Initial application fee | $110 |
| Approval validity | 1 year |
| Renewal deadline | Nov 30 of odd-numbered years |
| CE requirement per cycle | 8 hours |
Who Actually Uses a GCA-II License
The Class II license is aimed at contractors whose work regularly exceeds Class I's BTU caps - meaning larger residential, light commercial, and commercial conditioned-air installations. Holding this license typically opens doors with mechanical contracting firms, commercial HVAC installers, and design-build outfits that need someone credentialed to sign off on systems above the Class I ceiling.
Employers evaluating candidates for these roles often treat the license as a baseline filter - it signals verified experience, EPA compliance, and completed Manual-based design training, not just years on the job. For a look at how this license tends to translate into job opportunities and pay ranges, see GCA-II Jobs and GCA-II Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis. If you're weighing whether pursuing it is worth the time and cost given your career stage, Is the GCA-II Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 lays out the tradeoffs.
How to Approach Preparation
Because System Design carries the most weight, your study schedule should reflect that rather than treating all four domains as equal blocks of time. A practical way to sequence preparation:
System Design Foundations
- Rework Manual J load calculations until the steps are automatic
- Practice Manual D duct sizing problems using your approved references
Regulations and Administrative Functions
- Review Board rules and licensing law specific to Class II scope
- Study recordkeeping and compliance obligations
Installation and Maintain/Repair
- Work through installation sequencing scenarios
- Drill diagnostic and repair logic for fielded systems
Timed Practice
- Simulate the two 3.5-hour parts under real time pressure
- Practice navigating your approved references quickly, not from memory
This sequencing front-loads the highest-weight domain while leaving enough runway to reinforce the other three before test day. For a more detailed week-by-week study plan built specifically around GCA-II's structure, see GCA-II Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. A condensed one-page reference of must-know facts is also useful for last-minute review - see the GCA-II Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts.
Timed, domain-weighted practice questions modeled on the actual format are one of the most direct ways to close gaps before test day. You can work through realistic scored and unscored-style items on the main practice test platform to build familiarity with pacing across the two 3.5-hour parts.
Key Takeaway
Don't let Domains 1, 3, and 4 get squeezed out by System Design study - they're smaller in weight, but a scaled score of 70 still requires solid performance across all four areas, not just the dominant one.
Frequently Asked Questions
GCA-II refers to the Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor Class II Examination, the state licensing test administered by PSI on behalf of the Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board's Division of Conditioned Air Contractors.
Yes, but only under PSI's approved-reference rules. You can't bring arbitrary study notes - only the specific references PSI has authorized for this exam, along with a silent, non-programmable calculator.
The exam totals 7 hours across two 3.5-hour parts, with 100 scored questions and 20 unscored pretest questions mixed in. You need a final scaled score of 70 to pass.
Applicants need five years of qualifying conditioned-air experience above the Class I limits of 175,000 BTU heating and 60,000 BTU cooling, three references, EPA certification, and completed Board-approved Manuals J&D and N&Q coursework.
Renewal is due by November 30 of odd-numbered years, and each cycle requires 8 continuing-education hours to keep the license active.