HVAC Training Programs in Georgia

For aspiring HVAC mechanics, installers, and technicians in Georgia, appropriate training and preparation for the career is essential. Although it is not required for licensure, HVAC professionals in GA are encouraged to seek out accredited programs. There are two predominant approval agencies in this field: the Partnership for Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation (PAHRA) and HVAC Excellence. These organizations weigh several factors in the program approval process, such as program mission, quality of facilities & faculty, and comprehensiveness of curricula. For an in-depth examination of each of these factors, check out the PAHRA and HVAC Excellence websites. Luckily for Georgia residents, there are four PAHRA-accredited schools in the state.

West Central Technical College in Carrollton provides PAHRA-accredited career diplomas and certificates in air conditioning technology with sub-specializations for A/C electrical technicians, repairers, technician assistants, and installers. Through its various programs, this school offers coursework in areas such as refrigeration fundamentals; system components; HVACR electrical fundamentals; electrical motors; air conditioning systems application & installation; gas heat; heat pumps & related systems; and troubleshooting air conditioning systems. West Georgia programs cost $89 per credit hour for Georgia residents and $178 per credit hour for out of state students.

Georgia Piedmont Technical College in Clarkston also offers PAHRA-accredited HVAC training. Georgia Piedmont provides two certificates (air conditioning technician’s assistant and air conditioning electrical technician) along with a diploma program and an associate degree program in air conditioning technology. In the school’s degree program, students take general education coursework in addition to classes such as refrigeration principles & practices; refrigeration system components; HVAC-R electrical motors; HVAC-R electrical components & controls; air conditioning systems application & installation; gas heat; heat pumps & related systems; and residential systems designs. This program also costs $89 per credit hour for Georgia residents and $178 for out of state students.

Gwinnett Technical College, with campuses in Lawrenceville and Alpharetta, provides several certificates (A/C electrical technician, A/C maintenance technician, and refrigeration system service technician), diplomas (air conditioning technology and building maintenance), and a degree program in air conditioning technology. In its associate of applied science (AAS) program, students take courses such as refrigeration fundamentals; HVAC-R electrical components & controls; and troubleshooting air conditioning systems. The cost of enrollment at Gwinnett Tech is notable higher, with in-state tuition coming in at $507 per credit and out of state students paying $596 per credit. However, that per credit rate goes down with the more credits a student takes.

In addition to the programs listed above, as of October 2018 there were ten schools with programs accredited by HVAC Excellence. For instance, Coastal Pines Technical College has campuses in several cities (e.g., Waycross, Jesup, Golden Isles) and provides several certificate courses, including an air conditioning technician program with courses in refrigeration fundamentals and troubleshooting air conditioning systems.

Please note that there are also some accredited distance-based programs for people living in more rural regions of GA or who have commitments that make it impossible to travel to a school campus. To learn about these options, check out the online HVAC programs page.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2017) reported that there were 307,060 HVAC workers around the country with an annual average salary of $49,530. In more detailed terms, these HVAC professionals had the following yearly wage percentiles nationwide:

US (307,060 HVAC workers): $49,530 annual average salary

• 10th percentile: $29,120
• 25th percentile: $36,150
• 50th percentile (median): $47,080
• 75th percentile: $60,270
• 90th percentile: $75,330

And in hourly figures, these wages equated to:

US: $23.81/hr. average

• 10th percentile: $14.00/hr.
• 25th percentile: $17.38/hr.
• 50th percentile (median): $22.64/hr.
• 75th percentile: $28.98/hr.
• 90th percentile: $36.22/hr.

Interestingly, the HVAC mechanics, technicians, and installers in Georgia made only slightly less money than national averages despite enjoying a relatively low cost of living. By illustration, the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC 2018) found that Georgia was the ninth most affordable state in the country, boasting particular savings in housing.

The BLS (2017) reported that the 8,350 HVAC workers in Georgia made an annual average salary of $42,890. In more detailed terms, they had the following percentiles:

Georgia (8,350 HVAC workers): $42,890 average annual salary

• 10th percentile: $26,980
• 25th percentile: $34,000
• 50th percentile (median): $42,110
• 75th percentile: $50,170
• 90th percentile: $61,230

And in hourly terms, these Georgia-based HVAC worker salaries equated to:

Georgia: $20.62/hr. avg.

• 10th percentile: $12.97/hr.
• 25th percentile: $16.34/hr.
• 50th percentile (median): $20.25/hr.
• 75th percentile: $24.12/hr.
• 90th percentile: $29.44/hr.

Not surprisingly, these wages also varied substantially among regions of the state. Here are the numbers of HVAC workers employed, average salaries, and wage percentiles among the 16 BLS-designated regions of Georgia for which data was reported(BLS 2017):

Albany, GA (number of HVAC workers employed unknown): $37,450 average annual salary

• 10th percentile: $27,160
• 25th percentile: $32,940
• 50th percentile (median): $37,510
• 75th percentile: $43,200
• 90th percentile: $48,100

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA (5,190 employed): $44,370 avg.

• 10th percentile: $26,800
• 25th percentile: $35,000
• 50th percentile (median): $43,850
• 75th percentile: $51,390
• 90th percentile: $63,230

Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC (550 employed): $42,740 avg.

