The increasing demand for HVAC engineers has prompted a skill cum career advancement among the technicians by doing all it takes to earn certification and license. Only by this can there be an equilibrium with the rapid demand.
An HVAC certification presents better opportunities than when not certified. One such benefit is that you will earn better with good fringe benefits.
Though certification requirements may vary locally and between states, this article is so apt that you wouldn’t want to miss a thing on how to get your HVAC license very fast in 2024.
All the information you seek is in this article. So, explore it the much you can.
Look at the table of contents and click on any topic to take you to the part of this article that interests you the most.
Table of contents
- What certifications should I get for HVAC?
- How long does it take to become a certified HVAC?
- How much can I make with a HVAC certificate?
- How do I get Nate certified HVAC?
- What is a HVAC Certification License?
- What Are The Benefits Of Becoming A Certified HVAC Technician?
- What are The Different Types Of HVAC Certificates?
- HVAC Certification Requirements
- Obtaining An HVAC License Very Fast
- How Much Does It Cost To Obtain An HVAC Certification?
- Frequently Asked Questions On How To Get An HVAC Certification Very Fast
- Conclusion
- References
- Recommendations
What certifications should I get for HVAC?
As indicated by the HVAC Training 101, the different types of HVAC certifications are summed up as:
- EPA Type I Certification – For Servicing Small Appliances.
- EPA Type II Certification – For Servicing High-Pressure Systems.
- Type III Certification (EPA) – For Servicing Low-Pressure Systems.
- Universal EPA Certificate.
- North American Technician Excellence (NATE)
How long does it take to become a certified HVAC?
One choice is to complete a training program for HVAC technicians supported by a technical college, trade school or community college. It takes anywhere from 6 months and beyond for these services. Graduates receive a diploma or an associate degree, depending on the program.
How much can I make with a HVAC certificate?
The U.S. Labor of Bureau Statistics notes that an HVAC technician’s median salary ranges between $14.94 and $24.84 an hour, while the top 10 % receives as much as $30.58. Indeed.com, however, breaks down HVAC mechanics’ compensation by salary, saying $43,000 a year is earned by the average HVAC technician.
How do I get Nate certified HVAC?
In at least one or more of the specific areas provided by NATE, technicians with 2 or more years of HVACR experience will receive installation or service certification. Certification requires the technician to pass the core test and an installation or operation exam.
What is a HVAC Certification License?
HVAC certification license means being skilled and qualified enough to perform installation, maintenance, and repair tasks in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning fields.
As a technician, you can become certified after passing through a series of tests on your ability of the profession.
Technicians must take tests proving their expertise in the trade before practicing. Hence, the primary body that sees to their certification North American Technical Excellence (NATE).
Another accredited body responsible for certification of the technicians as equal to the task and good enough is HVAC Excellence. The HVAC Excellence does its certification upon completion of an approved course or apprenticeship.
In addition to the NATE and HVAC Excellence, HVAC technicians must be certified by the Environmental Protection Agency to purchase refrigerants and dispose of them. A certification the technicians must achieve.
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What Are The Benefits Of Becoming A Certified HVAC Technician?
The HVAC has continued to attract more people. Sometime soon, there will be no room to contain qualified HVAC technicians. Here is where your certification gives you an edge over others during the fight.
See the list below for some benefits you can gain as a certified HVAC technician.
- Having a competitive preference over other HVAC technicians in the job market
- You can increase your earning potential as some organizations will pay certified technicians more.
- Your appearance to bigger projects and demanding roles increases as you demonstrate your competencies.
- If you decide to start your own HVAC business, your certification will help show potential clients that you mean business.
- It authenticates your knowledge as a technician, giving employers or clients peace of mind.
What are The Different Types Of HVAC Certificates?
Remember, we did mention the bodies responsible for certification above? See beneath for the various types of HVAC certificates.
- EPA Type I Certification – For Servicing Small Appliances
- EPA Type II Certification – For Servicing High-Pressure Systems
- Type III EPA Certification – For Servicing Low-Pressure Systems
- Universal EPA Certificate
- North American Technician Excellence (NATE)
However, it is important to note that different states have different licensing requirements for HVAC technicians.
