31 schools in Ohio offer hvac-related programs, compared below on official cost, completion, and earnings data. Prefer to earn while you learn? 42 registered apprenticeship sponsors in Ohio train hvac apprentices — see apprenticeships.
Ohio licenses HVAC contractors at the state level through the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board, which requires 5 years of trade experience (per ORC 4740.06) and passage of the PROV trade and business-law exams; the state license is mandatory for commercial work, while residential-only contractors are regulated by local building departments (many of which require the OCILB license or local registration). Technicians working under a licensed contractor do not need their own license. EPA Section 608 applies to refrigerant work.
Official source: Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB), Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance · Exam: PROV contractor licensing examination — trade portion plus business & law. · Typical requirement: 5 years as a tradesperson in HVAC immediately before applying (ORC 4740.06), or current PE registration plus 3 years construction business experience, or other experience the board's specialty section accepts; age 18+; contractor liability insurance; background check; $25 application.
| School | City | Type | Net price / yr | Completion | Earnings (10 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinclair Community College | Dayton | public | $5,992 | 29.4% | $37,558 |
| Buckeye Joint Vocational School | New Philadelphia | public | $6,545 | 87.4% | $35,889 |
| Collins Career Technical Center | Chesapeake | public | $9,468 | 58.3% | $47,329 |
| Columbus State Community College | Columbus | public | $8,400 | 29.7% | $39,435 |
| Medina County Career Center | Medina | public | $8,835 | 81.1% | $41,273 |
| Great Oaks Career Campuses | Cincinnati | public | $12,037 | 73.6% | $55,163 |
| Ashtabula County Technical and Career Campus | Jefferson | public | $9,599 | 53.9% | $42,163 |
| Owens Community College | Perrysburg | public | $10,369 | 40.3% | $37,275 |
| Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center | Ashland | public | $9,303 | 81.3% | $31,791 |
| Upper Valley Career Center | Piqua | public | $16,282 | 63.9% | $52,170 |
| Auburn Career Center | Concord Twp | public | $12,051 | 71.3% | $37,032 |
| Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools | Groveport | public | $15,732 | 73.8% | $43,780 |
| University of Northwestern Ohio | Lima | private nonprofit | $21,807 | 51.7% | $50,968 |
| Buckeye Hills Career Center | Rio Grande | public | $17,231 | 85.9% | $40,264 |
| Warren County Career Center | Lebanon | public | $24,731 | 79.9% | $49,016 |
| Cuyahoga Valley Career Center | Brecksville | public | $26,966 | 73.2% | $47,914 |
| Stautzenberger College-Maumee | Maumee | private for-profit | $21,756 | 54.8% | $34,104 |
| Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls | Cuyahoga Falls | private for-profit | $23,374 | 58.4% | $34,509 |
| Remington College-Cleveland Campus | Cleveland | private nonprofit | $23,687 | 49.1% | $31,349 |
| Fortis College-Columbus | Westerville | private for-profit | $27,708 | 53% | $36,368 |
| Fortis College-Cincinnati | Cincinnati | private for-profit | $29,614 | 51.6% | $36,368 |
| Fortis College-Centerville | Centerville | private for-profit | $29,162 | 37.4% | $34,726 |
| Ohio Business College-Sheffield | Sheffield Village | private for-profit | $28,738 | 53.4% | $30,389 |
| Apollo Career Center | Lima | public | not reported | 66.8% | $43,101 |
| Butler Technology and Career Development Schools | Monroe | public | not reported | 81.3% | $56,645 |
| EHOVE Career Center | Milan | public | not reported | 88.7% | $40,117 |
| Tri-County Adult Career Center | Nelsonville | public | not reported | 90.2% | $26,129 |
| Knox County Career Center | Mount Vernon | public | not reported | not reported | $38,212 |
| Pickaway Ross Joint Vocational School District | Chillicothe | public | not reported | 97.6% | $46,485 |
| Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County | Newark | public | not reported | 83% | $38,002 |
| Washington County Career Center-Adult Technical Training | Marietta | public | not reported | 82.8% | $43,749 |
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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