Frisco, TX HVAC Programs – Technical Training Schools

Frisco, Texas began as a water stop for the St. Louis-San Francisco railway. As the settlement grew, the city fathers named it after the railway. It’s now part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and is consistently described as one of the country’s fastest-growing cities. As approximately only 75 percent of the available land is developed, Frisco has plenty of room for continued population and commercial growth. Although it serves as a bedroom community for DFW, it also relies on its own strong economy.

A growing number of new businesses keeps the economy diverse. The biggest employers provide management, professional, scientific, and technical services. Finance, healthcare, insurance, and personal services also contribute significantly to the thriving economy. Technology companies are expanding their presence in the city. T-Mobile USA and Oracle, as well as Ikea, all have facilities in Frisco. Tourism continues to grow, leading to an increase in venues catering to visitors. Several sports teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, have their headquarters in Frisco.

Frisco’s climate is classified as humid subtropical. Summers are hot and muggy, followed by cool and breezy winters. June through August are the hottest months, with temperatures consistently in the high 90s F, spiking into the 100s on occasion. Nighttimes are only about 20 degrees cooler. September is still hot, with temperatures in the 80s, but residents start getting relief from the heat in October and November. By December, the daytime highs hover in the upper 50s and low 60s until April, when it starts heating up to the 70s and 80s. Rain falls every month, for an annual total of about 40 inches. Snowfall is rare. The humidity rarely drops below 60 percent and is highest in April, averaging 72 percent. The city is located within Tornado Alley, and it has installed tornado sirens to prevent fatalities.

Frisco’s weather, especially the humidity, makes climate control essential for residents. They rely on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) to keep them comfortable in their homes and workplaces. Educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and sports complexes often add refrigeration (HVAC/R) to their systems. The hospitality and entertainment venues also require refrigeration for the comfort of visitors. The expanding electronics and technology industries often need specialized climate-control installations to keep their equipment operating correctly.

Current Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2021) data indicates that 9,710 HVAC and HVAC/R technicians were employed in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metropolitan area. National, state, and local industry associations providing resources and support to the technicians and their employers include:

Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
Greater Fort Worth Builders Association (GFWBA)
Mechanical Contractors Association of Texas (MCATexas)
National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC)
Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association North Texas (PHCCA)
Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES)
Regional Black Contractors Association (RBCA)
Southwest Pipe Trades Association Local 146 – Fort Worth (SWPTA)
Texas Air Conditioning Contractors Association (TACCA)
TEXO, The Construction Association

These organizations cooperate with others in the industry, regulatory agencies, and businesses to establish and maintain educational, licensing, and performance standards for the safety of technicians, the public, and the environment.

Occupational Demand for HVAC and HVAC/R Technicians in Frisco, TX

According to the BLS (2022), the national demand for trained HVAC and HVAC/R technicians is expected to increase by 5 percent between 2021 and 2031. That’s an additional 20,200 positions. Projections Central (2022) anticipates much greater growth in HVAC opportunities within Texas, forecasting a 21.3 percent increase in openings statewide between 2020 and 2030.

The construction of new commercial and residential buildings stimulates the growth of the HVAC industry. The renovation and remodeling of existing structures also contribute significantly to industry growth. Aging equipment and systems must be repaired, replaced, or updated to meet changing requirements. On occasion, climate control systems in newer structures must be replaced as evolving regulations, technological advances, and the demands of new industries make them obsolete. Additionally, the contemporary emphasis on energy efficiency and pollution reduction is a substantial factor driving industry growth.

Homeowners and businesses now expect “smart” buildings that incorporate sophisticated climate control systems. Working with those systems requires HVAC technicians who are skilled troubleshooters, proficient with computers, and understand electronics and high-tech. Their training and expertise provide the best job opportunities.

Technicians specializing in new construction may occasionally experience unemployment if construction declines. That doesn’t seem likely in Frisco in the foreseeable future due to the dramatic growth the city continues to experience. Its stable economy is based on sustainable levels of prosperity as well as offering residents abundant job opportunities in a modern community.

Technicians who specialize in maintaining, servicing, and repairing equipment and systems can expect continuous employment regardless of the economy, as businesses and homeowners rely on year-round climate control.

HVAC and HVAC/R Salaries in Frisco, TX

BLS (May 2021) data shows HVAC mechanics and installers nationally as receiving a median salary of $48,630. BLS (May 2021) data also shows technicians in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area, which includes Frisco, earned an annual median salary of $48,930. The wage difference is more significant than it might appear, as the cost of living in Texas is lower than in other American states.

As per the BLS (May 2021), the earnings of national, state, and regional HVAC professionals are as follows:

	United States	Texas	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
Number of HVAC professionals employed	356,960	31,060	9,710
Average annual salary	$54,690	$51,270	$54,110
10th percentile	$34,320	$33,890	$36,660
25th percentile	$38,450	$38,440	$46,910
50th percentile	$48,630	$47,980	$48,930
75th percentile	$62,000	$59,980	$60,670
90th percentile	$78,210	$74,400	$76,210

HVAC Apprenticeships in Frisco, TX

Aspiring Texas technicians traditionally accepted employment as helpers and learned their skills through on-the-job training. As few such opportunities exist today for untrained workers, most attend classes or participate in an apprenticeship program. Formal training gives workers better job opportunities and enables them to potentially start at higher wages and earn more throughout their careers.

