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Does Hvac require going to college

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Monica’s Answer

Not necessarily. You won't need a four year degree to become an HVAC tech but there may be two-year community colleges with HVAC training. There are many HVAC training courses that can prepare you to become an HVAC technician in less than two-years. The difference between going to a two-year college and a trade school is usually cost and time. You may pay more for a trade school, but you're usually out and working within in less time and you can apply for financial aid at trade schools. Be sure to check the trade schools ratings, how many of their graduates are employed, how long it took their graduates to find work, and if the school has a job placement program.

Usually, you will only need an HVAC Certification for the city/state that you plan to work in. I would look for a training program that is local to where you live and matches you up with an experienced, certified HVAC tech in the field. A good school will not only provide you with the book knowledge to pass whatever exams you need but will give you the hands-on experience to get your first job.

Monica recommends the following next steps:

Go online and search for HVAC jobs and look at what is required - certifications, experience, etc.
Search online for local HVAC schools and ask for a tour of the program/classes.
Connect with people who are already in the HVAC profession and ask them online, in forums, or in the community what they like and dislike about their jobs. These connections could also help you find a job when you finish school.
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Angela D.’s Answer

Great question! My husband was in HVAC for some time and enjoyed it until he retired again after becoming a trainer/supervisor. I will be honest, it can be a physically demanding job...especially with installations. He started delivering parts initially, as the technicians don't always know what they'll need until after a diagnostic. He did this while he was completing his certificate and training. He preferred doing the servicing rather than installations. And yes, you can get certifications through a two-year college fairly easily as the courses are often scheduled on the weekends or evenings so you can work at the same time. I asked him what his advice would be to a person wanting to enter the field and he said that having mechanical skills, working with tools, troubleshooting, a knowledge of electricity (for the safety of both living beings and the equipment), and customer service are important. You'll also have to wear some type of company uniform, stock and drive a company truck or van, be punctual, communicate well, and have ways of documenting progress and payments using a company phone or tablet (GPS too). Hope this helps, best, Dr. B
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Lakshmi’s Answer

HVAC is considered vocational and technical education- Certificate, Technical Certificates and Associates Degree. Going to college will benefit your future as you will be working with instructors from the field. I worked at a community college, where you could get a Certificate in 18 credit hours -6 courses, that provide you with the certification in different areas that would help improve your knowledge and make you marketable. The courses are more hands-on than book work. You also get experience working in the community for some courses as a non profit voluntary work.
You could continue to work, gather experience and take electives within this field to learn more.
There is a big demand for this field in industries and construction.
Some states provide full tuition for completing these certifications as they are career based.
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Nicole’s Answer

Hello, this is a great question!
A four year degree is generally not necessary. While it is not required for some positions, there may be some positions where they would like you to attend a technical school or community college specifically taking classes to become a HVAC technician. This could take 6 months to 2 years depending on the programs.

Nicole recommends the following next steps:

1. Research programs near you (search community colleges and technical schools for HVAC), and jobs near you and look at requirements
2. Reach out to the programs for information
3. Apply for programs if interested
4. Apply for HVAC jobs and see if you can get on the job training
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