Massachusetts has a highly unpredictable environment, with humid and hot summers on one side and freezing and snowy winters on the other side.
This means that the state of Massachusetts requires reliable HVAC systems to keep going in any and all kinds of weather.
Hence, in Massachusetts, there is always a high demand for HVAC technicians.
Requirements to Be an HVAC Technician in Massachusetts
In the state of Massachusetts, you don’t need to have a certification or license to work as an HVAC technician. This means that you are legally allowed to work as an HVAC technician right after you complete your training or education.
However, if you want to work in refrigeration, then you need EPA Refrigeration Handling Certification. While there are no regulations for HVAC technicians in general, state law strictly focuses on refrigeration technicians. The regulations are even stricter for technicians who want to work on refrigeration units of more than ten tons. In such a case, you must have a license.
If you want to get the certification, then you need to fulfill some simple requirements. The first step is to get learning and on-the-job training. This training includes 6000 hours of apprentice training along with 250 hours of on-the-job training from a state-approved school. Another option to fulfill these requirements is to get 4000 hours of apprentice training along with 500 hours of on-the-job training from a state-approved school.
Then you will finally be eligible to apply for the refrigeration technician license, after which you can legally work with the refrigeration units.
Salary and Job Outlook in Massachusetts
As already mentioned, the weather in Massachusetts is highly unpredictable. This gives way to a constant need for maintenance of HVAC units, which has increased the demand for HVAC technicians in the state.
This high demand for HVAC technicians is only expected to rise over the years. According to an estimate, the demand is expected to rise to 19% over the course of a decade from 2014-2024.
Even the salary that HVAC technicians can expect to get is relatively high and ranks fifth in the country. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary an HVAC technician should expect to earn in the state of Massachusetts is $56,520.
You can earn more or less than this, depending on various factors like your work experience and expertise in the field or training or certifications that you might have from a recognized institute. Top institutes also place their graduates with top employers. An entry-level technician can expect to earn $17.16 per hour.
The average yearly salary for an HVAC technician is $57,110, with an upper and lower range of $80,480 and $35,440. The average hourly wage is $27.46, with an upper and lower range of $17.04 and $38.69.
Quick Take - Best HVAC Schools in Massachusetts
Just looking for the top three schools in your area? Here are the best HVAC schools in Massachusetts:
List of the Top HVAC Schools in Massachusetts
Now that we know an HVAC technician's great prospects, we need to learn how to become one, so we can take advantage of the opportunities. You need to go to a good school to learn your skills since that is pretty much the only important step.
The following are some of the best ones to check out:
Best Overall:
New England Institute of HVAC
Address: 240 Smith St, Lowell, MA 01851
Phone: +1 978-735-4979
List of Programs:
- HVAC/R Course
Our Review of the Program
New England Institute of HVAC provides day and evening courses, each of which lasts for 13 weeks. The course contains the National Electrical Code (NEC) and is approved by the Department of Public Safety Licensing Program for receiving a Refrigeration License. It allows you to operate on units that are greater than ten tons.
This school is very demanding and makes you work very hard to get your diploma. However, they teach you all the basics you need to learn to embark on an HVAC technician's career. The school is a blessing for anyone who is fortunate enough to study there. The teachers are fantastic and support every student personally. They focus on building an atmosphere of great learning, where all students can learn and improve their skills.
They also create a great balance of learning between the classroom and actual hands-on practice in the workshop. The knowledge you will gain will give you the confidence you need in the future in the HVAC/R field.
Because of the HVAC course at this institute, you will be able to gain employment quickly and with decent starting pay.
Address: 25 Montvale Avenue Woburn, MA 01801
Phone: 781-938-5656
List of Programs:
- 3 Combo Program “A”
- 3 Combo Program “B”
- HVACR Electrical Code Prep
- HVAC Controls and Energy Management
- HVACR Commercial & Industrial Refrigeration Prep
Our Review of the Program
The aim of The Peterson School is to teach students basic commercial and industrial refrigeration keeping in mind EPA rules and regulations. Various types of maintenance techniques, refrigerant states throughout a system cycle, Ohms Law review, and electrical circuit drawings will also be taught.
Upon the course is complete, students will be given 70 hours of accreditation for the 100 hours required to legally become a refrigeration technician with a license in the state. This course will provide the basic skills in installing, troubleshooting, and fixing oil-fired heating systems. The core program is designed to give the necessary information to prepare students for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Safety State Oil Burner technician license exam.
