Given Texas’s extreme heat, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) contracting is an extremely lucrative career. HVAC is crucial to maintaining health, especially for anyone with a pre-existing condition; in fact, about 300 people die per year because of heat stroke in this state, so there’s a strong demand for contractors that can ensure the safety of every Texan.
In this field, you’ll provide installation, maintenance, and repair to residential and commercial HVAC units, depending on your specialty; some contractors work on both, while some specialize in either area.
While you may believe it’s simple to get this certification, it’s crucial that you understand what the field entails before you decide to embark on this career. Today, we’ll go over the highlights of the journey from technician to contractor in the air conditioning field so you can make an informed decision about whether this job is right for you.
HVAC Contracting Is a Competitive Industry in Texas
As one would expect, there’s a high demand for HVAC contractors in the Lone Star State. In the fourth-hottest state in America, the average daily high temperature during summer is about 94 degrees, meaning that the interior of a home will become much hotter than that.
There are 10,905 HVAC companies in Texas, or about 42 different companies per county in Texas. This means there’s fierce competition, especially for a new contractor just starting out in their journey. Some of these companies are decades old and have built up a significant clientele, and a young upstart may find it difficult to break in. Thankfully, though, your journey does not begin by starting your own company, so there are plenty of opportunities to make a name for yourself before going into business.
The Difference Between a Technician and a Contractor
Firstly, an HVAC technician is not the same as an HVAC contractor. A technician is essentially an apprentice; they work under a licensed contractor to gain practical experience before they can work independently or open their own company.
A contractor has already gone through their training and earned their license; they can open their own company or work for an established business depending on their needs. All contractors are required to sit for an exam, acquire liability insurance, and apply for their license before they are eligible to operate. They also must complete continuing education before renewing their license, ensuring that they are up-to-date on innovations in refrigeration technology.
Expect to Spend Several Years in Training
Texas has rigorous requirements for becoming a contractor, as this field is both incredibly important and incredibly dangerous. You’ll be working with complicated machinery, often in tight spaces during heat waves, so you need to have a cool head and an encyclopedic knowledge of everything related to HVAC.
Before you can become a contractor, you need to have both classroom and field experience. You’ll complete the classroom element through an HVAC training program, where you will learn about air temperature, the mechanics of temperature regulation, humidity controls, cleanliness, and air circulation. You’ll then apply these skills during your technician training, where you will work under the supervision of a licensed contractor. Technicians need at least 36 months of practical experience in the past 48 months, or 48 months of training in the past 72 months, before they are eligible to sit for the exam.
The Exam is Difficult
Becoming an HVAC contractor requires just as much training and preparation as becoming any other professional, including an intensive exam. This test is not easy, which is why many go beyond simple study aids and choose to enroll in an air conditioning refrigeration license exam prep program.
These programs provide you with all the study materials you will need to succeed, and many have a no-pass, no-pay stipulation that helps ensure that you will pass the first time you sit for the exam. You’ll be provided with all the resources you need to succeed, including books, study aids, and full support from experienced professionals. While you may believe you can study on your own, the difficulty of the exam truly demands help from experts, or you may find yourself having to retake the test multiple times at great expense.
There are two different levels of licenses you can get: Class A and Class B. Class A licensing allows you to work on any size of HVAC equipment, including large industrial equipment, while Class B lets you work on equipment with up to 25 tons of cooling capacity.
The Class A test is 120 questions with a time limit of 230 minutes, and you must get at least 84% to pass. Should you only want to work on smaller, residential equipment, you can take the Class B exam, which is just 100 questions and only requires a 70% score to pass.
Despite the challenges of becoming an HVAC contractor, it is an extremely rewarding field, especially in Texas, where air conditioning can be a life-or-death matter. As an HVAC contractor, you will be ensuring that your fellow Texans are safe no matter the temperature outside, making the long apprenticeship, exhaustive studies, and difficult exams well worth the cost.
Ingrid Maldine is a business writer, editor and management consultant with extensive experience writing and consulting for both start-ups and long established companies. She has ten years management and leadership experience gained at BSkyB in London and Viva Travel Guides in Quito, Ecuador, giving her a depth of insight into innovation in international business. With an MBA from the University of Hull and many years of experience running her own business consultancy, Ingrid’s background allows her to connect with a diverse range of clients, including cutting edge technology and web-based start-ups but also multinationals in need of assistance. Ingrid has played a defining role in shaping organizational strategy for a wide range of different organizations, including for-profit, NGOs and charities. Ingrid has also served on the Board of Directors for the South American Explorers Club in Quito, Ecuador.
