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HVAC Schools in California
42 schools in California offer HVAC-related programs, compared below on official cost, completion, and earnings data. Prefer to earn while you learn? 36 registered apprenticeship programs in California train HVAC apprentices — see apprenticeships.
Occupation pay is what working HVAC professionals in California earn (all experience levels) — school "earnings" figures above are medians for each school's recent federally-aided students across all its programs, which read lower.
HVAC licensing in California: State license required
California requires a state C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning contractor license from the CSLB for any HVAC job of $1,000 or more in labor and materials. Qualifying takes 4 years of journey-level experience within the past 10 years (a completed apprenticeship counts) plus two state exams — Law & Business and the C-20 trade exam. Individual technicians working for a licensed contractor do not need their own license.
Official source: Contractors State License Board (CSLB), California Department of Consumer Affairs · Exam: Two CSLB exams: Law & Business plus the C-20 trade exam (asbestos open-book exam also required for new applicants). · Typical requirement: 4 years of journey-level experience in the classification within the past 10 years; age 18+; $450 application fee; contractor bond; fingerprinting. License required for any job of $1,000 or more in combined labor and materials (or any job requiring a permit); employees of a licensed contractor need no individual license.
Official license records related to HVAC in California
From the U.S. Department of Labor's License Finder — these may include contractor, specialty, or related licenses beyond entry-level requirements:
- Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Contractor — Department of Consumer Affairs~Contractors State License Board
- Air and Water Balancing Limited Specialty Contractor — Department of Consumer Affairs~Contractors State License Board
- Water Conditioning Contractor — Department of Consumer Affairs~Contractors State License Board
- Drilling, Blasting and Oil Field Work Limited Specialty Contractor — Department of Consumer Affairs~Contractors State License Board
- Refrigeration Contractor — Department of Consumer Affairs~Contractors State License Board
- Boiler, Hot Water Heating and Steam Fitting Contractor — Department of Consumer Affairs~Contractors State License Board
Wage and license data provided by CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA) and Minnesota DEED.
Schools, ranked by earnings per tuition dollar
| School | City | Type | Net price / yr | Completion | Earnings (10 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hacienda La Puente Adult Education | La Puente | public | $3,536 | 82.7% | $39,271 |
| Baldwin Park Adult & Community Education | Baldwin Park | public | $6,665 | 62.8% | $32,069 |
| Charles A Jones Career and Education Center | Sacramento | public | $16,605 | 66.7% | $41,047 |
| CET-Colton | Colton | private nonprofit | $14,634 | 68.7% | $32,986 |
| Brownson Technical School | Anaheim | private for-profit | $30,513 | 87.1% | $68,767 |
| Capstone College | Pasadena | private for-profit | $16,012 | 58.9% | $35,348 |
| CET-San Jose | San Jose | private nonprofit | $16,101 | 79.6% | $32,986 |
| CET-Coachella | Coachella | private nonprofit | $16,105 | 82.6% | $32,986 |
| ATA College | El Cajon | private for-profit | $19,157 | 88.2% | $35,017 |
| American College of Healthcare and Technology | Huntington Park | private for-profit | $17,589 | 73.3% | $31,109 |
| InterCoast Colleges-Fairfield | Fairfield | private for-profit | $21,536 | 72% | $36,089 |
| InterCoast Colleges-Riverside | Riverside | private for-profit | $21,641 | 65.7% | $36,089 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield | Bakersfield | private for-profit | $23,351 | 58.1% | $38,317 |
| American College of Healthcare and Technology | Riverside | private for-profit | $19,649 | 79.7% | $31,109 |
| Institute of Technology | Clovis | private for-profit | $23,159 | 66.7% | $35,095 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Hesperia | Hesperia | private for-profit | $25,496 | 54.7% | $38,317 |
