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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 sponsors in California train hvac apprentices — see apprenticeships.
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.
| 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). Schools without both figures sort last — "not reported" means the federal dataset lacks the value, not that the school is bad.
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