Download the Guide!
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 state known as Vacationland.
Though HVAC work is an essential trade, jobs may be harder to find in Maine. The U.S. Department of Labor’s job search website, CareerOneStop, projects a -6% growth rate in Maine for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers as compared with 6% nationwide over the next decade.
Despite being on the decline, at the time of publication, there were hundreds of HVAC jobs in Maine posted on Indeed.com and ZipRecruiter.com.
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 Maine.
Maine HVAC Training Programs
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “Many HVACR 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. Rather than specific HVAC licensing, Maine issues a number of licenses that relate to the work of servicing systems for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration. These licenses, issued by the Maine Fuel Board, include:
Oil Burner Technician (apprentice, journeyman, and master)
Solid Fuel Technician (apprentice, journeyman, and master)
Most people entering the HVAC industry in Maine learn on the job as a full-time apprentice or by working for an HVAC contractor and taking classes at a trade school or community college. Completing HVAC coursework is one of the paths to becoming a journeyman oil burner/solid fuel technician.
The following community colleges and training centers offer HVAC credential or degree classes in Maine:
Southern Maine Community College (Fort Road) in South Portland
Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor
Northeast Technical Institute in Scarborough
MEMA Technical Education Center in Brunswick
Central Maine Community College in Auburn
Northern Maine Community College (Edgemont Drive) in Presque Isle
Washington County Community College in Calais
Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield
The #1 newsletter for the trades.
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. Licensure requirements for HVAC professionals vary from state to state, and some require a minimum amount of hands-on training and/or education, as in Maine.
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 Maine such as:
University of Maine in Orono
University of Southern Maine in Portland
In many cases, but not always, formal education pays off in the form of higher wages. If you seek to become a journeyman or master solid fuel/oil burner technician, 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
Refrigeration Equipment
HVAC customer soft skills and job-seeking skills
Refrigeration applications
Residential HVAC applications
Troubleshooting ventilation 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 Maine community colleges on average is $4,020 per year for in-state students and $7,666 for out-of-state students. There will be some variations in fees at each school, too, so be sure to review all of the costs involved.
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.
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 financial aid or federal (Pell Grant) and state grants apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form online.
Program Length
Program length varies depending on the school and degree or certificate earned. Successfully completing a minimum one-year (or two-semester) accredited heating course at a Maine community college consisting of 320+ hours of study, of which at least 150 hours are made up of laboratory work on oil burning equipment and related systems, is one of the paths to eligibility for the oil burner/solid fuel journeyman exam.
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 Maine training centers listed below offer HVAC programs to prepare students for a career in the HVAC industry. Let’s take a look at the different schools:
Southern Maine Community College
Eastern Maine Community College
Offers a Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, and Heating Technology Associate degree
Offers a Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, and Heating Technology certificate
Northeast Technical Institute
MEMA Technical Education Center
Offers an AC and Refrigeration certificate
Offers an HVAC-R Professional certificate
Offers an Oil Burner Technician training program
Central Maine Community College
Offers an HVAC/R Technology Associate degree
Offers an HVAC/R Technology certificate
Northern Maine Community College
Washington County Community College
Offers a Heating Technology certificate
Kennebec Valley Community College
Steps for Enrollment in Maine
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 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 Maine
There are multiple license types in Maine depending on the HVAC scope of work including Apprentice Oil Burner and/or Solid Fuel Technician and Journeyman Oil Burner and/or Solid Fuel Technician. To qualify to test for the journeyman level license applicants must meet one of the following:
Complete at least one year of experience as a licensed apprentice
Successfully complete a Fuel Board-approved course consisting, at a minimum, of 160 hours of study, of which at least 75 hours are made up of laboratory work on oil-burning equipment and related systems, and gain six months experience as a licensed apprentice.
Successfully complete a minimum one-year accredited heating course at a Maine community college consisting, at a minimum, of 320 hours of study, of which at least 150 hours are made up of laboratory work on oil-burning equipment and related systems.
For a master level license you'll need additional hands-on experience and to pass another examination. HVAC contractors must hold an electrical license issued by the Maine Electricians’ Licensing Board to perform the wiring necessary for HVAC installation.
HVAC professionals anywhere in the country, including Maine, 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.
For a detailed explanation of EPA certification and Nevada’s HVACR licensing requirements and how to fulfill them, check out our essential guide to getting your Maine HVAC License.
Salaries for HVAC Technicians in Maine
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 Maine? Payscale.com data provides an answer based on your experience. The median HVAC technician salary in Maine for 2023 is:
Entry level <2 years: $52,200
Intermediate 2-4 years: $59,900
Senior 4-6 years: $68,400
Supervisor > 7 years: $88,800
For more information about HVAC salaries, visit this state-by-state guide.
Industry Apprenticeships
To become an industry apprentice, one simply needs to apply directly to an employer, then submit an apprentice application. One year as a licensed apprentice qualifies for the journeyman exam, or a mix of education and six months apprenticeship experience.
You can also apply for a union apprenticeship through the United Association Union of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders, & Service Techs Local 716 based out of Augusta. The apprenticeship program is five years long and meets all requirements of the state and The U.S. Department of Labor Office of apprenticeship. It is completely free to students. The cost is covered by the union contractors who pay into the trust, and students are placed with one of those contractors to work.
Other School Options
In addition to the training programs and schools already mentioned, there are nearby training centers throughout New England.
United Technologies Center in Bangor
Central Vermont Career Center in Barre, Vermont
New Hampshire School of Mechanical in Manchester, NH
New England Institute of HVAC in Lowell
You can find the training you need to excel in an HVAC industry career in Maine. 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.
