Trade Schools
A career in the field of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration can be both financially and professionally rewarding.
Before being ready for your first job in the field, you should earn a degree, diploma, or certificate by completing specialized post-secondary training at a community college, trade school, or technical school.
Classes are also available for high school students who want to earn dual credit.
To help you choose the program that best meets your needs, on this page we have compiled information about the top training programs available for Massachusetts students.
1New England Tractor Trailer Training School
About the School
With campuses in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, New England Tractor Trailer Training School offers training programs for those who want to start careers in high-demand industries such as truck driving, HVACR, and the motor carrier industry.
Courses Offered
The Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration program teaches students how to fix, install, and maintain systems used for heating and cooling.
During training, students are exposed to furnaces, refrigerators, air conditioners, ventilation ducts, boilers, and many other appliances.
This program is available at the school’s North Andover and Rhode Island locations.
Students work directly with experienced instructors during the program.
New England Tractor Trailer Training School is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
Financial Aid is available for students who qualify.
The school’s Career Services help students become ready for their first job.
Contact Information
- North Andover Campus: 1600 Osgood St. #1570 North Andover, MA 01845
- Phone: (978) 965-2969
- Website: https://nettts.com
2New England Institute of HVAC
About the School
New England Institute of HVAC offers comprehensive 13-week HVAC classes throughout the year.
The school trains students in all aspects of HVAC services, repair, and installation.
The total cost for the day program is $6,975 and includes books, tuition, and tools.
The night program costs $5,975.
Courses Offered
The following courses are included in the curriculum:
- Basic Electricity- this course covers Ohm’s Law, Schematic Symbols, Timers, Low Voltage Wiring, and other electricity-related topics
- Oil Heat- students learn about Major Components, Troubleshooting, Primary Controls, Basic Oil Wiring, Venting Basics, and other oil heat-related topics
- Gas Heat- this course covers Troubleshooting, Condensing Furnaces, Gas Furnace Wiring, Sizing Furnaces, and other subjects about gas heat systems
- Miscellaneous Heating- Hydronic, Forced Hot Air, Zone Controls, Introduction to Thermostats, and other topics are included in this class
- EPA Certification and Testing- Universal Certification Preparation, System Recovery, and Charging, Vacuum Pump Operation, and Official EPA Test Proctored
- Residential Refrigeration- students learn about the Four Major Components, Basic Tools, Soldering and Brazing, Window A/C, Dehumidifier, System Troubleshooting, and more
- Commercial Refrigeration- Pump Down Cycle In-Depth, Pressure and Temperature Controls, Superheat and Subcooling, Commercial System Troubleshooting, and Walk-in Units, Ice Machines, and Rooftops
- Central A/C and Heat Pumps- Recovery, Evacuation, Charging, Basic A/C Wiring, Defrost, A/C and Heat Pump Repair, and other related topics
Contact Information
- Address: 240 Smith Street, Lowell, MA 01851
- Phone: 978-735-4979
- Website: https://newenglandhvac.com
3MotoRing Technical Training Institute
About the School
MotoRing Technical Training Institute provides many post-secondary training programs that prepare students for employment in a variety of high-demand industries.
Courses Offered
The institute’s catalog includes a 900-hour HVAC/R program that can be completed in 30 weeks by students enrolled in the day program and 75 weeks by those in the evening program.
Students are ready for employment in the installation and/or service of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems.
The program also prepares students for the EPA Universal Certification program.
Graduates and students are also eligible to sit for RI Oil Burner Technician License and the RI Gas Technician License exams.
Tuition for this program is $18,500.
Additional costs include a $50 application fee and $100 for textbooks/supplies.
MTTI also offers a Building & Property Trades Technician program that includes Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning as well as Carpentry, Plumbing, and other building-related skills.
MotoRing Technical Training Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
Contact Information
- Address: 1241 Fall River Avenue Seekonk, MA 02771
- Phone: 508-336-6611
- Website: https://www.mtti.edu
4TLC HVAC/R Trade School
About the School
TLC HVAC/R Trade School offers flexible HVAC/R training programs.
Online education and onsite corporate training are available.
