Trade Schools
If you have good troubleshooting skills and you enjoy fixing things, a career in the HVAC industry can be a good option.
This page compiles information about the top Wisconsin schools that offer training programs in Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning.
Most programs can be completed in two years or less and lead to an associate degree, certificate or diploma.
The curriculum typically combines classroom instruction with hands-on laboratory training to prepare students for real-world scenarios.
Most programs also help students prepare for EPA 608 certification- required before being allowed to work with refrigerants and other industry-related credentials.
We invite you to read further and find out more about the programs available in your region.
1Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
About the School
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College offers degree programs, classes, and training in a variety of fields.
More than 200 academic programs are available at 13 locations in Northeast Wisconsin.
Two-year associate degree programs are available for students who want to seek employment or pursue a four-year degree after graduation.
The two-year degree guarantees students admission with junior status at one of the college’s four-year partner colleges or universities.
Courses Offered
The following Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning-related programs are available at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College:
- Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Technician- Technical Diploma
- Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Technician- Associate Degree
- HVAC Installer/Servicer Apprenticeship
- HVAC/R Fundamentals- a 15-credit HVAC/R Certificate program
Tuition costs vary depending on the program and the credential it offers.
The Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Technician Technical Diploma program costs approximately $12,285 in total.
The Associate Degree program costs approximately $14,460 in total.
This cost includes tuition, books, and supplies.
Contact Information
- Address: 2740 West Mason St, Green Bay, WI 54303
- Phone: 920-498-5444
- Website: https://www.nwtc.edu
2Blackhawk Technical College
About the School
Blackhawk Technical College offers educational programs that prepare students for careers in a wide range of industries.
Applicants need high school transcripts, GED, or college transcripts.
Scholarships and financial aid are available for students who qualify.
The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Courses Offered
The Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Technology pathway is available at the Advanced Manufacturing Training Center in Milton.
The program includes 55 credits and costs approximately $10,900.
Available is also a Residential HVAC diploma embedded in this program.
The diploma can be earned by students who take classes at the main campus.
Blackhawk Technical College offers NATE and EPA testing.
The diploma includes entry-level training programs that cover topics on refrigeration fundamentals, electrical fundamentals, computerized HVAC and refrigeration design, air conditioning and refrigeration piping, charging methods, trade mathematics, and more.
Contact Information
- Address: 6004 S County Road G, Janesville, WI 53546
- Phone: (608) 758-6900
- Website: https://www.blackhawk.edu
3Madison Area Technical College
About the School
Madison Area Technical College offers more than 180 training programs that help students start or upgrade their careers.
Career training is available in 11 areas of study.
Madison Area Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Courses Offered
The college’s catalog includes Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Technology.
The curriculum offers 63 credits and can be completed in two years, leading to an Associate Degree.
This program costs approximately $13,140, which includes tuition and materials/supplemental costs.
The curriculum includes courses on:
- Safety for Industry
- Metal Repair Techniques
- Industrial Electricity and Controls
- Interpreting Engineering Drawings
- Mechanism for Industry
- Forced Air Heating Systems
- Building Automation
- Maintenance Management
- HVAC Systems Design
- And more
To qualify for admission, applicants need official transcripts of high school, GED/HSED, or college transcripts.
Graduates are ready for careers as HVAC/R Service Technicians, System Installers, Building Automation/Controls Technicians, Lead Facilities Mechanics, and more.
Contact Information
- Address: 1701 Wright Street, Madison WI 53704
- Phone: 608.246.6100
- Website: https://madisoncollege.edu
4Northwood Technical College
About the School
Northwood Technical College offers degree programs and certificates in a wide range of fields.
Tuition and fees sum up to $157.65 per credit for Wisconsin residents.
Apprenticeships and career training programs are available at the college.
Courses Offered
A Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration program is included in the college’s catalog.
This program can be completed in two years and covers 54 credits.
Day and evening program options are available.
The training takes place at Northwood Tech’s training center- a state-of-the-art facility located on Northwood Tech- superior campus.
