HVAC Tech Classes in Ohio (Top Schools)

If you are in a pursuit of a long-term career, and you are mechanically inclined, then HVAC industry might just be the choice for you. HVAC industry makes one of lead trade occupations in Ohio.

Here is all you need to know about becoming and being a HVAC technician.

Salary

If you have only begun a career in the HVAC industry, you can expect to make an approximate salary of $40,000.

However, your salary will increase with experience.

Not only that, but once you develop your careers, and your skill set, you may expect decent earnings, and you may as well become a top-earning technician.

Here are salaries in ten largest cities of Ohio:

HVAC Contractors

By definition, HVAC Contractors should be experienced in installation and repair of central heat and air systems.

So, they are responsible to make sure that these systems provide comfortable controlled air temperatures both in the residential and commercial locations.

Before you will be able to start your own business and become a contractor you will have to meet some requirements.

Firstly, you will need to have a minimum of five years of uninterrupted experience as an apprentice.

This will make sure that you have a firm grasp of the HVAC industry.

The apprenticeship provides important experience as an installer or a mechanic.

During your five year apprenticeship you must show successful practice.

If you want to become a commercial contractor in Ohio, you must be 18 and a United States citizen.

You need to have experience as a HVAC service technician or you can be a registered engineer.

You also need to obtain liability insurance coverage of at least $500,000, pay the application fees, and pass an extensive background check.

You need to have worked as an apprentice under the supervision of an appropriately licensed journeyman contractor.

The requirements are stringent.

You will need to provide your record of jobs and projects you have worked on, as well as permits issued to you for commercial projects.

This will serve as proof of your five-year experience.

This should be submitted along with the application.

Licensure

To become a HVAC contractor it is necessary that you be an apprentice or that you have attended vocational trade school.

An additional requirement is that you need to have five years of continuous experience prior to your application.

The application you submit must be notarized.

Along with your application you should send a $25.00 nonrefundable application fee.

A copy of your employer’s certificate of liability insurance also needs to be send in along with the rest of the documentation.

Your application will be approved or denied by the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board.

When your application is approved you can take the trade exam, which will serve as a permit to be a HVAC contractor in Ohio.

In case you already hold a proper license in one of selected states such as Louisiana or Kentucky, you may apply for a license by reciprocity.

The applications are online on the Ohio Department of Commerce website.

There is one more case.

If you are a veteran of the armed forces there are certain application instructions for your case.

You can find these instructions on the Ohio.gov website. You can access information on presenting the training certificates and the DD214 form there.

That is what you will need to submit along with your application.

Examination

You will need to pass the Ohio’s HVAC Contractor exam to become a HVAC Contractor.

There are materials and practice ems available online if you wish to practice for the exam.

The exams are administered by the PSI Exams.

The exam is lengthy and open-book.

The time frame in which you need to complete the test is 240 minutes.

The fee for this exam is $138.00.

The second exam you need to pass is the Business and Law exam.

You need to complete the exam within 120 minutes.

The fee for this exam is $69.00. However, those numbers won’t mean a thing once your salary comes in.

The exams cover knowledge of building codes and HVAC theory as well as your knowledge of repair and installation of HVAC systems.

It should be fairly easy for you to pass the exams, given that you will have five years of experience behind you.

It is not likely that you will need more than one attempt to pass the test.

EPA Certification

Because refrigerants are toxic substances that require careful handling, it is required by federal law that HVAC technicians, and other people, handing them have the EPA Section 608 certification.

You will acquire this certification by passing the EPA authorized exam. There is EPA Section 608 training to help you prepare for the test.

All HVAC technicians need to go through this program and pass the exam because of the delicate line of work.

Handling refrigerants also requires careful documentation of refrigerants you have worked with.

Therefore, there is a lot of paperwork that you need to get ready for.

Certificates are awarded by The Environmental Protection Agency, which is responsible for regulation of distribution and disposal of refrigerants.

You will need the EPA certification to buy or dispose refrigerants in commercial and residential systems.

The Section 608 certification does not expire and is accepted in all 50 states.

There are different types of certification.

Type I allows technicians to work with small appliance refrigerants.

Type II certifies that you can work with high-pressure appliances.

Type III allows you to work with low-pressure appliances.

Finally, there is an option of acquiring a universal certification that covers all refrigerants and the relevant documentation for all of them.

Schools

To prepare for your tests, and the on the job challenges you will need some training.

What better way than to complete an official HVAC training in one of the schools that offer approved HVAC training programs?

Here is a table of schools that offer these programs in Ohio:

Conclusion

Once you become a HVAC contractor you will work on repair or installation of commercial or residential heating and air-conditioning systems.

When you gain experience you can become a HVAC contractor and start your own business. You can earn decent amount of money.

Picking a job in the HVAC industry is a good choice as you will have great earnings; and since the demand for HVAC technicians is always high, you will have a stable job.

HVAC Schools by City

• Cincinnati
• Columbus