Nevada is notorious for being the driest state in the US and has an average annual precipitation of 9.63 inches. The average temperature range for the state falls between the low 20s during the winter and the low 90s during the summer although it is common for temperatures to exceed 100° F during the months of June and July. The extremely high temperatures of the summer make air conditioning an absolute necessity and professionals with a Nevada HVAC license stay busy during the heat of the summer.
Nevada HVAC License Requirements
HVAC contractors in Nevada must obtain licensure in order to legally perform HVAC work within the state. The licenses available for HVAC contractors include the Specialty C-21 license and the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractor license. There are also sub-specialty licenses available including C-21a – Refrigeration, C-21b- Air Conditioning, C-21c- Sheet Metal, C-21d- Maintenance, C-21e- Solar Air Conditioning, C-21f- Chilled and Hot Water Systems, and C-21g- Industrial Piping. Prior to obtaining licensure at the contractor level HVAC professionals must obtain at least 4 years of work experience at the journeyman level. Those who have graduated from a HVAC training program may use their education towards up to 3 years of work experience. In addition to these requirements individuals must also secure a bond.
HVAC professionals who obtain their contractor license in Nevada and also have a minimum of 7 years of work experience may also use their license in California, Arizona, and Utah.
Nevada HVAC Education
Nevada offers numerous programs in HVAC education ranging from certificate programs to bachelor and master level degrees. Some of the top choices for HVAC schools in Nevada include Advanced Training Institute, Career College of Northern Nevada, Truckee Meadows Community College, and College of Southern Nevada. College of Southern Nevada is renown due its accreditation by the Partnership for Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Accreditation (PAHRA).
Nevada HVAC Exam Overview
HVAC technicians working in the state of Nevada must obtain a C-21 in
Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning and are thus required to take the (C-21) Refrigeration and Air Conditioning exam in order to obtain licensure. This exam is 3 hours long and has 85 questions. A score of 70% is required. Additionally, HVAC professionals must also pass the trade exam for their specific field of work.
HVAC contractors in Nevada must take both the Contractor Management Survey Exam and the (C-21) Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractor exam. The Contractor Management Survey Exam lasts for 2 hours and consists of 60 questions. The cost to take this exam is $300 and a score of 75% is needed to pass the exam.
Nevada 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 Nevada 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.
Nevada HVAC Salary
HVAC technicians in Nevada earn an average salary of nearly $55,000 per year with a median hourly rate of $26. Cities in Nevada which pay HVAC professionals the most include Las Vegas, Sparks, Reno and Henderson. HVAC technicians in Nevada are not required to obtain licensure but HVAC contractors are required to obtain a license through the Nevada State Contractors Board.