Trade Schools
If you’re passionate about mechanics and you enjoy solving problems, a career in the field of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning it’s worth considering.
Texas is home to many trade schools and community colleges that offer career-focused programs designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in the field.
Program length is between less than a month and a few years, depending on the format you choose.
To help you make an informed decision, on this page we have compiled information about the top schools in the region.
1Tech Zone HVAC School
About the School
Tech Zone HVAC School is a trade school in Irving, Texas.
The school helps students become certified HVAC technicians in as few as two weeks.
The program teaches students how to diagnose, repair, install and maintain Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration equipment and machines.
The school offers small class sizes.
The school is licensed and regulated by the Texas Workforce Commission.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available:
- Two-week HVAC Training- students enrolled in this format attend classes Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Five-week HVAC Training- classes take place between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Monday-Friday
- Ten-week HVAC Training- Saturday classes from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Courses include 100 hours of classroom instruction and hands-on lab work.
Tuition is $2,200 for the five-week and two-week programs and $2,700 for the 10-week program.
The curriculum covers topics on heating, ventilation, customer interaction, wiring, tools of the trade, thermodynamics theory, charging techniques, air conditioning, thermodynamics theory, basic electrical, and thermostats.
Contact Information
- Address: 617 East Second Street, Irving, TX 75060
- Phone: (214) 393-5499
- Website: https://techzonehvacr.com
2Central Texas AC and Refrigeration School
About the School
Another school that can help you become a certified HVAC technician in just a few weeks is Central Texas AC and Refrigeration School.
Students attend this fast-track program ten hours per day, six days per week.
The curriculum covers HVAC fundamentals, as well as basic work-safety practices, repair and maintenance, service troubleshooting, and more.
Central Texas AC and Refrigeration School holds a certificate of approval through the Texas Workforce Commission.
Students become fluent in the mechanical and electrical processes of the most common types of HVAC equipment.
Among other skills, students learn how to install and troubleshoot valves, compressors, thermostats, water chillers, and heat pumps, how to fix defective connections, and how to adjust refrigerant levels and work with gas.
Day, night, and weekend schedules are available.
Tuition is $2,760 for day classes and $2,860 for night and weekend classes.
The day classes can be completed in two and a half weeks, while the night classes take 12 weeks to complete.
The program includes 110 hours of training in total.
Contact Information
- Address: 9900 Gray Blvd, Austin, TX 78758,
- Phone: (512) 410-4807
- Website: http://www.centraltexasacandrefrigerationschool.com
3Lindsay-Cooper Refrigeration School
About the School
Lindsay-Cooper Refrigeration School has been training technicians for the HVAC/R industry since 1970.
The school provides small classes so each student receives individualized attention.
Courses Offered
EPA training and testing are available for $150.
The training takes approximately six hours.
The following certification types are available:
- Small Appliances- for up to 5 lbs. of Refrigerant
- High-pressure refrigerants Commercial/Residential
- Low-Pressure Refrigerants/Chillers
The test is divided into four sections.
The first section includes 25 core questions regarding environmental issues regarding class I and class II refrigerants.
The next section includes 25 technical questions for Type I certification.
To pass type 1 certification, you must answer core questions and the type one section.
The same procedure applies to type II and type III certifications.
Those who want to earn certification for more than one type have to complete core questions plus the questions specific to the certifications they want to achieve.
Contact Information
- Address: 815 S. Beltline Road – Irving, Texas 75060
- Phone: 972-790-7404
- Website: https://www.lindseycooperschool.com
4The Training Center of Air Conditioning & Heating
About the School
The Training Center of Air Conditioning & Heating provides a ten-week program offered four times every year.
Morning and evening options are available.
A free three-hour class is available for those who want to make sure that the HVAC field is right for them.
Courses Offered
The HVAC program lasts 10 weeks and covers 16 subjects taught in a small class setting to allow for more one-on-one time with the instructor.
Classes are available Monday-Thursday.
The program focuses on hands-on learning with students sitting at workbenches using tools every day.
Lectures and class instruction are also part of this program but they are followed by practical examples.
After graduation, students can install, service, and maintain typical air conditioning and heating systems found in the region.
Graduates are ready for entry-level employment.
The curriculum covers topics such as Refrigeration Cycle, Basic Electrical Tools, Professional Conduct, and Ethics, Heating Equipment, Charging Systems and Refrigeration Recovery, and more.
