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We all want to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. When our furnaces or air conditioners break, we rely on a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) mechanic, installer, or technician to fix them. There’s a lot to learn if you want a job in this essential workforce, and training is available throughout The First State.
The growing demand for HVAC professionals in Delaware, including HVAC apprentices, HVAC and HVACR technicians, HVAC installers, and licensed HVAC contractors who own their own businesses, means you can feel confident that the time you put into training will pay off.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s job search website, CareerOneStop, projects an 11% growth rate for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in Delaware, and a 5% growth rate nationwide, over the next decade.
There’s definitely evidence to support this on job boards. For instance, there are hundreds of HVAC jobs in Delaware posted on Indeed and ZipRecruiter.
In this complete guide, we’ve put together everything you need to know to get started on your career path as an HVAC professional in the State of Delaware.
Delaware HVAC Training Programs
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “Many HVAC/R technicians receive post-secondary instruction from technical and trade schools or community colleges that offer programs in heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration. These programs generally last from 6 months to 2 years and lead to a certificate or an associate’s degree.”
The BLS says new HVAC techs work alongside experienced technicians, though some gain experience from an apprenticeship program, which lasts between three and five years. Apprenticeship programs include learning about safety practices, blueprint reading, how to use tools and gaining knowledge about the various systems used to heat and cool buildings.
It’s also important to note that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under section 608 of the Clean Air Act, requires any technician who maintains, services, repairs, or disposes of equipment that could release refrigerants into the atmosphere to earn a Section 608 technician certification. HVAC apprentices don’t need to hold an EPA 608 refrigerant certification as long as “they are closely and continually supervised by a certified technician,” according to the EPA.
Generally, HVAC license requirements vary from state to state and in some cases from locality to locality. In Delaware, licensing is uniform statewide. You must possess a master HVACR license or train under the direct supervision of someone who holds a license to legally perform any HVACR services in the state.
The Delaware Division of Professional Regulation’s Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners regulates this industry and issues master HVACR licenses. HVAC apprentices must register with the State of Delaware Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship and enroll in an approved training program. HVAC journeymen must obtain a journeyman certificate of completion from a qualified apprentice program, and at least two years of work under the direct supervision of a master HVACR licensee.
Most people entering the HVAC industry in Delaware learn on the job as an apprentice or by working for an HVAC contractor and taking classes at a trade school or community college.
Delaware offers HVAC programs at several institutions. Although an HVAC degree is not required to operate in the state, many choose to pursue education before or during their required apprenticeship. Here are some top Delaware school districts with adult educational centers offering HVAC programs:
Delaware Skills Center, New Castle
New Castle County Vocational Technical (Vo-Tech), Wilmington
Polytech Adult Education, Woodside
Dawn Career Institute, Newark
Delaware Technical Community College (DTCC), Dover
Sussex Tech Adult Education Division, Georgetown
Union Apprenticeships
United Association Union of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders, & Service Techs
Delaware Department of Labor Division of Employment and Training
Ask your employer to act as your apprentice sponsor. Your employer must agree to register you with Delaware’s apprenticeship program, which meets the U.S. Department of Labor standards that are recognized nationwide, so your credentials move with you. You will be required to attend classes at night or on weekends to get the requisite theoretical training, but you’ll be getting your academic instruction in tandem with your practical experience, and you probably won’t be paying for it. In fact, the State of Delaware pays the tuition at Vo-Tech schools for apprentices whose Delaware companies have registered them with the Delaware Department of Labor.
HVAC Degrees & Certificates
As you weigh the benefits of formal training at a technical or community college or online, you may want to speak with people in the field in the state where you plan to work. The licensing requirements for HVAC professionals vary from state to state, and some require a minimum amount of work experience and education through an apprenticeship, as in Delaware.
Because of the complexity of today’s HVAC systems, many employers prefer to hire people who have completed both technical school courses and on-the-job training, as well as those who have field experience. In some cases, formal education pays off in the form of higher wages.
