If you are thinking about pursuing a career in HVAC installation and maintenance, then you’re making a smart decision. You’ll be entering a profession that is projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to grow by 6% over the next decade, which is much faster than the average. When you stop and think about it, it’s not hard to understand why HVAC techs are in such high demand. After all, there’s not a residential, commercial, or industrial property that doesn’t require some degree of heating and/or cooling.

But before you can enjoy a successful career in HVAC, you first need to receive the right type of training. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment is extremely complex and delicate, not to mention expensive, so you need the skills necessary to perform your job properly and safely.

At BTrained, we provide the ultimate HVAC learning experience that can help you get started in this highly rewarding and lucrative field. With a variety of training courses available, we make it easy for you to get trained in HVAC installation and maintenance in a manner that conforms to your lifestyle and schedule.

In this post, you will learn more about HVAC training and what to expect from your experience. The topics we will cover will include:

• What is HVAC training?
• Different types of HVAC training courses
• How to choose the right HVAC training course for you
• Benefits of HVAC training
• HVAC jobs and salaries

 

What is HVAC Training?

HVAC training is a training course that provides you with the knowledge and hands-on experience that you will need to have when entering the HVAC field. Once your training is completed, you will be eligible to sit for the HVAC Certification Examination.

Gaining HVAC certification is important because it ensures prospective employers and customers that you are knowledgeable, trained, and professional, thus making you a highly attractive job candidate.

Over the course of your HVAC training program, you will learn the basics of the heating and air conditioning industry, with topics including:

• Basic Refrigeration
• Basic HVAC Components and Functions
• HVAC and the Environment
• Everyday Skills and Techniques
• Metallurgical Science and Practice
• Systems and Sizing
• Properly Sized Duct Systems
• “All About Air”
• System Charging & Vacuum
• Soft Skills for Customer Relations
• Electrical Safety, Controls, and Wiring
• Finishes Touches for Technicians

Modern HVAC systems need to be carefully configured for the spaces they are being installed in, so they can operate as efficiently as possible. There is no one-size-fits-all solution in HVAC because every space is different. Therefore, it takes a lot of skill and experience to size a system properly.

As part of your HVAC training, you will learn how to adequately size an HVAC system based on a variety of different factors and design a ductwork system that will ensure maximum airflow throughout any given floor plan.

 

Different Types of HVAC Training Courses

BTrained offers a variety of different HVAC training courses and exam prep seminars, so you can choose the right type of learning experience for your unique needs. Our catalog of training courses includes:

• HVAC B-Elite 12-Week Night Courses
• HVAC B-Elite Express 2-Week Courses
• HVAC Metal Duct Design & Fabrication
• Custom HVAC Courses for Employers
• BPrepared HVAC Exam Prep Seminar

The HVAC B-Elite 12 Week Night Course is a 12-week course of study featuring classes twice a week (no weekends) from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. This course is approved by the Alabama HACR Board as a Pre-Examination Curriculum, allowing graduates to qualify to take the certification examination.

The HVAC B-Elite Express 2 Week Course is designed for the individual who wants to get on the fast track to a career in HVAC. This course features classes five times per week, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. It covers all the same topics as the 12-week course but in an intensive 2-week program. This course is also approved by the Alabama HACR Board as a Pre-Examination Curriculum, allowing graduates to take the certification examination.

The HVAC Metal Duct Design & Fabrication course is specially designed to help you take your duct fabrication skills to the next level. This is a 3-day weekend course of study featuring classes that run from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The topics covered in this training course include:

• Designing & Fabricating Common Duct Transition Fittings
• Transition Fittings for Change-Outs
• Designing & Fabricating Square to Rounds
• Safe Handling of Galvanized Sheet Metal
• Proper use of Fabrication Tools
• Systems and Sizing
• Personal Instruction on Proper Fabrication
• Hands-On Workshop

BTrained can also create custom courses for HVAC companies that are looking to train or certify multiple employees all at once. For example, we can create a customized 2-week B-Elite Express program just for your team, a specialized exam prep course for your team, or any other specific training program you need to ensure your team has the skills necessary for performing exceptional work.

