HVAC Technician

Job description

HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) combines sheet metal and electrical work involving installation, wiring, service, and repair of environmental control systems and the fabrication and installation of ductwork.

Working conditions

Work is done indoors and outdoors. Work spaces can range from outdoor scaffolding to crawl spaces inside a wall.

Length of apprenticeship

This apprenticeship lasts two to five years with the opportunity to advance every six months. Apprentices must complete 144 to 216 related classroom hours per year and 4,000 to 10,000 on-the-job training hours. When they complete the program, apprentices are referred to the Oregon Building Codes Division for appropriate licensing exam.

Minimum qualifications

Apprenticeship applicants must be at least 17 years of age to apply, and 18 to begin the program. In addition, they must provide proof of high school graduation or general education development (GED) equivalent, and complete at least one year of high school algebra or post high school algebra course with a passing grade of “C”. Apprenticeship committees may require additional qualifications.

Wages

Beginning apprentices start at approximately 40 to 50 percent of the journey-level wage. Upon successful completion of required class work and on-the-job hours, wages increase usually every six months, until the journey-level rate is achieved.