HVAC Certification License in Colorado – 2022 Guide

How to Become an HVAC Technician in Colorado

Colorado is one of those few states in the US that doesn’t require a license to work in HVAC-R. However, you are required to obtain an electrician or plumbing license to be eligible for hire. Since electric and plumbing work are interconnected with HVAC tasks, these licenses are a must.

The electrician license is issued by Colorado State Electrical Board while the Colorado State Plumbing Board issues the plumbing license.

To be eligible for becoming an HVAC technician, you must have any of the following licenses.

Why Colorado is a Great Place to Start an HVAC Career

Colorado is a perfect place to kickstart your HVAC career. With growing job prospects and handsome salary packages, the state offers much more than others. Here are some reasons why it is a great place to start an HVAC career.

Job Prospects

Colorado offers great job prospects for people seeking a career as an HVAC technician. The HVAC-R field will likely grow rapidly in the upcoming decades. To be more precise, an increase of 13.6% is expected in the next decade. Similarly, the income for people pursuing a career in the HVAC field is quite impressive. An average HVAC contractor in Colorado can earn as much as $45,000 annually.

No License Requirements

There is no specific HVAC license required to work in Colorado. However, as an HVAC technician, you are expected to get a plumbing or electrician license. Unlike other states, Colorado is among the few that don’t require an HVAC license. Since the plumbing and electric works are quite interconnected with the HVAC industry, the regulatory authorities have made their license mandatory.

Income

This is another area where the state of Colorado shines bright for HVAC personnel. According to a survey, the starting hourly wage for an HVAC contractor is $16.57, which is quite impressive. Amazingly, this increases to $36.84 if you complete a training program at an HVAC school.

How to Get An HVAC License in Colorado

Here are some steps which you need to fulfill before getting certified as an HVAC Technician in Colorado.

License for an Electrician

To get certified as an electrician, here are some requirements you need to get through.

Residential Wireman

The following are the requirements for becoming certified as a Residential Wireman.

4000 hours of working experience in under two years
An active apprentice license required

You must clear the examination

Journeyman Electrician

These are some requirements for becoming a Journeyman Electrician:

Must possess 8000 hours of working experience in under four years

Active apprentice license required
Clear the examination

Master Electrician

Becoming a Master Electrician involves the following requirements.

2000 hours of working experience as a supervisor for electrical installations in under one year
Must possess the Journeyman Electrician license
You must have an active apprentice license

The examination must be passed

License for a Plumber

Residential Plumber

To become a Residential Plumber, here are some requirements.

You should have 3400 hours of plumbing experience in under two years

You have to pass the examination

Journeyman Plumber

These are the requirements to become a Journeyman Plumber

6800 hours of plumbing experience in under four years

The examination must be cleared

Master Plumber

Master plumber has the following necessities.

Five years or 8500 hours of plumbing experience

Passing the examination

Considering you fulfill the eligibility criteria, any of the following licenses would help you get certified as HVAC Technician.

HVAC Exam Preparation in Colorado

HVAC is quite a practical field and requires skill and knowledge before you can work in the industry. Gaining skill is not the only requirement to work effectively as an HVAC technician in Colorado. Having bookish knowledge plays its part as well while working in the HVAC-R industry. This is why the state demands you to pass several examinations before you are ready to work.

These examinations are designed to test individuals based on their skills and knowledge. Obviously, the type of examinations varies with your pursued field; however, passing them is compulsory.

Here are some examinations that are conducted for various fields while opting for an HVAC career.

ICC Examination

To get certified as a Heating and Ventilating Journeyman, you will need to pass the ICC examination. This exam is divided into subcategories:

ICC Exam #F31 National Standard Journeyman Mechanical
HVAC Fundamentals

You must pass both the examinations before you can get certified in the respective field.

In the case of Heating and Ventilating Journeyman Class A Supervisor, the following examinations must be passed.

Job Outlook and Salary for HVAC in Colorado

The job outlook and salary prospects for the HVAC industry in Colorado are quite motivating. According to various surveys, it is probable that both job opportunities and income will increase.

It is obvious because there is a need for skillful and knowledgeable HVAC staff to manage modern HVAC tasks. Therefore, it is expected that there will be a significant rise in job prospects and salary.