Time invested in classes varies according to the level of expertise sought. Apprenticeships include specified hours of on-the-job training, usually 2,000 hours, and classroom work, usually 144 hours, annually for three to five years.

Workers can begin with the instructions for becoming a registered apprentice as outlined by the Texas Workforce Commission. The process includes finding an employer willing to train them. The employer should register with the Commission if they have not already done so. The Commission grants funding to registered programs, classroom instruction, and apprentices.

Apprenticeship.gov maintains a database of apprenticeships nationwide, including HVAC apprenticeships in or near Frisco. UA Local 100 JATC offers a five-year HVAC/R apprenticeship at the Garland facility. Apprentices receive on-the-job training from a union contractor and attend classes two nights a week.

Workers seeking HVAC and HVAC/R apprenticeship programs can find several available through national industry associations such as:

Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)
Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA)
Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC)
Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES)
Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA)

Each organization has details of programs and fees on its website.

Accredited HVAC and HVAC/R Schools in Frisco, TX

Students choosing to attend a school should select an accredited institution. The quality of the program, including the curriculum and the instructors, undergoes an evaluation by an independent agency when a school is accredited. HVAC Excellence and the Partnership for Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation (PAHRA) accredit HVAC programs.

HVAC Excellence has accredited Laredo College, Laredo, and Lincoln College of Technology, Grand Prairie. PAHRA has accredited Vernon College, Wichita Falls. Laredo College and Vernon College are not included in the profiles below as they would require a lengthy commute for Frisco students. Other reputable agencies have accredited the remaining schools.

Collin College

The college offers HVAC students four levels of training:

Certificate level 1: HVAC entry certification – 16 credits, 16 weeks
Certificate level 1: HVAC residential servicing certification – 30 credits, 32 weeks
Certificate level 2: HVAC commercial servicing certification – 45 credits, 48 weeks
Degree: HVAC – 60 credits, two years

Coursework for all levels is divided between classroom lectures and hands-on practice in the lab.

Students seeking entry-level certification learn basic electricity, refrigeration principles, and gas and electric heating. They also complete a residential air conditioning capstone course as well as prepare for EPA 608 certification. Students enrolled in the residential servicing program complete the entry-level coursework, as well as advanced electricity, air conditioning installation and startup, and residential systems design. Their capstone course is heat pumps.

The commercial servicing certification program curriculum includes all of the above coursework, with the addition of the following: commercial HVAC/R, advanced HVAC controls, industrial HVAC, and business and professional communication. They will also obtain NATE industry certification of workplace competency. Degree-seeking students add general education coursework in economics, composition, math, and humanities to the coursework in the other programs. They will also complete a capstone course in testing, adjusting, and balancing HVAC systems.

Location: Frisco, TX, McKinney, TX, Plano, TX
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Tuition: $60 per credit for Collin County residents; $115 per credit for other Texas residents
Program length: As described above

Dallas College Eastfield Campus and North Lake Campus

Dallas College encompasses seven campuses, of which Eastfield and North Lake are the closest to Frisco. Students at Eastfield may choose from two certificate programs and two degree programs, as follows:

Residential – technician I certificate: 24 credits, $1,896
Residential – technician III level II: 48 credits, $3,792
Commercial HVAC/R technology degree: 60 credits, $4,740
Residential HVAC/R degree: 60 credits, $4,740

The certificate programs are not available at the North Lake Campus. Both degree programs are available. Students in all the programs receive the training needed to seek positions in their chosen specialty.

The residential technician I certificate curriculum includes electricity, HVAC/R control principles, residential air conditioning, gas and electric heating, and heat pumps. Students in the residential technician III certificate program complete the same technical curriculum with the addition of air conditioning installation and startup, air conditioning troubleshooting, and residential air conditioning systems design. They also complete two general education electives from composition, communication, and math.

The technical curriculum for students seeking the commercial HVAC/R technology degree includes the above coursework and adds commercial refrigeration or industrial air conditioning, commercial air conditioning, air conditioning troubleshooting, energy management, and advanced controls. They also choose either an HVAC/R technology/technician practicum or HVAC/R technology/technician cooperative education course.

Their general education requirements include composition, mathematics, humanities/fine arts, speech communication, and general psychology. The residential HVAC/R degree program replaces commercial courses with residential electives. The practicum is replaced by their choice of special topics in HVAC/R mechanic and repairer or HVAC/R technology/technician cooperative education coursework.

Location: Eastfield Campus, Mesquite, TX; North Lake Campus, Irving, TX
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Tuition: As noted above
Program length: Certificates, 12 to 18 months; degree, two years

Edge Tech Academy

Edge Tech is a privately owned institution offering an HVAC diploma program. The small-size classes are designed to prepare students for entry-level employment. Students learn via classroom instruction and hands-on training. The curriculum includes air conditioning, electrical systems and controls, heating and heat pumps, and refrigeration. Students complete a total of 50 credits to earn their diplomas.

