HVAC technician training
Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanic Apprenticeship (Levels 1–4)
Facts checked 7 September 2026
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Part of the route toHVAC Technician·Certificate
Apprenticeship technical training covering commercial refrigeration cycles, air conditioning systems, and cooling controls.
Ways to get this paid for
Government money that can cover this course. Check who qualifies before you pay.
Free adult upgrading
FreeGrade 11 and 12 courses and English classes are free at public colleges and school districts. This covers the Grade 11 and 12 prerequisite courses, not the program itself.
WorkBC training funding
Up to $7,500 tuitionIf you are out of work or underemployed, a WorkBC case manager can approve and pay for this training. Get approval before you pay.
Canada Training Credit
Half your tuition back, up to $5,000 in your lifeFederal tax credit. $250 a year builds up from age 26. Claim it on your tax return.
BC Access Grant
Up to $4,000 a yearFor low and middle income students in full-time programs under two years at public schools. Assessed when you apply through StudentAid BC.
Money for apprentices
EI, a $4,000 loan per level and a tax creditWhile you are at school for each level. The old federal grants ended in 2025.
THE ROUTE
How this program works, step by step
Grade 11 to the job. Open any step to see what is inside.
The route (8 steps)
For the best view, open the map full screen.
STEP BY STEP
Step by step
The same route as the map, as a list.
Step 1 of 8
Grade 11
⏱ 1 school year- Recommended: Grade 12 with Math 11 and Physics 11
- Grade 10 Math and English completion
Step 2 of 8
Grade 12
⏱ 1 school year- Recommended: Grade 12 with Math 11 and Physics 11
Step 3 of 8
What you need to get in
- Registered apprentice with SkilledTradesBC and employer sponsor (or Refrigeration Foundation certificate)
- Registered apprentice with SkilledTradesBC in Refrigeration or HVAC Foundation certificate
- Active employer sponsorship
- Registered apprentice with SkilledTradesBC and employer sponsor
- Registered apprentice with SkilledTradesBC or Refrigeration Foundation certificate
Step 4 of 8
How to apply
- Register for 10-week annual technical training blocks at BCIT or authorized trade school
- Provide SkilledTradesBC apprentice number and employer verification
- Schedule training blocks during off-peak refrigeration service seasons
Step 5 of 8
HVAC technician training
⏱ 4 years (7–10 Wks / Level)- 4 levels of technical training (10 weeks per level, 40 weeks total over 4 years)
- Thermodynamic refrigeration cycles, refrigerant properties, and compressor operations
- Electrical schematics, single and three-phase motor controls, and electronic thermostats
- Piping fabrication, brazing, leak detection, vacuum evacuation, and refrigerant recovery
- Commercial chillers, walk-in freezers, heat pumps, and building automation controls
Step 6 of 8
Where to take it
⏱ 4 schools in BC- British Columbia Institute of Technology — 10 weeks per level, 4 levels (About $4,900 for the whole program)
- Okanagan College — 10 weeks per level, 4 levels (About $940 to $1,500 per level)
- Thompson Rivers University — 10 weeks per level, 4 levels (About $870 per level)
- Piping Industry College of BC (UA Local 170) — 10 weeks per level, 4 levels (Tuition not yet verified)
Step 7 of 8
Exams and registration after
- Interprovincial Red Seal Examination (70% passing mark)
- SkilledTradesBC Certificate of Qualification
- Federal Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) environmental certificate
Step 8 of 8
Leads to: HVAC Technician
- Explore HVAC Technician wages, job outlook, and career pathways
SCHOOLS
Where you can take this(4 schools)
Compare tuitions, campus locations, and delivery formats across approved institutions in British Columbia.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.
We have not checked this school's tuition yet. See the school's page.