ARCtick Licence
ARCtick Refrigerant Handling Licence
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ExploreAbout this exam
The ARCtick Refrigerant Handling Licence (RHL) is a credential administered through the ARC Industry Site for people who handle regulated refrigerants. The site's navigation groups the scheme into four areas: the Refrigerant Handling Licence itself, the Refrigerant Trading Authorisation (RTA), Refrigerant Industry Training, and Information. For the RHL, the published menu covers renewing a licence, starting a new RHL application, updating details, getting a replacement licence card, cancelling an RHL, licence types, trainee licences, refrigerant recovery, codes of practice, licence application fees, forms, and a Field Education and Engagement Program. The RTA side covers renewals, new applications, permit condition checks (audits), business reporting templates, conditions of authorisation, and industry segments. Training material includes finding a provider, licence types and qualifications, training FAQs, fact sheets, training quality, and RTO information packs for stationary and automotive work. Information resources include checking licence status, reporting breaches, why licensing exists, the ARC Smart Card, the CoolChange newsletter, legislation and regulation, prohibited charging, and refrigerant-specific guidance such as R32 and emerging automotive refrigerants. Candidates should prepare using the codes of practice, fact sheets, and training FAQs that the site publishes, and should confirm current fees, forms, and licence types directly with the ARC, because the landing page retrieved for this profile returned a 404 error and many specifics are not stated here. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the ARC.
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About ARCtick Licence preparation
What is the difference between an RHL and an RTA?
The ARC site treats them as separate scheme areas. The Refrigerant Handling Licence covers individuals who handle refrigerant, while the Refrigerant Trading Authorisation covers businesses, with its own renewal, application, audit, reporting, and conditions pages. The site also publishes a page specifically explaining the difference between the two.
Which licence types exist, and do trainees get a licence?
The source lists a Licence Types page under the RHL menu and a separate Trainee Licences page, plus a fact sheet titled 'Trainee Refrigerant Handling Licences - What you need to know'. The source does not name individual licence categories, so check the Licence Types page directly rather than relying on memory.
How do I apply for or renew an RHL?
The RHL menu provides 'Start A New RHL Application' and 'Apply To Renew Your Licence' as separate paths, with a Forms page and a Licence Application Fees page alongside them. Use the path matching your situation, and confirm the current fee on the fees page before submitting, since no fee amount is stated in the retrieved source.
What if my licence has expired?
The training FAQs include an entry titled 'If my licence has expired, what do I need to do to get a new licence?', which is the authoritative place to check. The source does not state a grace period or reinstatement rule, so do not assume one; read that FAQ and contact the ARC if your circumstances are unusual.
How long does an application take to process?
The training FAQs include a question on how long a Refrigerant Handling Licence application takes to be processed, but the retrieved source does not give a processing time. Treat any specific number you hear as unverified and check that FAQ page for the current answer.
What training do I need before applying?
The Training area lists 'Find a training provider', 'Licence Types and Qualifications', Training FAQs, and fact sheets including how to obtain a Restricted Heat Pump (Split System) licence and an Automotive Air Conditioning licence. Those pages map each licence type to its qualification, so start there to identify the course you need.
What study material does the ARC publish for technicians?
The RTO information packs cover the Refrigerant Handling Code of Practice for Stationary RAC Equipment 2025, an R32 Education Booklet, guidance on contaminated or unusable refrigerant, alternative refrigerants, penalties under the Act and Regulations, and the rule against topping up systems. Automotive packs cover the 2008 automotive code and R1234yf, R744 (CO2), and R134a.
How can I check whether someone is licensed or authorised?
The Information menu links to 'Find Authorised businesses and check licence status', and the breach-reporting section has a page on how to check if someone is licensed. Both are public lookup routes, so you can verify a business or individual before engaging them rather than taking a claim at face value.
Where do I report someone handling refrigerant without a licence?
The Information menu has a 'Report a breach relating to regulated refrigerants' section, with sub-pages on which refrigerants are regulated, what RAC equipment is, what work requires a licence, and how to check licensing. Start with those pages so your report covers the right equipment and work type.
Are the licence rules changing, and where are updates published?
The site keeps a 'Changes to the licence scheme in 2018' section and FAQ group, and publishes the CoolChange newsletter with issues archived through October 2026. Because scheme details change, verify fees, forms, and licence types on the ARC site before applying rather than relying on older study notes.