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If you are considering a technical job in Louisiana, the HVAC industry might be for you.
Read on to get info on this job and the licensing requirements.
Article Table of Contents
HVAC certification requirements
If you want to work as an HVAC contractor, you will need a license.
Due to the high temperatures in Louisiana, HVAC contracting is a lucrative job.
HVAC Training
You can enroll in a trade school or become an apprentice in order to get your license.
You can easily find a school that offers not only conditioning and heating classes, but also electrical and refrigeration courses.
Check out the list below to locate Louisiana HVAC schools.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| American School of Business | 702 Professional Dr N Shreveport, Louisiana 71105 |
| Baton Rouge Community College Elayn Hunt Correctional Center | 6925 Louisiana 74 St. Gabriel, Louisiana 70776 |
| Baton Rouge Community College | 201 Community College Drive Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806 |
| Blue Cliff College | 803 Barrow St Houma, Louisiana 70360 |
| Caddo Career & Technology Center | 3601 Southern Ave Shreveport, Louisiana 71104 |
| Capital Area Technical College-Baton Rouge Campus | 3250 North Acadian Thruway East Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70805 |
| Central Louisiana Technical Community College | 4311 South MacArthur Drive Alexandria, Louisiana 71302 |
| Delgado Community College | 615 City Park Ave New Orleans, Louisiana 70119 |
| ITI Technical College | 13944 Airline Hwy Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70817 |
| L E Fletcher Technical Community College | 1407 Highway 311 Schriever, Louisiana 70395 |
| Louisiana Delta Community College | 7500 Millhaven Road Monroe, Louisiana 71203 |
| Northeast Louisiana Technical College | 609 Vocational Pky West Monroe, Louisiana 71292 |
| Northshore Technical Community College | 1710 Sullivan Dr Bogalusa, Louisiana 70427 |
| Northwest Louisiana Technical College | 814 Constable Street Minden, Louisiana 71055 |
| Nunez Community College | 3710 Paris Rd Chalmette, Louisiana 70043 |
| South Central Louisiana Technical College-Young Memorial Campus | 900 Youngs Road Morgan City, Louisiana 70380 |
| South Louisiana Community College | 320 Devalcourt Street Lafayette, Louisiana 70506 |
Other types of HVAC training
You can also get your HVAC training by working under a journeyman technician.
This will provide you with the practical experience needed in order to pass the licensing exam.
You will be learning how to install and repair air conditioning systems and the basics of heating.
Apprentices must be registered with the Apprenticeship Division of the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
You need to be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma/GED to get into a program.
Typically, the programs last for 2 to 5 years and 144 hours of education per year are necessary in order to finish.
You could also receive college credits during your program.
HVAC license requirements
If you will work on projects higher than $50,000, you need to get a commercial contractor license.
To get your license, you must:
- Fill in the form
- Have a $10,000 net worth over the past year
- Pass the exam
The HVAC exam
You will have to pay at least $120 to attend the exam.
The exam consists of a trade part, as well as a business and law part.
The exam is managed by The Louisiana State Board of Contractors’ Department of Examinations and Assessment, and you can register for it online.
If you don’t pass the first time, you have to pay $120 to retake it and wait 30 days.
Business and Law Test
This test is administered online and is open book.
It is made of multiple-choice questions and uses the Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management as reference.
Trade Test
This exam lasts for 4 hours and consists of 100 multiple choice questions.
The exam is split into 5 sections as follows:
- 26% for HVAC and Refrigeration Systems
- 26% for Piping Systems and Hydronics
- 10% for Instrumentation, controls, and balancing
- 18% covers Air Distribution Systems and Ventilation
- 21% for Project Management, Estimating and Plan Reading.
The manuals that you should study for this exam are Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, the Trane Air Conditioning Manual, the 2012 International Mechanical Code, Managing the Construction Process and MCAA Project Manager’s Manual.
All the reference manuals will be provided in the classroom, and you aren’t allowed to bring any book with you.
Testing Centers
You can take the exam at any of the 10 testing centers in Louisiana, or at the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors in Baton Rouge and LSU-Alexandria.
You must have your ID with you and your social security number.
Salary
The median salary for this occupation in the United States is $46,648 per year, but it can go as high as $52,858 per year for the most skilled workers.
In Louisiana, the salary is a bit lower at $44,688 per year, and the highest level reaches $50,638 per year.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| New Orleans | $46,309 |
| Baton Rouge | $43,373 |
| Shreveport | $42,888 |
| Lafayette | $42,858 |
| Lake Charles | $42,271 |
| Kenner | $46,284 |
| Bossier City | $42,888 |
| Monroe | $42,664 |
| Alexandria | $41,330 |
| Houma | $45,936 |
Regional Salary in Louisiana
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, LA | 140 | $47,860 | $23.01 | $59,520 | $30,960 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 620 | $54,940 | $26.41 | $77,320 | $36,570 |
| Hammond, LA | 90 | $46,840 | $22.52 | $60,980 | $34,310 |
| Houma-Thibodaux, LA | 290 | $61,830 | $29.73 | $97,880 | $36,400 |
| Lafayette, LA | 540 | $53,930 | $25.93 | $80,060 | $35,230 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 200 | $52,640 | $25.31 | $79,730 | $35,780 |
| Monroe, LA | 130 | $46,270 | $22.25 | $63,480 | $31,200 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 1,150 | $52,910 | $25.44 | $73,540 | $35,930 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 460 | $52,220 | $25.11 | $80,100 | $35,160 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Conclusion
Becoming a contractor is a good idea if you want to run your own business.
Hopefully, this article provided you with the info you need in order to start your HVAC career.
Read the full guide: How to Become an HVAC Technician
HVAC Schools by City
HVAC Schools by State