Owing to New Mexico’s desert climate, this piece of land has some very hot days, and very cold nights.
These circumstances make it obligatory to preserve indoor climate control.
That’s where the HVAC technicians come in.
The demand for HVAC technicians is very high.
There are over one thousand jobs in HVAC across the States.
So, here is all you need to know about what requirements you need to meet as a HVAC technician in New Mexico.
Page Navigation
Salary
There is a perpetual demand for HVAC technicians in New Mexico.
It is even projected that this demand will continue to grow by 21% by 2020.
As a HVAC technician you can expect to begin with a wage of $13.26 per hour.
The wage will grow as your experience and knowledge grows, and depending on the licenses and certificates you obtain.
Therefore, the salary can grow on average to $30 per hour. So, there is a lot of room to develop and raise your salary up to the 60K ball-park.
Here is a table of salaries you can expect in the ten largest cities in New Mexico.
It will not surprise you that the highest demand, and hence salaries are in Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
Santa Fe is a city that offers salaries which are almost $10,000 higher than in the rest of the state.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of HVAC Techs in New Mexico
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $43,644 |
| Las Cruces | $39,719 |
| Santa Fe | $44,158 |
| Rio Rancho | $43,504 |
| Roswell | $40,981 |
| Farmington | $47,678 |
| Alamogordo | $41,682 |
| Clovis | $41,394 |
| Hobbs | $40,312 |
| Carlsbad | $40,981 |
Licensing Requirements
If you want to become a HVAC contractor in the state of New Mexico, then you need to obtain a license as a Conditioning Contractor, as well as a license in Business and Law.
The holder of this license has a permit to bid and contract on various projects related to heat and air conditioning systems.
This includes renovation, maintenance, and repair work.
With the license you can bid both on the residential and commercial projects.
If you want to be able to to service or install natural gas systems or appliances, or any work on ventilation systems that require natural gas fittings, you must obtain a Natural Gas Fitting Contractors license.
These licenses are similar in terms of requirements and the examination process.
Heat, Air Conditioning Contractors License
Eligibility criteria say that you need to supply a bond for $500 to $5,000 cash collateral, or an audited financial statement.
In addition to that you will have to supply a certificate of competence, as well as proof of 2-4 years of experience.
Another requirement is that you will need to pas both the trade exam and the business and law exam.
The fee you will have to pay for the application is $30. The licensing fee is $30 as well.
Finally, your license has to be renewed every two years by completing 5 hours of continuing education.
The renewal fee for your license is $30.
Natural Gas Fitting License
To be eligible for this license you will again have to supply a bond for $500 to $5,000 cash collateral, or an audited financial statement.
You also need to supply a certificate of competence, as well as proof of 2-4 years of work experience.
The fee for the application is $30. The licensing and the renewal fees are $30 each.
Examination
The PSI company administers the exams.
After submitting your license application, you can schedule a test at the closest testing site.
You can reach the PSI company at 1-800-733-9267 to schedule.
Heat, Air Conditioning Contractors Exam
The exam consists of 100 questions which are to be completed in 180 minutes.
To pass the exam you must score a minimum of 85%.
Business and Law Exam
The fee you will have to pay for taking this test is $45.
The exam features 50 questions.
You will have 125 minutes at your disposal to complete the questions.
Here are the topics that will be covered by the exam: licensing requirements, giving estimates, bidding, how to organize a business, managing finances, state laws, environment, safety, risk assessment and project management.
MM-2 Natural Gas Fitting Exam
This test is done together with the Business and Law exam.
It consists of 100 questions.
You will have 240 minutes to complete them.
To pass the exam you will have to score minimum 75%.
The topics present in the test are: gas-related topics like piping, gas sizing, appliances, combustion, air, chimneys, flues, vents, and systems.
Schools
In case you wish to prepare for your exams by completing an official HVAC training that is a great idea.
The approved HVAC training programs will provide you with all the knowledge and skill you need.
Here is a table of schools that have official HVAC training in New Mexico:
11 HVAC Schools in New Mexico
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Ashworth College | 6625 The Corners Pkwy NW #500, Norcross, GA 30092 |
| Central NM Community College/Albuquerque TVI | 525 Buena Vista, SE, Alburquerque, NM 87106 |
| Clovis Community College | 417 Schepps Blvd., #100, Clovis, NM 88101 |
| Dona Ana Branch Community College | 3400 S. Espina, Las Cruces, NM 88003 |
| Eastern New Mexico University, Roswell | 52 University Blvd, Roswell, NM 88203 |
| hvacredu.net (Online Training) | P.O. Box 77, Heron, MT 59844 |
| New Mexico Junior College | 5317 Lovington Hwy, Hobbs, NM 88240 |
| New Mexico State University, Carlsbad | 1500 University Dr, Carlsbad, NM 88220 |
| New Mexico State University | 1780 E University Ave, Las Cruces, NM 88003 |
| Penn Foster Career School | 925 Oak St, Scranton, PA 18515 |
| San Juan College | 4601 College Blvd., Farmington, NM 87402 |
Conclusion
New Mexico is a great place to start a career as a HVAC technician.
There are certain requirements you have to meet, and licenses you have to obtain, but there are plentiful career benefits.
With a license as a contractor you can bid on higher-paying jobs.
You may need some effort in order to go that one extra mile, but a career of a HVAC technician is a rewarding one.
So get your license in gas fitting, air conditioning or both and pursue your career goals!