Courses Offered
The following programs are included in the school’s catalog:
- HVAC Technician
- Welding Technology
- Facilities Technician
The HVAC technician program provides students with the hands-on training, practical experience, and industry support needed for a rewarding career in this field.
Students learn in an 8,000-square-foot TLC facility.
The following HVAC/R programs are available:
Technician Program- with classes in:
- Residential Oil Heat Technology
- Industrial & Commercial Refrigeration Theory and Lab
- Air Distribution & Quality
- Refrigerant Transition Recovery EPA Certification
- And more
HVAC/R and Facility Maintenance Program- which covers courses on:
- Residential Oil Heat Technology
- Industrial and Commercial Refrigeration Theory and Lab
- Electricity & Electrical Code for Registration License
- Air Distribution & Quality
- And more
The following stand-alone HVAC/R programs are also available:
- Combined Residential Gas & Oil Heat
- Industrial & Commercial Refrigeration Theory & Lab
- HVACR Electricity & Electrical Code for Registration License
Contact Information
- Address: 11 Buffum Dam Rd. Oxford, MA 01540
- Phone: 508-987-1852
- Website: https://www.tlcedu.com
5The Peterson School
About the School
The Peterson School offers courses in a variety of fields, including business, locksmithing, HVACR, and plumbing.
Different schedule and program options are available and typically take only a few months to complete.
Courses Offered
The school’s catalog includes the following HVAC/R courses:
- Math for the Trades- a $200 class that can be completed in four weeks and covers 12 hours of training
- HVACR Commercial & Industrial Refrigeration Prep- this 120-hour class costs $4,480 and can be completed in 15 weeks
- HVACR Electrical Code Prep- a 160-hour-class that costs $1,420 and lasts 20 weeks
- HVACR Refrigeration Code Prep- a 30-hour-class that costs $560 and is designed to be completed in 30 weeks
- HVACR Controls and Energy Management- this class costs $2,120 and can be completed in 17 weeks
- Advanced Refrigeration Theory- a $1,800 110-hour-class that lasts 18 weeks
- Basic Controls- a 17-week class that includes 102 hours of training and costs $1,960
- 3 Combo Program “A”- a 15-week program that includes 300 hours of training and costs $7,000
- 3 Combo Program “B”- a 330-hour program that can be completed in 15 weeks and costs $7,220
Contact Information
- Address: 25 Montvale Avenue, Woburn, MA 01801
- Phone: (781) 938-5656
- Website: https://www.petersonschool.com
6Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology
About the School
Benjamin Franklin Cummings offers a nine-month, 800-hour certificate program designed to equip students with the knowledge and hands-on skills needed for careers as HVAC/R technicians.
The program is available in both day and evening schedules and students can choose the option that best meets their needs.
Students also receive test preparation for the EPA certification.
An R-410 A certificate and a 10-hour OSHA Safety certificate are also available upon successful completion.
The certificate meets the state requirements for 2,000 hours that can be used toward the 6,000 field hours needed to sit for the Refrigeration technician exam.
Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Courses Offered
The curriculum covers topics on:
- Principles of Refrigerants
- Solder and Braze Pipes
- Flare and Swage Tubing
- Troubleshooting Commercial and Residential Units
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 41 Berkeley Street Boston, MA 02116
- Phone: 1-877-400-2348
- Website: https://www.bfit.edu
7Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School
As mentioned in the introduction, some programs offer HVAC training for high school students.
One such option is available for students in South Easton.
About the School
Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School provides a variety of technical education programs.
The programs are designed to prepare students for the career of their choice and allow them to learn hands-on skills needed for their future job.
Courses Offered
The Southeastern Regional Vocation Technical High School catalog includes an HVAC & Refrigeration pathway.
Students who enroll in this program learn how to:
- Install or repair heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems by torching, brazing, and soldering pipes
- Utilize new technologies to meet increased global energy demands
- Use advanced energy-efficient technologies and equipment
Students get to practice the above skills alongside licensed professionals.
Paid internships, certifications, and apprenticeships are available.
Contact Information
- Address: 250 Foundry, Rt. 106, South Easton, MA 02375
- Phone: 508.230.1200
- Website: https://www.sersd.org
8Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School
About the School
Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School provides technical programs in a variety of fields.
