Learn How to Become an HVAC Technician

If you are seeking information on the best ways to become an HVAC technician, you have arrived at the right place. Understanding all the services HVAC technicians offer and how to complete HVAC training are two important first steps. You must also learn how to compare online, on-campus and hybrid training programs plus research financial aid options to pay for your education.

Becoming an HVAC technician does more than provide you with a job. It is a rewarding career with a solid income and stable, expected growth potential. Continue reading to learn how to become an HVAC technician today.

HVAC Technician Job Description

The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system in a home is integral to the comfort experienced by those living inside. An HVAC system is equal or more important than the refrigeration system in a home. This is especially true in harsher climates or weather-related emergencies. HVAC technicians install, maintain and repair HVAC and refrigeration systems to help ensure everyone in the household experiences a safe, comfortable and pleasant living environment. Acquiring the job involves learning specialized and generalized skills related to HVAC and refrigeration systems. Developing good customer service and business management skills is also part of the training process, both in school and on-the-job.

Different HVAC technicians take on some or all aspects of the position. This means you have a choice when you begin your training. For example, some HVAC techs work on heating and air conditioning systems only and not refrigeration. Full-service HVAC technicians, however, work on all three. Not all HVAC service providers offer installation services as well. For example, some only perform maintenance and repairs. One benefit of this career is the ability to expand your training and add to your service list as you grow your business. This concept is highly beneficial to HVAC technicians-in-training who are looking to enter the workforce as fast as possible but still desire to advance their options as time goes on.

A Few Specifics

When you hold a position as an HVAC technician you might take on additional specific duties. Technicians with more training and experience have the option of becoming supervisors or foreman, both of whom oversee all tasks and duties performed on a job site. If you are an individual contractor working alone you are essentially your own supervisor. A foreman is typically present on larger or commercial jobs sites where HVAC services are required.

Part of your responsibilities as an HVAC technician is to troubleshoot all issues with your customers’ or clients’ systems. Once the issues are assessed an estimate is created, which details the nature of the problems and all expected costs for repairing them. Estimates also include what replacement parts will be required to fix the problems (if any) and the cost for each.

Corporate or larger commercial HVAC companies might provide customer service online or over the phone. Low voltage wiring system installations are sometimes required on certain jobs as well. If you are working on your own, you will need to handle all your own scheduling. If you are working for a larger company, you might need to coordinate your service calls through the applicable customer support and sales departments where you work. Finally, many HVAC service providers offer extended, emergency or holiday hours and even 24/7 services, albeit for additional fees.

Tools and Gear

Starting a career as an HVAC technician requires training to use certain tools and gear. Some tools are commonplace, such as screwdrivers, hammers, tape measures and ladders, etc. Most HVAC technicians also carry common power tools including a cordless drill. Other tools are more specialized, such as a reciprocating saw, tubing cutter and manifold gauge.

Salary and Wages

New HVAC technicians earn an approximate starting salary of $48,000 or more per year. Median pay is $50,590 per year or $24.32 per hour. Wages vary based on experience, specializations, and supervisory status. Annual wages also vary based on the type of service for which you work. For example, a corporate HVAC technician working for a large company in a major city performing jobs on large (and possibly unionized) construction sites might earn more than a private contractor working in a rural area. Regardless of the type of service for which you work, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a thirteen percent growth rate through 2021 and beyond for the HVAC industry overall.

How to Complete HVAC Training

HVAC technician training is available online, on-campus and on-the-job. HVAC tech courses are also available in hybrid platforms, which combine online with on-campus options. Online portions of training utilize live-stream or previously recorded digital simulation courses and computer-based course assignments. Training is also relevant to the state in which you live. For example, each U.S. state sets its own regulations pursuant to the issuance of HVAC licenses. Essentially, the completion of HVAC training includes these following elements:

• Vocational school, certification course or other specialized HVAC-based education.

• Simulated or actual on-the-job experience.

• Passing necessary licensing, certification, and externship tests as applicable.

• Acquiring all necessary gears and tools (unless provided by your employer).

Licensing and Certification

Most U.S. states require HVAC technicians to hold an HVAC certification, degree, or diploma. Adhering to the policies of your state is integral to obtaining a license to practice as a professional. Online, on-campus and hybrid programs are all acceptable means of obtaining approved HVAC training and certifications, however many actual HVAC certification boards also require further actions. Such actions include (but are not limited to) the successful completion of certification and licensing examinations and the demonstration of safety protocol knowledge and overall competency. HVAC technicians working on refrigeration systems must also obtain an (Environmental Protection Agency) EPA Section 608 Certification to begin practicing professionally. Additionally, all HVAC certification board testing must be administered only at approved testing sites.

Externship

Externships involve prospective HVAC technicians participating in training and testing on specified campuses. Not all HVAC programs require externships, but some do. Some programs which do require externships also allow for more flexibility. In such programs students might be permitted to participate in externships at campuses local to them as opposed to those on a more limited, approved-only list.

Time to Complete

Many online HVAC programs allow students to learn at their own pace. Flexible scheduling is beneficial to prospective HVAC techs for a multitude of reasons. On average, however, normal HVAC training programs take between four months and two years to complete.

Online HVAC Programs Perfect for You

Free online HVAC training does exist. Free EPA Section 608 Certification practice tests are also available online. In order to obtain your license and board certifications, however, you must train through approved, paid programs. Fortunately, financial aid (discussed below) is available to mitigate HVAC education-based expenses. A few of the best online HVAC training programs available today include:

• Ashworth College.

• Ivy Tech Community College.

• Penn Foster College

• Fieldpiece University.

Financial Aid Options

Complete the Free Application for Federal School Aid (FAFSA) form to apply for a federal Pell Grant or other government-sponsored financial aid for HVAC training. Various student loans are available to qualified candidates through William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan and Sallie Mae Career Training Smart Option Loan programs. Scholarships are also funded by The Home Depot, the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and more.