| National Career Education | Citrus Heights | private for-profit | $25,380 | 83.8% | $38,015 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Temecula | Temecula | private for-profit | $25,869 | 76.5% | $38,317 |
| InterCoast Colleges-Rancho Cordova | Rancho Cordova | private for-profit | $24,925 | 69.8% | $36,089 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Lancaster | Lancaster | private for-profit | $26,717 | 62% | $38,317 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Ontario | Ontario | private for-profit | $27,024 | 72.9% | $38,317 |
| Institute for Business and Technology | San Jose | private for-profit | $27,207 | 83% | $38,015 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia | Visalia | private for-profit | $27,854 | 52.2% | $38,317 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Trades Education Center | Fresno | private for-profit | $27,887 | 64.7% | $38,317 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage | Rancho Mirage | private for-profit | $28,158 | 68.9% | $38,317 |
| InterCoast Colleges-West Covina | West Covina | private for-profit | $27,536 | 67.2% | $36,089 |
| UEI College-Ontario | Ontario | private for-profit | $26,394 | 60.9% | $31,141 |
| Mayfield College | Cathedral City | private for-profit | $24,948 | 79.8% | $29,384 |
| UEI College-West Covina | West Covina | private for-profit | $27,414 | 65.7% | $31,141 |
| UEI College-Reseda | Reseda | private for-profit | $27,464 | 71.8% | $31,141 |
| UEI College-Garden Grove | Garden Grove | private for-profit | $28,182 | 63% | $31,141 |
| UEI College-Stockton | Stockton | private for-profit | $28,455 | 64.9% | $31,141 |
| UEI College-Chula Vista | Chula Vista | private for-profit | $28,606 | 67.9% | $31,141 |
| UEI College-Sacramento | Sacramento | private for-profit | $28,670 | 57.6% | $30,848 |
| UEI College-Gardena | Gardena | private for-profit | $28,691 | 66.9% | $30,848 |
| UEI College-Huntington Park | Huntington Park | private for-profit | $29,145 | 65.2% | $31,141 |
| UEI College-Oceanside | Oceanside | private for-profit | $29,253 | 67.3% | $31,141 |
| UEI College-Riverside | Riverside | private for-profit | $29,702 | 64% | $30,848 |
| UEI College-Bakersfield | Bakersfield | private for-profit | $27,257 | 65.2% | $27,688 |
| National Polytechnic College | Lakewood | private for-profit | $30,669 | 77.5% | $30,781 |
| UEI College-Fresno | Fresno | private for-profit | $28,282 | 58.2% | $27,688 |
| DeHart Technical School | Modesto | private for-profit | $27,477 | 88.5% | not reported |
Ranking = median earnings 10 years after entry per $1,000 of average yearly net price (methodology). Figures are institution-wide federal medians for each school as a whole — not HVAC graduates specifically. Schools without both figures sort last — "not reported" means the federal dataset lacks the value, not that the school is bad.
Common questions: HVAC school in California
- How much do HVAC schools cost in California?
- The median annual net price (what students actually pay after aid) across 42 HVAC schools in California is $26,871. Individual schools range widely — the table above shows each school's real cost, not sticker price.
- Do you need a license to work as a HVAC in California?
- California requires a state C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning contractor license from the CSLB for any HVAC job of $1,000 or more in labor and materials. Qualifying takes 4 years of journey-level experience within the past 10 years (a completed apprenticeship counts) plus two state exams — Law & Business and the C-20 trade exam. Individual technicians working for a licensed contractor do not need their own license.
- Can you get paid to train as a HVAC in California?
- Yes — California has 36 registered apprenticeship programs where you earn wages while you train instead of paying tuition. See the HVAC apprenticeships page for the current list.
- What does a HVAC earn in California?
- Working HVAC professionals in California earn a median of $72,560 per year, ranging from about $46,950 to $109,060 (U.S. Department of Labor). This is what people in the job earn, which differs from a school's reported graduate-earnings figure.
Aid deadlines for HVAC programs in California
Federal and state aid programs have windows and deadlines. Get them for your trade and state, plus program matches.
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HVAC schools in nearby states
See all states & the full HVAC guide →