Becoming an HVAC Technician in Illinois

June 20, 2022

We’ve already told you about the benefits of becoming an HVAC technician in Illinois (https://raviniaplumbing.com/blog/how-to-become-hvac-technician/), from great compensation to important and interesting work to ease of entry.

How easy is it to become an HVAC tech in Illinois? First, let’s start out with what you don’t need. You don’t need a four-year college education costing tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.  And you don’t need to be licensed in the state, although some municipalities may have licensing requirements. There are certain requirements – spelled out below – regarding how to become a technician in the HVAC industry.

  1. Be at least 18 years of age.
  2. Graduated from high school or have a GED equivalent.
  3. Have a valid driver’s license. It is important for your driving record to be clean, as many jobs require no major or frequent traffic violations or DUIs in the previous five years.
  4. You must receive proper training to prepare for EPA Section 608 certification exams. There are two options:
    1. Attend a community or technical college (generally for two years) or trade school (usually six to nine months).
    2. Become an apprentice/entry-level worker for an HVAC company and receive on-the-job training. These apprenticeships usually are for two years.
  5. Earn EPA Section 608 certification by passing the exam from an approved organization.  The exam is required for anyone handling certain controlled refrigerants found in AC systems. There are different certification levels:
    1. Type I for servicing small appliances with up to five pounds of refrigerant.
    2. Type II for servicing high-pressure units that contain five pounds or more of refrigerant. This includes most residential and small commercial HVAC systems.
    3. Type III for servicing or disposing of low-pressure appliances.
    4. Universal for all three.
  6. While not required, you may find it beneficial to receive certification from the North American Technician Excellence (NATE), which is a more comprehensive certification than the EPA certification. There are four types of NATE certification:
    1. Ready-to-Work Certificate: An entry-level exam available online focusing on essential job skills.
    2. HVAC Support Technician: A certificate for technicians working toward advancing within the profession.
    3. Core and Specialty Test: A certificate for technicians with at least two years of experience.
    4. Senior Level Efficiency Analyst: A certificate for HVAC technicians seeking the highest NATE designation. Applicants must hold at least two NATE certifications before taking the exam.

Contact Ravinia Plumbing, Sewer, Heating & Electric to Become an HVAC Technician

If you are interested in becoming an HVAC technician, Ravinia Plumbing is interested in talking with you. We offer interesting work, excellent compensation, and opportunities for advancement. We’ve been in business since 1928, and we’ve made a name for ourselves as one of the most trusted and reliable plumbing, sewer, heating and air conditioning, and electrical companies in Chicagoland. Visit Ravinia Plumbing today and check out our careers page to view our current openings.