San Antonio experiences year-round heat and extreme weather, which means households and establishments in the area require maintenance and installation of air conditioning, heating, ventilation, and refrigeration units. Therefore, being an HVAC professional there can be highly rewarding.
However, finding the right HVAC school can be pretty confusing, which is why we’ve formulated this list. This article is the complete guide to the best HVAC schools in San Antonio.
If you want to learn more about them, keep on reading.
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How Long is HVAC School?
It truly can be an excellent choice to become an HVAC professional, especially in a city like San Antonio, where the industry is thriving and seems to have a promising future. People are often riddled with questions about what an HVAC school requires, what aspects one should look into before taking admission, etc. Even though it might appear daunting at first, it isn’t. Here are certain facts and requirement one should know:
Choosing the Right School
It is crucial to get training from an accredited institution that has the right program that offers all you need to know. There are a lot of different schools offering HVAC training programs that you can find online. It’s always better to ask someone who already works in the industry for their recommendation, check alumni reviews, and pay attention to course details so you can give yourself the right educational opportunity. Most schools require a high school diploma or equivalent for admission.
Requirements
To legally work in the state of Texas, you need to be at least 18 years of age and have an air conditioning and refrigeration contractor’s license. Furthermore, you need to have at least 48 months’ worth of experience working under a licensed conditioning and refrigeration contractor.
Texas has a reciprocal agreement with the states of Georgia and South Carolina, which means that if you are licensed in one of those states, you won’t be required to sit in the Texas exam. Texas offers two license options, namely HVAC Class A and HVAC Class B. The former lets you work on machines of any size, while the latter allows you to only work on cooling systems of 25 tons and below and heating systems of 1.5 million BTUs/hour and below.
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Quick Take - Best HVAC Schools in San Antonio
Just looking for the top 3 schools in your area? Here are the best HVAC schools in San Antonio:
List of the Top HVAC Schools in San Antonio
There are several HVAC schools in San Antonio; however, not all are worth your time and money. Keeping this in mind, we have compiled and reviewed some of the top HVAC schools in San Antonio. Let’s take a look at them:
Address: Address: 1701 W Ben White Blvd, Suite 100 Austin, TX 78704
Phone: 833-724-8392
List of Programs:
- HVAC
Our Review of the Program
SCI’s HVAC program does a brilliant job in preparing students for nationally-recognized certification exams that Texas employers are on the lookout for. Certifications are a great way to gain an advantage over other entry-level technicians and secure your position in an otherwise highly competitive industry. Some of these recognized exams are NCCER core certification, NCCER HVAC level 1, 2, 3, and 4 Certification, EPA608 certification, Preventative maintenance certification, etc. These certifications are proof of how skilled and knowledgeable you are as an HVAC technician.
One of the biggest advantages of choosing SCI as your school is that it allows you to take classes according to your schedule and convenience. They offer morning and evening classes, so you can fit the program into your busy daily schedule, and it’s particularly good for working learners. The course is a mix of conventional on-campus classes as well as virtual learning. The latter includes labs and lectures facilitated via Zoom.
This HVAC training program trains individuals to have a career in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration by teaching them how to install, restore, repair, and maintain temperature control equipment in residential and commercial settings. It develops the skills necessary for troubleshooting HVAC systems, green technologies, interpreting construction drawings, etc.
Graduates will also gain hands-on training and practical skills required when working with different materials, systems, and their maintenance, installation, and repair inside homes, businesses, and companies. Alumni of this institution have gone on to get respectable, well-paying jobs and work for companies like Fox Service Company.
Address: 5819 NW Loop 410, Suite 160, San Antonio, Texas 78238
Phone: 210-465-1794
List of Programs:
- HVAC training
Our Review of the Program
This training program at Lamson institute guides individuals on more than just the introduction to HVAC and allows them to become skilled and knowledgeable technicians. Upon completing this program, one can sit for the tests for ESCO EPA certification, HVAC excellence, 410A, and OSHA.
