DBPR / Pearson VUE Trade Knowledge + Business & Finance Practice

Instant PDF Download — $39.99

Preparing for the Florida Class A Air Conditioning Contractor Exam?

Class A is Florida’s unlimited air-conditioning contractor license.

Unlike Class B, the Class A scope is not capped at 25 tons of cooling or 500,000 BTU of heating per system.

That means the exam goes beyond ordinary residential HVAC and into the commercial and large-system material you need to understand for:

Chillers • Cooling Towers • Hydronics • Commercial Load Calculations • Psychrometrics • VAV Systems • Building Automation • Fan Laws • Pump Calculations • Large Refrigeration Systems

The Florida Class A AC Contractor Exam Prep Bundle 2026 gives you a focused plain-English Trade Knowledge review plus Class A and Business & Finance practice material designed for Florida’s open-book contractor exams.

Florida DBPR • Pearson VUE • Class A Trade • Business & Finance • Commercial HVAC Calculations

The Unlimited Florida HVAC License

A Florida Class A Air Conditioning Contractor may work on central air-conditioning, refrigeration, heating, and ventilating systems without the Class B size restriction.

The guide describes Class A as authorizing work on systems of any size, including the ductwork for the complete system.

By comparison, Class B is limited to:

25 Tons Cooling

and:

500,000 BTU Heating Per System

Class A removes that cap.

That broader license is why the Class A Trade Knowledge exam includes commercial-system topics that Class B candidates do not encounter at the same depth.

Understand the Florida Class A Trade Exam

The uploaded guide describes the Class A Trade Knowledge exam as:

130 Multiple-Choice Questions

7.5 Hours

Open Book

Computer-Based at Pearson VUE

That works out to roughly:

The guide uses approximately 70% as the working passing target while advising candidates to confirm the current cut score in the DBPR candidate bulletin before testing.

A separate Business & Finance exam is also required for the contractor license.

Open Book Does NOT Mean Easy

This is one of the most important themes of the guide.

With:

130 questions

7.5 hours

multiple technical references

and

commercial calculations

you do not have time to search blindly through books for every answer.

The guide recommends:

Tab and Index Before Test Day

Know where answers live.

Use a Two-Pass Strategy

Answer what you know first.

Flag lookup questions.

Return with the remaining time.

Memorize the Formulas

Loads, airflow, water flow, fan laws, and pump power should be solved—not hunted down in a reference manual.

Learn Which Book Answers Which Type of Question

That is the real skill on an open-book contractor exam.

What’s Included for $39.99?

Your digital exam-prep bundle includes:

✓ Florida Class A Air Conditioning Trade Knowledge Study Guide
✓ 2026 Edition
✓ Class A vs. Class B scope review
✓ Open-book exam strategy
✓ Reference-book navigation strategy
✓ Commercial load calculations
✓ Psychrometrics
✓ Sensible & latent heat
✓ Chillers
✓ Cooling towers
✓ Boilers
✓ Chilled-water systems
✓ Condenser-water systems
✓ Hydronics
✓ Pumps
✓ Fan laws
✓ VAV systems
✓ Air-handling units
✓ Economizers
✓ Commercial duct systems
✓ SMACNA concepts
✓ Building Automation Systems — BAS
✓ Direct Digital Controls — DDC
✓ Refrigeration cycle
✓ Superheat & subcooling
✓ A2L refrigerant transition
✓ R-454B & R-32 concepts
✓ EPA Section 608 concepts
✓ Commercial safety
✓ Florida Energy Code / ASHRAE concepts
✓ Indoor air quality
✓ Formula & fact sheet
✓ Class A Trade practice questions
✓ Worked calculation explanations
✓ 2 Business & Finance practice exams
✓ Florida lien-law practice
✓ Accounting & estimating practice
✓ Contractor licensing practice
✓ Complete answer explanations

Which Reference Covers Which Question?

The guide helps candidates think in terms of reference categories.

For example:

Florida Building Code — Mechanical

Use for:

Mechanical Code

Clearances

Permitting

Installation Requirements

SMACNA

Use for:

Duct Gauges

Reinforcement

Hangers

Pressure Classes

ACCA / ASHRAE

Use for:

Commercial Loads

Psychrometrics

Residential Loads

Ventilation

Large-System Concepts

NFPA 96

Use for:

Commercial Kitchen Grease Exhaust

The exact approved titles and editions can change, so the guide tells candidates to verify the current DBPR-approved reference list before buying or tabbing books.

Commercial Load Calculation & Psychrometrics

This is where Class A becomes much more calculation-heavy.