How Much Do HVAC Techs Make on Average in Colorado?

According to some reports, the HVAC-R field is going to increase quickly. A 13.6% increase is expected in the next ten years. Talking about salary, an HVAC Contractor earns $45,000 yearly on average. Meanwhile, the hourly salary rates range from $16.57 to $36.84.

The following is a detailed analysis of various salary ranges for entry-level, mid-level, and master-level individuals.

Entry Level

On the entry-level, you can expect an hourly salary rate of $24.47 as an HVAC Technician. The hourly salary rate might vary with local jurisdictions; however, with up to one year of experience, you can expect this income.

Mid-Level

Talking about mid-level prospects, an individual with a working experience of more than five years can expect a $30.11 hourly rate.

Master Level

Individuals with an experience of more than ten years can expect an hourly salary rate of $35.76.

Colorado Cities with Highest Average HVAC Salaries

As mentioned earlier, Colorado houses some wonderful working opportunities for individuals pursuing an HVAC career. However, the pay scale might vary from city to city. Some cities tend to offer more than others and vice versa.

The following information is an overview of Colorado’s top five cities with the highest average HVAC salaries.

Arvada

According to the information gathered, Arvada has the highest average for HVAC salaries. Here, the average salary for an HVAC Technician is as high as $37.17 per hour. Annually, you can earn about $74,499, while working in Arvada.

Denver

Denver is second in the list of highest average HVAC salaries in Colorado. It has an average salary of $35.05 per hour. In other words, you can earn about $70,259 annually.

Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs is third in our list. With an average salary rate of $31.14 per hour, you can earn quite a lot. Apart from overtime compensation, you can earn about $62,423 per year.

Thornton

Thornton is yet another great place to live if you would like to pursue an HVAC career. Being an HVAC technician in Thornton means you can earn $29.40 per hour. Consequently, that means an income of about $58,937 annually.

Fort Collins

Fort Collins is last in our list; however, the salary hour rate of $28.23 is still pretty impressive. With an annual income of about $56,577, you can earn a good amount.

Insurance and Tax Information for HVAC in Colorado

Unlike other states, the state of Colorado has its own tax rules and regulations. Apart from most taxes, Sales Tax 101 is the most common tax regulated by the Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR). You must pay or receive sales tax according to the laws of the state government. It is due in the following cases:

If you have a nexus in Colorado

Selling taxable goods or services to locals
Buyers are required to pay sale tax

If the above conditions are true, you are liable to pay tax to the state government. Failure to do so will result in penalties.

Related Licenses

Two areas that are interconnected do require licensing. HVAC techs have a lot to do with electrical work, so you may need to check out the requirements for an electrician on the state’s official site. Also, in some cases you may need to tie into the plumbing, which is also regulated by the state.

In fact, electrical work with heating systems is included in the qualifying experience for getting your residential wireman, or your journeyman or master electrician license.

Cities or counties within the state may have further regulations, so it’s always recommended to check with local authorities before going to work.

Colorado does have a reciprocal license agreement at the journeyman electrician levels with the following states:

Denver is Colorado’s largest city, so we’ll just summarize some of their local requirements here, too. The Mile High City has four classes of licensing specifically related to heating, ventilation and air conditioning: residential only, journeyman, and Class A and Class B supervisor.

Refrigeration in Denver has its only licensing, divided it four categories: operator, journeyman, and Class A and Class B supervisors. Separation licensing may be required for work with gas systems, hot water or steam heat, and boilers. You can find more information at Denver’s municipal website.

Business License

Of course, if you’re running your own business, you’ll need a business license, too. In Colorado, there is no state-level license; you’ll have to obtain the license from your local jurisdiction.

EPA Certification

It’s also important to remember that anyone working with refrigerants in any part of the United States is required to be certified by federal law. This is according to Section 608 from the EPA. You can find more information on EPA certification in our article.

Conclusion

The beauty of the Rockies is accompanied by some pretty extreme weather in Colorado. Not needing an HVAC license can make life just a bit better, but be sure to check with local authorities to see if there are any specific regulations affecting your trade!

Looking for Information on Nearby States?

You might also be interested in HVAC licensing requirements in bordering states:

Utah