Graduates can leave with industry credentials in refrigerant handling safety, tool use, and control systems.
The curriculum covers topics on:
- Air Conditioning Fundamentals
- Basic Mechanical Fundamentals
- Refrigeration Fundamentals
- HVAC/R Print Reading
- Electronic Energy Management
- Sheet Metal Fabrication
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1900 College Drive, Rice Lake, WI 54868
- Phone: 800.243.9482
- Website: https://www.northwoodtech.edu
5Gateway Technical College
About the School
Gateway Technical College offers 70 career programs at its nine campus and center locations.
Depending on the pathway, the programs can lead to associate degrees or technical diplomas.
Gateway Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Courses Offered
The College offers a Refrigeration, Air Conditioning & Heating Service Technician.
Students enrolled in this program gain hands-on experience installing, troubleshooting, and repairing units using industry-standard equipment and tools.
Graduates earn a technical diploma and are ready for a rewarding career.
The program includes 38 credits and is available at Kenosha Campus.
This is the largest of the three main campuses and includes academic, science, and technical buildings, inspire center, a conference center, and more.
Tuition and fees sum up to $7,055.
Books and supplies add approximately $2,778 to the total cost.
The curriculum includes classes in:
- Air Conditioning Fundamentals
- Electricity and Electronics for HVAC
- Mechanical Fundamentals
- Heating Systems
- HVAC Systems
- Refrigeration Fundamentals
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 3520 – 30th Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53144
- Phone: 800-247-7122
- Website: https://www.gtc.edu
6Western Technical College
About the School
Western Technical College provides training programs that help students build better careers.
Programs are available on-campus and online, depending on the pathway.
Courses Offered
The college provides a Refrigeration, Air Conditioning & Heating Service Technician program.
This program includes 30 credits in total.
Students learn how to install, maintain, and repair heating and cooling appliances and refrigeration equipment.
Graduates are ready for entry-level work opportunities in residential and commercial settings.
The application fee is $30.
The program costs approximately $7,600 and includes tuition and basic program fees.
Additional costs may include books, materials, and testing fees.
This program is eligible for financial aid.
Courses typically start in the fall.
Graduates are ready for employment as HVAC Technicians, HVAC Service Technicians, Maintenance Technicians, Commercial HVAC Service Technicians, Building Maintenance Technicians, and other positions in the field.
Contact Information
- Address: 400 7th Street North, La Crosse, WI 54601
- Phone: 608-785-9200
- Website: https://www.westerntc.edu
7Chippewa Valley Technical College
About the School
Part of the Wisconsin Technical College System, Chippewa Valley Technical College serves an 11-county area with campuses in multiple locations, including Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, Menomonie, Neillsville, and River Fall communities.
Programs can lead to technical diplomas or associate degrees, depending on the pathway and the number of credits acquired.
Chippewa Valley Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Courses Offered
The college’s catalog includes the following HVAC-related programs:
- Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Technician
- Renewable Energy- a 15-credit program that leads to a Technical Diploma
The Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Technician program covers:
- Gas, oil, electric, and hydronic heating systems
- Refrigeration and air conditioning systems
- HVACR technical problem solving
- Geothermal and solar systems applications
- Renewable energies
- And many other topics
Students need 33 credits for a Technical Diploma and 66 credits for an Associate Degree.
The Renewable Energy program covers Refrigeration Theory, Electricity Principles, and Solar/Wind Applications.
The estimated total costs are approximately $7,630 for the Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Technician program and $2,780 for the Renewable Energy program.
Contact Information
- Address: 620 W. Clairemont Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701
- Phone: 715-833-6300
- Website: https://www.cvtc.edu
8Lakeshore Technical College
About the School
Lakeshore Technical College offers programs and courses that prepare students for rewarding careers in a variety of fields.
The College has its main campus in Cleveland and learning centers in Manitowoc and Sheboygan.
Community education locations can also be found across the district.
