Download the Guide!
If you’re considering a career in the HVAC industry, you’ll be glad to know HVAC technicians are in high demand. Many HVAC training programs exist in Louisiana to teach people the skills they need to enter the HVAC field.
A growing demand for HVAC technicians in the Pelican State means there’s a wide selection of choices for your career, from HVAC technicians to lead HVAC system installers.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s job search website, CareerOneStop, projects a 11% growth rate in Louisiana for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers as compared with 6% nationwide over the next decade.
There’s definitely evidence to support this on job boards. For instance, there are hundreds of HVAC technician jobs in Louisiana posted on Indeed and ZipRecruiter.
In this complete guide, we’ve put together everything you need to know about HVAC education programs to get started as an HVAC technician in Louisiana.
Louisiana HVAC Training Programs
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “Many HVACR technicians receive postsecondary 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. High school students interested in becoming an HVACR technician should take courses in vocational education, math, and physics. Knowledge of plumbing or electrical work and a basic understanding of electronics is also helpful.”
The BLS also states some technicians receive their training through an apprenticeship program, which typically lasts three to five years. The Home Builders Institute offers a pre-apprenticeship certificate training (PACT) program for eight construction trades, including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.
Louisiana doesn’t license HVAC technicians at the state level. However, to legally perform HVACR work valuing more than $10,000 in labor and materials, you must be a licensed mechanical contractor or work under a state-licensed mechanical contractor.
Commercial Mechanical Contractor licenses are issued through the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC). That same board also licenses electricians, plumbers, and many other specialties.
Additionally, Louisiana offers sub-classifications of the Commercial Mechanical Contractor license, including for Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation, Duct Work, and Refrigeration.
Most people entering the HVAC industry in Louisiana learn on the job as an apprentice or by working for an HVAC contractor through an employer-sponsored training program and taking classes at local trade school or community college.
Louisiana is home to several trade schools offering HVACR programs, including:
ITI Technical College in Baton Rouge
Fletcher Technical Community College in Schriever
South Louisiana Community College in Lafayette
Northshore Technical Community College - Sullivan campus in Bogalusa
Delgado Community College in New Orleans
Central Louisiana Technical Community College in Alexandria
Blue Cliff College in Alexandria, Lafayette, Gulfport, and Metairie
Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College in Mansfield, Minden, and Shreveport
South Louisiana Community College in Morgan City and New Iberia
Several of the community colleges listed above, including ITI Technical College and Delgado Community College, are HVAC Excellence-accredited programs. This is a nationally recognized accreditation.
Louisiana Apprenticeships
Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association in Baton Rouge
Apprenticeship Louisiana - Statewide
UA Local 198 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Service Technicians in Baton Rouge
Plumbers & Steamfitters Local Union 60 in New Orleans
The #1 newsletter for the trades.
HVAC Degrees & Certificates
As you weigh the benefits of formal training at a trade school or technical college, you may want to speak with people in the field in the state where you intend to work to find out average salary and work requirements.
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 full-time while also attending a college program at night or on the weekend. If you choose to start at a technical college, 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 wish to be a mechanical engineer, you’ll need a four-year bachelor’s degree. If this is a path that interests you, you may want to explore a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at one of the four-year universities in Louisiana such as:
In many cases, formal education can pay off in the form of higher wages.
Typical Courses in Technical College Programs
HVAC training programs at technical colleges prepare students for their HVAC technician certification and careers in residential, commercial, or industrial HVAC applications. All combine theory and the practical skills needed to do the job. Most encourage students to work in their field of interest while attending school. Some are intended to give students a base of knowledge to prepare them to be helpers and gain entry-level employment with a licensed HVAC professional.
HVAC technician degree or diploma programs combine classroom learning and hands-on experience to teach the fundamentals of HVAC systems and related technical skills. Coursework teaches students about heating and cooling technology and installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of HVAC and refrigeration systems. Courses typically cover:
Fundamentals of residential heating and air conditioning
Refrigeration technology
EPA laws related to safe handling and transport of refrigerants
Heat pumps
Electrical and controls for HVAC systems
Sheet metal technology
Gas heating
Soldering/brazing
Commercial air conditioning and refrigeration systems
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 Louisiana community colleges on average is $2,971 per year for in-state students and $6,101 for out-of-state students. However, some of the accredited 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 field. All students who are interested in receiving federal (Pell Grant) and state grants should apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form online.
