We all want to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. When our furnaces or air conditioners break, we rely on a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) mechanic, installer, or technician to fix them. There’s a lot to learn if you want a job in this essential workforce, and training is available throughout The Sunflower State.
The growing demand for HVAC professionals in Kansas, including HVAC mechanics, HVAC installers, HVAC technicians, and licensed HVAC contractors, means you can feel confident that the time you put into training will pay off.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s job search website, CareerOneStop, projects a 2% growth rate for HVAC technicians in Kansas, and a 6% growth rate nationwide over the next decade.
There’s definitely evidence to support this on job boards. There are hundreds of HVAC jobs in Kansas cities, such as Lenexa, Topeka, Kansas City, Overland Park, Manhattan, Salina, and more, posted on Indeed.com and ZipRecruiter.com.
We’ve put together everything you need to know about HVAC trade schools and apprenticeships to get started.
Accredited Kansas HVAC Training Programs
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “Many HVAC/R technicians receive postsecondary instruction from technical and trade schools or community colleges that offer programs in heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration. These programs generally last from 6 months to 2 years and lead to a certificate or an associate’s degree.”
The BLS says new HVAC techs work alongside experienced technicians, though some gain experience from an apprenticeship program, which lasts between three and five years. Apprenticeship programs include learning about safety practices, blueprint reading, how to use tools and gaining knowledge about the various systems used to heat and cool buildings.
In Kansas, there are no state-level licensing requirements for HVAC professionals. Instead, municipalities are responsible for oversight. Kansas has no state board and provides no licensing oversight for apprentices, technicians or HVAC contractors at the state level.
However, some local jurisdictions, including Wichita, Topeka, and Kansas City, require these essential workers to obtain local HVAC licenses or HVAC certifications to work on HVAC systems in those cities. Typically, local municipalities require an HVAC apprentice, journeyman, and master HVAC tech to obtain certification or licensing. Those who wish to own their own HVAC business need to obtain an HVAC contractor license, but there is no statewide contractors licensing board.
Most people entering the HVAC industry in Kansas learn on the job as an apprentice or by working for an HVAC contractor and taking classes at a local trade school or community college. There is no state-mandated minimum age to get started on your HVAC career path in Kansas. However, most employers seem to expect job candidates to be at least 18 years old and have either a high school diploma or GED.
The following community colleges and training centers offer HVAC classes in Kansas:
Johnson County Community College (JCCC) in Overland Park
Kansas City Kansas Community College in Kansas City
WSU Tech in Wichita
Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson
Salina Area Technical College in Salina
North Central Kansas Technical College in Beloit
Wichita Technical Institute in Wichita
Manhattan Area Technical College in Manhattan
Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott
Washburn Institute of Technology in Topeka
The Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center (Peaslee Tech) in Lawrence
Kansas Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship program is the first step to starting a career in the HVAC industry. Candidates typically need a high school diploma or GED, photo ID, and a valid driver’s license to be eligible. Candidates can join an apprenticeship program offered by a local company or trade union, or through the Kansas Works Registered Apprenticeship Program.
Apprenticeship opportunities include:
Plumbers & Pipefitters Union Local 441 Apprenticeship Training of Kansas (PPATKS) in Wichita offers a five-year HVACR Service Technician apprenticeship with classroom instruction and on-the-job training. A school year consists of six groups and seven rotations.
Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 29 in Wichita offers a four-year program for sheet metal apprentices. Sheet metal workers fabricate and install metal ducts, which are used in ventilating, air conditioning, and heating systems.
HVAC Degrees & Certificates
As you weigh the benefits of formal training at a technical or community college or online, you may want to speak with people in the field in the state where you plan to work. The licensing requirements vary from state to state, and some require a minimum amount of education.
In Kansas, once you’ve completed the license requirements in terms of the amount of training and education for your municipality, you may apply for examination for licensure to the next level. Those who wish to own their own HVAC business need to obtain an HVAC contractor license in the locality where they plan to operate.
Because of the complexity of today’s HVAC systems, many employers prefer to hire people who have completed both technical school courses and on-the-job training. In some cases, formal education pays off in the form of higher wages.
Most Kansas-based community colleges and technical schools offer various HVAC certification programs as opposed to advanced degree programs like an associate of applied science.