If you have completed your initial HVAC training and want to increase your chances of passing the Alabama HVAC Contractors Exam, then enrolling in BTrained’s BPrepared HVAC Exam Prep Seminar will help. This is an intensive 2-day seminar that is designed to ensure that you are prepared for your upcoming exam by providing you with successful test techniques, a practical book review, sample questions, and a sample practice exam.

 

How to Choose the Right HVAC Training Course For You

Since both of our BElite HVAC training courses deliver the same quality information and carry the same price point, your choice will most likely be determined by which program fits best within your current schedule and lifestyle.

For example, if you are in an HVAC apprenticeship or working another job in which you have regular working hours during the day, then taking the 12-week BElite Training Course will fit your life best because you can take your classes at night. Or, if you want to change careers quickly or start on the path of a career in HVAC right after high school graduation, then choosing the 2-week BElite Training Course will help you gain the skills you need to pursue your new profession much more quickly.

Depending on how much time has passed since you completed your HVAC training course, you may want a refresher before tackling the Alabama HVAC Contractor Exam. If this is where you are at in your career journey, then enrolling in the Exam Prep Seminar will be your ideal course of action.

Meanwhile, our HVAC Metal Duct Design & Fabrication course is for those who are already working in the field but want to enhance their skills and improve their understanding of this extremely important component of the HVAC industry. 

Another factor that can come into play in choosing your ideal HVAC training course is location. BTrained offers both the 12-week and the 2-week BElite training courses at our Birmingham and Huntsville campuses, but the Duct Design & Fabrication course and the BPrepared HVAC Exam Prep Seminar are only available at our Birmingham campus.

 

Benefits of HVAC Training

A sizable part of becoming a top-tier HVAC technician occurs on the job because that is where you will eventually be exposed to the equipment and situations that you will need to experience to hone your skills. As a result, some may be convinced that they can learn everything they need to know about HVAC on their own but this is simply not the case.

Heating and cooling systems are among the most complex systems designed by man. To work competently and safely, you need to know how to work with electricity in a range of voltages, install plumbing, ensure proper ventilation, calculate airflow and vacuum, and much more. These skills are best learned in a classroom setting under the careful guidance of an experienced instructor.

An HVAC training course is a safe space where you can work through problems in a supportive environment instead of on the job, where a simple wiring mistake can cause a major problem for both your customer and your employer.

In addition, you need to complete an approved HVAC training program before you can even qualify to sit for your Alabama HVAC Contractors Exam. If you attempt to learn the HVAC profession solely by working alongside an HVAC technician, then you will never be able to gain the certification you need to secure work as a certified HVAC tech.

Completing HVAC training gets you started in a career that is essentially future-proofed. The world will always need heating and cooling, so there will always be work available for highly qualified technicians. Plus, you can take your skills with you wherever you go, even overseas, thus increasing your opportunities even more.

For those with enterprising spirits, completing an HVAC training program provides them with skills that they can use both on the job and off. Many certified HVAC technicians work for companies during the day and then accept lucrative side jobs at night or over weekends. And during the summer and winter months, there are always plenty of opportunities to earn more money thanks to the massive increase in demand.

What many may not even consider is that there is also a strong sense of satisfaction that comes with being a certified HVAC technician. The work you do not only helps make your customers more comfortable, but it also saves lives and protects property. Having the skills required to keep an HVAC system running properly will allow you to help your clients save money on their monthly utility bills and avoid potential disasters.

With the foundation provided by your education in the field, you can even discover fun and rewarding ways to branch out from your initial career path. For instance, you can become a “wellness coordinator” who advises businesses on their HVAC systems and provides them with ways to increase the health, wellness, and productivity of their employees. With your HVAC training, your possibilities for earning money are only limited by your imagination.

 

HVAC Jobs & Salaries

In 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the national median pay for HVAC mechanics and installers was $24.71 per hour, or $51,390 per year. Those fresh out of school or with less than one year of experience tended to earn around $22.47 per hour. Meanwhile, technicians with over 10 years of experience earned an average of $32.83 per hour.

That said, every state is different. States like California, Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Massachusetts, and Connecticut have noticeably higher HVAC wages to coincide with the extraordinarily high cost of living in those areas. In Alabama, the median pay is $41,340 with the top 10% of HVAC technicians earning an average of $62,640 per year. The bottom 10% earn an average of $26,490 per year.

