Pathway guide
HVAC Pathway Guide
At a glance
This guide covers a high school heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R) pathway in Michigan, Virginia, North Carolina, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Missouri and Hawaii. It sets out the rules that differ by state. The how-to for staffing, partnerships, approvals, facilities, curriculum and scheduling sits in six implementation toolkits, linked in the launch steps at the end.
What the pathway leads to
HVAC/R is the one trade in this series with a federal credential students can earn in high school and use on the job: EPA Section 608 certification, which anyone who services equipment containing refrigerant must hold. It has no minimum age. Students can also earn NCCER HVAC levels, HVAC Excellence Employment Ready certificates and OSHA-10. State licenses come later: Virginia licenses individual HVAC tradesmen at 18 with years of experience; Michigan, North Carolina, Arizona and Hawaii license contractors; Pennsylvania and Missouri leave licensing to local governments.
The decisions you face
- Which credentials to offer. EPA 608 is the baseline in every state. Add NCCER HVAC or HVAC Excellence depending on your state’s credential list.
- Who teaches it. Every state has an industry route for experienced technicians. The teacher should hold EPA 608 Universal to supervise refrigerant work.
- The lab. Working equipment, refrigerant recovery tools, and space for both older and newer refrigerants as the industry changes over.
- What students can do on job sites. Much HVAC work happens on roofs, which federal rules restrict for minors, and several states add their own roofing limits.
Where the states differ most
| Topic | Range across the seven states |
|---|---|
| Individual HVAC license | Virginia only (journeyman and residential tradesman at 18); contractor licensing elsewhere, or local only |
| Projected job growth, 2024 to 2034 | From 5.1% (Missouri) to 27.3% (Arizona) |
| Statewide college credit | Pennsylvania SOAR; no statewide HVAC articulation in North Carolina or Michigan |
Items are labeled , , or . Last checked October 2, 2026.
Jobs and pay
HVAC jobs are projected to grow in every state, fastest in Arizona
Projected change in HVAC/R mechanic and installer jobs (SOC 49-9021), 2024 to 2034
Show the numbers
| State | Projected change, 2024 to 2034 |
|---|---|
| Arizona | +27.3% |
| North Carolina | +9.3% |
| Virginia | +9.3% |
| Hawaii | +7.2% |
| Michigan | +6.6% |
| Pennsylvania | +6.4% |
| Missouri | +5.1% |
| United States | +8.1% |
HVAC demand is steady to strong in all seven states. Arizona’s projected growth of 27.3% is more than three times the national rate. HVAC mechanics are on Michigan’s 2026 Hot 50 list, and HVAC (47.0201.00) is on Arizona’s 2026-27 in-demand program list in every region.
| State | Median annual wage, May 2025 | Jobs in 2024 | Openings per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | $60,850 | 14,780 | 1,360 |
| Virginia | $59,730 | 14,660 | 1,410 |
| North Carolina | $57,260 | 14,550 | 1,400 |
| Arizona | $59,400 | 11,460 | 1,390 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,400 | 17,890 | 1,640 |
| Missouri | $59,950 | 6,510 | 580 |
| Hawaii | $65,450 | 1,200 | 110 |
| United States | 425,200 | 40,100 |
Median pay sits in a narrow band, about $57,000 to $65,000, across the seven states. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state file (Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, SOC 49-9021).
