HVAC Apprenticeship Training Programs That Pay Students to Learn (2025)

At Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon, aspiring HVAC workers can complete a paid registered apprenticeship program under the supervision of the Mid-Valley HVAC/R JAT Committee. The apprenticeship lasts four years and includes 576 classroom hours at the college and 8,000 on-the-job training hours with approved training agents.

Apprentices begin earning a minimum salary and can earn $34.93 per hour once they reach journey-level status. Eligible apprentices earn two pay raises per year. Upon program completion, apprentices are referred to take the LE/B exam and receive their journey cards from the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI). Notably, brazing certification is also a part of this program.

• Location: Salem, Oregon
• Duration: Four years

Aspiring HVAC workers in Northern, Central, or Southern California may consider an apprenticeship program through the California Apprenticeship Coordinators Association.

Located in Los Angeles, Modesto, Concord, Burlingame, San Francisco, and San Jose, this organization offers a five-year apprenticeship program during which the apprentice must complete 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 216 hours per year of related instruction. The apprentice earns hourly pay based on a percentage of the journeyman’s salary, steadily receiving pay increases until they reach the same rate. Participants in this program may be eligible to receive medical, dental, and optical coverage, and pension and supplemental pension plan benefits.

• Location: Los Angeles, Modesto, Concord, Burlingame, San Francisco, and San Jose, California
• Duration: Five years

Service Legends, located in Des Moines, Iowa, allows aspiring HVAC professionals to complete an apprenticeship program approved at the federal and state levels. The apprenticeship lasts four years, during which the apprentice receives significant boosts in compensation at regular intervals; specifically, the starting pay is $16.50 per hour, and after completing 8,000 required hours of training, the apprentice can earn an hourly wage of $33.

During the first 90 days of the program, the apprentice also can earn an EPA 608 certification. Additionally, the training hours are split into certain categories, including those dedicated to safety, the installation and service of equipment, piping systems, ductwork, electrical systems, and tools knowledge.

• Location: Des Moines, Iowa
• Duration: Four years

Southern Air, one of Southeast’s leading electrical and mechanical contractors, specializes in designing, installing, and servicing HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems for buildings of all sizes. Its HVAC apprenticeship program prepares students for troubleshooting, repair methods, and installation techniques. Students in this program will learn to operate basic hand tools and advanced sophisticated tools such as carbon monoxide testers. Furthermore, this program also teaches students the importance of recovery, recycling, and conservation of refrigerants.

During four years of this apprenticeship, apprentices will receive structured on-the-job training and related classroom instruction. Each year will normally involve 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and a minimum of 144 hours of related classroom instruction. Depending on experience and education, apprentices can earn paychecks ranging from $15 to $20 an hour from day one.

To be eligible for this apprenticeship program, students must be employed with Southern Air, Inc. and be at least 16 years of age. Graduates of this program are granted a journeyman’s license after completing 8,000 hours of on-the-job and 576 hours of classroom training.

• Location: Lynchburg, Virginia
• Duration: Four years

Residents of Will County, Chicago, and the surrounding areas interested in a new career in the HVAC industry may complete an HVAC mechanical service pipefitter apprenticeship program through the Pipe Fitters’ Training Center Local Union 597.

The first four years of this five-year training program require students to work full-time for a union contract four days per week and attend school for one full day per week for a total of 1,100 classroom hours. In their fifth year, the apprentice works for a union contractor for the full year, and all training happens on the job. Students are eligible for health, dental, and vision coverage and a pension and can enter into a voluntary 401(K) plan. Applications are available every first Wednesday of each month between 8:00 am and 12:00 pm.

• Location: Mokena, Illinois
• Duration: Five years

Howard Community College’s HVAC/R apprenticeship program is designed to prepare technicians to work in the HVAC/R industry in residential and commercial environments. Apprentices in this program acquire a diverse skill set and learn about insulating refrigerant lines, cleaning furnaces, cutting and soldering pipes, and maintaining and repairing electrical circuits.

Working in partnership with Heating and Air Conditioning Contractors of Maryland (HACCMD), students in this four-year apprenticeship complete a total of 8,000 hours of paid fieldwork in addition to the required coursework at HCC. Also, apprentices can pursue Maryland State HVAC/R journeyman licensure through the State of Maryland’s Apprenticeship and Training Council.

After being selected for this apprenticeship, students can offset several costs associated with pursuing a college education. Employers typically cover tuition and fees, in addition to hiring students as full-time employees within their companies.

• Location: Columbia, Maryland
• Duration: Four years

Aspiring technicians researching HVAC training programs may notice that some are described as registered apprenticeships. Others make no mention of registration. For starters, the Department of Labor (DOL) defines an apprenticeship as a combination of “paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction to prepare workers for highly-skilled careers.” The DOL has established laws and regulations that establish the standards for training. Some states have incorporated apprenticeship standards that are recognized by the DOL

A registered apprenticeship (RA) is recognized by the DOL or appropriate state agency as meeting training standards. A non-registered apprenticeship “is an informal or employer-specific training program that combines on-the-job learning with some form of instruction.” A non-registered apprenticeship is generally not regulated, but may still meet specific training standards. There are advantages to each kind of apprenticeship, and apprentices should choose what best meets their needs and advances their long-term goals.

Accreditation is the assurance that an independent agency has evaluated the quality of a school or training. Both the curriculum and the instructors are evaluated based on established criteria. Numerous agencies throughout the country are responsible for conducting evaluations. Two industry agencies, HVAC Excellence and The Partnership for Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation (PAHRA), evaluate HVAC programs. Not all apprenticeship programs receive accreditation from either of these agencies. However, apprentices are advised to take accreditation into account when choosing their training as that can affect their long-term employability.