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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 Tar Heel State.
The growing demand for HVAC professionals in North Carolina, including HVAC technicians, commercial refrigeration contractors, and licensed HVAC contractors, 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 13% growth rate for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in North Carolina, and a 6% growth rate nationwide, over the next decade.
There’s definitely evidence to support this on job boards. For instance, there are thousands of HVAC technician jobs in North Carolina 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 North Carolina.
North Carolina 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 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.
Typically, HVAC license requirements vary from state to state, and in some cases, from locality to locality. North Carolina offers two types of HVAC licenses, HVAC/R technician and HVAC contractor. The technician and contractor licenses each have three license groups, and candidates must pass an exam specific to the license classification.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce includes two separate boards that are responsible for issuing HVAC licenses.The State Board of Refrigeration Contractors issues licenses for techs who work with and transport refrigerant, while the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractors provides licenses for traditional heating and air conditioning contractors.
The following North Carolina trade schools offer HVAC programs:
Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte
Rockingham Community College in Wentworth
Pitt Community College in Winterville
Wake Technical College (Wake Tech) in Raleigh
Guilford Technical Community College in Jamestown
Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem
Alamance Community College in Graham
Stanly Community College in Albemarle
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in Salisbury
Cleveland Community College in Shelby
Johnston Community College in Smithfield
Southeastern Community College in Whiteville
Robeson Community College in Fayetteville and Lumberton
Asheville-Buncombe Technical College in Asheville
Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington
Vance-Granville Community College in Henderson
Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory
Coastal Carolina Community College in Jacksonville
Martin Community College in Williamston
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.
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 you attend 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
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 North Carolina such as:
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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 other heating technology.
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
Commercial systems
Basic refrigeration
HVAC controls
HVAC system design
Gas heating
Air conditioners and cooling 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 North Carolina community colleges on average is $3,923 per year for in-state students and $9,541 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 HVAC certification earned. For example, Central Piedmont Community College offers a 68-credit-hour AAS degree, which can be completed in roughly two years.
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 North Carolina 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:
Central Piedmont Community College
Offers an Associate of Applied Science in Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology, as well as multiple certificates for specialized HVAC services
Offers an Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Technology diploma
Offers an Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Technology certificate
Offers an Associate of Applied Science in Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration, as well as multiple certificates for specialized HVAC services
Offers an Associate of Applied Science in Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology, as well as multiple certificates for specialized HVAC services
Guilford Technical Community College
Offers an Associate of Applied Science in Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology
Offers an Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology diploma
Offers an Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology - Basic Air Conditioning certificate
Forsyth Technical Community College
Offers an Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology - Basic Air Conditioning - Comfort Symptoms certificate
Offers an Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology diploma
Offers an Associate of Applied Science in Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology
Offers an Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology diploma
Offers an Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology certificate
Offers an Associate of Applied Science in Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology
Offers an Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology diploma
Offers an Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology certificate
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Offers an Associate of Applied Science in Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology, as well as multiple certificates for specialized HVAC services
Offers an Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration diploma
Offers an Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration certificate
Southeastern Community College
Offers an Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology diploma
Offers an Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology certificate
Asheville-Buncombe Technical College
Offers an Associate of Applied Science in Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology
Offers a Heating certificate
Offers a Cooling certificate
Offers an Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology apprenticeship program
Vance-Granville Community College
Offers an Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology diploma
Catawba Valley Community College
Offers an Associate of Applied Science in Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology
Offers an Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology diploma
Offers an Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology certificate
Offers an Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology pathway certificate
Coastal Carolina Community College
Offers an Associate of Applied Science in Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology
Offers an Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology diploma
Offers an Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology certificate
Steps for Enrollment in North Carolina
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 North Carolina
To recap, both HVAC technicians and contractors need a license to perform HVAC work in the state of North Carolina.
To become eligible for a technician license, candidates must demonstrate 3,000 hours (18 months) of full-time experience in the installation, maintenance, service, or repair of HVAC systems related to the license class they wish to receive. You can earn the experience by working for a licensed contractor, attending a trade school or community college, or completing an apprenticeship through a local union or trade organization.
To become an HVAC contractor, candidates need to demonstrate two years (4,000 hours) of full-time experience in the installation, maintenance, service, or repair of HVAC systems related to the category of license, and also obtain insurance and complete a background check. For contractors, up to 2,000 hours can be fulfilled by taking academic or technical training. If you want to own your own HVAC business you will need to get your contractor license.
Refrigeration contractors must earn at least 4,000 hours of work experience under the supervision of a licensed refrigeration contractor. Up to 2,000 hours can be fulfilled by taking academic or technical training.
All HVAC licenses in North Carolina require annual renewal. However, continuing education is no longer required.
HVAC professionals anywhere in the country, including North Carolina, 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 North Carolina’s HVACR licensing requirements and how to fulfill them, check out our essential guide to getting your North Carolina HVAC License.
Salaries for HVAC Technicians in North Carolina
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 North Carolina? Payscale.com data provides an answer based on your experience. The median HVAC technician salary in North Carolina for 2023 is:
Entry level <2 years: $49,200
Intermediate 2-4 years: $54,700
Senior 4-6 years: $62,800
Supervisor > 7 years: $84,100
For more information about HVAC salaries, visit this state-by-state guide.
Industry Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships provide a path to experience and licensure in North Carolina. HVAC apprenticeship opportunities include:
HVAC businesses throughout the state
Other School Options
In addition to the training programs and schools already mentioned, there are training centers in nearby South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Midlands Technical College in Columbia, SC
Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Nashville, TN
Tidewater Community College in Norfolk, VA
You can find the training you need to excel in an HVAC industry career in North Carolina. The opportunities are all around you.
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