In the HVAC industry, experience is the largest driver in determining how much an HVAC technician can make with the field having three experience levels - Entry/Min-Level, Senior, and Manager. Entry/Mid-Level is what technicians with zero to five years of experience are considered, while a Senior technician is someone with six to nine years of experience. A Manager is the highest paid level, with these individuals having at least ten years of experience working in the field.

One way an HVAC technician can increase their salary potential is by continuing their education and acquiring additional certifications. Some of the certifications that can help improve a tech’s salary potential include:

 

EPA 608 Certification‍

The EPA 608 Certification is required by the EPA for HVAC technicians in every state.

 

NATE Certifications

NATE Certifications are not required, but acquiring them demonstrates your knowledge of a given skill, both to clients and employers. These certifications include:

 

The Ready-to-Work Certificate 

The NATE Ready-to-Work Certificate is designed for the entry-level technician who has little to no experience or background knowledge. The exam covers information regarding the basic fundamentals of the HVAC industry.

 

HVAC Support Technician Certificate

The NATE HVAC Support Technician Certificate shows an understanding of topics that will be covered in the professional level certification but at a more fundamental level. It is designed for techs who have six months to a year of experience in the HVAC industry.

 

NATE Certification

NATE Certification is recommended for technicians who have worked in HVAC for two or more years. This is NATE’s main certification and after this, you’ll receive a certificate, a wallet card, and a patch, along with your information stored in their internal bank for contractors to look up and confirm your completion as well. This Certification can be acquired in one of two ways - by completing the Traditional Pathway, which includes a core exam and a specialty exam in your field of choice, or by completing NATE’s Certified HVAC Professional (CHP-5) exams.

 

Traditional Core and Specialty Exam

The Traditional Pathway of the NATE Certification includes two exams. The first is the core exam, which contains 50 questions in the areas of general knowledge, construction knowledge, and HVAC-specific knowledge. The second is the Specialty exam, which is broken into two groups, installation specialties and service specialties. You choose the specialty exam that you’d like to be certified in, which can include:

 

Installation Specialities

• Air Conditioning
• Air Distribution
• Air-to-Air Heat Pump
• Gas Heating (Air)

 

Service Specialties

• Air Conditioning
• Air Conditioning - Spanish
• Air Distribution
• Commercial Refrigeration
• Heat Pump (Air to Air)
• Heat Pump (Air to Air) - Spanish
• Gas Heating (Air)
• Gas Heating (Air) - Spanish
• Hydronics Gas
• Hydronics Oil
• Light Commercial Refrigeration
• Oil Heating (Air)

 

Certified HVAC Professional (CHP-5)

The NATE Certified HVAC Professional (CHP-5) is an alternative route to gaining your NATE Certification. This includes the completion of five exams, with one each focusing on the following subjects:

• • HVAC Fundamentals
  • Electrical and Controls
  • Comfort and Airflow
  • Installation
  • Service

 

Senior Level Efficiency Analyst Certification‍

The NATE Senior Level Efficiency Analyst Certification is for HVAC technicians who have more than five years of experience and have acquired at least two NATE specialty certifications. ‍

 

HVAC Excellence

HVAC Excellence offers progressive levels of certification that serve to distinguish a technician’s knowledge and skill level as they advance in their career.

 

Get Started On the Path to an Exciting and Lucrative Career in HVAC

Imagine having a career that not only garners instant respect but one that also provides a comfortable salary with endless profit-boosting opportunities. As an HVAC technician, you will be entering a fun and rewarding profession where your skills will always be in high demand.

The best thing you can do when starting your journey toward your new career is to get the education and hands-on experience that only comes from being trained by the experts. The importance of your training cannot be overstated because your education will serve as the foundation for everything that comes after.

By enrolling in one of BTrained’s HVAC training courses, you will gain all the skills you need to qualify to sit for the Alabama HVAC Contractors Exam and start earning an income in this future-proof field. But you don’t want to wait. Each of our training courses has a limited number of seats available, and they fill up quickly. Enroll today and secure your spot. You can start your exciting new career in as little as two weeks!