Trade Schools
If you live in Alaska and you want to start a career in the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning industry, this page is for you.
Here you will find information about the top training programs in the state.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage reported by Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Technicians in Alaska was $70,100 in 2021- higher than the national average calculated at $54,690.
Before being ready to work with refrigerants and air conditioning systems, you have to complete a post-secondary training program and earn a certification provided by EPA.
1Northern Industrial Training
About the School
Northern Industrial Training offers vocation training and corporate training support services that help students succeed in their profession.
The school offers training for mechanics, welders, carpenters, and truck drivers as well as safety classes.
Several high school pathways, including an Alaskan Mechanic program, are available.
This pathway focuses on small engines specific to Alaska, including automotive, ATV, snow machines, and outboards.
The program combines theory-based learning with real-world examples.
The following modules are included:
- Engine
- Drive Train
- Fuel System
- Cooling System
- Running Gear
- Brakes
- Electrical System
- Maintenance and Safety
Tuition is $900 in total ($450 for level I and $450 for level II)
Financial Aid is available for students who qualify.
Contact Information
- Palmer Campus: Address: 1740 N. Terrilou Ct. Palmer, AK 99645
- Phone: 907.743.7700
- Anchorage Campus: Address: 3201 C Street Suite 308 Anchorage, AK 99503
- Phone: 907.743.7700
- Jber: Anchorage, AK 99506
- Phone: 907.761.6701
- Website: https://nitalaska.com
2Alaska Vocational Technical Center
About the School
Alaska Vocational Technical Center offers a variety of career-ready programs.
The Center provides a Plumbing and Heating program as well as many other courses.
Tuition is $2,858.
Addition costs include technology and student service fees, as well as supplies and books.
Students who don’t live in the region should also take into account room and board costs.
Courses Offered
Alaska Vocational Technical Center catalog also includes the following programs that prepare students for careers in the heating and refrigeration industries:
- Plumbing and Heating
- Refrigeration
The Plumbing and Heating program covers basic training in the construction and maintenance of plumbing and heating systems.
The program is designed to prepare students for employment or apprenticeships in the field.
The curriculum combines classroom instruction, lab work, and real work practice.
Usually, 50 percent of the training is hands-on, while the other half is classroom instruction.
In total, this program includes 630 clock hours.
The Refrigeration program also blends classroom instruction with laboratory work and live practice.
Students enrolled in this program need good mechanical aptitude, strong math and reading skills, as well as time management skills.
The curriculum covers both domestic and commercial refrigeration systems.
AVTEC requires prospective students to complete the TABE Academy, which is an online course that uses skill-based lessons to determine the applicants’ math and reading skills.
Contact Information
- Address: 809 Second Ave, P.O. Box 889, Seward, Alaska 99664
- Phone: (907) 224-3322
- Website: https://avtec.edu
3Charter College
About the School
Founded in 1985, Charter College has been providing career education opportunities in Alaska ever since.
Its Anchorage campus offers training in healthcare, business, information technology, and trades.
The programs focus on hands-on training and are designed to prepare students for employment quickly.
Depending on the chosen path, students can graduate with a bachelor’s degree, associate degree, or certificate.
The Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning program leads to a certificate or diploma.
The curriculum focuses on teaching students how to install, maintain, and repair equipment found in residential, commercial, and industrial settings.
The program can be completed in as few as 10 months and covers system troubleshooting, maintenance skills, and environmental systems.
Classes start every five weeks and offer flexible schedules.
The institutional cost for the blended Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration program is $23,480.
To qualify for admission, applicants need:
A high school diploma, a GED or equivalent, or having passed a state-authorized examination recognized as an equivalent of a high school diploma
If students don’t have either of the above, they need a passing score on an ability to benefit test or be simultaneously enrolled in a C4L Academy’s adult high school program, and a certificate offered by Charter College in a Career Pathway Program.
A valid, government-issued ID is also required.
Contact Information
- Address: 2221 East Northern Lights Blvd #120, Anchorage, AK 99508
- Phone: (907) 277-1000
- Website: https://www.chartercollege.edu
4Mat-Su College
About the School
If you live in the Palmer region, Mat-Su College offers a program that can prepare you for a career in the HVAC field.