There’s typically a range of certificate and degree programs, as well as apprenticeships that combine classroom learning with hands-on experience. Some HVAC contractors may allow you to train with them while also attending a college program at night or on the weekend. If you choose to start at a trade school, the time it takes to complete each kind of program and the cost of each are the most significant differences. The most common programs are:
Certificate Program – three to six months
Associate’s Degree – two years
Bachelor’s Degree – four years
Obviously, the longer the program, the more it costs. If you seek a degree in mechanical engineering technology, you’ll need a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree. If you want to be a mechanical engineer, you’ll need a four-year Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering. If these paths interest you, you may want to explore other schools in Delaware like:
Delaware Technical Community College, Stanton
University of Delaware, Newark
In many cases, but not always, formal education pays off in the form of higher wages. If you seek to become an HVAC journeyman or master HVAC contractor, a degree isn’t necessary.
Typical Courses in Technical College Programs
HVAC programs at technical colleges are intended to prepare students for careers in commercial, industrial, or residential HVAC applications. Most technical school graduates leave prepared to accept entry-level positions as an HVAC technician.
HVAC technicians must be knowledgeable in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems and be prepared to diagnose, troubleshoot and repair cooling and heating systems including heat pumps, commercial refrigerators, gas heaters, air conditioners, and more.
To help guarantee future employment, you might consider attending an accredited program through an agency, such as the Partnership for Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation (PAHRA) or HVAC Excellence.
Typical HVAC courses teach fundamentals including:
Safety
Computer concepts (diagnosing and repairing complex systems)
Heat pumps
Commercial HVAC and refrigerators
Basic electricity for HVAC
Basic refrigeration
Gas heating
Air conditioners
HVAC customer soft skills and job-seeking skills
Refrigeration applications
Residential HVAC applications
Troubleshooting ventilation systems
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School Selection Criteria
There are a lot of things to consider when picking the right school and program.
Cost
Cost is, of course, at the top of the list. According to Community College Review, tuition at Delaware community colleges is approximately $3,530 per year for in-state students and $8,282 for out-of-state students.
However, some of the educational programs may be part of apprenticeship programs, and tuition may be reimbursed by or paid for outright by the student’s employer or union. There will be some variations in fees at each school, too, so be sure to review all of the costs involved.
You will also incur costs for books and tools, but those tools are yours to keep as you enter your chosen occupational field. All students who are interested in receiving financial aid or federal (Pell Grant) and state grants apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form online.
Program Length
In Delaware, HVACR apprenticeships last four or five years, and consist of classroom instruction and on-the-job training. Delaware requires apprentices to receive 8,000 hours of work experience and on-the-job training, and 144 hours of related classroom instruction every year of the apprenticeship.
Level of Difficulty
HVAC training programs are designed to prepare graduates for entry-level positions in commercial, industrial, or residential sectors as HVAC installers or technicians. HVAC technicians have to learn to do a lot of different things to be successful, including how to follow blueprints or other design specifications to install or repair HVAC systems, connect systems to fuel and water supply lines and air ducts, install electrical wiring and controls, proper techniques of refrigerant recovery, reclaiming and recycling, run diagnostics, and so much more.
School Comparison: At a Glance
The Delaware adult education centers listed below offer HVAC programs to train students for a career in the HVAC industry. Let’s take a look at the different schools:
Delaware Skills Center, New Castle
Offers a 12-week HVAC Energy Technician course with daytime classroom instruction, 420 hours. Covers the introduction, understanding, and principles of residential heating and air-conditioning systems.
New Castle County Vocational Technical (Vo-Tech), Wilmington
Offers a Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning apprenticeship program with evening classroom instruction. Instruction consists of the National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) curriculum.
Polytech Adult Education, Woodside
Offers a four-year HVAC Trades apprenticeship program with evening classroom instruction, 632 hours.
Dawn Career Institute, Newark
Offers a 36-week HVAC Technician course with daytime classroom instruction. HVAC Technicians work on heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
Delaware Technical Community College (DTCC), Dover
Offers a Refrigeration Heating AC Associate Degree, 66 credits.
Sussex Tech Adult Education Division, Georgetown
Offers a four-year HVAC-R Apprenticeship program. Coursework includes competency in HVAC and refrigeration theory, practices, and the latest industry technology.
Steps for Enrollment in Delaware
Every college has its own way of doing things, but in general the process begins with you visiting the school’s website and applying for admission online. Some require that you pay an application fee and provide several documents. In general, the application process has the following steps:
Complete your application.
