HVAC · Licensing by state

How to become an HVAC technician

From state licensing boards and the U.S. Department of Labor · Last reviewed October 10, 2026

HVAC licensing by state

"n/a" means the state has no such statewide figure, or states it another way (years, or by local license). "No" exam can mean the state licenses only contractors. Each state page has the details and sources; the reciprocity map shows which states.

The usual license ladder

1. Student, trainee, or apprentice

   Most start with a 6-month to 2-year school program, then work alongside experienced technicians. Apprentices may work on refrigerant equipment without EPA certification only while closely and continually supervised by a certified technician. [1][2]

2. EPA 608 certified technician

   The EPA requires technicians who service equipment that could release refrigerants to pass an EPA-approved test. The certification does not expire. [2]

3. State-licensed or registered technician

   Some states and localities require HVAC technicians to be licensed. Texas, for example, generally requires technicians to be registered or certified and to work under a licensed contractor. [1][4]

4. HVAC contractor

   Some states license the business. In Texas, an air conditioning and refrigeration contractor license takes 48 months of supervised experience (or 36 months plus a year as a certified technician); some schooling, apprenticeship hours, and military service can count toward it. [4]

Pay and job outlook

What HVAC technicians do

HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVACR adds refrigeration). HVAC technicians install, maintain, and repair the systems that control temperature and air quality in homes, schools, hospitals, and other buildings. They install electrical parts and wiring, test systems, talk with customers about problems, and replace worn parts. Some specialize, for example in commercial refrigeration for grocery stores and restaurants.

When working on air conditioning and refrigeration, technicians must follow rules on recovering and recycling refrigerants. Most work full time, may be on call, and often work overtime in peak heating and cooling seasons. About 68% work for plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors. [1]

The usual path: school, then on-the-job training

HVAC technicians typically need a postsecondary nondegree award: a program from a technical or trade school or community college. These programs generally last from 6 months to 2 years and lead to a certificate or an associate's degree. Some employers hire people with only a high school diploma.

New technicians work alongside experienced ones. They start with basic tasks, such as insulating refrigerant lines or cleaning furnaces, and move on to harder work such as cutting and soldering pipes or checking electrical circuits. Reaching full competency takes a lengthy period of on-the-job training.

Some technicians train through an apprenticeship instead. These usually last several years and combine paid on-the-job training with technical instruction each year. [1]

Registered apprenticeships

A registered apprenticeship is one approved under the U.S. Department of Labor system. The Department of Labor describes it as paid work experience with a mentor, "progressive wage increases," classroom instruction, and "a portable, nationally-recognized credential."

To find openings, search the Apprenticeship Job Finder on Apprenticeship.gov and apply directly with the employer or program sponsor. Union and non-union (open-shop) routes are compared in union vs. non-union. [3]

EPA Section 608 certification

Federal rules under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act require technicians who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of equipment that could release refrigerants to be certified. You earn it by passing an EPA-approved test, given by an EPA-approved certifying organization. The BLS notes the exam is typically part of finishing a postsecondary HVACR program.

There are four types: Type I (small appliances), Type II (high- or very high-pressure appliances), Type III (low-pressure appliances), and Universal (all types). Section 608 certification does not expire. Full details: EPA 608 certification and the EPA's Section 608 page. [1][2]

State and local licenses

Some states and localities require HVAC technicians to be licensed, so check with your state and city.

Texas is one example. Its law generally requires air conditioning and refrigeration technicians to be registered or certified (with narrow exceptions, such as helping a contractor replace a whole system) and supervised by a licensed contractor. Registration has no experience or exam requirement, and applicants must be at least 16. Certification requires being at least 18, a training program or 24 months of supervised work, and a competency exam. A contractor license requires at least 48 months of supervised experience in the last 72 months, or 36 months plus 12 months as a certified technician. Some schooling counts toward that experience (for example, a two-year HVAC associate degree or program counts as 12 months), every 2,000 hours of on-the-job training in an apprenticeship counts as 12 months, and HVAC work in the military can count. Details: Texas HVAC license.

Pick your state from the list on this page for its own rules. Manufacturer and industry certifications are also available; many are optional, though some employers prefer or require them. [1][4]

Pay and job outlook

The median annual wage for HVAC technicians was $61,010 in May 2025. The lowest 10% earned less than $40,050 and the highest 10% more than $95,210. Median pay was $71,190 in wholesale trade and $60,030 at plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors.

The BLS projects employment to grow 11% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average. It expects commercial construction (including data centers), home building, more sophisticated climate-control systems, and replacing existing systems to drive demand. The BLS also notes HVAC technicians have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations, from burns, strains, and handling hazardous refrigerants. [1]

Questions people ask