HVAC Tech Responsibilties:
Install or repair heating, central air conditioning, HVAC, or refrigeration systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating stoves.
HVAC Tech Benefits:
HVAC techs can get lots of overtime work since many people require fixes and upgrades during the summer and winter months. The shortage of HVAC techs means there are more opportunities than ever in this space!
As an HVAC technician in Connecticut, it is essential to have a Connecticut HVAC license to perform your work. You can obtain this license from the Department of Consumer Protection, the state's regulatory authority responsible for issuing HVAC licenses. You can find more information about the Department of Consumer Protection here.
Connecticut HVAC Licenses
In Connecticut, there are three types of HVAC licenses: Apprentice, Journeyperson, and Contractor. The Journeyperson and Contractor licenses each have ten separate specialty licenses.
Apprentice
To become an apprentice HVAC technician in Connecticut, you must enroll in a 4-year course that begins with an S-2 qualification. This course consists of 720 hours of instruction and 8,000 hours of on-the-job training. You will need to obtain a permit from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) and register with the Connecticut Office of Apprenticeship Training. As an apprentice, you can only work under the supervision of a licensed contractor or journeyperson.
The average salary for an apprentice HVAC technician in Connecticut is $31,966.
Journeyperson
To become a journeyperson, you must complete a registered apprenticeship program and pass a licensing exam. Journeypersons can work only under a licensed HVAC contractor. There are two types of licenses available for journeypersons: Limited, which allows you to work in a specific area of the industry, and Unlimited, which allows you to work in any area of the trade.
The average salary for an HVAC journeyperson in Connecticut is $58,500.
Specialty licenses available for Connecticut HVAC journeypersons:
For more detailed information about the scopes of work and requirements for each license, visit the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection website.
Contractor
To become a contractor in Connecticut, you must have worked for two years as an HVAC journeyperson. As a licensed contractor, you can offer your services to the general public and employ journeypersons and apprentices. Services may include the installation, repair, and maintenance of heating, piping, cooling, and sheet metal systems.
There are two types of contractor licenses available: Limited and Unlimited. A Limited license allows you to work in a specific area of the trade, while an Unlimited license allows you to operate in any area of HVAC. To become a contractor, you must pass a trade exam as well as a business and law exam.
The average salary for an HVAC contractor in Connecticut is $72,420.
Specialty licenses available for Connecticut HVAC contractors:
For more information about each specialty license, refer to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection website.
Obtaining advanced certification in the HVAC industry in Connecticut offers several benefits for your career:
Becoming an HVAC technician in Connecticut provides additional advantages:
The application fee for an HVAC Journeyperson in Connecticut is $90.00. The initial license fee of $120.00 is due after passing the licensing exam. The renewal fee for Journeyperson is $120.00, and all HVAC licenses in Connecticut expire on August 31 of every year.
For a contractor’s Connecticut HVAC License, the application fee is $150.00. The initial license fee of $150.00 is due after successfully completing the licensing exam. The renewal fee for a Contractor is $150.00.
You can visit this link to apply for an HVAC license in Connecticut, and also click here to renew your HVAC license online.
In Connecticut, there are several institutions and programs that offer HVAC training. These options include:
The tuition costs for these programs vary depending on the school and courses. Individual courses can start at $200, while full programs can cost $17,000. Financial assistance, payment plans, and grants may be available through colleges. High school level apprenticeships and technical classes are provided by the State Department of Education for students interested in entering the profession at a younger age.
Most HVAC courses, except for online options, involve classroom attendance and on-the-job training. These programs typically require a minimum prerequisite of 8,000 hours. On average, apprentices need to study for at least 4 years and gain suitable work experience before applying for a Journeyperson license.
Journeyperson and Contractor Licenses for HVAC in Connecticut are issued by the Department of Consumer Protection. The Unlimited Journeyperson certification exam consists of 70 questions with a time limit of 2.5 hours. A passing score of 70% is required, and there is a $62 fee for the exam. The Unlimited HVAC Contractor exam has 80 questions with a 3-hour time limit and also requires a 70% passing score. In addition, contractors must pass the Connecticut Business and Law exam. To schedule Connecticut State Licensing exams, you can visit PSI Exams Online.
See all jobs, apprenticeships, and trade schools
Want to get into this trade?
Find jobs near you