New York is considered to have a continental climate and experiences a large range of temperatures and weather conditions throughout the year. Summers can be extremely hot with high humidity, especially during the months of July and August, whereas winters are generally quite cold and snowfall is common. The average temperature of the state of New York is 55.15°F with temperatures ranging from the mid-20s to the high 80s.
New York HVAC License Options
HVAC professionals are not required to obtain licensure in New York at the state level but some localities may have their own requirements. Cities such as New York City offer HVAC professionals several options for licensure.
High Pressure Boiler Operating Engineer License
One option for licensing for HVAC professionals includes the High Pressure Boiler Operating Engineer license which is issued by New York City Building Department. There are several options for HVAC professionals to choose from in order to meet requirements to take the exam. The first option is to complete 5 years of work experience as one of the following occupations: Fireman, Oiler, Journeyman Boiler-Maker, General Assistant or Machinist. Another option for professionals is to either obtain a degree in Mechanical Engineering and complete 1 year of related work experience or to obtain an Engineer Certificate and maintain it for 4 years. Additional pathways to meeting requirements to take the exam include completing 5 years of work experience with maintaining a steam generating plant of a governmental building along with 1 year of experience in New York City; completion of a 2 year long apprenticeship along with 3 years of experience in New York City; maintaining a Commission from the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors for at least 7 years; maintaining High Capacity Fossil Fuel Operator certification along with 5 years of related work experience; or maintaining high pressure certification or licensure for at least 5 years.
Oil Burning Equipment Installer License
Another option for licensing in New York is the Oil Burning Equipment Installer license issued by New York City Building Department. This license may be obtained in the form of Class A or Class B. The Class A license requires 4 years of work experience whereas the Class B license only requires 3 years of work experience. Both license classifications require applicants to pass both written and practical exams.
Additional New York HVAC License Options
In addition to the above license options, there are numerous license options available for HVAC mechanics which are issued through the Division of Code Enforcement. The first three licenses available for HVAC mechanics include the Class A Master HVAC Mechanical License, Class B Limited HVAC Mechanical License, and the Class C Residential HVAC Mechanical License. The Class A license requires HVAC professionals to have 10 years of work experience whereas the Class B and C licenses require HVAC professionals to have 5 years of work experience. Additionally, other mechanical licenses available include the Class M Master Refrigeration Mechanical License, the Class R Limited Refrigeration Mechanical License, the Class S Limited Refrigeration Mechanical License, and the Class V Special Mechanical License which all require 5 years of work experience. Each license has its own respective exam.
New York HVAC Education
New York has several programs which offer HVAC education including Apex Technical School, New York City College of Technology, State University of New York, Monroe Community College, and Hudson Valley College. Two of the most distinguished programs in the state include Isaac Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. due to its PAHRA accreditation and the Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES / Meyers Education Center which has HVAC Excellence accreditation.
New York HVAC Exam Overview
In New York there is not a state mandated HVAC exam, however various localities and cities may require HVAC professionals to take specialty exams depending on their field of work and level of expertise.
New York 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 York HVAC Salary
HVAC professionals in New York earn on average $57,000 per year with top 10% earning over $89,000 annually. Cities which pay the highest rates include New York, Jersey City, White Plains, and Newark with average salaries of $61,000 per year. HVAC professionals in New York are not required to obtain licensure in order to work.