Prospective students can choose from more than 70 one-year technical and two-year associate degree programs that equip students with the skills needed for a new career.
Tuition at Lakeshore Technical College is $143.45 per credit for Wisconsin residents.
Lakeshore Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Courses Offered
The college’s catalog includes a Residential HVAC Installer pathway that leads to a Certificate.
The program focuses on helping students learn the skills and knowledge needed for employment as residential HVAC installation technicians.
The program includes 18 credits and covers courses on:
- OSHA-10 Construction
- HVAC Foundations
- Duct Systems
- Piping Applications
- Heating Systems-Theory and Applications
- Airflow Principles
- Air Conditioning- Startup/Troubleshooting
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1290 North Avenue, Cleveland, WI 53015
- Phone: 920.693.1000
- Website: https://gotoltc.edu
9Northcentral Technical College
About the School
Northcentral Technical College provides more than 190 programs that can lead to associate degrees or technical diplomas.
These programs include concentrated hands-on training.
Short-term certificates are also available for students who want to improve their job skills.
The Wisconsin resident tuition is $141 per credit hour for the 2021-2022 academic year.
Northcentral Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Courses Offered
The following programs are included in the Northcentral Technical College catalog:
- Manufacturing Engineering Technology
- Safety Engineering Technology
- Electrical Power Distribution
- Industrial Electronics and Maintenance Technician
- Gas Utility Construction and Service
- And more
HVAC-related courses are also available at the college:
- Mechanical Systems HVAC- a course provided for students accepted in the Residential Building Technical Diploma program
- Heavy Duty HVAC- a three-credit course
Contact Information
- Address: 1000 W. Campus Dr., Wausau, WI 54401
- Phone: 715.675.3331
- Website: https://www.ntc.edu
10Trane University
About the School
Trane University offers online and in-person Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning-related training programs.
The programs are designed to teach customers how to operate and optimize HVAC equipment and systems using Trane building automation systems and factory training.
Trainees who take classes at Trane University learn how to service, maintain and operate commercial systems.
The trainers are experienced professionals with strong backgrounds in HVAC service and Trane equipment.
Courses Offered
Trane University offers professional education in the following two tracks:
- Building Systems and Controls Training
- Technical Service Training
Students have access to classes on topics such as:
- Air Conditioning Service
- Airside System Service
- Commercial Systems Service
- HVAC Troubleshooting
- And many other subjects
Some classes are available online and can be completed by the trainees at their own pace, while others are instructor-led.
Contact Information
- Address: 2213 20th St S Bldg 12, La Crosse, WI 54601
- Phone: 855-803-3563
- Website: https://www.trane.com/commercial/north-america/us/en/education-training/trane-university.html
Regional Salary in Wisconsin
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WI | 380 | $68,380 | $32.87 | $102,000 | $44,410 |
| Eau Claire, WI | 200 | $65,430 | $31.46 | $98,170 | $39,590 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | 120 | $68,340 | $32.86 | $100,020 | $44,910 |
| Green Bay, WI | 340 | $62,230 | $29.92 | $100,650 | $38,030 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | 130 | $57,360 | $27.58 | $86,340 | $37,830 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | 200 | $65,900 | $31.69 | $102,020 | $44,960 |
| Madison, WI | 890 | $65,390 | $31.44 | $103,500 | $41,600 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI | 1,650 | $69,590 | $33.46 | $104,860 | $45,930 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 140 | $55,690 | $26.78 | $79,880 | $38,030 |
| Racine, WI | 180 | $63,710 | $30.63 | $100,590 | $38,130 |
| Sheboygan, WI | 140 | $64,580 | $31.05 | $99,710 | $39,050 |
| Wausau, WI | 90 | $58,900 | $28.32 | $80,710 | $37,950 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our list of top HVAC schools in Wisconsin, it’s time to continue the research and apply for the program that best meets your needs.
Different types of programs are available to accommodate students’ schedules and learning styles.
Take your time and gather information about all the relevant factors before making an informed decision.
