Trade Schools
If you want to start a career in the field of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning, New Jersey is home to many trade schools that can help you get there.
Most programs can be completed in less than two years and lead to a Certificate, Diploma, or Associate Degree.
This trade can also be learned through an apprenticeship that includes a significant part of on-the-job paid training and typically takes around 4-5 years to complete.
To help you choose the format and program that best meets your needs and learning style, on this page we have compiled information about the best HVAC schools in New Jersey.
We invite you to read further and find out more about the available options.
1Lincoln Tech
About the School
Lincoln Tech offers training programs that prepare students for careers in Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning, the Auto, Electrical, and Electronics industries.
Its New Jersey campus is a 20-minute ride from the Gothenals and Bayonne Bridges and is easily accessible from Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike, Route 78, Route 42, Route 82, and other major highways.
Lincoln Tech is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
Courses Offered
The Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning program offered by Lincoln Tech is taught by experienced instructors, many of whom are Certified Master HVAC Educators.
The New Jersey campus is accredited by the Green Mechanical Council as a School of Distinction for its commitment to environmentally-friendly “Green” technology.
The campus is also accredited for HVAC excellence.
Students have access to HVAC labs and an on-campus “green house” where they learn hands-on about energy efficiency, energy auditing, and alternative energy skills.
Financial aid options, including grants and scholarships, are available for students who qualify.
Contact Information
- Address: 2299 Vauxhall Road, Union, NJ 07083
- Phone: (908) 964-7800
- Website: https://www.lincolntech.edu
2Pennco Tech
About the School
Pennco Tech is a trade school that offers career-training programs designed to prepare students for careers in in-demand professions.
The school has campuses in Blackwood, New Jersey, and Bristol, Pennsylvania.
The Blackwood campus is situated on 12 acres with more than 124,700 square feet of campus floor space.
Pennco Tech is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
Courses Offered
The college’s catalog includes a Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration program that can be completed in as few as 35 weeks.
Programs are available in flexible day and evening schedules.
Students learn and practice hands-on HVAC&R installation, maintenance, repair, basic design, and troubleshooting.
The training also covers topics regarding electrical wiring and controls, brazing and soldering, and repairing.
The program includes a theory section, but 65 percent of the program is taught hands-on and guided by dedicated instructors.
Pennco Tech also provides certification testing for Section 608 (EPA) as part of the program.
Trac Pipe Certification is also available.
Tuition for this program is $23,316.
Financial aid is available for students who qualify.
Graduates are ready for careers as HVAC Technicians, HVAC Mechanics, HVAC Specialists, HVAC Installers, and Refrigeration Technicians.
Contact Information
- Address: Erial Rd, Blackwood, NJ 08012
- Phone: 856-232-0310
- Website: https://www.penncotech.edu
3Eastwick College
About the School
Eastwick College offers a variety of training programs at its four New Jersey campuses: Ramsey, Hackensack, Nutley, and Paterson.
More than 25 accelerated hands-on programs are available.
Externships and clinical rotations are included as part of the training schedule.
Graduates receive lifetime placement assistance.
Eastwick College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
Courses Offered
The Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning program offered by Eastwick College can be completed in 12 months by day students and in 16 months by evening students.
Students learn how to install, maintain, and repair residential and light commercial HVACR systems.
The training covers electrical, electronic, as well as mechanical components.
Students can receive certifications in refrigerant handling, EPA 608, EPA 410 A, and HVAC Excellence employment-ready certifications in Electricity, Gas Heat, Air Conditioning, and Charging Procedures.
The total cost for the 89-credit Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Technology program is $25,171.
This cost includes tuition, application fee, registration fee, books, and supplies.
Contact Information
- Address: 10 South Franklin Turnpike, Ramsey, NJ 07446
- Phone: 201-989-1131
- Website: https://eastwick.edu
4Ocean County Vocational-Technical School
About the School
Ocean County Vocational-Technical School offers three full-time career academies that provide training programs for high school students: Marine Academy of Technology & Environmental Science, Grunin Performing Arts Academy, and Academy of Law and Public Safety.
Courses Offered
The school’s catalog includes a Construction Trades pathway.