Program Length
In Louisiana, HVAC apprenticeship programs last six months to five years, and consist of classroom instruction and on-the-job training.
Benefits
There are benefits to formal education if you want to be an HVAC professional. You may be able to put your classroom hours toward an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree. Technical training is also usually rewarded with higher starting pay and lifelong earnings.
Online vs in-person
You may choose to get started on your HVAC training through an online program. The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association Educational Foundation offers an online plumbing and HVAC apprenticeship. Before enrolling, apprentices must confirm with their state’s licensing or labor department that the program is an acceptable substitute for classroom instruction. On-the-job training must be coordinated with a participating employer.
Level of difficulty
HVAC training programs prepare graduates for entry-level positions in commercial, industrial, or residential sectors. 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
These Louisiana schools listed below offer HVACR programs to train students for a career in the HVAC industry. Let’s take a look at the different schools:
Offers an associate’s degree in Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, & Electrical Technology
Fletcher Technical Community College
Offers several HVAC programs, including:
South Louisiana Community College
Offers a six-month Heating, Ventilation, AC, and Refrigeration program
Northshore Technical Community College
Offers an HVAC Excellence-accredited Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program
Offers an HVAC Excellence-accredited HVACR program and Master HVACR Technician program
Central Louisiana Technical Community College
Offers an HVAC Excellence-accredited Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technician program
Offers a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technician diploma
Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College
Offers an HVAC Technician program
South Louisiana Community College
Offers a six-month Heating, Ventilation, AC, and Refrigeration program
Steps for Enrollment in Louisiana
Every college has its own way of doing things, but in general the process begins with applying for admission on the school’s website. Some require you to pay an application fee and provide several documents. Typically, the application process includes 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 Louisiana
While Louisiana does not license HVAC technicians, the state requires a Commercial Mechanical Contractor license for HVAC work valuing more than $10,000 in labor and materials. Contractor licenses are issued by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors. Click here to view the full contractor licensing requirements.
The initial license remains valid for one year, then you may renew your license for a one-, two-, or three-year period. A renewal notice will be emailed or mailed to the address on record approximately 60 days prior to the expiration, 15 days prior to expiration, and upon expiration of the license.
There is currently no continuing education requirement to renew a Louisiana Commercial Mechanical Contractor license.
HVAC professionals anywhere in the country, including Louisiana, 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.
Most training programs can give you more information about the EPA certification, or your employer will require you to get it before handling refrigerant. The Environmental Protection Agency also lists Section 608 Technician Certification Programs offered throughout the country. For a detailed explanation of EPA certification and Louisiana’s HVACR licensing requirements and how to fulfill them, check out our essential guide to getting your Louisiana HVAC License.
Salaries for HVAC Professionals in Louisiana
Before paying for technical education or completing a lengthy apprenticeship to become an HVAC technician, 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 you advance in your HVAC career in Louisiana? Payscale.com data provides an answer based on your experience. The median HVAC professional salary in Louisiana for 2023 is:
Entry level <2 years: $49,200
Intermediate 2-4 years: $56,500
Senior 4-6 years: $64,300
Supervisor > 7 years: $83,900
For more information about HVAC technician salaries, visit this state-by-state guide.
Industry Apprenticeships
In Louisiana, apprenticeships last six months to five years and combine hands-on training with classroom instruction. Most also require you to be at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or a GED, a valid driver’s license, and have the physical ability to perform the work of the trade.
Apprenticeship programs in Louisiana include:
Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association
Offers a 4-year HVAC apprenticeship
Provides a statewide database of available apprenticeships
UA Local 198 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Service Technicians
Offers a 5-year HVAC apprenticeship
Plumbers & Steamfitters Local Union 60
Offers an HVACR Technician apprenticeship
Other School Options
In addition to HVAC training opportunities in Louisiana, there are several HVAC training programs in neighboring Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas.
Delta Technical College in Horn Lake, Mississippi
Texas State Technical College in Waco, Texas
Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville, Arkansas
You can find the training you need to excel in a career as an HVAC technician in Louisiana. The opportunities are all around you.
ServiceTitan HVAC Software
ServiceTitan is a comprehensive HVAC business software solution built specifically to help service companies streamline their operations, boost revenue, and achieve growth. Our award-winning, cloud-based platform is trusted by more than 100,000+ contractors across the country.