As an extended college of the University of Alaska Anchorage, Mat-Su College offers a variety of educational programs that can lead to an Associate of Arts, Associate of Applied Science, and Occupational Endorsement Certificates.
Mat-Su College is accredited by the University of Alaska Anchorage and the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Courses Offered
Its catalog includes a Refrigeration and Heating program that equips students with the skills required when installing, diagnosing, and repairing modern refrigeration and heating equipment in commercial and residential settings.
The program combines classwork with hands-on experience.
Students also have access to a sheet metal lab and a fully functional ammonia refrigeration system.
A minimum of 24 credits is required to receive an Occupational Endorsement Certificate in Refrigeration and Heating.
Graduates are ready to sit for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Section 608 National certification exam and the ESCO Institute Employment-ready certification exam.
All those who work with refrigeration or air conditioning systems need an EPA 608 Certification.
Contact Information
- Address: 8295 E. College Drive, Palmer, AK 99645
- Phone: (907) 745-9774
- Website: https://matsu.alaska.edu
5University of Alaska Fairbanks
About the School
The University of Alaska Fairbanks offers a variety of academic programs in Fairbanks.
A minimum of 30 credits are required for a Certificate while an Associate Degree requires at least 60 credits.
Tuition for Community and Technical College programs is $234 per credit for Alaska residents.
Courses Offered
The university’s catalog includes a Trades and Technology program that with classes such as:
- Mathematics for the Trades- students learn how to apply mathematics and basic physics in units of measurements, use precision measuring tools, temperature, and other industry-related applications
- Heating Systems for Building Maintenance and Repair- a course that covers installation and maintenance applications of fuel transfer, combustion chambers, heat exchangers, draft regulators, and more
- Heating System Design- a course that includes instruction in the design of heating systems, covering installation procedures, heat loss calculation, heat distribution, and boiled and furnace sizing
- Internship in Technology- this part is dedicated to supervised practical experience
- Technology and Society- This course explores the effects technology has on society
- The program also includes many other courses in Plumbing, Carpentry, Safety, and other subjects
Contact Information
- Address: 1731 South Chandalar Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775
- Phone: 907-474-7034
- Website: https://www.uaf.edu
6Alaska Southcentral/Southeastern Sheet Metal Workers
About the School
Alaska Southcentral/Southeastern Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 23 offers quality training for union apprentices and journeypersons.
Classroom training and practical on-the-job training are available.
An accredited Sheet Metal worker training program is available in Anchorage and teaches students how to fabricate, install and service heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, blowpipe, and industrial systems.
To qualify for admission to the HVAC Service Tech Apprentice program, applicants must:
- Hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Be an Alaska resident
A School-to-Apprentice admission is also available for 17-year-old students who are enrolled in an accredited high school program.
Applicants must be physically capable of performing the tasks included in this apprenticeship program
A driver’s license is also required.
First-year apprentices receive 50 percent of the Journeyman wage, which is $21.60 per hour with an additional $23.99 per hour paid in fringe benefits.
The wage increases in 5 percent increments per every thousand hours worked.
First-year students are required to attain 240 hours of classroom time to advance to the second year.
Contact Information
- Address: 1307 East 75th Ave. Suite #4, Anchorage, AK 99518-3528
- Phone: 907-277-5367
- Website: http://local23jatc.org
7Plumbers & Steamfitters UA Local 367
Plumbers & Steamfitters UA Local 367 is a union of plumbers, pipefitters, welders, HVAC technicians, and workers in water, wastewater, and natural gas utility.
The committee offers apprenticeship training as well as continuing education classes.
Courses Offered
Training is offered in the following areas of Residential and Commercial: plumbing, pipe fitting, welding, and heating.
Other classes are also available at no charge for the apprentice if completed.
The training program includes 10,000 hours of on-the-job training and can be completed in more than five years.
Apprentices are paid while completing the on-the-job training.
Classroom and shop training is required for six weeks each year.
Trainees work and are trained by experienced journeymen, with extensive field experience in today’s plumbing and pipefitting industry.
The cost of training is paid by the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee.
