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Originally Posted On: 5 Tips for Starting an HVAC Career – Provisions News (provisionsnantucket.com)

Did you know that the average yearly salary of an HVAC technician in the US is $50,590?

The pay can be even higher depending on your education and experience level.

Maybe you’ve been considering starting an HVAC career, but haven’t known where to start. If that’s the case, this is the article for you!

Keep reading to learn some key tips on becoming an HVAC technician.

An HVAC technician installs, maintains, and repairs heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems and equipment.

This line of work is very hands-on and requires good troubleshooting skills. There is also room for advancement in this career.

If you’re interested, you could even start your own HVAC business down the road.

Starting on this career path isn’t the simplest process, so it’s best if you keep these tips in mind to guide you on your journey.

Part of becoming an HVAC technician requires you to get your high school diploma or equivalent, so you might as well use that time to the best of your advantage.

If you’re still in high school, take shop classes in subjects like plumbing and basic electronics. Gaining that knowledge early on can help you when it comes time for you to complete a training program.

Technically, the federal government doesn’t require HVAC technicians to have a certificate to work. However, there are many states that have their own rules about education and training for HVAC technicians, so you may end up needing it.

Plus, the information you have to learn to receive the certificate is crucial for HVAC technicians to know.

You can earn your certificate in less than a year depending on which training program you go through.

Like with tip 2, this isn’t required to become an HVAC technician. However, it can show potential employers that you already have experience in the field.

Apprenticeships can last 3-5 years and require an input of 2,000 hours per year. Apprenticeships often have both classroom and hands-on components to them.

There are a lot of certifications you can get as an HVAC technician. Getting more certifications can lead to a better salary because it shows that you have specialization in multiple areas.

You can get certifications in commercial furnaces, air distribution, gas or oil heating, and residential heaters to name just a few.

There is a certification that’s required by the federal government if you plan to work with refrigerants: the EPA Section 608 Certification.

As for licenses, some states (or even townships and localities) require you to have a license if you’re going to work in that area. You’ll need to do your own research to find out what the requirements are in your area.

As you can see, getting your HVAC career off the ground can take a few years. But don’t get discouraged: if you follow these tips, you’ll have higher earning potential.

Staying with this career for the long haul will also give you higher earning potential. According to Service Titan, the average yearly salary of a senior HVAC technician (working 4-7 years) is $63,800.

It might seem a little early to be thinking about starting your own HVAC business, but it can be helpful to plan in advance.

If you eventually want to start your own HVAC business, you’ll need to determine how much it will cost to start an HVAC business and how to finance your HVAC business.

You’ll also need to create a business plan. This business plan will help you plan out details of your business like your goals and how operations will work.

There’s definitely more involved in starting an HVAC business, but this should give a snapshot of what part of that process will look like.

With those tips from earlier in mind, you can begin taking the first steps to your HVAC career!

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