Vermont has a relatively humid climate and has on average 150 days per year with precipitation. Its summers tend to be sultry and its winters typically experience high snowfall. The average year round temperature is 45.85°F but ranges anywhere from as low as 2°F up to 82°F. Professionals with a Vermont HVAC license stay busy throughout the entire year due to the large variation in weather conditions and temperatures.
Vermont HVAC License Options
Although HVAC specific licensure is not required for HVAC professionals in Vermont there are still license options available for those who wish to obtain licensure.
The Electrical Specialist (ES) license is available for HVAC professionals through the State of Vermont Division of Fire and through the Vermont Department of Public Safety and has classification options of Automatic Gas/Oil Heating (A1) or Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (C3). Both license categories require HVAC professionals to complete a required training program and 2,000 hours of experience. Those who have not completed a training program may instead complete 4,000 hours of HVAC work experience. Both license options require applicants to pass an exam covering their respective area of expertise.
Vermont HVAC Education
There are several programs in Vermont which offer HVAC education including Vermont Technical College, Green Mountain Technology and Career Center, and River Bend Career and Technical Center. As an alternative to traditional schooling, those looking to become HVAC professionals may also gain hands on experience through enrolling in an apprenticeship. Cities which offer the most options for apprenticeships include Bradford, Morrisville, Williston, and South Burlington.
Vermont HVAC Exam Overview
Those who obtain the Vermont Specialty Electrician license may either take the required exam online or in person at a regional testing facility. The online version of the exam typically costs $100 whereas the in person exam has a fee of $65. A minimum score of 70% is required to pass the exam.
Vermont 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.
Vermont HVAC Salary
HVAC technicians in Vermont earn on average $49,000 per year with the top 10% earning over $66,000 annually. Cities which pay HVAC professionals the highest rates include Woodstock, Windsor, and Burlington which have an average annual salary of $53,160. HVAC professionals in Vermont are not required to obtain licensure in order to work as HVAC technicians or contractors, however permits are typically needed for each project in conjunction with state inspection.