One federally required technical certificate is the Environmental Protection Agency Clean Air Act certification. Most colleges and technical schools prepare you for this requirement. A list of organizations who provide the certification can be found on the EPA website.
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Typical Courses in Technical College Programs
HVAC programs at technical colleges are intended to prepare students for careers in commercial, industrial, or residential HVAC applications. Most technical school graduates are qualified for entry-level positions as HVAC technicians.
HVAC technicians must be knowledgeable in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems and be prepared to diagnose, troubleshoot, and repair systems including heat pumps, commercial refrigerators, gas heaters, air conditioners, and more.
To help guarantee future employment, you might consider attending an accredited program through an agency, such as the Partnership for Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation (PAHRA) or HVAC Excellence.
Typical HVAC courses teach fundamentals including:
Safety
Computer concepts (diagnosing and repairing complex systems)
Heat pumps
Commercial HVAC and refrigerators
Basic electricity for HVAC
Basic refrigeration
Gas heating
Air conditioners
Energy control
HVAC customer soft skills and job-seeking skills
Refrigeration applications
Residential HVAC applications
Troubleshooting ventilation systems
School Selection Criteria
There are a lot of things to consider when picking the right school and program.
Cost
Cost is, of course, at the top of the list. According to Community College Review, tuition at Kansas community colleges is approximately $3,484 per year for in-state students and $4,443 for out-of-state students.
However, the cost of various technical programs varies depending on the type of certification.
You will also incur costs for books and tools, but those tools are yours to keep as you enter your field. All students who are interested in receiving financial aid or federal (Pell Grant) and state grants apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form online.
Program Length
The length of HVAC programs depends on the school and the certifications. The education and experience requirements for licensing vary from one municipality to another.
In Wichita, HVAC apprentices need to complete one year of work experience and one year of HVAC trade school, or two years of experience and score 75% or better on an approved International Code Council or The International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials Exam. After completing the required apprenticeship HVAC training, candidates become eligible to take the journeyman mechanical licensing exam.
In Topeka, apprentice candidates can join an apprenticeship program offered by a local company or trade union, or through the Kansas Works Registered Apprenticeship Program. Apprentices need to complete two years of practical experience and a minimum of 930 hours of classroom training to become eligible for the journeyman exam.
Level of Difficulty
HVAC training programs are designed to prepare graduates for entry-level positions in commercial, industrial, or residential sectors as HVAC installers or technicians. HVAC technicians have to learn to do a lot of different things to be successful, including how to follow blueprints or other design specifications to install or repair HVAC systems, connect systems to fuel and water supply lines and air ducts, install electrical wiring and controls, proper techniques of refrigerant recovery, reclaiming and recycling, run diagnostics, and so much more.
School Comparison: At a Glance
The Kansas HVAC industry offers many types of certifications. Some community colleges offer apprenticeship programs in addition to formal classwork. Picking a school largely depends on your areas of interest and how much time and money you’re willing to dedicate to a certain program. Selecting a school also depends upon your ultimate career goals.
Johnson County Community College (JCCC) offers the only HVAC program in Kansas to be accredited by the PAHRA. Available degrees and certifications include:
Associate of Applied Science in HVAC Technology, two-year program, 63 credit hours
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Technology Certificate, one-year certificate program, 33 credit hours
Kansas City Kansas Community College
Offers a Heating & Refrigeration Certificate, one-year program, 44 credit hours. The program is approved for EPA and R-401A refrigerant certification.
WSU Tech in Wichita
Offers a Climate & Energy Control Technologies program. Program graduates receive the qualifications of an air conditioning technician. Degree and certificate options include:
Associate of Applied Science, Climate & Energy Control Technologies (HVAC), 62 credit hours
Technical Certificate, Climate & Energy Control Technologies (HVAC), 44 credit hours
Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson
Offers a Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration - CERT B, one-year program, 42 credit hours
Salina Area Technical College in Salina
Offers a nine-month Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning technical certificate or a two-year associate’s degree in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. Graduates obtain their EPA Universal certification.
North Central Kansas Technical College in Beloit
Offers a one-year Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning (PHAC) program that prepares students for entry-level positions in the plumbing, heating, and air conditioning industry, 44 credit hours. Graduates receive a PHAC technical certificate.
Wichita Technical Institute in Wichita
Offers a 48-week Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration technology program that prepares graduates to become employable in an entry-level position as an HVACR technician.
Manhattan Area Technical College in Manhattan
Offers a one-year Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration technical certificate program, 40 credit hours.
Offers a two-year Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Associate of Applied Science degree, 62 credit hours.
Graduates will be EPA 608 and OSHA 10 certified.
Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott
Offers a one-year Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning technical certificate
Washburn Institute of Technology in Topeka
Offers a Climate and Energy Control technical certificate, 43 credit hours. Full-day students can complete the program in two semesters while half-day students can complete in four semesters. Certifications include: 410A Safety; Building Automation Level 1; EPA 608; HVACR ICE; Meter Certification; OSHA-10; Tool Safety
The Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center (Peaslee Tech) in Lawrence
Offers Registered Apprenticeship program for Heating & Air Conditioner Installation/Service (HVAC). To become an apprentice, students apply directly with employers or create a job-seeker account at KansasWorks.com.
Steps for Enrollment in Kansas
Every college has its own way of doing things, but in general the process begins with applying for admission on the school’s website. Some require that you pay an application fee and provide several documents. In general, the application process has the following steps:
Complete your application.
Pay the application fee (if applicable).
Provide proof of residency to qualify for in-state tuition.
Have sealed official high school transcript or GED scores sent.
Submit placement test scores.
If applicable, apply for on-campus housing.
If you choose to start with an apprenticeship, you will want to contact the Local Union or non-union trade organization chapter closest to you. Each organization has a slightly different application process, but the application requirements in general are:
Must be at least 18 years of age.
Must be a high school graduate, senior scheduled to graduate or have earned a GED certificate. Applicants will be required to provide a copy of their diploma or GED certificate, and an official transcript of their grades following submission of the application.
Must have a valid driver’s license.
Have passed high school algebra or an equivalent post-high school algebra class with a “C” or better or pass an aptitude test.
Pass a drug screen and criminal background checks.
HVAC Career Requirements in Kansas
To recap, Kansas has no state board and requires no licensing for apprentices, technicians or HVAC contractors at the state level. However, some local jurisdictions, including Wichita, Topeka, and Kansas City, require local HVAC licenses or HVAC certifications to work on HVAC systems.
Wichita: The Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD) is the licensing board responsible for issuing journeyman and master licenses, as well as HVAC contractor licenses, in Wichita.
Topeka: The City of Topeka Development Services Division (DSD) is responsible for issuing mechanical licenses, including apprentice and contractor licenses.
HVAC professionals anywhere in the country, including Kansas, must obtain an EPA HVAC certification if they conduct refrigerant line-pressure tests, or handle or add refrigerant to existing air conditioning systems, according to EPA regulations under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act.
For a detailed explanation of EPA certification and Kansas’s HVACR licensing requirements and how to fulfill them, check out our essential guide to getting your Kansas HVAC License.
Salaries for HVAC Technicians in Kansas
Before paying for technical education or completing a lengthy apprenticeship to become an HVAC technician or licensed contractor, you’ll want some idea of the potential return on your investment of time, effort, energy, and money. In other words, what can you expect to make as an HVAC professional in Kansas? Payscale.com data provides an answer based on your experience. The median HVAC technician salary in Kansas for 2023 is:
Entry level <2 years: $50,700
Intermediate 2-4 years: $58,200
Senior 4-6 years: $66,500
Supervisor > 7 years: $86,300
For more information about HVAC salaries, visit this state-by-state guide.
Industry Apprenticeships
Candidates can join an apprenticeship program offered by a local company or trade union, or through the Kansas Works Registered Apprenticeship Program.
Apprenticeship opportunities include:
Plumbers & Pipefitters Union Local 441 Apprenticeship Training of Kansas (PPATKS) in Wichita offers a five-year HVACR Service Technician apprenticeship with classroom instruction and on-the-job training.
Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 29 in Wichita offers a four-year program for sheet metal apprentices.
Other School Options
In addition to the training programs and schools already mentioned, there are training centers in neighboring Missouri, Colorado, and Nebraska:
Pinnacle Career Institute in Kansas City, Missouri
Lincoln College of Technology, Denver, Colorado
Metropolitan Community College, Omaha, Nebraska
You can find the training you need to excel in a career as an HVAC technician in Kansas. The opportunities are all around you.
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