To Become a Certified Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Mechanic

Credit classes are offered to earn a Career Studies Certificate in HVAC: a curriculum sheet showing the courses required can be downloaded at HVSC CSC Curriculum Sheet. The 13 credits earned from this course count as 195 hours of formal vocational training towards obtaining a journeyman license.

To Become a Journeyman HVAC Mechanic

Educational & Practical Experience Requirements

The following is an extract from the Virginia Board for Contractors, Individual License and Certification Regulations at:  http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/dporweb/tra_reg.pdf (page 9)

18 VAC 50-30-40 Evidence of Ability and Proficiency

A. Applicants for examination to be licensed as a journeyman shall furnish evidence that one of the following experience and education standards has been attained:

1. Four years of practical experience in the trade and 240 hours of formal vocational training in the trade. Experience in excess of four years may be substituted for formal vocational training at a ratio of one year of experience for 80 hours of  formal training, but not to exceed 200 hours;

2. Four years of practical experience and 80 hours of vocational training for liquefied petroleum gas fitters and natural gas fitter providers except that no substitute experience will be allowed for liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas workers;

3. An associate degree or a certificate of completion from at least a two-year program in a tradesman related field from an accredited community college or technical school as evidenced by a transcript from the educational institution and two years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired;

4. A bachelor’s degree received from an accredited college or university in an engineering curriculum related to the trade and one year of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired, or,

5. On or after July 1, 1995, an applicant with ten years of practical experience in the trade as verified by reference letters of experience from any of the following: building officials, building inspectors, current or former employers, contractors, engineers, architects or current or past clients, attesting to the applicant’s work in the trade, may be granted permission to sit for the journeyman’s level examination without having to meet the educational requirements.

ESCC does not offer specific training/preparation for the examination for the journeyman HVAC Mechanic examination. Required reading would be: 2009 ICC International Mechanical Code®

For further information call 757-789-7979.