How to Become an HVAC Technician: Certification, Licensing & Pay
HVAC technicians install, maintain, and repair the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems that keep buildings comfortable and food and medicine properly stored. Unlike electricians and plumbers, most HVAC technicians train through a postsecondary program rather than a multi-year apprenticeship, though apprenticeships exist too.
Apprenticeship Path
Most HVAC technicians complete a certificate or associate degree program at a trade school or community college — typically 6 months to 2 years — covering refrigeration cycles, electrical systems, and safety. Some technicians instead train through a multi-year apprenticeship that combines paid on-the-job work with technical instruction, similar to the electrician and plumber path.
Certification & Licensing
Nearly every HVAC technician needs EPA Section 608 certification to legally handle refrigerants. This is a federal requirement under the Clean Air Act, not a state one, and it’s usually built into a postsecondary HVACR program’s coursework and exam. On top of that, some states and localities require their own HVAC contractor or technician license.
EPA Section 608 Technician Certification Requirements
State and local licensing requirements vary — verify what your state requires with its contractor or HVAC licensing board before you rely on it.
HVAC Technician Pay
The median HVAC technician in the US earned $59,810 per year as of May 2024 — the middle 80% earned between $39,130 and $91,020.
Pay varies a lot by location. See the highest-paying states and highest-paying cities for HVAC technicians, both ranked from BLS OEWS data.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (SOC 49-9021), May 2024.
Job Outlook
The BLS projects employment of HVAC technicians to grow 8% from 2024–34, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 40,100 openings projected each year on average (most from workers transferring to other occupations or retiring, not net-new growth alone).
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, 2024–34 projections.