Review:

Block Loads

Room-by-Room Loads

Sensible Heat

Latent Heat

Sensible Heat Ratio

Solar Gain

Envelope Loads

Infiltration

Ventilation

People Loads

Lighting Loads

Equipment Loads

Commercial systems may rely on Manual N / ASHRAE concepts rather than the residential Manual J approach.

Psychrometric Chart Basics

Review how the chart connects:

Dry-Bulb Temperature

Wet-Bulb Temperature

Dew Point

Relative Humidity

Humidity Ratio

Enthalpy

A cooling coil typically moves the air condition:

Down and Left

representing:

Cooling + Dehumidification

This becomes especially important in Florida’s humid climate, where latent load can be a major part of commercial equipment selection.

Chillers — A Major Class A Topic

This is one of the biggest distinctions from Class B-level prep.

Review:

Reciprocating & Scroll Chillers

Generally associated with smaller capacities.

Screw Chillers

Common in medium-size applications.

Centrifugal Chillers

Common in larger tonnage systems.

Absorption Chillers

Use a heat source and refrigerant/absorbent pair rather than a standard mechanical compressor.

The guide uses water/lithium bromide as the example.

Cooling Towers

Review:

Evaporation

Drift

Blowdown

Makeup Water

Range

Approach

Range

Entering water temperature minus leaving water temperature.

Approach

Leaving water temperature minus ambient wet-bulb temperature.

The tower rejects heat primarily by evaporating a small portion of circulating water.

Hydronic Systems

Commercial Class A candidates should be comfortable with chilled- and hot-water systems.

Review:

Two-Pipe Systems

Four-Pipe Systems

Expansion Tanks

Air Separators

Balancing Valves

Pumps

A four-pipe system can provide heating and cooling simultaneously to different building zones because hot and chilled water use separate supply and return circuits.

Building Automation Systems — BAS

Large buildings rely on controls that go well beyond a basic residential thermostat.

Review:

DDC

Sensors

Controllers

Actuators

Setpoints

Equipment Sequencing

Temperature Resets

Economizer Control

Setbacks

The basic control loop:

Commercial Duct Systems

The guide reviews how commercial ductwork differs from typical residential systems.

Topics include:

Pressure Classes

Duct Gauge

Reinforcement

Hanger Spacing

Sealing

Insulation

Static Pressure

Velocity Pressure

Total Pressure

SMACNA tables become especially important because commercial systems frequently operate at higher pressure classes.

Refrigeration Systems

Review the four basic components:

Compressor

Low-pressure vapor → high-pressure vapor

Condenser

Vapor → liquid

Metering Device

Drops pressure

Evaporator

Absorbs heat and changes liquid to vapor

The guide also emphasizes:

Superheat

and

Subcooling

as core diagnostics for charge and system operation.

A2L Refrigerants & the 2026 Transition

The guide incorporates the current refrigerant transition involving:

R-454B

and

R-32

These A2L refrigerants are described as mildly flammable, requiring additional attention to:

Ignition Sources

Ventilation

Proper Tools

Safe Service Practices

The guide also reminds candidates that refrigerant handling requires EPA Section 608 certification.

Dry Nitrogen While Brazing

Another high-yield field practice:

FLOW DRY NITROGEN WHILE BRAZING

Why?

To reduce:

Internal Oxidation

and

Scale Formation

inside refrigerant tubing.

Commercial Safety

Review:

Lockout / Tagout

Fall Protection

Roof Hazards

Rigging

Heavy Equipment Lifting

Confined Spaces

Electrical Hazards

Capacitor Discharge

Refrigerant Safety

The guide also emphasizes:

High-Yield Formula Sheet Included

The bundle gives you a concentrated formula-and-fact section covering:

Cooling Capacity

1 ton = 12,000 BTU/hr

Air Sensible Heat

Q = 1.08 × CFM × ΔT

Air Total Heat

Q = 4.5 × CFM × Δh

Air Latent Heat

Q = 0.68 × CFM × Δgrains

Water Heat

Q = 500 × GPM × ΔT

Chiller Tons

Tons = GPM × ΔT ÷ 24

Chilled Water

≈ 2.4 GPM/ton

Condenser Water

≈ 3 GPM/ton

Comfort Airflow

≈ 400 CFM/ton

Fan Laws

CFM ∝ RPM

SP ∝ RPM²

HP ∝ RPM³

Pump Horsepower

BHP = GPM × Head ÷ (3960 × Efficiency)

Chiller Efficiency

kW/ton — lower is better

Class A Trade Practice Questions

The bundle includes a dedicated Class A Trade Knowledge practice section with:

31 QUESTIONS

covering topics such as:

Class A Scope

Exam Format

Cooling Capacity

Chiller Calculations

Water Flow

Cooling Towers

VAV

Economizers

Fan Laws

Pump Horsepower

Psychrometrics

Hydronics

BAS

Ductwork

Refrigeration

A2L Refrigerants

Brazing

Every question is followed by a plain-English explanation so you can learn the calculation or concept behind the answer.

