How much does HVAC school cost?
HVAC school costs $4,840 to $19,769 at the public colleges below, which publish a total price for an HVAC or HVAC/R certificate.[s_cb7287][s_cb969] BLS lists a postsecondary certificate as the typical entry education for HVAC mechanics and installers, followed by long-term on-the-job training.[ooh_hvac]
| Program | Length | Price | What the price covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC/R Technician certificate (voucher and tools included), Pierce College (WA)[s_cb7287] | 330 clock hours, listed as 1 year | $4,840 | Tuition $4,840; program title says exam voucher and tools are included |
| Basic HVAC/Refrigeration Service Tech certificate, Clover Park Technical College (WA)[s_cb969] | 9 months, 87 credits | $19,769 | Tuition $11,131.10 + fees $2,141.20 + books and supplies $6,496.64 |
HVAC certification cost: EPA Section 608
EPA Section 608 certification is required by federal rules for technicians who maintain, service, repair or dispose of equipment that could release refrigerants, and only certified technicians may buy ozone-depleting refrigerants.[epa608][epa_sales] EPA does not test or issue cards itself: EPA-approved certifying organizations give the exam and set the fee, so the price depends on the organization you test with.[epa608]
- Type I: small appliances.
- Type II: high- and very high-pressure appliances.
- Type III: low-pressure appliances.
- Universal: all three; its core section must be taken as a proctored exam.[epa608req]
Section 608 credentials do not expire, so it is a one-time cost.[epa608req] Many HVAC programs prepare students for the exam; check the program table above for whether the price includes it. State and local licenses are separate from the federal certification: in Florida, for example, counties and cities may issue journeyman HVAC licenses.[fl1455]
How long is HVAC school?
The certificate programs above take about 9 to 12 months. After school, BLS describes long-term on-the-job training before a technician works fully on their own.[ooh_hvac]
Is HVAC school worth it?
HVAC technicians earn $48,360 at the 25th percentile and $61,010 at the median ($29.33 an hour), and BLS projects 11% job growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3% for all occupations, with about 40,600 openings a year.[onet_hvac][ooh_hvac] Use the calculator at the top to see how fast a given program pays back from your current wage. State pay is on HVAC technician salary; other training prices are on welding school cost and electrician school cost. The no-tuition route is an HVAC apprenticeship.
Frequently asked questions
How much does HVAC school cost?
About $4,840 to $19,769 for a certificate at the public colleges we checked.
How much does HVAC certification cost?
The federal EPA Section 608 exam is given by EPA-approved certifying organizations, which set their own fees. The credential does not expire, so you pay once.
What EPA certification do HVAC techs need?
Section 608: Type I for small appliances, Type II for high-pressure, Type III for low-pressure equipment, or Universal for all three.
How long does HVAC school take?
The certificate programs we compared take about 9 to 12 months.
Sources
- HVAC/R Technician certificate (voucher and tools included), Pierce College
- Heating and Air Conditioning: Basic HVAC/Refrigeration Service Tech certificate, Clover Park Technical College
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
- Section 608 Technician Certification (who must be certified; EPA does not issue cards)
- Section 608 Technician Certification Requirements (Type I, II, III and Universal; credentials do not expire)
- Refrigerant Sales Restriction (only certified technicians may buy ozone-depleting refrigerants)
- Florida Statutes s. 489.1455, Journeyman licenses in plumbing, pipe fitting, mechanical or HVAC trades
- Local Wages: 49-9021.00 Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers (state and metro percentiles)