Hawaii has to be the most favorable state within the entire US due to its temperature range rarely falling below the high 60s or exceeding the high 80s. Although the state’s residents practically live in paradise conditions year-round professionals with a Hawaii HVAC license still remain in demand for those who require living and working in cooler conditions.
Hawaii HVAC License Options
HVAC contractors in Hawaii who plan on working on contracts worth over $1,000 must obtain licensure through Hawaii’s Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA). HVAC contractors in this state are required to have 10 years of work experience with a minimum of 4 years working at the supervisor role. They must also pass a required exam in their respective field. The specialty contractor license available for HVAC contractors is the C-52 Ventilating and Air Conditioning Contractor license. Those who plan on working outside the scope of what’s covered by the C-52 license must obtain one or more of the following licenses: C-4, C-13, C-15, C-25, C-37, C-40, C-44 which cover the specialties of hot water and steam fitting, electricity, electronic systems, commercial equipment, pluming, refrigeration and sheet metal respectively. HVAC contractors must also obtain maintain liability insurance for comprehensive personal injury and property damage. They must also acquire workers compensation insurance and may be required to obtain a surety bond.
Hawaii HVAC Education
The main school in Hawaii which offers HVAC education is Honolulu Community College. This college offers programs including a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology Certificate of Achievement and a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology Associate in Applied Science.
Hawaii HVAC Exam Overview
The HVAC contractor exam is 3 hours long and contains 80 multiple choice questions. A minimum score of 75% is required to pass. HVAC contractors must also pass the business and law exam in addition to the HVAC exam. This exam is 3 hours long and has 80 multiple choice questions. A minimum score of 75% is required to pass.
Hawaii 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 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.
Hawaii HVAC Salary
Professionals with a Hawaii HVAC license earn on average $61,000 per year with the top 10% earning almost $90,000 annually. Areas of Hawaii which pay the highest rates include urban Honolulu and the nonmetropolitan areas of Hawaii, Maui and Kauai which average salaries ranging from $62,000 to over $91,000.