Credentials and licensing
Credentials students can earn
| Credential | How it works | Status |
|---|---|---|
| EPA Section 608 | Required by federal law (40 CFR 82.161) for technicians who could release refrigerant while servicing stationary equipment. Four types: I (small appliances), II (high pressure), III (low pressure), Universal. Closed-book exam, 70% to pass, proctored at one proctor per 50 test-takers; no minimum age for test-takers or proctors; the certification does not expire. Apprentices may work under close supervision of a certified technician. | |
| EPA Section 609 | Required to service motor vehicle air conditioning for pay | |
| NCCER HVACR (6th edition, 2022) | Level 1 200 hours, Level 2 162.5, Level 3 175, Level 4 170. Issued through an accredited sponsor. | |
| HVAC Excellence Employment Ready | 19 single-topic exams aimed at entry-level students | . Confirm with HVAC Excellence: test-site requirements. |
| OSHA-10 | Safety completion card |
What each state counts
| State | HVAC credentials on the state list | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Credential list for 47.0201 not found | |
| Virginia | HVACR course pages list credentials including the NOCTI HVAC/R assessment (3064) | : the Board-approved list |
| North Carolina | NC NCCER HVACR I to III, Construction Core and OSHA-10 | |
| Arizona | 2026-27 list for 47.0201 includes EPA 608, EPA 609, NCCER Core and HVAC Levels 1 and 2, an R-410A certification, Trane Tech One and community college certificates | . : which items count for A-F versus CTED funding. |
| Pennsylvania | NOCTI HVAC Maintenance Technology, Pennsylvania customized test (8297) | : the 2026-27 test |
| Missouri | NCCER HVAC is an approved credential. EPA 608 counts only as a stackable credential paired with OSHA-10, and some 608 types drop off in 2028-29. | . : 2028-29 list. |
| Hawaii | No state list found; HVAC sits inside Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Systems |
State licensing
| State | What is licensed | Age and experience | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Mechanical contractors (LARA), in 10 work classifications; no state journeyman or apprentice mechanical license | 3 years or 6,000 hours in the classification; a 2-year HVAC program counts for up to 1 year. No minimum age in the statute. | |
| Virginia | Individual HVAC tradesmen (DPOR) | 18. Journeyman: 240 hours of formal vocational training plus 4 years, sliding to 8 years with no training. Residential HVAC tradesman: 160 hours plus 2 years, down to 6 years with no training. Master after further experience. | . : whether high school CTE counts as formal vocational training. |
| North Carolina | Heating contractors (Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors) | 18 to sit for the exam; 2 years of on-site experience for a heating contractor license; up to half of required experience may be coursework | |
| Arizona | Contractors (Registrar of Contractors) through a qualifying party | 4 years of experience; not issued to minors; wage employees exempt | |
| Pennsylvania | No state license; municipal licensing in some places | Set locally | |
| Missouri | No state license; local (for example, Kansas City and St. Louis County) | Set locally | Confirm locally |
| Hawaii | C-52 Ventilating and Air Conditioning contractor license (DCCA), through a responsible managing employee | 4 years of supervisory experience in the past 10 |
North Carolina is the clearest case for telling families that high school coursework can shorten the path: up to half of the experience required for a heating license may be academic or technical coursework. In Michigan, a 2-year HVAC program can count for one year toward a mechanical contractor license; whether a high school program qualifies is worth asking LARA.
Working with minors
For the full federal and state rules, a task-by-task decision path and a student-learner agreement template, see Working with Minors in CTE Pathways.
Federal rules
No federal rule bars minors from handling refrigerant, and EPA 608 has no age limit. The federal limits that matter are task-based:
| Federal order | What it covers on an HVAC job | Exemption? |
|---|---|---|
| HO 16, roofing | All work on or about a roof, which expressly includes installing and servicing HVAC equipment attached to roofs | Yes |
| HO 7, hoisting | Scissor lifts, boom lifts, forklifts and cranes used to set equipment | No |
| HO 14, saws and cutting discs | Reciprocating saws and abrasive cutting discs | Yes |
| HO 8, metal forming | Sheet metal shears and brakes in duct fabrication | Yes |
| HO 2, driving | Driving service vans on public roads; 17-year-olds only in narrow cases | No |
Rooftop units are common in commercial HVAC work, so plan placements around HO 16. The student-learner exemption allows roof work under a written agreement with close supervision; without one, keep students on the ground.
State rules
| State | What state law adds for 16- and 17-year-olds | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | R 408.6208 bars construction work, roofing and power saws for all minors. Employment under a written school-employer agreement is exempt (R 408.6206(a); MCL 409.118); federal HOs still apply. | : rule text read (see Working with Minors in CTE Pathways). : whether agreement placements need a permit through LEO’s new Youth Employment Permit Portal. Last checked Oct. 4, 2026 |
| Virginia | Bars roofing for minors (Va. Code 40.1-100). Students in approved work-training programs may do otherwise prohibited work under a written agreement filed with DOLI. DOLI’s roofing rule confirms the apprentice and student-learner exemptions apply (16VAC15-30-170). | |
| North Carolina | Bars work with a fall risk of 10 feet or more and confined spaces (ask NCDOL whether the crawl spaces and attics your placements use count), unless an apprentice, a student-learner, or under a Supervised Practice agreement that NCDOL approves before the student starts (submit about 60 days ahead). | |
| Arizona | Bars roofing work, including equipment on roofs. Career education students and registered apprentices are exempt. | |
| Pennsylvania | Bars roofing for minors except apprentices, student-learners and approved vocational graduates (34 Pa. Code 11.63). The federal roofing rule allows the same exemption under a written training agreement, so rooftop HVAC work is open to them. Work permit for every minor. | |
| Missouri | Ladder and scaffold limits apply only under 16. Federal rules govern 16- and 17-year-olds. | |
| Hawaii | Bars roofing for minors, with a student-learner exemption tied to a DOE-approved cooperative program. |
Residential service calls, equipment changeouts at ground level and shop work avoid most of these limits. Write task limits into every placement agreement.
