HVAC Schools in North Carolina (Top Programs Listed)

North Carolina seems a really good state to work as an HVAC mechanic, however for this occupation you need to have a certification recognized by the state.

Getting Licensed

The first thing to know is that cooling, heating, and refrigeration have separate certifications in North Carolina.

These are the 3 types of licenses you can get:

• H1 – “Wet” or “water-based”: for comfort heating systems in any building; you can be:
  • Class 1: work in any building
  • Class 2: work only in single-family detached dwellings.
• H2: for forced air heating and cooling units of over 15 tons
• H3: for forced air heating and cooling units of under 15 tons; you can be:
  • Class 1: work in any building
  • Class 2: work only in single-family detached dwellings.

Each group has 2 further designations:

• T – stands for the technician and it’s a sublicense of a contractor; on documents, it appears as H1-T, for instance.
• SGLT- a designation used for employees of the state or local governments, appears as SGLT-H1 on documents.

Requirements for the Heating Exam

If you want to take the contractor exam yo must prove:

• 4,000 hours of work experience, related to the category for which license is sought even if the field doesn’t require a certification
• About half of the time can be in academic or technical training, related to the specialty you want.

If you want to be just a technician, then you must prove you accumulated 3000 hours of experience working on systems that are related to the field in which you’ll operate.

This experience is mandatory regardless of a certification needed in the niche.

If you want to know where can you get trained for any of the fields, have a look at the schools below.

Heating Licensing Exam

This is a 4 hours long examination.

If you want to become a contractor, you’ll also have to pass the Business and Law exam.

The state’s licensing website has a complete and updated list with the materials you need to study for the test.

Remember to check the group for which you need to get the certification as the books differ.

This application form has the most current requirements and information related to this exam.

Refrigeration Contractor

Those who work with refrigeration systems, regardless of the type of work they perform, must be registered with the State’s Refrigeration Board.

Requirements for the exam:

• Fill in the application form and pay the application fee – non-refundable.
• Prove you accumulated 4000 hours in commercial refrigeration.
• Pay the examination-license fee.

For this license, the experience is very important, and only 2000 hours of academic or technical training can be included in the required period of time.

The remaining 2000 hours must be accumulated while working under the supervision of another refrigeration licensed contractor, or a professional engineer or relevant work experience.

The Board will be able to tell you how much of your experience is accepted and whether you still need to accumulate more or not.

North Carolina has no reciprocity program with other states.

Application Process

Once you are sure you meet the criteria, you can download the application, fill it out and send it.

Make sure to include as well:

• The history of licensing applications, if applicable
• Any information related to your education, if you must provide it
• Work history, including the dates and names of your past employers
• A form from your supervisor, that attest the number of hours you completed
• The exam licensing fee

Refrigeration Contractor Licensing Exam

This exam has 4 parts and you must pass all of them to receive your certification.

You can attempt each part 3 times in a row, and all parts must be passed in less than 12 months.

Failing to pass all parts within a year, or failing one part on all 3 occasions means you have to retake all 4 tests again.

Luckily, the exam is open-book, hence you an bring the material you think will help you the most.

These are the parts:

• Part A: Law, Administrative Code, and Refrigeration Safety. (15 questions)
• Part B: Equipment, Equipment performance, Refrigeration theory, and electrical aspects. (40 questions)
• Part C: electrical and mechanical codes. (20 questions)
• Part D: plans, specifications and estimates. (25 questions)

The exam for the transport refrigeration certification has just 3 parts and each part is shorter than described above.

This license must be renewed every year and failing to do so means you can no longer work.

Salary Expectations

In North Carolina, the average income of an HVAC technician is around $46,648 per year, with a higher limit for the best-paid of around $52,858 per year.

The average income of an HVAC technician is in the United States around $46,648 per year, with a higher limit for the best-paid of around $52,858 per year.

Regional Salary in North Carolina

Final Thoughts

Becoming an HVAC contractor is relatively easy in North Carolina.

This state also offers many employment opportunities for those that train and are willing to pass the needed exam.

HVAC Schools by City

HVAC Schools by State