This pathway offers programs in:
- Building Construction Technology
- Electrical Trades
- Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration
- Manufacturing Engineering Technology
- Plumbing
- And more
The Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration program can be completed in two years and includes 900 hours of training.
The school has an articulation agreement with the University of Northwestern Ohio to provide students with the opportunity to earn advanced college credit after completing the program.
Students can receive up to six college credits.
The program teaches students about:
- Mechanical and Electrical Components
- Standard and High-Efficiency Air Conditioning
- Gas Heat, Oil Heat, and Heat Pumps
- Commercial Refrigeration
- And many HVAC/R other related topics
Contact Information
- Address: 850 Toms River Road, Jackson, NJ 08527 (Jackson location)
- Phone: (732) 286 5665
- Website: https://www.ocvts.org
5National Career Institute
About the School
National Career Institute helps students prepare for a new career in as few as eight months.
The Institute is approved to accept veterans and military personnel who qualify for Benefits.
Available at the school are pre-apprenticeship programs as well as hands-on career training.
Classes are kept to under 20 students so each student can work one-on-one with the instructor and receive the attention they need.
The school offers training at its two campuses: in East Orange and Jersey City.
Courses Offered
The HVAC I and II programs provided by National Career Institute are designed to prepare students for job entry or career advancement.
The HVAC I and II covers 400 hours of training and teaches students the skills needed for a career in the heating and cooling, refrigeration, air conditioning, and plumbing industries.
Graduates are ready for work opportunities as operating technicians, sheet metal assistants, repair specialists, maintenance technicians, installers, testers, and application technicians, to name a few of the career options available.
Contact Information
- East Orange Campus: 134 Evergreen Place, 2nd Floor, East Orange, NJ 07018
- Phone: 973-678-3901
- Jersey City Campus: 201-239-7600
- Website: https://www.nciedu.com
6United Association of New Jersey
About the School
United Association of New Jersey helps individuals prepare for rewarding careers in the fields of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration.
The Association offers an Apprenticeship program that allows students to earn a salary while they learn the skills needed for this profession.
The five-year program includes 1,000 classroom hours and 9,000 hours of on-the-job training in total.
Courses Offered
During the first year of apprenticeship, students take courses on:
- Basic Mathematics
- Basic Refrigeration
- Basic Electricity
- First Aid
- Shop and Computer Lab
- And more
In total, the apprenticeship takes five years to complete.
The rest of the training focuses on topics such as:
- EPA Refrigerant Handling Test Prep
- Control Theory
- Universal R-410A
- Servicing & Electrical Troubleshoot
- Oil Heat
- AC Application & Theory
- Pneumatics
- Applied Systems
- Advanced A/C Principles
- And more
The following Journeyman Advanced training programs are also available:
- Introduction to Air Dampers and Control Valves
- Crane Signal Person
- Economizers
- Oil Pressure Problems
- OSHA 10/30 Certifying Course
- Service and Operation of Heat Pumps
- Tekmar Boiler Controls
- Geothermal Accreditation
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 7 Crown Plaza, Hazlet, NJ 07730
- Phone: 732-264-1174
- Website: http://www.uanj.org/index.aspx
7Fortis Institute
About the School
Fortis Institute offers a variety of training programs at its new Jersey campuses, located in Lawrenceville and Wayne.
The programs focus on hands-on education and prepare students for entry-level employment in a variety of high-demand careers.
Courses Offered
A Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning program is available at both campuses.
The program teaches students how to install and service systems and prepares them for careers as HVAC Installers, HVAC Mechanics, HVAC Technicians, and similar positions.
The curriculum covers computerized diagnostics in commercial refrigeration, gas heat, heat pumps, and air conditioning, among many other topics.
The total cost of the Lawrenceville HVAC program is $19,374 for the 2021-2022 year and includes tuition, enrollment fee, uniforms, student kit, certification exam, and textbooks.
To qualify for admission, applicants need a high school diploma or its equivalent.
A personal interview with the admission staff will also take place as part of the admission process.
During the interview, prospective students receive help in finding the right program for their needs.
