How long does the training take?

Typically a few months to two years for the certificate, then more than a year of training on the job. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.

Do you need a degree for this work?

Not a full degree. A certificate or short program is the usual route.

Where can you train for this work?

742 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

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Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers: pay, training and the programs that lead there

Repair & mechanics · SOC 49-9021

$61,010US median pay, 2025

+10.9%Projected growth, 2025–35

40,600Openings per year

CertificateUsual way in

How you get in

A certificate or short program is the usual way in.

Postsecondary nondegree award
Long-term on-the-job training
Work in: heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

Program	Code	Schools
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician	CIP 47.0201	586
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician	CIP 15.0501	173

See the 742 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does the training take?: Typically a few months to two years for the certificate, then more than a year of training on the job. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.
How much do heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make?: The US median is $61,010 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree for this work?: Not a full degree. A certificate or short program is the usual route.
Where can you train for this work?: 742 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

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