Location: Arlington, TX
Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
Tuition: $14,400
Program length: 40 weeks

Lincoln College of Technology

Lincoln Tech offers an HVAC/R technology diploma program. The coursework is available during the day, afternoons, and evenings. It requires 44.5 credits to complete. Graduates are qualified to seek entry-level employment as HVAC/R technicians.

The curriculum includes an introduction to climate control systems, electricity, basic HVAC/R systems, air conditioning design and layout, commercial refrigeration controls and design, warm air heating, and energy efficiency and green technology systems. Graduates are qualified to sit for the EPA Section 608 exam.

Location: Grand Prairie, TX
Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges; HVAC Excellence
Tuition: $26,700
Program length: 47 weeks

Lindsey-Cooper Refrigeration School

Lindsey-Cooper offers their HVAC/R training full-time and part-time. Part-time students may choose to attend either in the evenings or on Saturdays. They may also choose between classes in English or Spanish. The full-time program is taught only in daytime classes and is available only in English.

The coursework for all programs is divided between classroom lectures and hands-on training in the lab. Class sizes are limited to 15 students. The curriculum includes heating, refrigeration cycles, service tools and instruments, compressors, condensers, evaporators, metering devices, refrigerants, chilled water systems, motors, soldering, and electricity. Students may take an optional program for an additional fee to prepare for the EPA Section exam.

Location: Irving, TX
Accreditation: Certificate of Approval Texas Workforce Commission
Tuition: Not disclosed on their website
Program length: Part-time 12 weeks; full-time two weeks

UEI College

UEI, a private school, offers an HVAC technician training program at its Dallas campus. Coursework is divided between classroom lectures and hands-on training in a fully equipped lab.

The curriculum includes basic electricity, motors, and HVAC controls, refrigeration theory and application, HVAC troubleshooting, heat pump systems, heating systems, duct design, reading blueprints, load calculation, commercial refrigeration systems, specialized commercial refrigeration, regulations, building automation, and electrical and mechanical troubleshooting. Students are prepared to take the EPA Section 608 exam and the R-410A certification exam. Graduates are qualified to seek employment as HVAC/R technicians.

Location: Dallas, TX
Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
Tuition: $21,500
Program length: Ten months

Frisco students who cannot attend one of the above schools may find that online institutions can better meet their needs. More information on accredited programs is available at online HVAC training.

HVAC and HVAC/R Certification and Licensing in Frisco, TX

HVAC and HVAC/R technicians who handle refrigerants must obtain Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Section 608 certification. Four certification levels are available based on the type and size of equipment on which a technician works. Certification requires technicians to pass a specific exam on refrigerant safety:

Type I – for servicing small appliances
Type II – for servicing or disposing of high-pressure appliances, except small appliances and automotive air conditioning
Type III – for servicing or disposing of low-pressure appliances
Universal – for servicing all types of equipment

Details of the criteria for each certification are available on the EPA website.

Technicians may obtain their Section 608 certification, as well as other certifications that can increase their employability, from industry organizations such as the following:

HVAC Excellence
North American Technician Excellence (NATE)
Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES)

Each organization includes availability, scheduling, and fees on its website. There is also more information on the HVAC certifications page.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) requires HVAC technicians to register. Technicians must work under a licensed HVAC contractor and may not advertise their services. Applicants must complete a form and pay a fee of $20. The registration must be renewed annually. Renewal requires a completed application and payment of $20.

Technicians may voluntarily choose to register as certified technicians. Applicants must submit:

Proof of at least 24 months of experience under a licensed HVAC contractor, or
Proof of 2,000 hours of an approved certification training program
A completed application
A $50 fee

Once the documents are approved, applicants must pass a licensing exam and pay relevant fees. Licenses are valid for one year. Renewal requires a completed application and fee.

To qualify, HVAC contractors must:

Have 48 months of practical experience under a licensed HVAC contractor within the past 72 months; or
Held a technician certification license for the past 12 months and have at least 36 months and practical experience under a licensed HVAC contractor within the past 48 months
Submit a completed application
Pay a $115 fee
Pass an exam
Meet the minimum requirement for insurance coverage

Two classes of licenses are available: Class A permits contractors to work on any size project; or Class B, which limits projects to cooling systems of 25 tons and under and heating systems of 1.5 million BTUs/hour and under. Endorsements for environmental air conditioning, commercial refrigeration, and process heating or cooling may be added.

Licenses must be renewed annually. Renewal requires eight hours of continuing education, an application, and paying a fee.

The City of Frisco requires HVAC contractors to register prior to doing any work in the city. Registration requires submitting proof of insurance, a copy of the state license, and paying a fee.

As licensing regulations are always subject to change, HVAC professionals are encouraged to confirm that they comply with current guidelines before starting a project.

Sandra Smith

Sandra Smith was introduced to the HVAC industry when she worked as a bookkeeper and secretary for a small air-conditioning contractor. She eventually became a CPA and started her own practice specializing in small business taxes and accounting. After retiring from business, she began writing articles for newspapers, magazines, and websites. She also authored four books. Sandra makes her home in the mountains with a rescue dog that naps on her lap as she writes.