Pay the application fee (if applicable).
Provide proof of residency to qualify for in-state tuition.
Have sealed official high school transcript or GED scores sent.
Submit placement test scores.
If applicable, apply for on-campus housing.
If you choose to start with an apprenticeship, you will want to contact the Local Union or non-union trade organization chapter closest to you. Each organization has a slightly different application process, but the application requirements in general are:
Must be at least 18 years of age.
Must be a high school graduate, senior scheduled to graduate or have earned a GED certificate. Applicants will be required to provide a copy of their diploma or GED certificate, and an official transcript of their grades following submission of the application.
Must have a valid driver’s license.
Have passed high school algebra or an equivalent post-high school algebra class with a “C” or better or pass an aptitude test.
Pass a drug screen and criminal background checks.
HVAC Career Requirements in Delaware
To legally perform any HVACR services in the State of Delaware, you must possess a Delaware Master HVACR license or train under the direct supervision of someone who holds a license.
The state of Delaware licenses HVAC professionals through the Division of Professional Regulation, and the Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners.
HVAC apprentices must register with the State of Delaware Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship and enroll in an approved training program.
An HVAC journeyman must obtain a journeyman certificate of completion from an apprentice program that combines four years of hands-on training with at least 144 hours of education for each of those years, and at least two years of work under the direct supervision of a master HVACR licensee. The only other option is to work for seven years under the supervision of a master HVACR licensee and pass the Apprentice Bypass Exam.
To obtain master-level licensure, you must be certified as a journeyman and pass the appropriate master HVACR exam.
HVACR contractors must hold a master-level license and also be licensed as a contractor through the Delaware Division of Revenue.
For a detailed explanation of Delaware’s HVACR licensing requirements and how to fulfill them, check out our essential guide to getting your Delaware HVAC License.
HVAC professionals anywhere in the country, including Delaware, must obtain an EPA HVAC certification if they conduct refrigerant line-pressure tests, or handle or add refrigerant to existing air conditioning systems, according to EPA regulations under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act. EPA certification is often part of HVAC degree programs. If you choose a shorter certificate program, you may need to get EPA certification on your own. Your employer should be able to guide you to resources, or you can find them in our Delaware HVAC License guide.
Salaries for HVAC Technicians in Delaware
Before paying for technical education or completing a lengthy apprenticeship to become an HVAC technician or licensed contractor, you’ll want some idea of the potential return on your investment of time, effort, energy, and money. In other words, what can you expect to make as an HVAC professional in Delaware? Payscale.com data provides an answer based on your experience. The median HVAC technician salary in Delaware for 2023 is:
Entry level <2 years: $50,700
Intermediate 2-4 years: $58,000
Senior 4-6 years: $66,400
Supervisor > 7 years: $86,200
For more information about hvac salaries, visit this state-by-state guide.
Industry Apprenticeships
In Delaware, HVAC apprenticeships last four to five years, and combine hands-on training with classroom instruction. To meet U.S. Department of Labor standards, you must accumulate 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 576 hours of classroom instruction over four years. Most also require you to be at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or a GED, and a valid driver’s license.
To become eligible for a journeyperson certificate through the Delaware Department of Labor, or obtain a master HVACR license with the Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners, applicants must complete an apprenticeship consisting of 8,000 hours of work experience and on-the-job training and 144 hours of related classroom instruction every year of the apprenticeship.
HVAC union apprenticeships serving areas in Delaware include:
Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 74
Offers a five-year HVAC apprenticeship program.
United Association Union of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders, & Service Techs
Offers a five-year HVAC apprenticeship program.
Delaware Department of Labor Division of Employment and Training
Offers a four-year HVAC apprenticeship program.
Other Delaware plumbing apprenticeship resources include:
Search for a current list of HVAC industry apprenticeships in Delaware.
Other School Options
In addition to HVAC training opportunities in Delaware, there are several schools in neighboring Pennsylvania and Maryland offering HVAC courses, including:
PPATEC Pennsylvania HVAC & Energy Training, Middletown, Pa.
Delaware County Community College, Media, Pa.
North American Trade Schools, Baltimore, Md.
You can find the training you need to excel in a career as an HVAC technician in Delaware. The opportunities are all around you.
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