Idaho maintains a year round temperature range of low 30s to mid-60s on average and is known for its diverse climate. The northern portion of the state receives higher annual precipitation than other parts of the state along with heavy snowfall during the winter whereas the southern portion experiences much warmer temperatures especially during the summer. With Idaho maintaining relatively cooler temperatures year-round compared to other states, professionals with an Idaho HVAC license play an essential role in providing comfortable atmospheres for living and working.
Idaho HVAC License Requirements
Idaho offers several options for HVAC registration and licensing. HVAC registration options include apprentice registration and specialty apprentice registration. HVAC licensing options include journeyman, specialty journeyman, contractor, and specialty contractor licenses.
Idaho HVAC Apprentice
HVAC professionals looking to obtain an apprentice registration must be employed by a HVAC contractor and work directly under the supervision of a HVAC journeyman for a minimum of 4 years. Additionally, HVAC apprentices must complete a mechanical engineering training program. The registration fee for HVAC apprentices is $50 and must be renewed after 5 years.
The HVAC specialty apprentice registration requires HVAC professionals to be employed by a HVAC specialty contractor in addition to working under the direct supervision of a HVAC specialty journeyman. Specialty apprentices are also required to complete an applicable training course related to their field. The registration fee costs $20 and must be renewed after 2 years.
Idaho HVAC Journeyman License
The Idaho HVAC Journeyman’s license has several requirements that must be met prior to performing work within Idaho. HVAC professionals must either be employed for at least 4 years and have four years of HVAC apprenticeship education or they must be currently registered as a HVAC apprentice working under a HVAC journeyman and have four years of apprenticeship education. If an HVAC professional does not meet either requirement they may instead obtain the journeyman’s license if they have completed 8 years of HVAC related work. The fee for this licensing option is $35.
Idaho HVAC Specialty Journeyman
The Idaho HVAC Specialty Journeyman license has 4 specialty options which are Hearth, Fuel Gas Piping, Waste Oil Heating and LP Limited Heating. In order to obtain a specialty license in Hearth, Fuel Gas Piping or Waste Oil Heating HVAC professionals must have at least one year of work experience along with the completion of 60 hours of specialty education and a training course. Those wishing to obtain a specialty license in LP Limited Heating are required to have two years of work experience along with the completion of 120 hours of specialty education and a training course. HVAC professionals who do not have required education may instead pass the Idaho exam for their chosen specialty. The application fee for the Specialty Journeyman license is $35.
Idaho HVAC Contractor and Specialty Contractors Licenses
The final two options for HVAC licensing in Idaho are the Contractor and Specialty Contractor licenses. HVAC professionals looking to obtain the Contractor license must have at least 2 years of work experience as a HVAC Journeyman as well as submit a $2,000 compliance bond. HVAC professionals wishing to obtain the Specialty Contractor license must have at least 2 years of work experience as a HVAC Specialty Journeyman within their specialty and must also submit a $2,000 compliance bond. Both types of licenses have an application fee of $35.
HVAC Education Options in Idaho
Idaho has numerous programs and colleges that offer HVAC education and training. Traditional in-person HVAC programs include College of Southern Idaho, College of Western Idaho, Eastern Idaho Technical College, Lewis-Clark State College, and North Idaho College. Online HVAC educational programs in Idaho include online technical schools such as Pinnacle Career Institute, Ashworth College, and Penn Foster Career School. College of Southern Idaho is one of the most prominent educational options for HVAC professionals due to having HVAC Excellence accreditation.
Idaho HVAC Exam Overview
In order to obtain either a Journeyman, Specialty Journeyman, Contractor or Specialty Contractor license HVAC professionals must pass a respective exam. The exam for the Journeyman and Specialty Journeyman license lasts for 4 hours and has 120 questions. A score of 70% is required to pass. The exam for the Contractor and Specialty Contractor license lasts for 4 hours and has 110 questions. A score of 70% is needed to pass this exam as well.
Idaho 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 Idaho 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.
Idaho HVAC Salary
Professionals with an Idaho HVAC license earn an average hourly rate of $18 with some professionals earning over $28 per hour. The annual salary for HVAC professionals in the state ranges from $22,000 to $60,000 per year with a median salary of $37,000 per year. Citifies in Idaho which pay the highest rates for HVAC professionals include Boise, Coeur d’Alene, and Nampa. HVAC professionals that wish to work as contractors in the state of Idaho must obtain licensure through the Idaho Division of Building Safety.