Your Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming an HVAC Technician

If you have a knack for working with your hands and problem-solving and want a service-focused profession, then becoming an HVAC/R technician may be the right path for you.

Whether you’re a recent high school graduate or looking to switch up your career trajectory, working in the HVAC field requires a robust set of mechanical, problem-solving, and communication skills and provides a stable employment outlook.

Ready to learn more? Keep reading to discover how you can break into this growing industry.

What Does an HVAC/R Technician Do?

An HVAC/R technician—heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration—is a skilled professional with a broad range of expertise that includes installing, maintaining, repairing, and replacing heating, cooling, ventilation, and refrigeration systems.

HVAC/R specialists also use their mechanical expertise to:

Maintain air conditioning equipment, oil and gas burners, heat pumps, ventilation equipment, and commercial refrigeration systems.
Perform routine maintenance like cleaning ducts, replacing filters, and checking refrigerant levels.
Read and interpret blueprints and system specifications.
Test electrical circuits and components.
Ensure systems comply with energy efficiency standards and building codes.

Along with these job responsibilities, HVAC/R techs work closely with their clients, navigating customer service issues, explaining technical problems, and delivering high-quality service to ensure customer satisfaction.

5 Steps to Become an HVAC Technician

Charting out your course for an HVAC career? Discover the five essential steps you can take to kick-start your future.

1: Earn Your Diploma

In order to receive acceptance into a post-secondary HVAC/R training program, you must earn your high school diploma or pass the General Educational Development (GED) test. Having this foundational knowledge in core subjects like English, math, and science helps ensure you have the capabilities to excel both in the academic program and your career field. Additionally, if you plan to work in a state that requires an HVAC/R license, a high school diploma or GED is often included within the requirements.

2: Enroll in an HVAC Technician Program

After completing your secondary education, your next step is to find an HVAC training program that not only suits your scheduling requirements and budget but also provides the essential hands-on learning necessary to reach your goals. Many local community colleges offer HVAC/R programs that deliver high-quality career training and skill development, leading to an associate degree, certificate, or specialized diploma.

We recommend choosing an HVAC program that prioritizes experiential learning so you can practice replacing electrical components on an air conditioning unit, cleaning ducts, and performing other job-related tasks. It’s also important to look for a program that has strong industry connections, which can help you secure an internship or apprenticeship, build your professional network, and find employment after you graduate.

If you decide to earn an associate degree, you can complete your education in about two years of full-time study. Northampton Community College’s HVAC/R training program could be a good choice for you. This two-year degree program delivers hands-on learning and technical knowledge to equip you as an up-and-coming HVAC technician. Plus, if you’re already working and need more flexibility, you can complete NCC’s associate degree program as a part-time student (the length of the program will vary depending on how many classes you take each semester).

3: Build Your Skills Through an Apprenticeship

During your time in your program, you’ll have opportunities to gain first-hand experience in the field. After graduation, you can pursue an apprenticeship, which allows you to work closely with a veteran HVAC professional. Not only will you refine your mechanical skills in an apprenticeship, but you’ll also learn the nuances of the job, such as explaining complicated concepts to clients, conducting yourself professionally when working in residential or commercial environments and developing administrative competencies like maintaining accurate records.

You can find an apprenticeship by:

Inquiring with a local HVAC company
Connecting with your professors
Searching local job listings
Researching government-sponsored apprenticeship program

4: Secure the Necessary Certifications and Licensures

HVAC licensure requirements vary from state to state, so an integral part of your career planning depends on determining your state of employment and researching the licenses or certificates you’ll need.

In Pennsylvania, there is no state-mandated HVAC certification or licensure requirement; however, many HVAC professionals choose to obtain certifications to promote the quality of their work and to fulfill specific job duties. For instance, many techs earn the EPA Section 608 Certification, which is required to handle refrigerants safely. To boost your employability, you can also obtain these optional certifications:

5: Continue Growing Your Professional Competencies

As an HVAC tech, your learning continues throughout your career. As heating, cooling, ventilation, and refrigeration change and improve, part of your job responsibilities is to stay up-to-date with emerging technologies so you can service a broad range of units and systems. From taking continuing education courses to getting involved with local unions or national organizations, you can tap into professional and career development resources that help you excel in an ever-changing industry.

How Much Do HVAC Technicians Make?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), HVAC technicians, mechanics, and installers make an annual median salary of $57,300; however, this average income can range up to $84,250 depending on level of experience, state of employment, industry sector, and numerous other factors. In Pennsylvania, the average salary for trained HVAC/R technicians is $58,920, slightly above the national standard.

Benefits of Working in HVAC

Steady Employment: The BLS projects that the employment rates of HVAC technicians will increase by 9% through 2033, translating to 42,500 job openings each year. With this steady increase in hiring rates, those pursuing their HVAC training and education can confidently enter the workforce, knowing they’ll have an opportunity to secure a career and earn a stable income.
Shorter Training Period: For those interested in pursuing higher education or career training but don’t want to commit four years to a traditional degree program, enrolling in an HVAC associate degree program allows you to complete your education in two years of full-time study. With a shorter degree completion time, you can enter the workforce sooner and start building your career. Colleges like NCC also offer short-term programs leading to certificates or specialized diplomas, allowing you to develop the skills you need to enter the workforce even faster.
Strengthen Your Critical Thinking: HVAC/R technicians depend upon their robust critical thinking skills in all aspects of their work. Whether diagnosing a mechanical issue with an air conditioning unit or resolving a customer service issue, they rely upon their ability to solve problems quickly and communicate effectively.
Build a Broad Range of Technical Knowledge: From reading blueprints to installing electrical components and wiring to making performance-improving recommendations, HVAC/R technicians call upon their wealth of knowledge to get the job done. Their technical expertise continues to grow as they spend more time working in the field, repairing and maintaining all types of equipment and units.

Kick-Start Your HVAC/R Training at NCC

Ready to begin your career as an HVAC technician? Enroll at Northampton Community College (NCC), one of Pennsylvania’s most affordable colleges, and embark on a career-focused academic journey. Our Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVAC/R) programs combine flexible part-time and full-time formats with hands-on training so you can build your technical expertise while accommodating your life commitments.

Whether you plan to enter the workforce directly after graduation or pursue a bachelor’s degree at a traditional four-year institution, you can earn an associate in applied science degree, certificate, or specialized diploma in HVAC/R Technology to help reach your long-term career goals. NCC’s credentials are stackable, meaning if you start with the specialized diploma program, for example, and later decide you want to pursue the full associate degree, all of your diploma credits will count toward that degree.

Prepare for a thriving career and refine your mechanical skill set in one of NCC’s HVAC/R programs. Take the next step toward becoming a Spartan. Learn more about applying to Northampton today!

How to Become an HVAC/R Technician | Northampton Community College