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Air quality technician education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an air quality technician. Air quality technicians usually study environmental science, business, or biology. 51% of air quality technicians hold a bachelor's degree, and 28% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 198 real air quality technician resumes to see exactly what air quality technician education sections show.

The most common colleges for air quality technicians are the Ohio State University and the Ohio State University.

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

What education do you need to become an air quality technician?

What degree do you need to be an air quality technician?

The most common degree for air quality technicians is bachelor's degree, with 51% of air quality technicians earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 28% and associate degree degree at 14%.
  • Bachelor's, 51%
  • Associate, 28%
  • High School Diploma, 14%
  • Master's, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become an air quality technician?

You should major in environmental science to become an air quality technician. 18% of air quality technicians major in environmental science. Other common majors for an air quality technician include business and biology.

Most common colleges for air quality technicians

Air quality technicians often get their degrees at Ohio State University, University of California, Santa Barbara, and Northern Kentucky University. Here are the most common colleges for air quality technicians in the US based on their resumes.
Air quality technician common collegePercentages
Ohio State University7.14%
University of California, Santa Barbara7.14%
Northern Kentucky University7.14%
Arizona State University7.14%
Texas A&M University7.14%

Best majors for air quality technicians

Best colleges for air quality technicians

The best colleges for air quality technicians are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Duke University.

An air quality technician 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 quality technicians. 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 quality technicians.

1. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

3. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

4. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

5. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

6. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,184

Enrollment

30,845

7. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

8. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

9. University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Lafayette, LA • Private

In-state tuition

$9,912

Enrollment

14,245

10. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

20 best online courses for air quality technicians

Advertising disclosure

1. Introduction to Indoor Air Quality

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Course Overview: https://youtu.be/LLVb4FOn4uU This course provides a basic knowledge of an emerging area – Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in buildings. Learners will realize the importance of maintaining proper IAQ. Characteristics associated with indoor air contaminants (IAC) are demonstrated, such as • Particulate matters (PM2.5, PM10) • Radon • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) • Asbestos • Bio-aerosols, and more Safe exposure levels, resulting health effects, measurement techniques, mitigate and...

2. Air Pollution – a Global Threat to our Health

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We all have to breathe to live. But the air we breathe is polluted both outdoors and indoors. Each year, this pollution costs 7 million lives across the globe – and a lot of suffering. 1 in 8 deaths is due to air pollution. This course will provide you with an introduction to the most recent research in the field of health effects of air pollution as well as a broader understanding of sources and spread of air pollution and what we should do about it. What is air pollution? What are the...

3. Air Dispersion Modeling for Environmental Management

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4.4
(267)

Environmental management with AERMOD Air Pollution Model by EPA...

4. HVAC Psychrometry, Air Handling System and Duct Selection

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4.5
(517)

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

5. Total Data Quality

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This specialization aims to explore the Total Data Quality framework in depth and provide learners with more information about the detailed evaluation of total data quality that needs to happen prior to data analysis. The goal is for learners to incorporate evaluations of data quality into their process as a critical component for all projects. We sincerely hope to disseminate knowledge about total data quality to all learners, such as data scientists and quantitative analysts, who have not had...

6. Measuring Total Data Quality

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By the end of this second course in the Total Data Quality Specialization, learners will be able to: 1. Learn various metrics for evaluating Total Data Quality (TDQ) at each stage of the TDQ framework. 2. Create a quality concept map that tracks relevant aspects of TDQ from a particular application or data source. 3. Think through relative trade-offs between quality aspects, relative costs and practical constraints imposed by a particular project or study. 4. Identify relevant software and...

7. Global Air Logistics Management in Supply Chain Management

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4.7
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2021 Air Logistics Management, Logistics Document, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Logistics & Supply Chain Costing...

8. Air Insulated Electrical Substation Design

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4.5
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This course will give you a great appreciation of Air Insulated Substations and how all of the equipments fit together...

9. The Total Data Quality Framework

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By the end of this first course in the Total Data Quality specialization, learners will be able to: 1. Identify the essential differences between designed and gathered data and summarize the key dimensions of the Total Data Quality (TDQ) Framework; 2. Define the three measurement dimensions of the Total Data Quality framework, and describe potential threats to data quality along each of these dimensions for both gathered and designed data; 3. Define the three representation dimensions of the...

10. Refrigeration & Air conditioning - Design and calculation

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4.4
(285)

Refrigeration and HVAC fundamentals, design and calculation for commercial and industrial application...

11. Data Quality Fundamentals

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4.2
(557)

Understand key concepts, principles and terminology related to Data Quality...

12. Data Quality Masterclass - The Complete Course

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4.5
(1,220)

Learn Data Quality Management from A to Z. This complete guide covers all Data Quality Principles, Techniques and more...

13. Cost of Quality Analysis and Reporting using Microsoft Excel

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4.4
(533)

Expertly collect, analyze and present quality cost data (using Microsoft Excel) to help drive continual improvement...

14. Data Warehouse ETL Testing & Data Quality Management A-Z

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4.4
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ETL Testing and Data Quality Management for beginners with practical exercises and certificate of completion...

15. HVAC (PART2) with Revit MEP & Practical Projects

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4.1
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your Practical Guide in the Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning with Programs & Layouts (A Complete Project Included)...

16. HVAC (PART1) with HAPExcelAutoCADManual Calculations

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4.5
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A Practical Guide in the Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning with Programs & Layouts (Including 4 Practical Projects)...

17. Certified Quality Process Analyst Training

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4.3
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Certified Quality Process Analyst (CQPA) Exam Preparation Course - Confidently Pass the Exam on the First Attempt...

18. Become an HVAC PRO_The Ultimate HVAC Guide

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4.6
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HVAC Designer Course from Scratch to Advance Level for Career Changer, Career Accelerator or Knowledge Refresher...

19. Mastering the Seven Quality Tools (with Microsoft Excel)

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4.6
(1,544)

A Deep Dive into the theory and application of the 7 Quality Tools for root cause analysis and continuous improvement...

20. HVAC Ductwork Quantity Take off for Quantity Surveyors

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4.4
(284)

HVAC, Duct, Take off, Estimation, Quantity Surveying, Length, Area, Weight, SMACNA, POMI, AUTOCAD, Excel, Template, MEP...

Top 10 most affordable universities for air quality technicians

The most affordable schools for air quality technicians are SUNY Farmingdale, brooklyn college of the city university of new york, and california state university - dominguez hills.

If the best universities for air quality technicians 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 quality technicians.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

2. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

3. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

4. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

5. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

8. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

9. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

10. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$7,064

Cost of attendance

15,576

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for air quality technicians

The hardest universities for air quality technicians to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Duke University.

Some great schools for air quality technicians 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 quality technicians 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. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

6. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,448

7. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

8. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

9. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,407

10. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for air quality technicians

The easiest schools for air quality technicians to get into are Wayland Baptist University, curry college, and oklahoma wesleyan university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an air quality technician 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 quality technicians.

1. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

2. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,026

3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

4. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

5. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

6. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

7. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,053

8. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,099

9. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

10. University of Baltimore

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,020

Average air quality technician salary by education level

Air quality technicians with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $48,756 annually. With a Associate degree, air quality technicians earn a median annual income of $44,460 compared to $42,806 for air quality technicians with an Bachelor's degree.
Air quality technician education levelAir quality technician salary
Master's Degree$48,756
High School Diploma or Less$41,248
Bachelor's Degree$42,806
Some College/ Associate Degree$44,460

Air quality technician 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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