As is the case with the rest of the United States, the demand for HVAC technicians in Connecticut is also on the rise.
HVAC technician are paid more than other technicians.
On top of that, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a rise in the demand for HVAC technicians by 14% between the years 2014 and 2024.
This article will supply you with all the pieces of information that you need in order to become a licensed HVAC technician.
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Salary
As a HVAC technician you can expect to earn $54,660 annually on average.
Thee hourly wage of our technicians starts at $26.28, and can progress up to $36.77.
If you have an edge over other HVAC technicians in terms of experience, skill, education, and knowledge you may even earn as much as $76,490.
Take a look at the following table to find out how much a HVAC technician can earn in the ten largest cities in Connecticut.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of HVAC Techs in Connecticut
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $53,083 |
| New Haven | $51,401 |
| Hartford | $50,538 |
| Stamford | $53,867 |
| Waterbury | $50,373 |
| Norwalk | $53,867 |
| Danbury | $51,876 |
| New Britain | $50,467 |
| West Hartford | $50,538 |
| Greenwich | $53,867 |
HVAC Program
If you want to be a successful HVAC technician then you need to find the right program.
The official programs can range anywhere from six months to two years, and they provide different levels of training.
The program you opt for will best prepare you for your level of license examinations, as well as teach you the needed skills.
In the courses you will learn to install, maintain, repair and troubleshoot HVAC systems, to diagnose problems in complex electronic controls, ducts, motors, and other parts; repair refrigerant controls, ductless splits, heat pumps, electric motors, intake and exhaust humidifiers, etc.
The most important thing you will be taught, however, is preventive maintenance and compliance with federal and state environmental laws.
Schools
Connecticut boasts great schools that will prepare you for the license exams, as well as teach you everything that you need to know as a HVAC technician.
Since your education and skills are the most important factors that set you apart from the others, here is a list of schools that offer HVAC technician training:
28 HVAC Schools in Connecticut
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Ashworth College | Online Training for HVAC | 6625 The Corners Pkwy NW #500, Norcross, GA 30092 |
| A Lincoln Technical Institute | 97 Newberry Road, East Windsor, CT 06088 |
| Bristol Technical Education Center | 431 Minor Street, Bristol, CT 06010 |
| Cheney Vo Tech School | 791 W. Middle Turnpike, Manchester, CT 06040 |
| Connecticut School of Electronics | 221 W. Main Street, Lakeview Center, CT 06405 |
| E C Goodwin RVTS | 735 Slater Road, New Britain, CT 06053 |
| Eli Whitney Technical School | 71 Jones Road, Hamden, CT 06514 |
| Emmett O'Brien Technical School | 141 Prindle Avenue, Ansonia, CT 06401 |
| Grasso Regional Technical School | 189 Fort Hill Road, Groton, CT 06340 |
| Henry Abbott RVTS | Hayestown Avenue, Danbury, CT 06810 |
| hvacredu.net (Online Training) | P.O. Box 77, Heron, MT 59844 |
| ICPA-Independent CT Petro Association | 10 Alcamp Ridge, Cromwell, CT 06416 |
| Industrial Management & Training Institute (IMTI) | 233 Mill Street, Waterbury, CT 06706 |
| Kaynor Technical School | 43 Tompkins Street, Waterbury, CT 06708 |
| Lincoln Technical Institute | East Windsor, CT ., East Windsor, CT 11111 |
| Lincoln Technical Institute | New Britain, CT ., New Britain, CT 11111 |
| New England Technical Institute | 200 John Downey Drive, New Britain, CT 06051 |
| Norwich Regional Vo-Tech School | 590 New London Turnpike, Norwich, CT 06360 |
| Oliver Wolcott Technical School | 75 Oliver Street, Torrington, CT 06790 |
| Platt Regional Vocational School | 120 Ayers Street, Milford, CT 06460 |
| Porter and Chester Institute | 138 Weymouth Road, Enfield, CT 06082 |
| Porter and Chester Institute | 125 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield, CT 06109 |
| Porter and Chester Institute | 320 Sylvan Lake Road, Watertown, CT 06779 |
| Porter and Chester Institute | 670 Lordship Blvd., Stratford, CT 06497 |
| Prince Regional Technical School | 500 Brookfield Street, Hartford, CT 06106 |
| Vinal Technical School | 60 Daniels Street, Middletown, CT 06457 |
| Wilcox Technical School | Oregon Road, Meriden, CT 06450 |
| Windham Technical School | 210 Birch Street, Willimantic, CT 06226 |
Lincoln Technical Institute
Lincoln Technical Institute offers an up-to-date education in the field of HVAC.