Business & Finance Is Also Required

Florida Class A candidates also need the separate:

BUSINESS & FINANCE EXAM

The bundle includes Business & Finance practice covering major Florida contractor topics such as:

Chapter 489 — Contractor Licensing

Chapter 713 — Construction Liens

Chapter 440 — Workers’ Compensation

Business Organizations

Contracts

Accounting

Estimating

Markup vs. Margin

Cash Flow

Payroll

Retainage

Bonds

Project Management

Florida Construction Lien Law

The Business & Finance section includes several of the deadlines candidates should know.

Examples reviewed include:

Notice to Owner

Claim of Lien

Lien Foreclosure

Notice of Contest of Lien

The guide also covers:

Notice of Commencement

Privity

Payment Bonds

Serving the Recorded Lien

Lien Priority

Because lien law changes, candidates should confirm current statutes before testing.

Contractor Accounting & Business Math

Review:

The practice section also distinguishes:

Markup

from

Margin

which is a common contractor-exam trap.

Cash Flow Matters

One useful business concept in the bundle:

A contractor can be profitable on paper and still fail from lack of cash.

Why?

Because money may be tied up in:

Receivables

Retainage

Uncollected Progress Payments

while:

Payroll

Suppliers

Taxes

and

Overhead

still have to be paid.

Open-Book Practice Strategy

The Business & Finance exam is also designed as an open-book test.

The bundle recommends taking practice exams:

WITH YOUR REFERENCES OPEN

and:

ON THE CLOCK

The goal is not to memorize every statute.

The goal is to become fast at:

Recognizing the subject

→ Choosing the right reference

→ Finding the applicable section

→ Answering accurately

That is the same skill needed on test day.

Who Is This Florida Class A AC Guide For?

This bundle is designed for:

• Florida Class A AC contractor applicants

• HVAC technicians moving into contractor licensure

• Class B contractors upgrading to Class A

• Commercial HVAC technicians

• Refrigeration technicians

• HVAC company owners

• Qualifying-agent candidates

• Candidates preparing for DBPR contractor exams

• Candidates needing commercial HVAC calculations

• Candidates struggling with psychrometrics

• Candidates needing chiller and hydronic review

• Candidates needing Florida Business & Finance practice

• Candidates who want an affordable exam-prep companion for their official reference books

It is especially useful for experienced HVAC professionals who know the trade but need help turning that experience into Florida open-book exam performance.

FLORIDA CLASS A AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTOR EXAM PREP 2026

✓ Class A Trade Knowledge Study Guide
✓ Unlimited-license scope review
✓ 130-question exam strategy
✓ Reference-book navigation
✓ Commercial load calculations
✓ Psychrometrics
✓ Chillers
✓ Cooling towers
✓ Boilers
✓ Hydronics
✓ VAV systems
✓ Air handling
✓ Fan laws
✓ Pump calculations
✓ Commercial duct systems
✓ BAS / DDC controls
✓ Refrigeration
✓ Superheat & subcooling
✓ A2L refrigerants
✓ Energy management
✓ IAQ
✓ Commercial safety
✓ Formula & fact sheet

PLUS:

31 CLASS A TRADE PRACTICE QUESTIONS

and:

2 BUSINESS & FINANCE PRACTICE EXAMS

60 ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

91 PRACTICE QUESTIONS TOTAL

WITH WORKED CALCULATIONS & FULL EXPLANATIONS

Class A is not simply a longer Class B test.

You need to be ready for the commercial and large-system HVAC content that comes with an unlimited Florida license.

FLORIDA CLASS A AC CONTRACTOR EXAM PREP 2026

DBPR / Pearson VUE Trade + Business & Finance Practice

Chillers • Cooling Towers • Hydronics • Psychrometrics • Fan Laws • BASs

Important Disclaimer

This product is independent educational exam-preparation and study-strategy material. It is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or approved by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), the Construction Industry Licensing Board, Pearson VUE, NFPA, SMACNA, ACCA, ASHRAE, or any other code, testing, or standards organization. It is not a substitute for the official DBPR-approved reference books required for the open-book examination and does not grant a contractor license or certification. Practice questions are independently created and are not actual DBPR or Pearson VUE examination questions. Florida statutes, lien-law deadlines, code editions, approved reference books, exam specifications, testing procedures, and cut scores may change. Candidates should verify the current DBPR/Pearson VUE Candidate Information Bulletin, approved reference list, and applicable Florida statutes before purchasing references or testing.