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12 schools in New York offer hvac-related programs, compared below on official cost, completion, and earnings data. Prefer to earn while you learn? 1 registered apprenticeship sponsor in New York train hvac apprentices — see apprenticeships.
New York has no state HVAC license — requirements are set city by city. New York City issues no dedicated HVAC license (related work is permitted through NYC DOB-licensed trades such as master plumbers and oil-burner installers), while cities like Buffalo require a municipal contractor license with insurance and workers' comp filings. The one universal requirement is federal EPA Section 608 certification for anyone handling refrigerants.
Official source: None statewide — local agencies such as the NYC Department of Buildings and the City of Buffalo Department of Permit & Inspection Services · Exam: No state exam. Local exams/competency requirements vary by city; EPA 608 exam required for refrigerant work. · Typical requirement: Set by each locality. Buffalo requires a city contractor license application with insurance and NYS workers' comp filing (Form CE-200); NYC licenses adjacent trades (master plumber for gas piping, oil-burning equipment installer, high-pressure boiler operating engineer) rather than a general HVAC credential. EPA Section 608 certification is federally required for refrigerant handling everywhere.
| School | City | Type | Net price / yr | Completion | Earnings (10 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk County Community College | Selden | public | $5,258 | 33.9% | $49,907 |
| Monroe Community College | Rochester | public | $6,353 | 28.2% | $40,174 |
| Fulton-Montgomery Community College | Johnstown | public | $6,696 | 36.2% | $39,535 |
| Hudson Valley Community College | Troy | public | $8,501 | 36.4% | $45,460 |
| Erie Community College | Buffalo | public | $7,765 | 31.8% | $41,228 |
| Mohawk Valley Community College | Utica | public | $8,987 | 37.6% | $39,850 |
| Dutchess Community College | Poughkeepsie | public | $10,065 | 33.4% | $43,929 |
| Erie 1 BOCES | West Seneca | public | $12,987 | 89.1% | $47,114 |
| SUNY College of Technology at Alfred | Alfred | public | $15,016 | 56.9% | $50,445 |
| SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | Delhi | public | $17,225 | 52.1% | $51,629 |
| Apex Technical School | Long Island City | private nonprofit | $14,826 | 79% | $41,093 |
| Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES | Liverpool | public | $19,002 | 76.5% | $40,658 |
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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