Virginia HVAC license

Though many states do not require a license in order to work in the HVAC industry, there are states like Oklahoma or New Jersey that require an HVAC license. You have to get a license in Virginia in order to work in the HVAC field.

Are there different types of HVAC licenses in Virginia?

There are three different types of HVAC licenses. So here they are:

• The first one is a journeyman license.
• The next one is a master license.
• And the third one is a contractor license.

The journeyman license: this type of license will give you an opportunity to work as an HVAC technician. But if you obtain this license, you cannot start your own business. When you get the journeyman license, your salary can be about $48,000.

The master license: you can obtain this type of license if you have held your journeyman license for more than one year. This license will give you an opportunity to supervise installation and repair services. With the master license, you can earn about $93,000.

The contractor license: this type will allow you to get Class A, Class B, and Class C licenses. If you obtain this license, you can oversee the whole HVAC project. It will include the installation, repair, and maintenance of an HVAC unit. If you obtain this type of license, your salary depends on the Class you have gotten.

1. Obtaining a Class C license, your work’s value will be no more than $10,000 for a single project and no more than $150,000 for all projects in a year.
2. Obtaining a Class B license, you will earn about $120,000 for a single project and $750,000 for all projects in a year.
3. And lastly, if you obtain a Class A license, you will not meet a monetary cap.

How to Get a Virginia HVAC License?

The requirements for obtaining an HVAC license vary in different states. The requirements
depend on the type of license.

Required Schooling

There are the top schools in Virginia, where you can take HVAC training. So here they are:

1. Lincoln Tech
2. Northern Virginia Community College
3. Centura College
4. Virginia Western Community College

You can get an associate’s degree program in HVAC at Northern Virginia Community College. If you have degrees in similar fields such as repair, electrical, and building maintenance, they can provide you with the educational requirements.

In order to obtain a journeyman license, you can get a bachelor’s degree in a similar field with one year of practical experience. Or you can get an associate’s degree and two years of practical experience.

The tuition varies from school to school and from program to program. For example, a one-year certificate can be about $2,000. But four years of schooling in order to obtain a bachelor’s degree can be about $20,000 or more.

On-the-Job Experience

• Firstly, you will need to have at least one year of experience, in order to get a journeyman license. But if you do not want to attend school, you must get 10 years of experience.
• Secondly, if you obtain a journeyman license for a year, you can get a master license.
• And lastly, you can receive a contractor license, when you have held a master license for two years.

Are there exams to take in order to get an HVAC license?

If you want to get a journeyman or master license, you have to pass two exams. So they are a trade exam and a regulatory exam. For a journeyman license, you have to pay $100. And for a master license, you have to pay $125.

The exam consists of 85 questions. You have 210 minutes in order to complete it. In order to receive a Class C, you do not need to pass additional testing, as you have passed these two.

If you want to get a Class B license, you have to pass two exams. They will be focused on regulations and board rules. They will be necessary for Class A, too.

How long does it take to get a Virginia HVAC License?

1. In order to get a journeyman license, you will need about four years.
2. For a master license, you will need five years to get it.
3. And for the contractor licenses, the time differs.

Do the HVAC Licenses need to be renewed in Virginia?

You have to renew your HVAC license in Virginia every two years. The fee for the renewal is $90. But if you do not renew your license within 30 days of the expiration of the original license, the fee will be $140.

Who Issues the Licenses?

The HVAC licenses are administered by the Department of Occupational and Professional Regulation.