• 10th percentile: $29,420
• 25th percentile: $34,410
• 50th percentile (median): $40,660
• 75th percentile: $49,020
• 90th percentile: $61,120

Columbus, GA-AL (230 employed): $40,660 avg.

• 10th percentile: $26,730
• 25th percentile: $31,790
• 50th percentile (median): $40,880
• 75th percentile: $49,070
• 90th percentile: $57,330

Dalton, GA (80 employed): $41,390 avg.

• 10th percentile: $27,560
• 25th percentile: $32,630
• 50th percentile (median): $40,690
• 75th percentile: $50,710
• 90th percentile: $58,140

Gainesville, GA (280 employed): $43,390 avg.

• 10th percentile: $28,540
• 25th percentile: $33,740
• 50th percentile (median): $41,500
• 75th percentile: $52,920
• 90th percentile: $61,450

Hinesville, GA (50 employed): $41,590 avg.

• 10th percentile: $32,890
• 25th percentile: $36,580
• 50th percentile (median): $42,310
• 75th percentile: $47,280
• 90th percentile: $50,270

Macon, GA (200 employed): $40,910 avg.

• 10th percentile: $27,790
• 25th percentile: $31,770
• 50th percentile (median): $37,610
• 75th percentile: $48,250
• 90th percentile: $61,260

Rome, GA (70 employed): $44,550 avg.

• 10th percentile: $31,510
• 25th percentile: $38,610
• 50th percentile (median): $44,860
• 75th percentile: $50,250
• 90th percentile: $59,880

Savannah, GA (410 employed): $43,040 avg.

• 10th percentile: $31,420
• 25th percentile: $35,520
• 50th percentile (median): $42,230
• 75th percentile: $49,220
• 90th percentile: $58,110

Valdosta, GA (number employed unknown): $37,530 avg.

• 10th percentile: $25,700
• 25th percentile: $30,720
• 50th percentile (median): $37,360
• 75th percentile: $44,990
• 90th percentile: $50,210

Warner Robins, GA (230 employed): $33,910 avg.

• 10th percentile: $21,840
• 25th percentile: $25,640
• 50th percentile (median): $30,230
• 75th percentile: $41,830
• 90th percentile: $55,000

North Georgia Nonmetropolitan Area (260 employed): $39,960 avg.

• 10th percentile: $31,150
• 25th percentile: $34,730
• 50th percentile (median): $40,190
• 75th percentile: $45,970
• 90th percentile: $49,500

Middle Georgia Nonmetropolitan Area (80 employed): $44,750 avg.

• 10th percentile: $27,330
• 25th percentile: $32,370
• 50th percentile (median): $46,760
• 75th percentile: $57,630
• 90th percentile: $62,390

East Georgia Nonmetropolitan Area (170 employed): $39,730 avg.

• 10th percentile: $29,730
• 25th percentile: $34,040
• 50th percentile (median): $39,650
• 75th percentile: $46,270
• 90th percentile: $50,350

South Georgia Nonmetropolitan Area (390 employed): $38,760 avg.

• 10th percentile: $25,260
• 25th percentile: $31,940
• 50th percentile (median): $37,090
• 75th percentile: $44,810
• 90th percentile: $56,430

Prior to securing employment as an HVAC-R or air conditioning professional in Georgia, it’s important to have the proper credentialing. There is one mandatory national certification for people who work with refrigerants: the EPA Section 608 certification of which there are four kinds varying by type of equipment:

• type I (small appliances)
• type II (high-pressure refrigerants)
• type III (low-pressure refrigerants)
• type IV (universal)

Type II or higher is required for all GA conditioned air contractors seeking state licensure.

Some HVAC professionals in GA seek certifications from the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES), North American Technician Excellence (NATE), or HVAC Excellence as well. For a detailed overview of these options, check out the HVAC certifications page.

Finally, there is a required state-specific credential to consider. A contractor’s license from the Georgia Board of Conditioned Air Contractors is necessary for anyone who completes residential or commercial projects costing more than $2,500. There are two levels of conditioned air contractor licenses available:

• Class 1 – Restricted (open to people with four years of qualifying experience)
• Class 2 – Unrestricted (open to those with five years of experience, including proof of having installed systems with at least 175,000 BTU [net] of heating and 60,000 BTU of cooling)

For those who have completed a certificate, diploma, or degree program, two years of this formal training can be applied to qualify for a state contractor license. Additionally, candidates must do the following to qualify for credentialing:

• Submit three notarized references from professionally credentialed people
• Show proof of at least a type II (high-pressure refrigerants) EPA Section 608 certification
• Pass a comprehensive examination in conditioned air with at least a 70 percent score

The open-book exam comprises 100 questions, covering business & law as well as the technical aspects of the profession (e.g., system design, maintenance & repair). The Georgia Board has reciprocal agreements with Louisiana, South Carolina, and Texas so candidates who are licensed in those states may be exempt from the exam. Georgia licenses are valid for two years and licensees must complete at least eight hours of continued education (CE) per renewal period in order to mainain their credential in good standing.