HVAC

While it’s possible to become an HVAC technician through an apprenticeship, that can often take several years to get up to speed on that path. The alternative is enrolling in an HVAC technician training program, like the one offered at Summit College Santa Ana. These programs offer a more structured education that can be completed in a matter of months. The only prerequisites are that you need to be 18 years or older and have a high school diploma, a GED, or an equivalent. 

When it comes to the HVAC field, there are a few different types of contractor licenses through the California Contractors State License Board. If you aim to become a contractor or to be self-employed, you will likely need to sit for licensure exams like: 

• C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Contractor — A warm-air heating, ventilating and air-conditioning contractor fabricates, installs, maintains, services and repairs warm-air heating systems and water heating heat pumps, complete with warm-air appliances; ventilating systems complete with blowers and plenum chambers; air-conditioning systems complete with air-conditioning unit; and the ducts, registers, flues, humidity and thermostatic controls and air filters in connection with any of these systems. This classification shall include warm-air heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems which utilize solar energy. 
• C-46 Solar Contractor — A solar contractor installs, modifies, maintains, and repairs thermal and photovoltaic solar energy systems. A licensee classified in this section shall not undertake or perform building or construction trades, crafts, or skills, except when required to install a thermal or photovoltaic solar energy system. 
• C-38 Refrigeration Contractor — A refrigeration contractor constructs, fabricates, erects, installs, maintains, services and repairs refrigerators, refrigerated rooms, and insulated refrigerated spaces, temperature insulation, air-conditioning units, ducts, blowers, registers, humidity and thermostatic controls for the control of air, liquid, and/or gas temperatures below fifty degrees Fahrenheit (50 ), or ten degrees Celsius (10 ). 

Additionally, as part of the Clean Air Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires that any HVAC technician who works with refrigerants must hold the EPA 608 Certification for the equipment that they work on — small appliances, high-pressure appliances, low-pressure appliances, or all types. The HVAC program at Summit College Santa Ana is structured to prepare our students to sit for the EPA 608 Universal Certification

Like many trade careers, HVAC technician is a job where you will be up and moving, rather than being seated at a desk for 8 hours a day. While it won’t be a great fit for everyone, it makes for an excellent career path for those who find the very idea of a cubicle unpleasant. HVAC technicians can expect to work both indoors and outdoors in all sorts of temperatures and weather. They also might have to lift, use, and manipulate mechanical parts that are sometimes big, heavy, or awkward. It’s important to know how to use personal safety equipment and proper techniques to prevent injuries. 

Depending on the school and program you choose to enroll in, it can take anywhere from a few months to a year or more. At Summit College Santa Ana, we’ve designed our 36-week HVAC program to teach you the skills and knowledge you need to enter the field in under a year. Once you’ve successfully graduated and received your certificate, you’ll be ready to seek out entry-level employment in the industry. 

It’s important to carefully select your HVAC training program because the tuition and costs can be very different from school to school. Traditional colleges and universities in California can cost upwards of $40,000 per year, all with no guarantee that you will graduate with in-demand skills that will help you in the job market. This is why it’s important to carefully select your HVAC training program and ensure you’re getting the most out of your time and money. Summit College has access to a number of financial aid options to support our students and help them transform their futures without breaking the bank.