Courses are available for high school students and adults.
The school’s catalog includes a wide range of pathways- from automotive technology and culinary arts to plumbing and dental assisting.
Courses Offered
Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School provides a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning program that helps students develop mechanical skills and covers topics on operation, design, installation, and repair of heating and cooling systems.
Students have access to a shop environment that offers a modern facility equipped with workstations where students can work on projects such as building a refrigerator and repairing HVAC equipment.
Graduates can pursue a heating/refrigeration license or they can continue their studies with an Engineering Degree.
The curriculum covers topics on:
- Electrical Theory
- Physics of Heat and Fluids
- Electrical Wiring
- Operation of Hand Tools
- Soldering and Brazing Techniques
- Fossil Fuel and Alternative Heat
- And many other skills
An HVAC program is also available for adult students and takes place four evenings per week from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. for nine months.
In total, the program covers 650 hours of training on:
- Fabrication and Installation of Systems
- Consulting, Inspecting, and Estimating
- Designing and Contracting Systems
- Repair and Maintenance
- Sales and Replacement
Contact Information
- Address: 207 Hart Street, Taunton, MA 02780
- Phone: 508-823-5151
- Website: https://www.bptech.org
9Porter and Chester Institute
About the School
Porter and Chester Institute provides a variety of career training programs at its Worcester campuses.
The programs are designed to equip students with the skills needed for entry-level employment in the field of their choice.
Students can choose between hybrid, online and on-campus programs.
The hybrid programs combine online lectures with on-campus labs.
Courses Offered
Among the seven career training programs available at the Institute’s Worcester campus, there is an HVACR program.
This program is also available in Brockton and Chicopee.
The Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration program offered by Porter and Chester Institute can be completed in 12 months.
Graduates earn a diploma.
The course costs $30,848 in total.
The cost covers tuition, electronic device, ebooks/books, materials, uniforms, and student fees.
This program is available at the school’s site and in hybrid formats.
The program teaches skills on design principles, electrical for gas, electrical for oil, mechanical for oil, core refrigeration, core air conditioning, and many other related topics.
Porter and Chester Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
Contact Information
- Address: 220 Brooks St. Worcester, MA 01606
- Phone: (508) 304-6500
- Website: https://porterchester.edu
10Springfield Technical Community College
About the School
Springfield Technical Community College offers a one-year Heating, Ventilation/Air Conditioning program.
The curriculum covers essential theory and hands-on experience in various system technologies.
Graduates are ready for employment in fields such as Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems design, equipment troubleshooting and repair, and power plant operation.
The program is offered during the day or evening.
Graduates are ready to apply for the oil burner technician license, EPA certification, and fireman’s license.
Courses Offered
The curriculum covers topics on:
- Theory of Controls
- Energy Systems
- Principles of Refrigeration
- Heating System Design
- Combustion Control Circuits
- HVAC Electrical Applications
- And more
To graduate, students must obtain a “D” as the minimum in all ENGY series technical courses.
A student must earn a GPA of at least 2.0 for graduation.
Contact Information
- Address: One Armory Square, Springfield, MA 01105
- Phone: (413) 781-7822
- Website: https://www.stcc.edu
Regional Salary in Massachusetts
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town, MA | 280 | $64,070 | $30.8 | $82,830 | $44,210 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | 4,730 | $72,230 | $34.73 | $97,550 | $46,380 |
| Leominster-Gardner, MA | 110 | $61,420 | $29.53 | $84,080 | $42,270 |
| New Bedford, MA | 70 | $62,670 | $30.13 | $80,830 | $37,150 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 130 | $61,110 | $29.38 | $78,120 | $37,480 |
| Springfield, MA-CT | 700 | $65,030 | $31.27 | $83,230 | $44,710 |
| Worcester, MA-CT | 590 | $64,340 | $30.93 | $82,440 | $41,680 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Massachusetts is home to many trade schools and community colleges.
On this page, we have compiled information about the top 10 programs available in the region.
However, before deciding where to enroll, we recommend that you consider all your options and apply for the program that best meets your needs.