This course is also planned carefully as a troubleshooting power course. Students would be able to show their ability to read wiring diagrams, solve heating issues, remove defective parts, and make heating equipment changes. Hands-on instruction will be provided, and troubleshooting of the basic mechanics related to gas fire will also be given an overview of.
All in all, Peterson will provide its students with in-depth knowledge of HVAC that will help them to become skillful technicians and get employment easily and quickly.
Address: 1241 Fall River Ave, Seekonk, MA 02771
Phone: +1 508-336-6611
List of Programs:
- HVAC/R Program
Our Review of the Program
MTTI's shops and labs are designed to be very close to your chosen industry's working climate. The instructors at MTTI are skilled professionals who have a passion for their respective fields and years of related work experience. Many were managers and supervisors and know what the standards of the industry are.
For each of its programs, MTTI has Program Advisory Committees that help design the school curriculum to ensure that the skills taught are relevant to the job market today. The curriculum is designed to cover only those skills and knowledge that are directly related to preparing for your chosen career. Most modules are designed to spend 50% of the training time on hands-on tasks.
The instructors not only serve as teachers but also act as mentors and managers to provide you with the best chance of success. Employers want staff who show technical competence and those who show outstanding performance, integrity, teamwork, and reliability.
The staff at Career Services and your mentor will help prepare you to find a fulfilling internship. They give workshops on writing resumes and interviewing strategies and enable you to show the most professional image to promote your performance. They'll help you with your efforts to pursue your new career.
Address: 1600 Osgood St #1570, North Andover, MA 01845
Phone: +1 978-965-2969
List of Programs:
- HVAC Training
- HVAC Course Descriptions
- HVACR Technicians Infographic: Formulas and Conversions Field Guide
Our Review of the Program
At NETTTS, everyone realizes that the students always want more out of life and must reach larger goals. For people who are looking for a more hands-on job training path — one where they can get out in the field and use their hands to get the job done — a career as an HVAC technician could be for them.
People who participate in NETTTS' HVACR Technician Training program will be able to obtain an in-depth understanding of repairing, installation, and heating and cooling operations. The students will get an opportunity to experiment with various appliances over the course of their training program.
It is a common misconception that HVACR technicians work on maintenance of air conditioning and heating units of homes only and that they only focus on small scale projects. However, this is not true. Domestic maintenance is just a small example of where HVAC services might be needed.
HVACR technicians observe a great demand in the industrial and commercial sector. All the centrally air-conditioned buildings you visit or any commercial gathering place like hotels or malls you go to have HVAC systems installed and hence you can expand your working base. At NETTTS, you are prepared for everything, so you don’t limit yourself.
Address: 41 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116
Phone: +1 617-588-1368
List of Programs:
- Certificate in HVAC&R
Our Review of the Program
BFIT has designed a nine-month course that covers 800-hours of training and learning. You will have an option between taking day and evening classes. It is designed to provide you with all the necessary skills and knowledge that will help you become a skillful HVACR technician.
The key knowledge areas that the student will be exploring include installation, maintenance, diagnosis, and repairing of heating, cooling, and refrigeration equipment. After finishing the course, they will have in-depth knowledge of these topics and they will be able to take the refrigeration certification along with many others.
The HVAC&R program also provides EPA 608 Universal Technician certification preparation and proctored testing. They also offer R-410A high-pressure coolant certification, OSHA 10-hour safety certificate, NORA bronze oil certification, 609 MVAC certification (motor vehicle air conditioning), and Preventative Maintenance Technician certification.
The instructors at BFIT are very supportive and encouraging. The school is interested in immigrants coming from disadvantaged backgrounds and supports them. Their motto is, "No one gets left behind.” The school provides all the necessary tools to make the students feel accepted and a part of the community. Benjamin Franklin built the school on a platform of justice and equality. The school is not very large, but it is organized, and the staff is well-trained and educated.
HVAC Schools in Massachusetts Comparison Table
Choosing an HVAC technician as your career is a smart decision, especially if you live in Massachusetts. Now, you can pick the right school to ensure that you pick the right concepts in the best way possible. We've summarized some key points between different top schools so you can make an informed decision.
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Our Top Pick  |
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Conclusion
Becoming an HVAC technician in Massachusetts can be very rewarding with a great job and salary prospects. However, the requirements are very few and mainly come down to getting training in a reputed institute. Hence, pick a great school that suits your needs from the list above and become a valued technician.
Nearby HVAC Schools
Here are some HVAC schools in nearby states:
