New Hampshire has an average year-round temperature of 46.3°F and is classified as having a humid continental climate. All seasons tend to have fairly wet conditions making the summers muggy and winters quite cold and snowy. Temperatures may range from as low as -4°F all the way to 85°F. With a plethora of weather conditions in the state, professionals with a New Hampshire HVAC license find themselves in constant demand throughout the entirety of the year.
New Hampshire HVAC License Options
There are several license options available for HVAC technicians in New Hampshire issued by the New Hampshire Department of Safety Building Safety & Construction Mechanical Safety Section. Licensing options available for HVAC technicians include Oil Heating Technician and Gas Fitter.
New Hampshire HVAC Oil Heating Technician
HVAC professionals that wish to work as oil heating technicians are not required to obtain certification, rather it is only voluntary. Those who seek licensure must have a minimum of 4,000 hours of work experience and must obtain necessary certification such as National Oil heat Research Alliance (NORA) Silver Certificate, National Oil heat Research Alliance (NORA) Gold Certificate or obtain both Oil Heating Installation Module and Oil Heating Service Technician Module if they possess North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certification.
New Hampshire HVAC Gas Fitter
Contrary to Oil Heating Technician licensure, HVAC professionals looking to work as fuel gas fitters are required to obtain certification for their specialty. Gas Fitter certification is available at the trainee and technician levels.
HVAC Gas Fitter Trainee
The trainee level requires applicants to submit an application and provide an endorsement letter.
HVAC Gas Fitter Technician
Those seeking to work at the technician level may work as either a Fuel Gas Installation Technician, a Fuel Gas Service Technician or a Hearth System Installation and Service Technician.
HVAC technicians that wish to work as Fuel Gas Installation technicians must obtain a minimum of 1,000 hours of work experience as well as a minimum of 100 hours of education and pass an examination. HVAC technicians that wish to work as Fuel Gas Service Technicians must obtain a minimum of 2,000 hours of work experience and a minimum of 140 hours of education as well as pass an examination. Finally, HVAC technicians who seek to work as Hearth System Installation and Service Technicians must obtain a minimum of 2,000 hours of work experience as well as 60 hours of education and pass an examination.
New Hampshire HVAC Education
New Hampshire has several programs which offer HVAC education ranging from certificate to degree programs. Some of the top options for HVAC schools in the state include Manchester Community College, New Hampshire School of Mechanical Trades, and Granite State Trade School.
New Hampshire HVAC Exam Overview
There are several exam options available for HVAC professionals to take in New Hampshire including the CETP (Certified Employee Training Program) exam, various NFPA-54-based tests, and the NATE (North American Technician Excellence) exam. In most cases, these exams are only required for HVAC professionals who plan on working as Fuel Gas Installation, Fuel Gas Service or Hearth System Installation and Service Technicians.
New Hampshire 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.
New Hampshire HVAC Salary
HVAC professionals in New Hampshire earn on average over $50,000 a year with the top 10% earning $65,600 annually. Cities which pay the highest rates for HVAC professionals include Dover, Durham, Manchester, Portsmouth, and Nashua with salaries ranging from $51,000 to $55,000. HVAC professionals in New Hampshire are not required to obtain state level licensure, however there is licensure available as well as required certification for certain HVAC specialties, such as fuel gas fitting and heating equipment.