HVAC Technician Schools in South Carolina

All aspiring HVAC technicians in South Carolina must attend a high-quality training program to acquire the proficiency needed to perform their duties. However, training is only one of the requirements needed to become an HVAC technician in South Carolina.

Candidates must also consider other crucial considerations typically set by the state, such as training programs and potential employers.

Interested individuals can handle all of these requirements independently, though, as we have provided a comprehensive outline below.

Among other things, we look at the steps needed to start an HVAC technician career in South Carolina, the licensure requirements, top HVAC technology programs in the state, and the salary projections at various career milestones.

How to Become an HVAC Technician in South Carolina

The following steps are needed to become an HVAC technician in South Carolina.

Step 1: Acquire Training

The most important step to becoming an HVAC technician in Colorado is to acquire appropriate training. Candidates sometimes choose to do so at a trade school or community college.

Here, they’ll learn crucial topics in the classroom, possibly through hands-on training through workshops and real-world projects. Some may also partner with professional organizations for more immersive hands-on training.

It is common for these programs to ask that candidates have at least a high school diploma or GED.

Step 2: HVAC Apprenticeship

Trade unions and professional HVAC organizations help bring up new batches of HVAC technicians in South Carolina by running apprenticeship programs across the state. These programs teach students all the key fundamentals by allowing them to work with tools and actual HVAC components as quickly as possible.

Most apprenticeship programs are very comprehensive, with some taking as long as 4 years to complete. Candidates typically enjoy direct job placement thanks to the connections made during training.

Step 3: Specialization, Credentials, & Employment

To stay above the competition, fresh HVAC technicians in South Carolina may consider specializing and obtaining professional credentials from nationally recognized professional organizations. We discuss more on this particular topic in the upcoming section.

Explore trades with similar paths:

• Learn to become an auto mechanic in South Carolina

Licensure & Certification Requirements

HVAC technicians in South Carolina are expected to obtain a license, but only after the start of their careers. Candidates who begin as entry-level workers can be licensed if they work under someone already licensed.

However, when they seek to branch out on their own, candidates must obtain an HVAC contractor license issued statewide. This license can be obtained either through the Contractors Licensing Board or the Residential Builders Commission — both of which fall under the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation.

Certification is optional for HVAC technicians in South Carolina, but professionals can obtain one from the Municipal Association of South Carolina.

Top HVAC Technician Schools in South Carolina

Below are some prominent HVAC technician training programs in South Carolina for candidates to consider.

Explore HVAC Technician Schools in South Carolina by City:

• HVAC Technician Schools in Charleston

Salary & Career Outlook

An average HVAC technician in South Carolina can expect to take home an average salary of around $53,428 every year. This figure is on par with the national average.

It is also possible to go above or below this figure, depending on a few criteria such as experience, establishment of employment, location, and professional credentials. HVAC technicians in the state who fall among the top 10% of earners earn around $91,911 in annual average salary, while those who fall among the bottom 10% earn an annual average salary of $31,058.

Comparing top-paying cities for South Carolina HVAC technicians, North Charleston leads the way with an annual average salary of $82,476. Greenville (with an annual average salary of $61,122) and Charleston (with an annual average salary of $58,688) are the second and third highest-paying cities.

Bluffton and Columbia complete the top five with annual average salaries of $52,232 and $51,891, respectively.