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Air conditioning installer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an air conditioning installer. Air conditioning installers usually study heating and air conditioning, environmental control technologies/technicians, or business. 41% of air conditioning installers hold a high school diploma, and 18% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 633 real air conditioning installer resumes to see exactly what air conditioning installer education sections show.

The most common colleges for air conditioning installers are the Solano Community College and the Solano Community College.

There are also many online air conditioning installer courses to help get the education required to be an air conditioning installer.

There are certain air conditioning installer certifications that you should consider. These air conditioning installer certifications include EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA) and Journeyman Air Conditioning & Refrigeration.

What education do you need to become an air conditioning installer?

What degree do you need to be an air conditioning installer?

The most common degree for air conditioning installers is high school diploma, with 41% of air conditioning installers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 18% and associate degree degree at 16%.
  • High School Diploma, 41%
  • Associate, 18%
  • Diploma, 16%
  • Bachelor's, 12%
  • Other Degrees, 13%

What should I major in to become an air conditioning installer?

You should major in heating and air conditioning to become an air conditioning installer. 21% of air conditioning installers major in heating and air conditioning. Other common majors for an air conditioning installer include environmental control technologies/technicians and business.

Most common colleges for air conditioning installers

Air conditioning installers often get their degrees at Solano Community College, University of Phoenix, and University of Akron. Here are the most common colleges for air conditioning installers in the US based on their resumes.
Air conditioning installer common collegePercentages
Solano Community College10.34%
University of Phoenix10.34%
University of Akron6.90%
Valencia College6.90%
Ashford University6.90%

Best majors for air conditioning installers

Best colleges for air conditioning installers

The best colleges for air conditioning installers are University of Tulsa, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Duke University.

An air conditioning installer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for air conditioning installers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become air conditioning installers.

1. Dunwoody College of Technology

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$22,046

Enrollment

1,294

2. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Alfred, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,570

Enrollment

3,721

3. Northern Michigan University

Marquette, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$10,729

Enrollment

6,722

4. New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$6,686

Enrollment

11,139

5. Eastern New Mexico University

Portales, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$6,326

Enrollment

3,347

6. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

7. University of Alaska Anchorage

Anchorage, AK • Private

In-state tuition

$8,580

Enrollment

10,482

8. SUNY College of Technology at Canton

Canton, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,389

Enrollment

3,127

9. Bucknell University

Lewisburg, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,092

Enrollment

3,583

10. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$53,880

Enrollment

6,590

20 best online courses for air conditioning installers

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3. HVAC Psychrometry, Air Handling System and Duct Selection

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Build your knowledge systematically, from building cooling load estimation, to sizing and selection of AHU and ductings...

4. Refrigeration & Air conditioning - Design and calculation

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Top 10 most affordable universities for air conditioning installers

The most affordable schools for air conditioning installers are New Mexico State University, eastern new mexico university, and inter american university of puerto rico bayamon.

If the best universities for air conditioning installers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for air conditioning installers.

1. New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$6,686

Cost of attendance

17,885

2. Eastern New Mexico University

Portales, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$6,326

Cost of attendance

17,330

3. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon

Bayamon, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,940

Cost of attendance

13,508

4. University of Alaska Anchorage

Anchorage, AK • Private

In-state tuition

$8,580

Cost of attendance

19,942

5. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Guayama

Guayama, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,902

Cost of attendance

13,893

6. Inter American University of Puerto Rico San German

San German, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,940

Cost of attendance

14,322

7. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Alfred, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,570

Cost of attendance

23,713

8. New York City College of Technology of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,120

Cost of attendance

13,997

9. University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$7,633

Cost of attendance

19,235

10. SUNY College of Technology at Canton

Canton, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,389

Cost of attendance

22,302

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for air conditioning installers

The hardest universities for air conditioning installers to get into are University of Tulsa, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Duke University.

Some great schools for air conditioning installers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for air conditioning installers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK • Private

Admissions rate

41%

SAT average

1,321

2. Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions rate

66%

SAT average

1,319

3. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

4. Saint Joseph's University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

76%

SAT average

1,214

5. Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA • Private

Admissions rate

50%

SAT average

1,366

6. Bucknell University

Lewisburg, PA • Private

Admissions rate

33%

SAT average

1,353

7. Creighton University

Omaha, NE • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,276

8. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Syracuse, NY • Private

Admissions rate

61%

SAT average

1,227

9. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

Admissions rate

56%

SAT average

1,269

10. North Carolina State University

Raleigh, NC • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,336

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for air conditioning installers

The easiest schools for air conditioning installers to get into are SUNY College of Technology at Canton, suny college of technology at alfred, and saint joseph's university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an air conditioning installer without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for air conditioning installers.

1. SUNY College of Technology at Canton

Canton, NY • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

997

2. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Alfred, NY • Private

Admissions rate

63%

SAT average

1,071

3. Saint Joseph's University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

76%

SAT average

1,214

4. Grand Valley State University

Allendale, MI • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,158

5. Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg, MA • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,078

6. Ferris State University

Big Rapids, MI • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

1,070

7. Kent State University

Kent, OH • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,131

8. SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Delhi, NY • Private

Admissions rate

64%

SAT average

1,011

9. Northern Michigan University

Marquette, MI • Private

Admissions rate

66%

SAT average

1,091

10. University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

1,120

Average air conditioning installer salary by education level

Air conditioning installers with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $45,071 annually. With a Associate degree, air conditioning installers earn a median annual income of $44,773 compared to $41,639 for air conditioning installers with an High School Diploma degree.
Air conditioning installer education levelAir conditioning installer salary
High School Diploma or Less$41,639
Bachelor's Degree$45,071
Some College/ Associate Degree$44,773

Air conditioning installer education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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