An HVAC technician is informed on more than just HVAC technology; in fact, they are expected to utilize their knowledge and skills of welding, electricity, and plumbing to maintain, inspect, repair, or install systems controlling a building’s climate on a day-to-day basis. This program is designed to help you achieve exactly this.
This HVAC program encompasses not only theoretical knowledge but also the practical skills necessary to make it in the profession. You will be getting hands-on learning on electrical theory and controls, basic plumbing, welding, and soldering using oxy-acetylene torches, etc.
Furthermore, it includes knowledge and skills to install, maintain and repair residential air conditioning, heating and refrigeration systems, commercial air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration systems and maintain EPA regulations while troubleshooting and repairing commercial and residential equipment.
Graduating from Lamson’s HVAC training programs opens many opportunities for you and allows you to serve several roles, such as in air conditioning companies, server rooms, and data centers, construction sites, hospitals, hotels, major commercial companies, mechanical contractors, etc
Address: 734 S.E. Military Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78214
Phone: 866-480-9766
List of Programs:
- Air conditioning, heating, and Refrigeration
- Combination welding
Our Review of the Program
The air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration (ACHR) diploma program at this institution is designed to prepare students for a career in repairing, maintaining, and installing commercial and residential HVAC systems. This diploma combines theoretical knowledge and practical skills to equip an individual for a bright and promising career in the profession.
A graduate from this program should be able to work as an entry-level installer, repairer, or service technician, given that it provides you the knowledge and hands-on experience required, that, too, from industry-experienced instructors that can also guide you on the skills employers look for.
You will be learning to design, construct, and operate various air conditioning units, install split and unitary systems, ladder diagram completion, and get basic electrical understanding. The program teaches its students how to troubleshoot and maintain systems with additional skills that will be useful in their time as an HVAC technician. These include air conditioning system design, repair, installation and maintenance, refrigerant reclamation and recycling, responsibilities of technicians defined by EPA and Clean Air Act, ventilation duct design and installation, airflow characteristics, heat pump theory, and repair, etc.
It offers a pretty well-designed and broad curriculum, which includes learning about general customer service principles since a huge part of a technician’s job is interacting with customers. These principles include internal/external customer relationships, time management, non-verbal communication skills, best practices, etc.
Address: Southwest campus: 800 Quintana Road San Antonio, TX 78211, MLK campus: 1801 Martin Luther King Drive San Antonio, TX 78203
Phone: 844-202-5266
List of Programs:
- HVAC Installer Level 1 Certificate
- Air conditioning and Refrigeration
- HVAC Technician Level 1 Certificate
- Air conditioning and Heating, Refrigeration Level 1 Certificate
Our Review of the Program
This institute offers Associate of Applied Science degrees in two different disciplines, air conditioning and refrigeration, and air conditioning and heating. The former prepares students to have a career in the commercial air conditioning and refrigeration industry, whereas the latter equips individuals for a career in the residential air conditioning and heating industry.
The air conditioning and heating program goes in-depth about servicing existing systems and installing new ones in new constructions, plus it provides an introduction to refrigeration operations and prepares students for the Environmental Protection Agency certification. The purpose behind it is to prepare you for an entry-level job servicing and installing HVAC equipment.
As far as the air conditioning and refrigeration program is concerned, it focuses on helping students prepare for a career in the commercial and industrial refrigeration industry by training them to service and maintain commercial and industrial refrigeration systems. By the end of this course, you will be able to serve as an entry-level technician servicing commercial and industrial refrigeration systems.
You will be studying under a highly competent faculty and following a well-thought-out and broad curriculum. Plus, you will be receiving practical skills to go in hand with theoretical knowledge if you choose to study at this prestigious institute.
Address: 9272 Hwy. 87 East San Antonio, TX 78263
Phone: 210-293-6700
List of Programs:
- HVAC
Our Review of the Program
The mission that this institute intends to carry forward is that of providing the necessary knowledge and skill to students who are willing to thrive in the HVAC industry, which by nature is pretty competitive. This program is designed to impart knowledge, polish skills, and provide confidence, ultimately leading to a successful career in the industry.