Who can teach
Every state lets an experienced HVAC technician teach on an industry-based route. No state found requires the teacher to hold a state HVAC license, but the teacher should hold EPA 608 Universal certification to supervise students working with refrigerant.
| State | Credential for an industry hire | Trade experience | HVAC-specific requirements | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Annual Career Authorization | 4,000 hours within the last 10 years | None found beyond recent and relevant experience | |
| Virginia | Technical Professional License | A trade license plus 2 years as a journeyman, a completed apprenticeship plus 2 years, or 4 years supervisory; 9 semester hours of professional studies | None found in regulation | |
| North Carolina | Trade and Industrial Education-Construction (74026), no provisional start | Bachelor’s plus 2 years, associate plus 4, or diploma plus 6, in construction trades including HVAC | OSHA-10 Construction before classroom instruction; NCCER instructor certification | |
| Arizona | Standard CTE Certificate, Option C, or the Specialized CTE certificate | 6,000 hours on Option C | Certificate area SCTIET or SSCTEIET; no EPA 608 or license requirement listed | |
| Pennsylvania | Career and Technical Instructional I | 8,000 hours, or 4,000 plus a bachelor’s | Pass the occupational competency assessment for HVAC | |
| Missouri | Career Education Temporary Authorization Certificate | 4,000 to 6,000 hours depending on degree | None found | |
| Hawaii | CTE Permit or Standard Limited License in the Building and Construction field | 3 years full-time in the field | Industry certification where one exists |
HVAC technicians are in demand and Arizona’s projected growth is steep, so expect recruiting to be competitive there. The Staffing toolkit covers pay comparisons, shared instructors and other options.
Program, curriculum and lab
An HVAC program needs state CTE program approval like any other pathway; no second regulator approves it.
| State | State program | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration (47.0201), open to new programs | |
| Virginia | HVACR I (8503: 140 hours, grades 10 and 11) and HVACR II (8504: 280 hours, 2 credits, grades 11 and 12) | |
| North Carolina | Construction Core (IC00), then HVACR I, II and III (IC31 to IC33), plus work-based learning | |
| Arizona | Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, 47.0201.00 (Technical Standards 2024) | |
| Pennsylvania | HVAC/R Maintenance Technology/Technician, 47.0201 (Program of Study 19) | |
| Missouri | Skilled Technical Sciences program approved through DESE’s career education application | |
| Hawaii | Inside Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Systems, under Building and Construction |
The refrigerant changeover
The industry is changing refrigerants, and your lab and curriculum need to keep up.
- New equipment. Since January 1, 2025, new residential and light commercial air conditioners and heat pumps must use refrigerants under a global warming potential of 700. In practice that means mildly flammable (A2L) refrigerants such as R-454B and R-32. Variable refrigerant flow systems follow on January 1, 2027.
- Older equipment. A May 2026 EPA rule removed the January 1, 2026 installation deadline for equipment made before 2025, so remaining R-410A units can still be installed. : confirm against the Federal Register text.
- Leak repair. From January 1, 2026, systems holding 15 pounds or more of HFC refrigerant fall under new leak repair rules; residential and light commercial air conditioning is exempt.
- Certification. EPA 608 certification requirements are unchanged.
Teach both the R-410A systems students will service for years and the A2L systems now being installed, including the handling and safety practices for mildly flammable refrigerants.
The lab
Plan for working split systems and packaged units, refrigerant recovery machines and cylinders, gauges and vacuum pumps, brazing stations, and electrical controls trainers. Brazing brings the ventilation and fire safety items covered in the Welding guide. Store refrigerant cylinders to the supplier’s requirements. The Facilities toolkit covers funding and safety.
Curriculum
NCCER HVACR and HVAC Excellence both supply a full sequence. Confirm whichever you choose covers A2L refrigerants and EPA 608 preparation. The Curriculum toolkit has a review rubric.
Credit after high school
| State | College credit | Credit toward a license | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | No statewide HVAC agreement found; local agreements | A 2-year HVAC program counts for up to 1 year toward a mechanical contractor license | Confirm with LARA: whether high school programs qualify |
| Virginia | No statewide agreement found | Formal vocational training shortens the journeyman route; whether high school CTE counts is unclear | Confirm with DPOR |
| North Carolina | The statewide high school to community college articulation has no HVACR entry; college credit comes through local agreements or Career and College Promise | Up to half of required experience for a heating license may be academic or technical coursework | |
| Arizona | Community college certificates appear on the state credential list; dual enrollment by college agreement | Up to 2 of the qualifying party’s 4 years can be accredited technical training | |
| Pennsylvania | SOAR: at least 9 technical credits for students with a 2.75 GPA in technical courses and a Competent or Advanced score; used within 16 months of graduation | No state license | . : SOAR revision. |
| Missouri | No statewide agreement found | No state license | Confirm locally |
| Hawaii | Early College and Running Start statewide dual-credit routes; no HVAC-specific agreement found | Contractor license based on supervisory experience | Confirm locally |
Apprenticeship
HVAC and pipefitting apprenticeships run through union training centers and contractor associations. Federal standards let apprentices start at 16; sponsors often set 18. EPA 608 lets apprentices work on refrigerant under the close supervision of a certified technician, so a student who already holds 608 certification arrives ready to work on systems. Ask local sponsors in writing what they credit from high school. The Electrical guide lists each state’s apprenticeship registrar.