Contact Information
- Address: 4727 Strack Rd, Houston, TX 77069
- Phone: 281.580.4239
- Website: https://www.thetrainingcenterofairconditioningandheating.com
5Houston Trade Training
About the School
Houston Trade Training offers hands-on training programs that prepare students for EPA certification.
Students can graduate in two months or less.
The HVAC class costs $1,499.
Classes are available in daytime and evening formats to accommodate students’ schedules.
Courses Offered
Houston Trade Training provides training programs in the field of Heating Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Electrical, and Welding.
The HVAC program is designed to prepare students for a career in the world of residential or commercial climate control.
Students learn about the components, applications, and installation of mechanical air conditioning systems, troubleshooting, repair, and charging of AC systems, and more.
The program also covers the principles and practices of HVAC maintenance as well as hazard and safety practices.
Those interested can register for classes through the school’s website.
Contact Information
- Address: 6420 Richmond Ave, Suite 630, Houston, TX 77057
- Phone: 832-932-7897
- Website: https://houstontradetraining.com
6Austin Career Institute
Austin Career Institute offers training programs designed to prepare students for new careers.
Courses Offered
The HVAC-R Technician program available at the Institute is available in English and Spanish.
Students who qualify for Workforce Solutions scholarships may attend classes for free.
The program includes 720 hours of training and can be completed in eight months.
Students can receive Austin Career Institute nationally accredited HVAC-R Technician Certification.
Graduates are ready to apply for a Registered ACR Technician license offered by the Texas Department for Licensing and Regulation.
EPA licensing training and testing are also included.
With the certification from ACI, graduates may find employment in entry-level positions as Residential and Commercial HVAC technicians, Commercial Refrigeration technicians, or Maintenance technicians.
The program includes six courses independent of each other:
- Core
- Refrigeration
- Electrical & Heating
- Systems & Components
- Commercial Air Systems
- Commercial & Industrial
Contact Information
- Address: 8711 Burnet Rd. Suite H-98 Austin, TX 78757
- Phone: 512.371.0100
- Website: https://austincareerinstitute.edu
7Lamson Institute
About the School
Lamson Institute prepares students for careers in high-demand industries.
The programs are designed for future HVAC technicians, electricians, lab assistants, phlebotomists, medical assistants, and many other professions.
Lamson Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Careers Schools and Colleges as a branch of the Institute for Business and Technology, Santa Clara.
Courses Offered
The Institute offers Commercial Refrigeration, Heating, and Air Conditioning training.
The program teaches students how to install, service, and repair commercial and residential air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration and how to maintain EPA regulations when troubleshooting and repairing equipment.
Students learn electrical theory and controls, basic plumbing, welding, and soldering through hands-on, practical training.
Graduates are ready for ESCO EPA certification, HVAC excellence, 410 A, and OSHA.
Tuition is $15,995 for the Commercial Refrigeration, Heating, and Air Conditioning program.
Additional costs include $845 for books, supplies, and uniforms and a $50 fee.
Contact Information
- Address: 5819 NW Loop 410, Suite 160, San Antonio, Texas 78238
- Phone: 210-465-1794
- Website: https://lamson.edu
8Arlington Career Institute
About the School
Arlington Career Institute offers on-campus career-focused classes available in day on-campus and online formats.
The institute is offering hands-on training and education since 1982.
Applicants need a high school diploma, transcripts, or GED certificate.
The enrollment fee is $100.
Arlington Career Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
Courses Offered
The Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Technician training program provides students with hands-on training in providing maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting of refrigeration, heating, and air conditioning systems, in residential and commercial settings.
Students are ready for certifications in EPA 608 Universal and NATE core, NATE Gas, NATE Air Conditioning Service, NATE Heat Pumps, and IAQ products.
In-person lab and classroom instruction is designed to be completed in six months.
The total cost of the HVAC program is $7,850.
This includes tuition, registration fee, tools, and supplies.
Contact Information
- Address: 901 E. Avenue K, Grand Prairie, Texas 75050
- Phone: 972-284-0881
- Website: https://www.arlingtoncareerinstitute.edu
9Southern Careers Institute
About the School
Southern Careers Institute is a trade and vocational school with eight campuses in Texas.
The school has strong relationships with potential employers in the region and graduates are connected directly with job opportunities.