Contact Information
- Lawrenceville: 2572 Brunswick Pike, Suite 100, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
- Phone: (609) 512-2560
- Wayne: 201 Willowbrook Blvd, Wayne, NJ 07470
- Phone: (973) 837-1818
- Website: https://www.fortis.edu/campuses/new-jersey/lawrenceville.html
8Passaic County Technical- Vocational Schools
About the School
Passaic County Technical- Vocational Schools provide a variety of adult career and continuing education programs.
The programs are designed to teach students new trades, help them upgrade their job skills, or just develop their hobbies.
Courses Offered
The catalog includes a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning program that is divided into two different courses:
- Apprenticeship HVAC I and II- this part includes 24 sessions and costs $475
- Apprenticeship HVAC III and IV- a $475 course that also includes 24 sessions
The courses are designed for students who have completed less than 288 hours of the required 576 hours of the required technical instruction.
The first course covers the fundamentals of refrigeration, as well as temperature and pressure relationship, gauge techniques, descriptions, and function of the parts.
The second course includes theory about all types of systems in commercial and industrial settings, including ice machines, basic heating controls, low voltage control systems, residential heating, and cooling systems, as well as commercial HVAC systems.
Contact Information
- Address: Adult Education Division, 45 Reinhardt Road, Wayne, NJ 07470
- Phone: 973-389-4101
- Website: https://www.ssreg.com/passaic
9Atlantic County Institute of Technology
About the School
Atlantic County Institute of Technology helps students pursue the career of their choice by offering training programs and apprenticeships.
The Institute prepares students with academic and technical skills for more than four decades.
Students have 19 career and technical education programs to choose from.
The school offers a combination of specialized curriculum, community-based partnerships, and field experience to prepare students for future careers.
Courses Offered
Evening programs for adult students are also available in a wide variety of trades, including:
- Automotive: Vehicle Repair and Automotive Electrical Systems
- Electrical: Residential Wiring
- HVAC: Level I and II and Advanced Wiring
- Welding
- And more
Students can choose between part-time and full-time programs.
The HVAC- Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program is two-semesters long and includes a variety of courses, including air conditioning service and installation, pressure testing, recovery, charging, diagrams, system wiring, and more.
Tuition costs vary depending on the program.
The HVAC-Air Conditioning and Refrigeration II- a one-semester course- charges $600 for tuition.
Administrative fees are an additional $55.
Contact Information
- Address: 5080 Atlantic Avenue, Mays Landing, New Jersey 08330
- Phone: (609) 625-2249
- Website: https://acit-acsssd-nj.schoolloop.com
10Sunset Technology Center
About the School
Sunset Technology Center offers training programs in Spanish for students who want to start a career in the fields of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning, electricity, plumbing, and solar panels.
The school has a campus in New York and one in Union City, New Jersey.
Courses Offered
The Sunset Technology Center catalog includes classes on:
- Photovoltaic Solar Panel- a course for those who want to start a career in the field of renewable energy
- Residential Refrigeration & Commercial Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning- a program that can be completed in less than five months
- Automotive Air Conditioning- this program includes a Section 609 License.
- Heating and Plumbing- a program that teaches students about the installation and repair of different types of bathroom and kitchen faucets, as well as copper welding, installation, and repair of water heaters, among many other topics.
The school also prepares students for the EPA Section 608 licensing exam.
Contact Information
- Address: 4511 New York Ave, Union City, New Jersey 07087
- Phone: 212-594-8139
- Website: https://www.sunsettechnologycenter.com
Regional Salary in New Jersey
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 390 | $65,650 | $31.56 | $91,190 | $45,570 |
| Ocean City, NJ | 180 | $58,740 | $28.24 | $89,830 | $35,770 |
| Trenton, NJ | 370 | $71,150 | $34.21 | $101,780 | $41,080 |
| Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ | 140 | $59,370 | $28.54 | $81,050 | $38,160 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
If you want to start a rewarding career in trades, the field of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration technology is worth considering.
New Jersey is home to many trade schools and community colleges that offer career-ready programs.
We encourage you to take your time and analyze all your options before deciding which path you want to pursue.
