Wyoming HVAC Training Schools

From the expansive plains to the Rocky Mountains, from Yellowstone National Park and Old Faithful to the Grand Tetons, Wyoming (WY) features dramatic landscapes. It also is a land of dramatic and rapidly changing weather conditions. Seasonal extremes of hailstorms, blizzards, high winds, cold, and summer heat waves may keep Wyomingites indoors. Heating, venting, and air conditioning (HVAC) keep them comfortable.

Two local organizations provide support to the HVAC industry. For one, the Associated General Contractors (ACG) of Wyoming promotes all aspects of the construction industry. They provide training and safety programs, including those relating to HVAC, contractors, and their employees. They network with other associations and industry leaders. Additionally, Cheyenne is the home of the International Association of Professional Contractors, a trade association serving the construction trades, including HVAC. The various national organizations also provide support, marketing, networking, and training through online venues.

So what do HVAC and refrigeration (HVAC-R) technicians do? Technicians travel to commercial and residential job sites to install, test, or repair heating and cooling systems. They must understand how to install and maintain heat pumps, water pumps, boilers, economizers, compressors, humidifiers, and other equipment. Technicians use a variety of basic and specialized tools. They may remove defective parts and reassemble the equipment. Sometimes they braze or solder leaking pipes or replace broken wires. If it is a new installation, technicians consult blueprints, lay pipes & wiring, and test the system. They adjust valves, motors, fans, belts, and other components in large and small HVAC systems.

Technicians must know how to test circuitry and calibrate controls. Additionally, the job can include performing heat load and loss calculations and ensuring that equipment installations meet relevant codes. Other responsibilities include maintaining complete service records; keeping certifications and credentials current; and explaining good energy conservation practices to customers.

This guide explores the accredited HVAC programs in Wyoming with discussions of coursework and tuition, as well as an examination of the state’s HVAC career outlook and salary prospects.

Occupational Demand for HVAC Technicians in Wyoming

The demand for HVAC technicians nationwide continues to grow. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2023), the number of openings in HVAC is expected to grow 6 percent nationally between 2022 and 2032, which is faster than the average for all professions (3 percent).

Factors contributing to the growth of the HVAC industry include:

New construction requires the installation of climate control systems
Complicated, continually evolving systems that require fresh technical skills
The contemporary focus on reducing pollution and improving energy efficiency

Additionally, older systems must be retrofitted or replaced to meet current standards. HVAC and HVAC-R technicians in Wyoming can work on commercial equipment in hospitals, offices, schools, and stores, as well as residential systems. Equipment may be located outdoors, necessitating repairs in adverse weather conditions.

Indoor conditions may be equally unpleasant for technicians when heating or cooling equipment stops working. Some work sites are small, forcing technicians into small or cramped positions. Electrical shocks and injuries related to moving heavy equipment contribute to the high injury rates experienced by HVAC technicians.

According to the BLS ( 2023), 67 percent of HVAC-R technicians work for contractors. Eight percent are self-employed. The remaining workers are employed by schools or retail and wholesale organizations. Technicians usually work full-time, with overtime hours during peak seasons.

To illustrate the abundance of openings in Wyoming’s HVAC industry, one need not look further than online job boards. Indeed (January 2024) posted several local listings at organizations like Johnson Controls, Long Building Technologies, and Vertiv Group Corporation, among many others.

Monster (January 2024) also has listings for mechanics and service technicians with jobs available at Wyoming CAT, Sunbelt Rentals, Union Wireless, and Hoskinson Biotechnology, among others.

HVAC Worker Salary in Wyoming

The BLS (May 2022) reported that nationally, HVAC-R mechanics and installers receive an annual mean wage of $57,460. Wyoming technicians receive an annual mean wage of $56,530, which is slightly lower than the national average. Notably, the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC 2023) stated that Wyoming is the 19th most affordable state in the country. This lower cost of living means that even a lower-than-average salary will go quite a bit further in Wyoming than it would in costlier nearby states like Colorado and Montana.

The annual salary prospects for HVAC professionals nationally as compared to Wyoming were as follows:

	United States	Wyoming
Number of HVAC professionals employed	374,770	420
Annual mean wage	$57,460	$56,530
10th percentile	$36,170	$39,350
25th percentile	$44,100	$48,750
50th percentile (median)	$51,390	$57,010
75th percentile	$65,630	$60,720
90th percentile	$82,630	$77,960

The national figures were slightly different according to another source of data, Payscale (January 2024), which relies on self-reported salaries. Among the HVAC workers reporting their annual salaries, Payscale found these percentiles:

10th percentile: $35,000
50th percentile (median): $54,850
90th percentile: $83,000

HVAC Apprenticeships in Wyoming

Before searching for work in the field, many aspiring HVAC technicians choose to complete a training program to obtain the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed. This generally includes an apprenticeship, formal degree, or certificate program, although other options are available.

Currently, the Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union 192 in Cheyenne offers an apprenticeship for those interested in a new HVAC career. This program lasts for five years and requires participants to complete many hours of on-the-job training and classroom education. During the program, apprentices earn a wage that is calculated based on the compensation of the supervising journeyman and are also eligible for raises periodically.

Accredited HVAC Schools in Wyoming

Anyone looking to complete HVAC education in Wyoming should also understand that many aspiring technicians choose to enroll in accredited programs, which often last between six months and two years. Independent organizations for faculty, facilities, curriculum, and learning outcomes have evaluated these programs.

Accreditation is an independent evaluation that the school meets or exceeds standards for the quality of instructors and curriculum. For institutions offering HVAC and HVAC-R training, accreditation from the following industry organizations may be important:

HVAC Excellence
Partnership for Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation (PAHRA)

As of December 2023, there were no programs in WY that have earned accreditation from either organization.