To qualify for admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have a high school diploma, GED, or at least two years of secondary/college degree
- Have a valid Alaska Driver’s License
- No DUI or DWI on their driving record in the last three years
- Complete an I-9 Employment Verification Document
- WorkKeys tests
Contact Information
- Address: 610 West 54th Avenue, Anchorage, AK, 99518
- Phone: (907) 562-2810
- Website: https://ualocal367.org
8University of Alaska Southeast
About the School
The University of Alaska Southeast offers degree and certificate programs at its campuses in Juneau, Ketchikan, and Sitka.
The University operates in Juneau from two campuses: Auke Bay and downtown Juneau.
Its Technical Education Center in downtown Juneau houses healthcare, welding, mining, construction, and power technology program.
Tuition for Lower Division programs is $234 for residents.
Financial Aid is available for students who qualify.
The University of Alaska Southeast is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Courses Offered
The catalog of the University of Alaska Southeast includes a Construction Technology A.A.S. degree that covers courses such as:
- Residential Wiring
- Introduction to the Construction Trades
- Residential Plumbing and Heating
- Residential Design, Codes, and Standards
- Residential Construction Planning and Estimating
- Residential Mechanical Ventilation
- And more
In total this degree pathway requires 61 credits.
Contact Information
- Juneau Campus: 11066 Auke Lake Way, Juneau, AK 99801
- Toll-Free: (877) 465‑4827
- Ketchikan Campus: 2600 7th Ave, Ketchikan, AK 99901
- Toll-Free: (888) 550‑6177
- Sitka Campus: 1332 Seward Ave, Sitka, AK 99835
- Toll-Free: (800) 478‑6653
- Website: https://uas.alaska.edu
9Alaska Works Partnership
About the School
Alaska Works Partnership offers a variety of apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs.
The programs are provided in partnership with Alaska’s Building Trades, the Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development, the U.S. Department of Labor, Nine Star Education & Employment Services, and others.
The Partnership also teams up with employers and communities, as well as regional organizations.
To qualify for admission, applicants must be at least 18 years of age and have a photo ID and Social Security Card.
A Youth Training program is also available during Spring Break for high school students 16 years of age or older.
Courses Offered
Alaska Works Partnership provides quality pre-apprenticeships in the following areas:
- Carpentry
- Sheet Metal Worker & HVAC System Tech
- Heavy Equipment Operator
- Ironwork & Welding
- Electrical Wireman
Courses are also available on subjects such as WIT Power Tools, Electrical Wiring, Blueprint Reading, First Aid, OSHA 10, and more.
Contact Information
- Anchorage Office and Training Center: 161 Kelvin St. Suites 203, 204 & 207, Anchorage, Alaska 99508
- Phone: (907) 569-4711
- Fairbanks Office and Training Center: 3580 Cartwright Court, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709
- Phone: (907) 457-2597
- Website: https://www.alaskaworks.org
10Alaska Laborers Training
About the School
Alaska Laborers Training offers training for construction craft laborers.
The program aims to train workers who are skilled in all sectors of the construction industry.
They offer a federally registered apprenticeship that combines on-the-job learning with instruction.
To qualify for admission, applicants must:
- Be 18 years of age
- Hold a valid Alaska Driver’s License
- Be an Alaska resident for at least one year
- Hold a high school diploma or GED
- Be physically able to perform work tasks
- Be drug-free
- Have reliable transportation and be able to travel throughout the state to various sites, if needed.
Apprentices are paid while they learn.
The starting salary is 60 percent of the journeyman rate- which means $19.20 per hour.
Trainees receive wage raises every 1000 hours until they reach $32 per hour when completing the 5,100 hours of training and achieving the Journeyman status.
The training is available at no cost for Union members.
Those interested can apply for training by completing a form on the Union’s website.
The schools are located in Chugiak and Fairbanks.
Contact Information
- Address: 22211 Birchwood Loop Rd, Chugiak, AK 99567
- Phone Anchorage: (907) 345 – 3853
- Phone Fairbanks: (907) 452 – 3146
- Website: https://www.aklts.org
Regional Salary in Alaska
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | 320 | $78,090 | $37.55 | $100,990 | $47,100 |
| Fairbanks, AK | 80 | $72,200 | $34.71 | $98,050 | $46,250 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our list of top HVAC schools in Alaska, it’s your turn to continue the research and apply for the program that best meets your schedule, learning style, and needs.