Academic credit
HVAC coursework draws on physics (heat transfer, pressure) and electrical theory. Check the Curriculum toolkit before awarding academic credit, and confirm that any substitution still meets state university admission requirements.
Launch steps
Work through these steps in order; several can run at the same time.
| Step | What to do | Toolkit |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Confirm regional demand | Talk with residential and commercial HVAC contractors and the local union or contractor training center. | Scheduling and student timing toolkit |
| 2. Form the advisory committee | Include residential and commercial contractors, an equipment distributor, an apprenticeship sponsor and a community college. Ask which refrigerants and credentials they hire on. | Clinical and work-based learning partnerships toolkit |
| 3. File CTE program approval | Use your state’s process and deadline; confirm the credentials are on the state list. | Approvals and applications toolkit |
| 4. Set up EPA 608 testing | Arrange an approved certifying organization and proctor for EPA 608. Add NCCER sponsorship or HVAC Excellence test-site status. | Curriculum toolkit |
| 5. Hire the instructor | Use the state’s industry route; confirm EPA 608 Universal; in North Carolina, OSHA-10 before teaching. | Staffing toolkit |
| 6. Build the lab | Working equipment for both R-410A and A2L refrigerants, recovery equipment, brazing stations with ventilation, cylinder storage. | Facilities and equipment toolkit |
| 7. Arrange job-site learning | Placement agreements with task limits; no roof work without a student-learner agreement; no lifts; state filings in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. | Clinical and work-based learning partnerships toolkit |
| 8. Get credit agreements in writing | College credit, apprenticeship credit and, where it applies, credit toward a license. | Curriculum toolkit |
Review status and sources
Last checked October 2, 2026. These items are open for reviewers:
- EPA May 2026 rule. Confirm the removal of the R-410A installation deadline against the Federal Register text.
- Michigan. The credential list for 47.0201; whether a high school program counts toward the mechanical contractor experience credit; whether placements under a school-employer agreement need a Youth Employment Permit Portal permit (the R 408.6208 question was resolved October 3, 2026; see the Working with Minors guide).
- Virginia. Board-approved HVAC credentials; whether high school CTE counts as formal vocational training for tradesman licenses.
- Arizona. Which listed HVAC credentials count for A-F points versus CTED funding.
- Pennsylvania. Whether NOCTI test 8297 is the 2026-27 assessment.
- Missouri. Local licensing in Kansas City, St. Louis County and other cities (secondary sources only).
- Hawaii. Whether any individual HVAC worker license exists; credential list.
- HVAC Excellence and NATE. Test-site requirements and entry-level certificates for high school students.
Sources
Jobs and pay
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (state file) and Projections Central
- Michigan’s 50 hottest jobs through 2034 (MITechNews, September 2026)
- ADE, 2026-2027 Regional In-Demand Programs
Credentials and refrigerant rules
- EPA Section 608 technician certification and 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F, Appendix D
- EPA Section 609
- EPA Technology Transitions restrictions and May 2026 final rule fact sheet
- EPA leak repair fact sheet (January 2026) and 40 CFR Part 84, Subpart C
- NCCER, HVACR
- CTE Resource Center, HVACR I and HVACR II
- ADE CTE credential list
- NOCTI PA HVAC Maintenance Technology blueprint
- DESE IRC New System Guidance
Licensing
- MCL 339.5807
- Virginia Tradesman Regulations
- N.C.G.S. 87-21
- A.R.S. 32-1121 and 32-1122
- PA L&I, contractor licensing
- HAR 16-77-18 and Hawaii C-52 classification
Working with minors
- 29 CFR 570.67 (HO 16) and 570.58 (HO 7)
- Mich. Admin. Code R 408.6208
- Va. Code 40.1-100
- 13 NCAC 12 .0406
- Arizona ICA, youth occupational restrictions
- PA DLI, Child Labor Law Prohibitions
- RSMo 294.040
- HAR 12-25
Programs and credit
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