The course academic includes fundamentals of electric circuitry, electrical application, thermodynamics, installation practices, heating, refrigeration processes, airflow, soldering, brazing, etc. They have an impressive training facility that offers a hands-on learning experience in areas like air conditioning, gas heating, heat pump, airside, zoning, etc. The lab also offers training experience in carpentry, soldering, duct and plenum fabrication, thermostat wiring, programming, and electrical wiring.
The teaching faculty is highly impressive with experience of working in the field; thus, you are in competent hands. Upon reaching the end of the program, you will be able to get job opportunities in the residential HVAC industry, construction jobs as well as industrial service maintenance positions.
HVAC Schools in San Antonio Comparison Table
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How Much Does HVAC School Cost?
One of the biggest questions that come to mind when individual hope to pursue a career in the HVAC industry is how much an HVAC training school costs. Well, it truly depends upon which path you’ve chosen.
When it comes to trade schools and vocational schools, the duration of the program is usually between six and 12 months, and the tuition fee may range anywhere between $1200 and $15,000. This encompasses hands-on training experience and knowledge to get entry-level HVAC jobs.
As far as community colleges are concerned, they offer hands-on training for entry-level jobs as well as general education courses for an Associate degree, which is why the program duration is between six months and two years. The tuition fee differs, given that the programs cost about $4,868 per year for in-state students, whereas, for out-of-state students, the tuition fee is $8,614 per annum.
However, it is important to add the cost of books, room, supplies, etc., to calculate the overall cost of HVAC training. Furthermore, each certification following the training has a different cost.
What Makes San Antonio a Great Place to Start an HVAC Career?
You may wonder why San Antonio specifically is considered a good place to start your HVAC career. Well, certain factors make it better than others. These include:
Weather
One of the biggest reasons why San Antonio is a great place to begin your career as an HVAC technician is that it has hot weather all-year-round. Therefore, nearly all buildings, be it residential or commercial, heavily rely on climate control systems, which is why HVAC is such a thriving industry in San Antonio, Texas.
High Demand For Workers
The industry's laws and regulations are constantly evolving, plus new technologies are hitting the market now and then. We know for a fact that HVAC systems need to be replaced every 10 to 15 years, and during this time, they require maintenance, too. All of this accounts for a high demand for HVAC technicians and professionals and their skills.
Competitive Pay Rates
Statistics show that salaries for San Antonio are highly competitive when compared to other states. This will vary from position to position; however, overall, San Antonio has some of the best-earning HVAC technicians.
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Job Outlook and Salary For HVAC Techs in San Antonio
One of the biggest questions when it comes to choosing a career is how well it pays and whether it shows development in the future. Fortunately, HVAC techs have an excellent job prospect, and according to statistics, the demand for HVAC techs will grow exponentially shortly. Certain aspects, such as education, experience, and job positions, will affect the salaries accordingly.
Entry Level
Throughout the state of Texas, the starting salaries vary according to the area, education, etc. However, for San Antonio, the starting salary of an HVAC technician is $35,169 per annum.
Mid-Level
The experience you have in the field can affect your salary, and the more years you spend in the profession, the better pay you will get. On average, technicians make about $41,426 annually.
Master-Level
This would generally be for people with a lot of experience in the field as well as different certifications, education, additional skills, etc. Master-level technicians annually make anywhere between $ 52,668 and $62,909.
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Conclusion
Are you thinking of becoming an HVAC professional? If that is the case, then you are making an excellent choice, given how highly rewarding it can be to become an HVAC technician, especially in San Antonio. This post takes you through all the information you need to find the best HVAC schools in San Antonio and includes some incredible recommendations, job and salary outlooks, etc. Hopefully, it can help to find the right HVAC school for you.
Nearby HVAC Schools
Here are some HVAC schools in nearby states:
