What to Expect From a Virginia HVAC Career
What does a career in HVAC in Virginia entail? Depending on the particular field you choose it can range from maintaining temperature controls devices such as thermostats and furnaces to installation of rooftop air conditioning units. Most HVAC technicians tend to specialize in either installation or maintenance but are trained in both aspects. Virginia HVAC technicians can expect to work in a variety of fields including residential, business, industrial, and medical applications. Some HVAC technicians also specialize in refrigeration and are known as HVAC-R technicians.
HVAC Salary and Job Outlook in Virginia
HVAC careers are very stable, and in high demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of HVAC jobs is predicted to grow by about twenty-eight percent by 2018; this translates to around eighty-six thousand new positions. Typical starting pay for an HVAC technician just out of school is anywhere from thirty-five thousand to forty thousand dollars per year. HVAC technicians commonly work forty hour work weeks, and generally have good benefits.
What Type of Education Does an HVAC Technician in Virginia Need?
HVAC training combines several different disciplines into a single field; workers will need a thorough understanding of electricity, testing equipment, heating and airflow principles, mechanical principles, and a very strong background in mathematics. One of the best aspects of pursuing an HVAC career is the number of options you have for training. Training can range from six months to two years or more, and can be obtained from online schools, technical and community colleges, or a university.
There a three main accreditation organizations that are accepted as the industry standards are known as HVAC Excellence, the Partnership for Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Accreditation, and the National Center for Construction Education and Research. In addition to these credentials, technicians will also need to complete an apprenticeship ranging from one to three years before being considered an experienced technician.
HVAC Training in Virginia
Advanced Technology Institute
5700 Southern Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
www.auto.edu
Everest College
825 Greenbrier Circle #100
Chesapeake, VA 22320
www.everest.edu/campus/chesapeake
Financial Aid for Virginia HVAC Students
Financial aid is available for qualified applicants at both of the above mentioned schools, and each of these schools have their own financial aid departments to assist you with the process. Virginia also has several organizations, private and government, to help students meet their financial needs. Two great resources are the federal government FAFSA application (www.fafsa.ed.gov) and the Virginia Association of Financial Aid Administrators (www.vasfaa.org).
