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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 Empire State.
The growing demand for HVAC professionals in New York 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 a 20% growth rate in New York 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 posted on Indeed.com and ZipRecruiter.com.
In this complete guide, we’ve put together everything you need to know about HVAC trade schools and apprenticeships to get started as an HVAC professional in New York.
New York 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 six months to two 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.
Generally, HVAC license requirements vary from state to state and, in some cases, like in New York, from locality to locality.
The following New York trade schools offer HVAC programs:
Monroe Community College in Rochester
Apex Technical School in Long Island City
Suffolk County Community College (The State University New York - SUNY) in Selden, Brentwood, Riverhead, and Long Island
Erie Community College (SUNY) in Buffalo
Hudson Valley Community College (SUNY) in Troy
Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica
The Refrigeration Institute in New York City
Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie
Note: Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex Board of Cooperative (WSWHE BOCES) has a two-year HVAC-R training program offered at New York state high schools. This program holds articulation agreements that allow for advance standing or the issuance of credit to students. Partner colleges include:
Alfred State College of Technology in Alfred
Lincoln Institute of Technology in West Orange, New Jersey
SUNY Canton in Canton
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 or locality to locality. For example, one of the paths to obtaining a High Pressure Boiler Operating Engineer license in New York City requires advanced education.
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 New York, such as:
The City College of New York in New York City
New York Institute of Technology in New York City
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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 conditioning systems
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 New York community colleges on average is $5,826 per year for in-state students and $10,328 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.
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. Monroe Community College, for example, offers both a 13-credit hour microcredential in HVAC Essential Workplace Skills and a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree in Air Conditioning Technology: Heating and Ventilation.
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 New York 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:
Monroe Community College
Offers a 13-credit hour microcredential in HVAC Essential Workplace Skills
Offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Air Conditioning Technology: Heating and Ventilation
Offers a certificate program in Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning
Apex Technical School
Suffolk County Community College
Offers a certificate program in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Technology
Erie Community College
Hudson Valley Community College
Mohawk Valley Community College
Offers an Associate in Occupational Studies degree in Air Conditioning Technology, Refrigeration
Offers a certificate program in Heating and Air Conditioning
The Refrigeration Institute
Offers a variety of HVAC-related courses
Dutchess Community College
Steps for Enrollment in New York
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 New York
To recap, there are no statewide HVAC license requirements in the state of New York. Instead, localities issue licenses, and have their own requirements.
In the city of Ithaca, all heating and/or ventilation engineers, contractors, or installers are required to obtain a certificate of registration to work in city limits. In Buffalo, you must apply for a license with the Department of Permit & Inspection Services, then pass a certification exam.
Look up licensing requirements for the city or cities you want to work in.
For a detailed explanation of New York’s electrical licensing requirements and how to fulfill them, check out our essential guide to getting your New York Electrical License.
Salaries for HVAC Technicians in New York
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 New York?
According to the BLS, the mean salary for an HVAC professional in New York is $69,540. As with all professions, salaries increase with experience.
For more information about HVAC salaries, visit this state-by-state guide.
Industry Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships offer hands-on training opportunities to earn as you learn. To meet apprenticeship requirements in New York, you must have a high school diploma or GED and be at least 18 years of age. Interested applicants should apply directly to the company with which they’d like to apprentice.
The New York Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Program maintains a list of open apprenticeships for all trades, including HVAC, electricians, and plumbing.
Other School Options
In addition to the training programs and schools already mentioned, there are training centers in neighboring New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
Eastwick College HoHoKus School of Trade and Technical Sciences in Paterson, NJ
Industrial Management and Training Institute in Waterbury, CT
MassBay Community College in Wellesley Hills, Framingham, and Ashland, MA
You can find the training you need to excel in a career as an HVAC technician in New York. The opportunities are all around you.
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