How To Become an HVAC Technician

Choosing a practical path will guarantee you can always find work if you’re looking for a career with job security. Becoming an HVAC technician empowers you to provide a necessary service for businesses and residential properties.

Most people don’t think about their heating and air conditioning units until they stop working. Then they’re freezing cold or burning up, desperate for a professional to fix their appliance and return their home or office to their ideal comfort level.

When you obtain your HVAC license, you’re learning skills that will serve you well for your entire career.

What Does an HVAC Technician Do?

An HVAC technician services heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units, hence the acronym. As a technician, you’ll understand how to install, repair, and replace anything relating to HVAC units.

HVAC technicians can service residential homes, business offices, and large corporate buildings. They can also work on construction sites, installing units during a new build.

When you train as an HVAC technician, you’ll learn specifically about heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. While many construction workers also have HVAC training, being a technician allows you to take on more specialized jobs.

You can work with contractors and install HVAC units in new builds, or you might prefer to exclusively repair larger commercial units.

With an HVAC education, you can determine your specific career path. While you’ll want to learn everything you can about the industry, you can later specialize in residential repairs or focus solely on air conditioning instead of heat.

Before you pick your specialty, learn what steps you need to take to become an HVAC technician.

How To Become an HVAC Technician

Before starting the journey to become an HVAC technician, make sure you’re a good fit for the work. You need to have an eye for detail since you’ll need to troubleshoot faulty appliances and find the root cause.

You’ll likely work strange hours if you have your own business or work on-call for another company. HVAC units don’t only break during business hours, so you might not have a standard work schedule.

Though you might think you’ll only work with appliances, you’ll also need some customer service skills. You need to assure clients that you can handle the task and explain the necessary repairs or replacements to them in a way they understand. Having strong interpersonal skills will help you grow your HVAC career.

Earn a Diploma

Before getting specialized HVAC training, you need to earn your high school diploma. This basic foundational education teaches you the math and physics necessary to understand and repair HVAC units.

If possible, you should take high school electives like shop, which prepare you to work with your hands. Some high schools even have vocational courses in plumbing or electrical work, which can give you a head start when learning the HVAC foundations.

People who want to become HVAC technicians but don’t have a high school diploma can take a test to earn their GED or Graduate Equivalency Degree.

These subject tests show trade schools and potential employers that you understand all the basic knowledge needed for higher education or a job. You’ll have to pay to take the test, but it’s worth the investment in your future.

Enroll in a Training Program

After you earn your diploma or pass the GED, look for an HVAC training program. Many community colleges offer this coursework as you earn a degree, or you can find appliance schools that issue certificates of completion.

College degrees, even through a community college, will take more time than a dedicated training program. However, you’ll learn general subjects along with HVAC courses, so it might help you in your future career path.

College is also more expensive than training programs, though your state might offer free community college or scholarships for some students.

A typical HVAC program might take six months, while an associate’s degree will take two years, and a bachelor’s degree will take four years.

The prices vary according to the program length, with the dedicated training being the most time- and cost-efficient option. You’ll need to pay tuition upfront, but you’ll earn it back—and then some—with your chosen career path.

The training program should cover all aspects of the HVAC industry, including topics such as:

• Basic electricity and circuits
• Residential units
• Commercial systems
• HVAC controls and calibrations

Whether you decide to focus your education on the HVAC industry or get an associate’s degree in the process, this step will take you one step closer to working in the field.

Complete an Apprenticeship

An apprenticeship offers on-the-job training, so you can put your HVAC education to the test while learning from professionals. Most apprenticeships last anywhere from three to five years and serve as a form of further education after your training program or degree.

An apprenticeship differs from an internship, so you can earn money while you complete this step. You’ll get full-time work experience and make a living while you level up your HVAC skills and prepare to get a job or start your own company.

You can typically get HVAC apprenticeships from contractor associations or trade unions. They know what skills you need to learn on-the-job and will follow all legal guidelines in terms of training and payment.

Your apprenticeship is a great time to learn more about the blueprints you’ll need to understand for the job. You can also work on interpersonal skills by watching other professionals in action and interacting with clients.

Get State Approval

The process of getting state approval will vary according to where you live. Your state might require you to have an HVAC certificate before you can legally work in the field.

If you went through a licensed training program or earned a degree from a community college, you should have the applicable certificate by the end of your education.

If your state requires a certificate or license, you need to get it before you can legally work. All contractors, business owners, and potential customers will want to know that you completed the necessary legal requirements to properly complete the necessary installations and repairs.

