Without fail, Alaska remains the coldest state in the US throughout the entire year, having an average annual temperature of 37°F with temperatures rarely breaking a range of 30°F to 43°F. For the state which commonly experiences lows in the teens, professionals with an Alaska HVAC license remain in incredible demand and never face a shortage of conditions where HVAC is needed.
Alaska HVAC License Options
Alaska does not require HVAC professionals working at the journeyman level to obtain licensure, however those who work as mechanical administrators must obtain licensure. Licensure at this level may be obtained through either adequate work experience, education, or a combination of both and professionals must pass a required exam.
Licensure can be obtained in the following specialties: Heating, Cooling and Process Piping (HCPP), Unlimited Refrigeration (UR), Unlimited HVAC/Sheet Metal (UHVCS), Unlimited Commercial and Industrial Plumbing (UCIP), Residential HVAC (RHVC), Residential Plumbing and Hydronic Heating (RPHH), and Mechanical Systems Temperature Control (CNTL).
Those who wish to work as residential HVAC professionals must obtain a minimum of 2 to 4 years of work experience at the journeyman level.
Those who wish to work as Unlimited HVAC/Sheet Metal administrators must obtain at least 4 to 6 year of work experience at the journeyman level. Alternatively, they may have the same number of years or work experience working as a superintendent or other similar position. Additionally, they may obtain a degree in mechanical engineering along with 1 to 3 years of work experience or be registered as a mechanical engineer and have 1 to 3 years of work experience at the engineer level.
HVAC professionals planning to work within unlimited refrigeration must have at least 2 to 4 years of work experience at the journeyman level or they may obtain education from a regionally or nationally accredited program by the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education.
Professionals who work in the specialty of heating, cooling, and process piping must have at least 4 to 6 years of work experience at the HVAC journeyman level or in construction management as a superintendent. An alternative routes is for professionals to obtain a degree in mechanical engineering along with 3 years of work experience at the journeyman level.
Finally, those who choose to work in the field of mechanical systems temperature control must obtain anywhere from 2 to 6 years of work experience depending on whether they are a journeyman or have management experience or they may obtain a degree in engineering or another form of education that is regionally or nationally accredited by the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education.
Those who wish to obtain a mechanical contractor’s license must currently have a mechanical administrator’s license. Contractors are required to obtain a certificate of insurance for of at least $20,000 for property damage, $50,000 for the injury or death of one person, and $100,000 for the injury or death of more than one person. Contractors who have employees must also obtain workers’ compensation insurance. All contractors are required to pay a fee of $300 and obtain a surety bond of $10,000.
Alaska HVAC Education
The main program in Alaska which offers HVAC education is AVTEC-Alaska’s Institute of Technology which offers students a Plumbing and Heating Program. This school also has a great reputation due to having PAHRA accreditation.
Alaska HVAC Exam Overview
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires all HVAC technicians that work with refrigerants to be certified. In order to obtain EPA certification, HVAC technicians must take an exam which has 80 multiple choice questions that must be completed within 3 hours. A score of 70% is required to pass the exam and the exam fee is $120.
The three different EPA certification types that HVAC technicians can acquire are Type I, II and III. Type I limits HVAC technicians to working on appliances which contain no more than five pounds of refrigerant. Type II permits HVAC technicians to perform work on high pressure appliances. Type III limits HVAC technicians to working on low-pressure appliances. This certification is transferable among all states and does not expire.
Alaska EPA Section 608 Certification
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires all HVAC technicians that work with refrigerants to be certified. In order to obtain EPA certification, HVAC technicians in Alaska must take an exam which has 80 multiple choice questions that must be completed within 3 hours. A score of 70% is required to pass the exam and the exam fee is $120.
The three different EPA certification types that HVAC technicians can acquire are Type I, II and III. Type I limits HVAC technicians to working on appliances which contain no more than five pounds of refrigerant. Type II permits HVAC technicians to perform work on high pressure appliances. Type III limits HVAC technicians to working on low-pressure appliances. This certification is transferable among all states and does not expire.
Alaska HVAC Salary
Professionals with an Alaska HVAC license earn an average salary of over $63,500 per year. Cities which pay HVAC professionals the highest rates include Anchorage, Fairbanks, Wasilla, Kenai, Kodiak, Bethel, Palmer, and Homer with salaries ranging from $63,000 to over $90,000 annually.