HVAC Tech Classes in Idaho (Top Schools)

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, May 2021) projected a 5% employment growth for HVAC technicians from 2020 to 2030.

This happened because of…

• Rising demand for HVAC services from the residential and commercial sectors
• Sophistry in climate-control systems to help alleviate climate change

As a result, there had been 356,960 employed HVAC technicians in the U.S., of which 3,760 were from Idaho.

This just proves how lucrative a career in the HVAC industry is.

So if you’re interested, the information below will help you get started on your HVAC career in Idaho.

HVAC Programs in Idaho

The HVAC work requires high technical skills and extensive knowledge of the trade.

So to prepare you for it, you can enroll in an approved HVAC program to receive educational training and field experience.

Listed below are some of the accredited HVAC schools that you can consider in Idaho.

How to Get Licensed in Idaho

Idaho Division of Building Safety requires all levels of HVAC professionals to be state-registered or licensed before they can provide HVAC services.

• HVAC Apprentice
• HVAC Journeyman
• HVAC Contractor
• HVAC Specialty Apprentice
• HVAC Specialty Journeyman
• HVAC Specialty Contractor

The HVAC Specialty licenses have 4 types that you can choose from:

• Hearth
• Waste Oil Heating
• Fuel Gas Piping
• LP Gas Limited Heating

Requirements for Registration or Licensure

Here are the requirements you need to meet if you want to be a…

• HVAC Apprentice
  • Must be at least 18 years old
    • If 16 years old, must be registered with the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Apprenticeship; or,
    • Employed by an approved STRAP provider HVAC Contractor and have completed the STRAP agreement with ID Department of Labor
  • Have worked under the supervision of a licensed HVAC journeyman
  • Completed and notarized forms
    • Application for HVAC Apprentice Work Registration
    • HVAC Work Verification Form
  • Payment of the nonrefundable license registration fee of $10
  • Provide Social Security Number
  • Copy of legal identification (driver’s license, passport, military ID)
• HVAC Journeyman
  • At least 4 years or 8,000 hours of on-the-job experience as a registered HVAC apprentice
    • Can credit up to 1 year of experience if you complete a 1-year Board-approved HVAC program
  • Successfully pass the designated licensure exam
  • Completed and notarized forms
    • Application for HVAC Journeyman License
    • HVAC Work Verification Form
  • Payment of the nonrefundable license application fee of $35
  • Provide Social Security Number
  • Copy of legal identification (driver’s license, passport, military ID)
• HVAC Contractor
  • At least 24 months of field experience as an HVAC journeyman
  • Successfully pass the designated licensure exam
  • Completed and notarized forms
    • Application for HVAC Contractor License
    • HVAC Work Verification Form
  • Copy of legal identification (driver’s license, passport, military ID)
  • Provide Social Security Number
  • Obtain a compliance bond of $2,000
  • Payment of the nonrefundable license application fee of $35
• HVAC Specialty Apprentice
  • Must be at least 18 years old
    • If 16 years old, must be registered with the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Apprenticeship; or,
    • Employed by an approved STRAP provider HVAC Contractor and have completed the STRAP agreement with ID Department of Labor
  • Currently enrolled or completed a Board-approved training program
  • Have worked under the supervision of a licensed HVAC journeyman or HVAC specialty journeyman
  • Completed and notarized forms
    • Application for HVAC Specialty Apprentice Work Registration
    • HVAC Work Verification Form
  • Payment of the nonrefundable license registration fee of $20
  • Provide Social Security Number
  • Copy of legal identification (driver’s license, passport, military ID)
• HVAC Specialty Journeyman
  • Meet the education and experience requirements for the chosen specialty
    • Hearth
      • At least 1 year of experience in the trade or as a registered HVAC apprentice or registered HVAC specialty apprentice under the supervision of a licensed HVAC journeyman or HVAC specialty journeyman
      • Complete a Board-approved training course and at least 60 hours of education in fuel gas code and piping installation methods
    • Waste Oil Heating
      • At least 1 year of field experience in the chosen specialty under the supervision of a licensed HVAC journeyman or HVAC specialty journeyman
    • Fuel Gas Piping
      • At least 1 year of experience in the trade, or as a registered HVAC apprentice or registered HVAC specialty apprentice under the supervision of a licensed HVAC journeyman or HVAC specialty journeyman
      • Complete a Board-approved training course and at least 60 hours of education in fuel gas code and piping installation methods
    • LP Gas Limited Heating
      • At least 2 years of experience in the trade, or as a registered HVAC apprentice or registered HVAC specialty apprentice under the supervision of a licensed HVAC journeyman or HVAC specialty journeyman
      • Complete a 120-hour Board-approved LP gas specialty education
  • Successfully pass the designated licensure exam
  • Completed and notarized forms
    • Application for HVAC Specialty Journeyman License
    • HVAC Work Verification Form
  • Payment of the nonrefundable license application fee of $35
  • Provide Social Security Number
  • Copy of legal identification (driver’s license, passport, military ID)
• Specialty HVAC Contractor
  • At least 24 months of field experience as a specialty HVAC journeyman in the chosen specialty
  • Successfully pass the designated licensure exam
  • Completed and notarized forms
    • Application for HVAC Specialty Contractor License
    • HVAC Work Verification Form
  • Provide Social Security Number
  • Copy of legal identification (driver’s license, passport, military ID)
  • Obtain a compliance bond of $2,000
  • Payment of the nonrefundable license application fee of $35

Exam Details

The Division will administer the exams for HVAC journeymen, specialty journeymen, contractors, and specialty contractors.

As such, you can only take the exam at one of the regional offices of the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses.

Here are a few important details that you should know about the exam:

• It’s a computer-based test consisting of multiple-choice questions
• Exam duration
  • Journeyman – 100 questions to be completed in 4 hours
  • Hearth Specialty Journeyman – 75 questions in 3 hours
  • Waste Oil Heating Specialty Journeyman – 50 questions in 2 hours
  • Fuel Gas Piping Specialty Journeyman – 50 questions in 2 hours
  • Contractor – 110 questions in 4 hours
• Exam fee is $75 (nonrefundable)
• Eligibility to test period is 1 year
• It’s an open-book exam where you can only bring approved reference materials
• Passing score is 70%

Renewal Requirements

Your registration or license is only valid for 1 year.

To renew, you must meet the following:

• Apprentice and Specialty Apprentice
  • Complete 8 hours of board-approved continuing education courses
  • Pay the renewal fee
    • Apprentice – $10
    • Specialty Apprentice – $20
• Journeyman and Specialty Journeyman
  • Pay the renewal fee of $75
• Contractor and Specialty Contractor
  • Provide a current compliance bond of $2000
  • Pay the renewal fee of $150

EPA Certification

The Clean Air Act requires that any technician working with refrigerants obtain an EPA Section 608 Technician Certification.

It has 4 types, and you can apply for any of these depending on the equipment you’ll work with the most.

To learn more, check out our guide to the EPA certification.

Potential Salary

Per BLS, HVAC technicians in Idaho can earn an average of $46,250 annually as of May 2021.

If you’re an entry-level, you can receive up to $30,000 a year, while being a senior expert can earn you more than $61,010.

The table below shows the salaries in 10 of Idaho’s cities for your reference.