Blog
Editorial coverage of program changes, accreditation news, and workforce trends.
2026-09-04
How long does it take to become an HVAC technician?
Six months to five years, because two clocks run in this trade rather than one. Training is the short one: certificates in under a year, associate degrees in two, apprenticeships in three to five. Licensing is the long one, and it belongs to your state. How the routes compare, which states run an experience clock, and how to make the two clocks overlap.
2026-08-23
HVAC apprenticeship or trade school: which should you do?
An apprenticeship is a job with training attached and the employer pays; school is training you buy, with a start date that does not depend on anyone hiring you. What the federal rule requires of a registered apprenticeship, what school buys that it does not, and why most people end up doing both.
2026-07-31
Do you need EPA 608 certification to work in HVAC?
EPA 608 is federal, never expires, and is required to buy refrigerant. Which of the four types you need to work in HVAC, and why it is not a state license.