Massachusetts has an average annual temperature of 45.3 °F with temperatures ranging from the low 20s to mid-80s throughout the year. Summer months tend to be moderate in temperature, yet somewhat humid and winters are generally very cold. Massachusetts HVAC professionals tend to be busiest during the months of November through March due to the much lower temperatures experienced as well as the snowfall.
Massachusetts HVAC License Options
There are several options for licensure available to HVAC professionals in Massachusetts which may be obtained through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Department of Public Safety or the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation Division of Professional Licensure.
HVAC Technicians That Work with Refrigerants
HVAC technicians who planning on working with refrigerants must obtain licensure at either the apprentice, technician or contractor level.
Refrigeration HVAC Apprentice License
Those working at the apprentice level are required to register with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development Division of Apprentice Standards and to enroll in an appropriate training program.
Refrigeration HVAC Technician License
Those working at the technician level have several options for completing training and education prior to taking the required exam. Technicians may either provide proof of completion of an apprenticeship along with proof of completion of 6000 hours at the apprentice level which includes 250 hours in refrigeration coursework or they may provide proof of completion of an apprenticeship as well as completion of 4000 hours at the apprentice level which includes 500 hours of refrigeration education. Alternatively, technicians have a third option of providing proof of completion of an apprenticeship along with proof of working 2000 hours at the apprentice level which includes 1000 hours in refrigeration education.
Refrigeration HVAC Contractors License
Refrigeration contractors in Massachusetts must complete 2,000 hours of experience at the technician level along with 100 hours of refrigeration education. They must also pass an exam and in some cases may be required to obtain a construction supervisor’s license if they plan on running their own refrigeration contracting business. This license is available in three forms: unlimited, limited, and specialty. The unlimited license allows contractors to perform work on buildings less than 35,000 square feet, the limited license allows contractors to perform work on one-or two-family dwellings of any size, and the specialty license allows contractors to supervise various types of construction.
In addition to refrigeration licenses there are also certificate options available for oil burner technicians.
Massachusetts Oil Burner Technicians
Oil burner technicians have four options available for certification: apprentice, Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3.
- Apprentices are only required to register with the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety as well as pay a required fee.
- Group 1 technicians perform work on unrestricted power burners and must complete a minimum of 5 years of work experience along with education.
- Group 2 technicians may perform work on power burners 1 and 2 and are required to have a minimum of 26 weeks of education along with the completion of an apprenticeship.
- Group 3 technicians perform work on gravity feed systems and are required to have extensive work experience with non-pressurized oil burners.
Massachusetts Sheet Metal Workers
Finally, there is also licensing available for sheet metal workers at both the apprentice and journeyman levels.
- Apprentices are only required to register with the Board of Examiners of Sheet Metal Workers but journeymen must meet specific requirements depending on their classification.
- J1 Journeymen are able to perform unrestricted work and must have a minimum of 8000 hours of work experience along with 5 years of education. J-2 journeymen have restricted work and must complete both 4800 hours of work along with 3 years of education.
Both classifications of journeymen must pass an exam prior to receiving a license.
Massachusetts HVAC Education
Massachusetts has several programs which offer HVAC education that range from the high school level up to the collegiate level. Some of these programs include Cape Cod Regional Technical High School and Shawsheen Valley Technical High School which have PAHRA accreditation as well as The Peterson School, Bay State School of Technology, and New England Institute of HVAC.
Massachusetts HVAC Exam Overview
In Massachusetts both technicians and contractors must pass the Massachusetts license exam in order to become certified in refrigeration. The exam requires a minimum score of 70% in order to pass. Other exams available for HVAC professionals to take are the oil burner technician exam and the sheet metal worker exam. The oil burner technician exam costs $75 and the sheet metal worker exam costs $150. Both exams require a 70% or higher to pass.
Massachusetts 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.
Massachusetts HVAC Salary
HVAC professionals in Massachusetts earn on average $59,000 per year with the top 10% earning over $80,000 annually. Cities which pay HVAC professionals the highest rates include Springfield, Peabody, Salem, and Beverly with salaries ranging from $61,000 to $65,000 on average. HVAC professionals are not required to obtain licensure prior to working, however there are requirements that must be met for those who plan on working with refrigerants.