--- title: "HVAC Technician: Training, EPA 608, Pay and How to Start | ShapeMyCareer" description: "What HVAC technicians do, what they earn, how school and apprenticeships compare, what the EPA 608 card is, and whether the job fits you. Free matching." url: https://shapemycareer.com/trades/hvac/ updated: 2026-10-08 site: ShapeMyCareer --- Trade · HVAC # HVAC technician Heating, cooling and refrigeration. Most people start with a 6-month to 2-year program, then learn on the job. The middle pay is about $61,010 a year. School or apprenticeship · Always needed · Hands-on When it's 95 degrees and the air conditioner quits, you find out how much a good technician is worth. HVAC technicians install and fix the systems that heat, cool and ventilate buildings, and the refrigeration in grocery stores and restaurants. Most start with a school program, then spend a long time learning on the job beside experienced techs. - Programs generally last 6 months to 2 years and lead to a certificate or associate's degree. - Nearly all HVAC technicians need an EPA card for handling refrigerant. The test is usually part of a school program. - Schedules can include evenings, weekends and on-call time, and the busy seasons mean overtime. In short To become an HVAC technician, most people finish a school program that lasts 6 months to 2 years, pass the EPA exam on handling refrigerant, then train on the job for a long stretch with experienced technicians. Some learn through an apprenticeship instead. The middle HVAC technician earns about $61,010 a year (BLS, May 2025). [Fill out the form](#hv-form) and we'll match you with HVAC schools near you. **Sources checked October 8, 2026** Pay and job facts from the [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/heating-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-mechanics-and-installers.htm) for HVAC mechanics and installers (pay is the May 2025 median from the BLS OEWS program). EPA details from the [EPA Section 608 page](https://www.epa.gov/section608/section-608-technician-certification). **On this page** 1. [ Quick facts](#hv-facts) 2. [Is this for you?](#hv-fit) 3. [What the work is like](#hv-work) 4. [How to get in](#hv-in) 5. [The EPA 608 card](#hv-epa) 6. [Pay and cost](#hv-pay) 7. [Questions about HVAC](#hv-faq) ## Quick facts Typical pay $61,010 a year, or $29.33 an hour (median, May 2025). Starting pay is lower. How you learn A school program of 6 months to 2 years, then a long period of on-the-job training. Apprenticeships are another route and usually last several years. To start BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award as typical. Some employers hire people with a high school diploma. Required card Nearly all technicians need EPA Section 608 certification for handling refrigerant. License Some states and cities require HVAC technicians to be licensed. Check yours. Jobs and outlook About 425,200 jobs in 2024. BLS projects 8% growth through 2034, much faster than average, with about 40,100 openings a year. Who they work for About 70% work for plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors. About 5% are self-employed. ## Is this for you? ### It could be a fit if… - You like figuring out a system that's broken and explaining it to the person who lives with it. - You're okay being in someone's home. BLS lists customer service, being on time and keeping good records as part of the job. - You can do the math on loads and the electrical work on controls. - Variety appeals to you: one day a furnace, the next a rooftop unit. ### Think twice if… - You don't like attics, crawl spaces or rooftops in the weather. Technicians often work in cramped spaces and extreme temperatures. - You want a predictable schedule. Schedules vary, and techs may be on call or work extra in peak heating and cooling seasons. - You're hoping for low injury risk. BLS says HVAC technicians have one of the higher injury and illness rates of any occupation, from burns, strains and refrigerants. Training and safety gear matter. ## What the work is like Most of the job is installing, maintaining and repairing heating, cooling, ventilation and refrigeration systems. You install parts and wiring, test the system, swap what's worn out, and tell the customer what you found. Some technicians do mostly installs. Others do mostly service calls. Some specialize in commercial refrigeration, like the equipment in grocery stores, hotels and restaurants. Techs who specialize in residential systems may sell service contracts, which means regular visits to inspect a system, replace filters and check refrigerant levels. You usually start the day at one site or get a list of calls and drive between them. ### Want to hear from HVAC schools near you? HVAC is already picked for you. Four more questions and schools that teach it can get in touch. [Find HVAC schools](#hv-form) ## How to get in Path 1 ### School program Technical schools and community colleges offer programs in heating, air conditioning and refrigeration. They generally run 6 months to 2 years and lead to a certificate or an associate's degree. After you're hired, you work next to experienced technicians for a long stretch, starting with simple things like insulating refrigerant lines or cleaning furnaces. 6 months to 2 yearsCertificate or associate'sThen on-the-job training Path 2 ### Apprenticeship Some technicians train through an apprenticeship that usually lasts several years, with paid on-the-job training plus classes in safety, blueprint reading and heating and cooling systems. The United Association's apprenticeships include an HVACR track. [Apprenticeship Finder](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/apprenticeship-job-finder) lists openings. Several yearsPaid on the job Path 3 ### Entry-level job Some employers hire people with a high school diploma and teach them. It's less common than a school program, and you'll still need your EPA card. Ask local contractors what they prefer. Ask employersEPA card still required ## The EPA 608 card **You can't handle refrigerant without it.** The EPA requires technicians who maintain, service, repair or dispose of equipment that could release refrigerant to pass an EPA-approved test. The tests are specific to the type of equipment, and an EPA-approved organization has to give them. The credential doesn't expire. BLS says the exam is typically included in a postsecondary HVACR program, so ask any school you look at whether it is. ## Pay and cost The middle pay is $61,010 a year. It starts lower. Busy seasons bring overtime. Ask any employer what training and certification costs they cover. School tuition varies by program. Use [College Navigator](https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/) to compare schools and ask any school for the total cost in writing, including tools and the EPA test. If you take the apprenticeship road, you're paid while you learn. [More on paying for it.](https://shapemycareer.com/paying-for-it/) Median pay is for HVAC mechanics and installers nationally, May 2025. Your market may pay more or less. [State and metro pay data from BLS.](https://www.bls.gov/oes/) ## Questions about HVAC ### Do I need a license to work in HVAC? Some states and localities require one. The EPA card is a federal requirement for nearly everyone who handles refrigerant. Ask your state licensing board about the rest. ### How long is HVAC school? BLS says programs generally last from 6 months to 2 years. A certificate is on the shorter end and an associate's degree is on the longer end. Ask each school for the total hours and what's included. ### Is HVAC dangerous? It can be. BLS says HVAC technicians have one of the higher injury and illness rates, mainly burns and strains from heavy equipment, and refrigerants are hazardous. Good technicians lift right, wear protective gear and follow procedure every time. ### HVAC or electrician? HVAC leans on school first, then on-the-job training, and it adds refrigerant and customer work. Electricians mostly learn through apprenticeship over four or five years. The middle pay is close: $61,010 for HVAC and $63,190 for electricians. [Electrician page](https://shapemycareer.com/trades/electrician/). ## Keep looking - [Electrician](https://shapemycareer.com/trades/electrician/) - [Plumbing](https://shapemycareer.com/trades/plumbing/) - [Auto and diesel](https://shapemycareer.com/trades/auto-diesel/) - [Paying for training](https://shapemycareer.com/paying-for-it/) - [Getting your GED](https://shapemycareer.com/ged/) - [Schools by city](https://shapemycareer.com/schools/) --- Canonical page: https://shapemycareer.com/trades/hvac/