Although individuals can sometimes enter the HVAC industry without training, those who have earned certificates or degrees generally can obtain jobs much easier. They may also start at higher wages and earn more over their career life. HVAC equipment and systems have become so complex that coursework and hands-on training is highly recommended for job seekers.

Casper College

The Center for Training and Development at Casper College periodically offers an HVAC-R technician career training course providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to obtain entry-level positions in the HVAC-R industry.

Professionals can also use this course to upgrade their skills as HVAC-R technicians. Combining practical and theoretical applications, the program provides a solid understanding of how HVAC systems work.

As part of the program, students will delve into topics such as fundamentals of HVAC-R, refrigeration systems & components, refrigeration practices, HVAC-R electrical systems & their components, air conditioning systems, heating systems, and heat pump systems, among others.

Students in this program will also be prepared to take the EPA Section 608 national certification exams. Graduates can install and maintain HVAC-R systems and obtain entry-level HVAC-R positions.

Location: Casper, WY
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Expected Time to Completion: 330 hours (can be accessed for 12 months)

Northwest College

Northwest College offers an HVAC apprenticeship program providing students with functional knowledge about the basics of HVAC-R and preparing them to take the journeyman’s test. The program’s faculty includes industry experts who provide students with hands-on training in air conditioning theory, motors & basic electrical controls, electrical theory, installation methods, code requirements, and much more!

The program requires 6,000 to 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 576 hours of instruction. Some of the topics students will delve into include HVAC theory, blueprint reading, electricity, air conditioning, sheet metal, fuel gas piping & venting, and hydronics.

To be eligible for the program, students must be at least 16 years old, and a high school diploma or GED is recommended.

Location: Powell, WY
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Expected Time to Completion: Four years

Laramie County Community College

Laramie County Community College based in Cheyenne offers an industrial systems technology (IST) credit diploma that is designed for students who wish to prepare for careers as wind energy technicians, HVAC technicians, industrial electricians, maintenance technicians, or electrical controls technicians. This program explores electronics, safety, and mechanical maintenance fundamentals to prepare graduates to maintain, service, install, or repair equipment for a wide range of industries.

Made up of 17 credits, the program includes courses such as success in the workplace: soft skills; introduction to industrial safety; trade skills fundamentals; mechanical drives; DC electricity; DC electrical circuits; AC electricity; and AC electrical circuits.

Location: Cheyenne, WY
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Expected Time to Completion: One semester

Front Range Community College

As there are limited options for HVAC programs in Wyoming, one can look for HVAC programs in nearby states such as Colorado and Montana. One such program is available at Front Range Community College that offers an associate of applied science (AAS) degree and several certificate options in HVAC-R (heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration).

The 60-credit AAS degree includes courses such as basic electricity; basic refrigeration; electrical components; hot water heating systems; heating for commercial; industrial controls; commercial refrigeration; and troubleshooting & customer service.

Certificate options include residential air conditioning & heating (35 credits); light commercial air conditioning & heating (37 credits); commercial refrigeration (28 credits); and HVAC-R fundamentals (15 credits).

Location: Fort Collins, CO
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); PAHRA
Expected Time to Completion: AAS (four semesters); residential air conditioning & heating certificate (three semesters); light commercial air conditioning & heating certificate (three semesters); commercial refrigeration certificate (two semesters); and HVAC-R fundamentals certificate (one semester)

U.S. Career Institute

The U.S. Career Institute in Fort Collins, Colorado, offers an online HVAC school training program that prepares students with the techniques and procedures needed for testing, installing, maintaining, and repairing HVAC-R systems. Graduates of this program will be equipped to sit for the nationally recognized EPA 608 type I, II, and III certification exams.

Students in this online HVAC-R program will learn about maintaining, servicing, and installing heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems and graduates will learn the necessary skills needed for professionally performing the duties of an HVAC-R Tech. Students get an introduction to the field of HVAC-R including regulations, theories, procedures, systems, safety, and equipment.

Location: Fort Collins, CO
Accreditation: Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)
Expected Time to Completion: Four to six months

HVAC Certification & Licensing In Wyoming

Federal law requires all technicians working with refrigerants to obtain the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Section 608 Certification. Certification requires passing exams on the safe handling of refrigerants. Four levels of certifications are available, based on the size and type of equipment. The Universal certification allows technicians to work on all equipment.

Technicians may obtain additional training and certifications from industry organizations. These include, but are not limited to:

Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) – Certified instructors teach courses and are available online; technicians can study basic and advanced HVAC and HVAC-R principles
North American Technician Excellence (NATE) – Training and certification in HVAC and HVAC-R knowledge areas
HVAC Excellence – Dedicated to improving HVAC technician competence through training and certification

Check out the HVAC certifications guide for more information.

As a final note, the State of Wyoming does not require HVAC or HVAC-R licensing, although municipal credentialing and permits may vary. Counties and cities are allowed to set HVAC certification and licensing requirements, and most of them do. Additionally, electrical permits may be required if HVAC technicians lay wiring for systems.

Jocelyn Blore

Jocelyn Blore is the chief content officer of Sechel Ventures and the co-author of the Women Breaking Barriers series. She graduated summa cum laude from UC Berkeley and traveled the world for five years. She also worked as an addiction specialist for two years in San Francisco. She’s interested in how culture shapes individuals and systems within societies—one of the many themes she writes about in her blog, Blore’s Razor (Instagram: @bloresrazor). She has served as managing editor for several healthcare websites since 2015.