#1. EPA Type I Certification – For Servicing Small Appliances
If your job restricts you from servicing and repairing small refrigerant-containing systems, you only need to study for the Type I certification. The course and exams cover topics that include:
- The definition of a small appliance example include a small window AC unit typically containing less than 5 kg of gas.
- System evacuation using suitable equipment.
- Gas recovery procedures for systems with or without a working compressor.
- Safety rules when handling refrigerants.
Take note that you must pass an approved test to achieve this certification.
#2. EPA Type II Certification – For Servicing High-Pressure Systems
You must acquire the EPA Type II certificate before you can do work relating to high-pressure systems. To sit for the exam, there isn’t a difference in the processes.
All you need to do is study your material and check out for the practice test. Below are some of the topics you will encounter:
- Identifying leaks in high-pressure systems.
- Why do you need to leak test before repair or system recharging?
- Leak repair requirements for systems containing more than 50 pounds of refrigerant.
- Recovery methods and good practice.
- Recovery specifications for repairs, disposal, carrying out ‘major’ repairs, etc.
- Understanding high-pressure refrigeration systems and gases.
- Safety and safe use of equipment.
Depending on how quickly you want your HVAC certification, you could choose to attend a class before taking the test over self-study.
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#3. Type III EPA Certification – For Servicing Low-Pressure Systems
This type of certification covers more or less the same topics as Type II, but for low-pressure systems.
If you have experience working on low-pressure systems beforehand, the certification process may be an opportunity to refresh your technical knowledge.
A prerequisite to achieving the Type III certificate is to pass the exam.
#4. Universal EPA Certificate
This certificate allows you to work on all types of systems. You will have to cover the coursework in the other certificates to obtain the certificate. This is so because it widens your options when searching for a job.
Furthermore, this certification may take longer to study due to the material you will need to cover.
Achieving this certification will allow you to work in any state in the US, granting you to meet the other relevant state and local licensing requirements for HVAC technicians.
#5. North American Technician Excellence (NATE)
NATE is a non-profit organization offering nationally recognized certification programs for HVAC technicians. Becoming an HVAC technician does not require certification; however, it comes with its benefits.
The realistic nature of the NATE certification process makes it the perfect criterion for technicians looking to prove their experience.
HVAC Certification Requirements
See the requirements to get your HVAC license with qualifications and experience, getting your certification is a lot easier than many HVAC technicians think.
- Earn a high school diploma or GED equivalent (depending on your state).
- Receive an HVAC certificate from an accredited trade school or program (depending on your state).
- Obtain your HVAC license from the state you plan on working in.
- Pass certification exams for different types of HVAC careers.
Obtaining An HVAC License Very Fast
Most licenses require either the completion of a training program or work experience of 2 to 5 years and you must meet the requirements in addition to passing the examination.
Averagely, 2 to 5 years is how much time you need to become a qualified HVAC technician.
So, upon verification of what the requirements for the license exam are, the faster route to getting things done is the training program which has proven to take lesser time than that of apprenticeship.
However, some schools offer accelerated programs that can be completed more quickly. Other schools offer a job-ready certification that can be completed in as little as 15 weeks.
How Much Does It Cost To Obtain An HVAC Certification?
Just like I earlier stated that the requirements for HVAC certification vary by state, so also is the cost of obtaining a certificate. However, the average cost of getting the training needed for an HVAC certificate is between $1,500 and $30,000.
Frequently Asked Questions On How To Get An HVAC Certification Very Fast
How long it takes to get certified depends on which route you choose to take among the training, job experience, or apprenticeship. However, a job-ready certification takes as little as 15 weeks.
No, you can’t. This is because certification forms require the exam to be taken in a supervised environment.
The average cost of getting the training needed for an HVAC certificate is between $1,500 and $30,000, depending upon location.
Conclusion
With the increasing demand for HVAC technicians, the future is brighter. To be a partaker, hurry now and skill up. Do not say you were not told.
References
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