Seek Professional Certifications

Even after you think you’ve finished your education, you’ll want to seek other professional certifications and maintain your training. Not every state requires licensing, but these certificates help you stand out in the applicant pool when you’re trying to get an HVAC job.

Many certifications expire, with the typical renewal period of every five years. Even if you have a certification that doesn’t expire, you’ll still want to seek training to stay informed on the latest HVAC trends. As appliances get more energy-efficient, you’ll need to learn how to properly install and maintain the units.

The Environmental Protection Agency requires a certification for refrigerants. Since you’re using these chemicals in many HVAC systems you service, you’ll need to take the test and get your card.

This certification doesn’t expire, so once you pass the test, you’re equipped to handle any type of refrigerant you may encounter in the field.

Due to the job security involved with the HVAC industry, more people are getting an education and becoming technicians. With so many applicants in the pool, these professional certifications can help you stand out from the crowd.

Prioritize your career path and growth by seeking more information about HVAC, ensuring you’re a prized technician for any company.

You can also seek certifications in related fields, such as:

• Commercial furnaces
• Heat pump pool heaters
• Residential boilers
• Unit ventilators

These topics are too specific for standard HVAC training programs but can come in handy once you work in the field. This knowledge can also help you expand your reach as a technician and take on extra work or specialize in a necessary industry.

Apply for Work

You might think that a foundation of education is the hardest part of becoming an HVAC technician, but applying for jobs is work itself.

As previously mentioned, there are plenty of HVAC technicians looking for jobs, so you need to stand out from the crowd. 

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 5% growth over the next few years, so you’ll have plenty of places to apply. In some cases, your apprenticeship might lead you to a job opening.

The connections you make with the union and contractor association during your apprenticeship can give you an idea of possible companies where you might like to work.

Highlight your HVAC education and apprenticeship on your resume before you apply to any jobs. Ensure you also mention your professional certifications and memberships.

This information helps you stand out from other applicants and also gives potential employers an idea of the salary you expect to receive.

Have questions ready to ask potential employers when they interview you. Find out specific information about your work schedule, salary, and specific HVAC focus.

Before accepting the job, ensure it meets your requirements in terms of income and aligns with your educational background.

Possible Career Paths for HVAC Technicians

With your education and experience with an HVAC apprenticeship, you have many possible career paths to take.

You might choose to work for a larger company, taking on jobs as the calls come through. This path might find you on call and driving around your city to visit many residences and buildings for repairs.

If you open your own HVAC business, you might work as a sole proprietor. In that case, you need to ensure you can handle every job you take on.

Without employees working beneath you, the entire company is your responsibility. You should be careful not to overbook yourself and risk damaging your business’s reputation.

You can also choose to run a business where you oversee the HVAC technicians. You can step in for repairs when needed, but otherwise, schedule technicians for calls while you manage the rest of the business. With a background in HVAC experience, you can hold various foreman and shop management roles.

Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve learned how to become an HVAC technician and what career possibilities are open to you with this education. If you need more information, check out the answers to these frequently asked questions.

What is the difference between HVAC and HVACR technicians?

HVAC technicians install, service, repair, and replace the following units:

• Heating
• Ventilation
• Air conditioning

HVACR technicians can work on the appliances above but also have knowledge about refrigeration units.

This distinction lets them work on commercial refrigeration units, which often align with HVAC work due to the energy conservation, careful use of refrigerants, and temperature control required.

What are the most common HVAC technician job responsibilities?

As an HVAC technician, your most common jobs will revolve around installing, repairing, and replacing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units. To reach these goals, you’ll have to understand the equipment and know how to troubleshoot underlying issues, like electrical and mechanical faults in the machines.

What is an HVAC technician’s workplace?

An HVAC technician’s work is almost always on-site at places like residential homes, office buildings, hospitals, schools, or other public buildings. Sometimes they’ll need to work from their company’s warehouse if they’re repairing parts before going out on a job.

When working on-site, a technician might experience extreme temperatures. After all, they’re on the job because there’s no heat or air, so they can get very hot or cold while working. A lot of HVAC equipment is outside, too, so they’ll work in the elements.

Why do all states require a refrigerant certification?

All states require a separate refrigerant certification because of the chemicals involved. The EPA issues a test and certification to ensure HVACR technicians can properly handle and dispose of the dangerous refrigerants in these units.

Final Notes

The steps to becoming an HVAC technician are clear-cut, ensuring you can start this career or change your current path and find work in the field. After general education and a specialized training or degree program, you’ll be able to streamline your focus and have job security within the HVAC industry.