Indiana experiences a large range of temperatures throughout the year and overall has cool to moderate weather. Temperatures range from as low as the high teens during the start of the year up to the mid-80s during the peak of summer. Below freezing temperatures experienced from December through March keep professionals with an Indiana HVAC license filled to the brim with work.
Indiana HVAC License Options
HVAC professionals working in Indiana are only required to obtain licensure as HVAC contractors if they plan on work independently, having their own business, or will hire employees. The state of Indiana does not issue licenses itself, rather local cities and counties are responsible for issuing their own licenses and each have their specific requirements. In some of the major cities HVAC contractor licenses are offered in the following categories: Air Conditioning “A” – Unrestricted, Air Conditioning “B” – Restricted, Air Conditioning “D” – Restricted, Refrigeration, and High Pressure Steam. The Air Conditioning “B” restricted license limit contractors to working on systems with a capacity of 25 tons cooling or 500,000 BTUs heating boiler pressures of 15 psig steam and 30 psig water or less. The Air Conditioning “D” restricted license limits contractors to working on systems with capacities of 5 tons cooling or 300,000 BTUs heating. HVAC contractor licenses generally require a minimum of 5 years of work experience in addition to applicants passing an exam. Additionally, contractors must obtain an insurance policy of at least $500,000, a surety bond of at least $5,000 and workers’ compensation insurance. Other cities and counties may offer licenses in other areas such as sheet metal work.
Indiana HVAC Education
The top program found in Indiana for HVAC education is Ivy Tech Community College. This college offers HVAC Certificate programs as well as Associate of Applied Science in HVAC and is renowned for having HVAC Excellence accreditation.
Indiana HVAC Exam Overview
The HVAC exam is 4 hours long and contains 100 multiple choice questions. A minimum score of 70% is required to pass. HVAC contractors must also pass the business and law exam in addition to the HVAC exam. This exam is 2 hours long and has 50 multiple choice questions. A minimum score of 70% is required to pass.
Indiana 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.
Indiana HVAC Salary
HVAC professionals in Indiana earn on average $42,000 per year with top 10% earning close to $70,000 annually. Cities which pay the highest rates include Bloomington, Evansville, Indianapolis, Carmel, Michigan City, La Porte, South Bend, and Mishawaka with salaries ranging from $40,000 to over $83,000 annually.