The Institute has Diploma programs in the following areas: heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration.
Here, maintaining essential temperature control equipment is emphasized, as well as everything from the basics to the latest trends in the industry.
The curriculum has both theory and practice.
East Windsor and New Britain campuses have their programs.
Porter and Chester Institute
Porter and Chester institute also has theoretical and practical parts to its curriculum.
Their programs offer education in the following areas: installation, repair and maintenance of heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration.
The institute prepares you well for all on-job problems you may face.
The Institute has HVAC training at Stratford and Branford, but their program is also available at Enfield, Rocky Hill, and Waterbury campuses.
Industrial Management Training Institute
Industrial Management Training Institute (IMTI) has had success in training HVAC technicians ever since 1986.
As with the previous two Institutes the practical part and the theory part of the curriculum is well balanced.
This Institute has both online and on-campus courses.
At IMTI courses go from Core to Level 4. You can also opt to have the license exam review class. Waterbury campus has the on-campus programs.
License Requirements
In order to work as a HVAC technician in Connecticut you must have a license.
It is awarded by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.
The Department allows for twenty different licenses with specific requirements, and they are as follows:
- B-1 Limited Gas and Oil Burner Contractor
- B-2 Limited Gas and Oil Burner Journeyperson
- B-3 Limited Gas and Oil Burner Contractor
- B-4 Limited Gas and Oil Burner Journeyperson
- D-1 Limited Warm Air, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractor
- D-2 Limited Warm Air, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Journeyperson
- D-3 Limited Cooling Contractor
- D-4 Limited Cooling Journeyperson
- G-1 Limited Heating, Piping, and Cooling Contractor
- G-2 Limited Heating, Piping, and Cooling Journeyperson
- S-1 Unlimited Heating, Piping, and Cooling Contractor
- S-2 Unlimited Heating, Piping, and Cooling Journeyperson
- S-3 Limited Heating, Cooling and Piping Contractor
- S-4 Limited Heating, Cooling, and Piping Journeyperson
- S-5 Limited Heating, Hot Water, and Steam Contractor
- S-6 Limited Heating, Hot Water, and Steam Journeyperson
- S-7 Limited Contractor
- S-8 Limited Journeyperson
- S-9 Limited Heating Cooling Contractor
- S-10 Limited Heating Cooling Journeyperson
If you want to be eligible for the Contractor license examination, you have to have two years of experience as a licensed journeyperson, or two years of experience and training.
The exam entails two parts – a business and a law exam, both of which must be passes in order to acquire a contractor license.
In order to be eligible for a Journeyperson license examination, you have to complete a registered apprenticeship program, or have experience and training that is equivalent to the duration of the apprenticeship program.
Exam
In order to pass your exams you’re best advised to prepare thoroughly.
If you pass the exam a license will be awarded to you by the Department of Consumer Protection.
The exams themselves are run by PSI Exams.
You can always take a look at our practice tests or our study guide.
Here are the topics that will be tested on the certification exams:
- Insulation
- Hangers and Supports
- Sound, Vibration and Seismic Control
- Heating and Cooling Principles
- Refrigerants and Refrigeration
- Testing, Adjusting and Balancing
- Controls
- Machine Room
- A/C and Heat Pump Equipment
- Furnaces and Heaters
- Hydraulics
- Chimneys, Flues, and Vents
- Combustion Air
- Fuel Gas Systems
- Ducts
- Chillers
- Ventilation and Exhaust
- Safety
- Oil Burners
- Boilers
The minimum score that you need to have in order to pass the exam is 70%.
Some exams last for 120 minutes, and some 180 minutes; and the number of questions varies as well from an exam to an exam.
The number of questions can be 60, 70, or 80.
You will also need to pass the trade exam and the law exam.
Those exams test the following:
- Licensing
- Estimating and Bidding
- Lien Law
- Financial Management
- Tax Laws
- Labor Laws
- Project Management
- Contracts
- Business Organization
- Risk Management
- Environmental Safety
Conclusion
A career of a HVAC technician is a rewarding and stable one.
This article has informed you on the best choices you can make to establish and further your career as a HVAC technician.
We would advise you to opt for what is best for you, and even conduct your own research about the HVAC industry. Best of luck!
