HVAC Technician Training: Everything You Need to Know

If you’re looking into a career as an HVAC technician, you’ve come to the right place. HVAC technicians are responsible for maintaining heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. In addition to offering a good yearly wage, you can also start earning as an HVAC technician six months after starting your studies. This means you can start working four times faster than someone studying for a bachelor’s degree, and you’ll have less student debt.

What is an HVAC Technician?

HVAC technicians maintain and repair commercial and residential properties’ heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. An HVAC technician will also install these systems and explain them to property owners in a way they can understand. HVAC technicians may also have to dispose of fluids and gasses in accordance with government regulations.

How to Become an HVAC Technician

Highschool degree

Before becoming an HVAC technician, you’ll need to complete a high school degree. It helps if you have completed physics, math, and vocational education coursework. Recommended optional education includes high school shop courses in plumbing or electronics. If you haven’t completed a high school degree, you can gain a GED in many states for under $150.

HVAC Training Program

Once you have your high school degree or GED, it’s time to start an HVAC training program. Initial training programs will award an HVAC certificate or college degree. At NTI Training, we offer two to four-month HVAC technician training courses that are flexible to suit your needs. They’re also affordable and are easy to manage courses.

Some course information may include work on residential systems and HVAC controls like voltage, air quality, resistance, and tools. These courses are essential to building your knowledge of HVAC systems and are an ideal starting point if you wish to further your education later.

HVAC Apprenticeship and Experience

Apprenticeships offer the perfect opportunity for on-the-job learning. Most HVAC technician employers prefer their employees to have postsecondary education and up to five years of experience as an apprentice. Apprenticeships can be found with unions or contractor associations and can be a great stepping stone to your first HVAC technician position.

Taking on an apprenticeship puts you in a privileged position within the industry to network and find potential future employment opportunities. 

Licenses and Certifications

It’s important that you check your state’s regulations on licenses and certifications when becoming an HVAC technician. You’ll need to carry a license along with the certificate gained through your study. 

Continue Your Education

You can increase your earning potential by studying further. You may want to specialize in a specific area or complete a bachelor’s degree. Some other certified programs include the study of unit ventilators, residential boilers, heat pump pool heaters, and commercial furnaces. 

The more specific your studies and qualifications, the more opportunities you’ll find. You’ll become more attractive to potential employers, and fewer people will apply for the same position. Some programs offered for further study will look at control theory, energy audit, hydronic system design, and commercial HVAC system design.

Earning Potential

The earning potential for an HVAC technician can vary depending on your qualifications and experience. An HVAC technician can earn between $39,000 and $64,000 a year, but the average salary is $53,410. 

When getting an HVAC technician certificate costs between $3000 and $20,000, it’s easy to see how the qualification pays for itself. Paying to become an HVAC technician is an investment in your future rather than a purchase.

What Do I Need to Become an HVAC Technician?

Becoming an HVAC technician isn’t for everyone, so it’s essential to think about whether you’re suited to the career before getting started. You’ll need to be willing to commit to the length of your study and understand how heating and air conditioning systems work.

As an HVAC technician, you’ll be a natural problem solver and be able to keep a cool head when needed. You’ll be interacting with customers on the job, so being a people person will come in handy. Learning people skills and customer service skills will help.

You should also be able to take in information and relay it to a layman’s audience. What you learn as an HVAC technician will not be common knowledge to the average customer, so you’ll need patience.

You should be able to use your tools and equipment well at all times, so it’s vital that you have sufficient training with them. You may be expected to use computer equipment while repairing systems, so a basic knowledge of using computer technology will serve you well.

Get Started Today

Why wait if becoming an HVAC technician sounds like something you’re interested in? You could get started with your new career today. At NTI Training, your toolkit, books, and course are all included in the cost of tuition. Our courses are fully flexible, so you can choose a weekday or weekend schedule, morning or evening study, and even study online and attend the HVAC/R labs one day a week.

We offer basic HVAC/R training and three additional advanced courses to suit you. So, if you’re already working or have an apprenticeship, you can continue studying at your convenience. Our dedicated instructors have decades of experience to share with you.

Why not look at our courses and contact us for more information? You can apply for our courses online or schedule an appointment to visit the school by calling us at (702) 935-2193. Our admissions team’ll then contact you to take you through the rest of the process.