Southern Careers Institute is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
Courses Offered
A Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning program is available in Austin, San Antonio North Campus, and Harlingen.
The HVAC program teaches students how to install, maintain, restore and repair temperature control equipment in residential and commercial settings.
Graduates are ready to sit for NCCER, EPA, Green, R410A, and Indoor Air Quality certification exams.
Students get to work hands-on with a variety of materials and systems, such as ventilation systems, soldering, brazing, chimneys, vents, control circuits, and more.
The curriculum includes classes such as:
- Trade Safety
- Construction Basics
- Introduction to HVAC
- Heating and Cooling
- Venting and Ducting
- Troubleshooting
- Air Quality and Energy Conservation
- System Design and Construction
- And more
The program includes 74 quarter credit hours and can be completed in 36 weeks.
Tuition for the HVAC program costs $20,025.
Contact Information
- Address: 238 Southwest Military Dr., Suite 101, San Antonio, TX 78221
- Phone: 844-783-6569
- Website: https://scitexas.edu/san-antonio-south
10Florida Career College
About the School
Florida Career College offers vocational career-training programs at their Houston-North and Huston-Southwest campuses.
Prospective students meet one-on-one with the admissions team to discuss their goals and enroll in the classes that best meet their needs.
Florida Career College is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education.
Courses Offered
Florida Career College provides a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning program that can be completed in ten months.
The program is available in a hybrid format, combining online with on-campus education.
The program prepares students for two certifications that are important for HVAC professionals: EPA Section 608 Certification for Stationary Air Conditioning and Refrigeration and Universal R-410A.
Financial aid is available for students who qualify.
The curriculum covers courses on:
- Basic Electricity, Motors, and HVAC Controls
- Basic Refrigeration Theory and Application
- Air Conditioning, Troubleshooting, and Heat Pump Systems
- Commercial Refrigeration Systems
- Specialized Commercial Equipment and Green Awareness
- Regulation and Building Automation
- And more
This diploma program costs $21,500.
Contact Information
- Address: 70 FM 1960 Houston, TX 77090
- Phone: (281) 895-1780
- Website: https://www.floridacareercollege.edu/trade-school/texas/houston
Regional Salary in Texas
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene, TX | 220 | $46,540 | $22.37 | $61,640 | $30,400 |
| Amarillo, TX | 300 | $49,180 | $23.64 | $65,620 | $30,440 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | 2,860 | $55,980 | $26.92 | $80,810 | $35,910 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 350 | $50,600 | $24.33 | $75,070 | $30,120 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | 200 | $42,010 | $20.2 | $58,650 | $28,200 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 370 | $50,970 | $24.51 | $72,630 | $34,220 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 680 | $51,770 | $24.89 | $72,280 | $35,420 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 10,060 | $57,890 | $27.83 | $82,460 | $35,910 |
| El Paso, TX | 760 | $42,390 | $20.38 | $61,570 | $22,370 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 7,230 | $58,250 | $28.01 | $81,170 | $36,080 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 410 | $47,540 | $22.86 | $62,970 | $31,080 |
| Laredo, TX | 140 | $44,160 | $21.23 | $60,390 | $28,680 |
| Longview, TX | 270 | $47,770 | $22.97 | $67,100 | $29,650 |
| Lubbock, TX | 420 | $50,180 | $24.13 | $71,480 | $29,720 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 400 | $45,390 | $21.82 | $63,620 | $29,130 |
| Midland, TX | 260 | $58,050 | $27.91 | $76,910 | $37,910 |
| Odessa, TX | 170 | $53,640 | $25.79 | $73,400 | $35,090 |
| San Angelo, TX | 130 | $48,540 | $23.34 | $65,320 | $29,580 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 2,860 | $52,110 | $25.05 | $76,650 | $34,500 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | 180 | $48,880 | $23.5 | $66,530 | $30,600 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 140 | $49,420 | $23.76 | $69,750 | $31,670 |
| Tyler, TX | 260 | $54,120 | $26.02 | $77,980 | $30,290 |
| Victoria, TX | 80 | $47,720 | $22.94 | $69,750 | $29,450 |
| Waco, TX | 460 | $49,310 | $23.71 | $65,420 | $32,600 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 130 | $45,120 | $21.69 | $68,530 | $28,940 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our list it’s time to continue your research and choose the program that best meets your need.
Take your time and find information about all the relevant factors before deciding where to enroll.
