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Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in North Carolina

Your path to Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in North Carolina: wage evidence, licensing, training, apprenticeships and funding in one place.

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We have not verified a current training listing for this selection. The pathway, wage and regulatory guidance below remain usable, and you can widen your search in the finder.

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Answers grounded in the verified records on this page for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in North Carolina, with links to official sources.

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Wage evidence

Median and mean figures with percentiles, shown against the national figure. Suppressed values stay blank.

Wage evidence for this state compared with the national figure
StatisticThis stateNational
Median hourly$28—
Median annual$57,260—
Mean hourly$28—
Mean annual$57,400—
10th percentile (hourly)$18—
25th percentile (hourly)$23—
75th percentile (hourly)$31—
90th percentile (hourly)$37—
Source: BLS May 2025 OEWS State estimatesData year: 2025Period: MayVerified: Oct 7, 2026
Percentiles are population wage percentiles, not promised starting wages. Mean and median are shown separately. Suppressed figures stay blank rather than being estimated. Reported relative error for the mean wage estimate is 1.4% (uncertainty metadata, not a confidence interval).

Career pathway

Verified progression stages where the data provides them.

This data release provides a single verified overview stage for this selection rather than a full multi-stage ladder.

North Carolina HVAC career pathway overview

  1. 1

    HVAC training to scope-specific credentialing and employment

    Complete relevant HVAC training or supervised work, then obtain EPA Section 608 certification before performing covered refrigerant-handling activities; also satisfy any North Carolina state or local contractor/technician requirements. NATE credentials may support advancement but are not universally mandatory. The acquired state-submitted dataset contains 23 occupation-mapped license or registration record(s) for this state; use the specific master records rather than assuming one credential covers every job scope.

    Credential: EPA Section 608 for covered work; state/local credential when applicablepathway overviewVerified: Oct 8, 2026
    Verified career pathwayPathway is informational and does not guarantee eligibility, licensure, or employment.

Planning checklist

These are planning actions, not newly asserted legal requirements.

  • Confirm the licensing or registration body for your state
  • Check local or municipal requirements for your area
  • Compare training and registered apprenticeship options
  • Review funding pathways you may be eligible for

Track these steps from your saved plan.

Licensing & regulation

How this trade is regulated in this state, and where local research is still needed.

Primary regulatory structure

state individual licensing; state registration; contractor or business licensing; federal credentialing or regulation (scope-specific); industry certification or qualification (not universally mandatory)

Responsible authority: NC Department of Transportation; Division of Motor Vehicles; License & Theft; NC Department of Environmental Quality; Waste Management; Air Quality; NC Board of Refrigeration Examiners; NC Board of Electrical Contractors; NC Board Examiners of Plumbing Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors; NC Department of Transportation — Division of Motor Vehicles — License & Theft; NC Department of Environmental Quality — Waste Management; NC Department of Environmental Quality — Air Quality; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Classification verified: Oct 8, 2026

Official source

State individual licensing

Identified

State registration

Identified

Local / municipal licensing

Not identified

Contractor / business licensing

Identified

Federal credentialing

conditional

Industry certification

optional

Employer-specific requirements

Not identified

Specific credential records

  • Industrial Refrigeration Contractor

    conditional
    Scope: contractor_or_business_license; Tied to businessRegulator: NC Board of Refrigeration ExaminersVerified: Oct 8, 2026

    All Persons, Firms Or Corporation Engaged In Refrigeration Contracting With The Use Of Ammonia As A Refrigeration Gas.

    Regulator site

  • Heating Group 1 Contractor (Class 1)

    conditional
    Scope: contractor_or_business_license; Tied to businessRegulator: NC Board Examiners of Plumbing Heating & Fire Sprinkler ContractorsVerified: Oct 8, 2026

    Required of any person, firm or corporation who for a valuable consideration, verifies, inspects, evaluates, tests, installs, alters or restores, or offers to verify, inspect, evaluate, test, install, alter or restore, heating group number one, as defined

    Regulator site

  • Heating Group 1 Contractor (Class II)

    conditional
    Scope: contractor_or_business_license; Tied to businessRegulator: NC Board Examiners of Plumbing Heating & Fire Sprinkler ContractorsVerified: Oct 8, 2026

    Required of any person, firm or corporation who for a valuable consideration, verifies, inspects, evaluates, tests, installs, alters or restores, or offers to verify, inspect, evaluate, test, install, alter or restore, heating group number one, as defined

    Regulator site

  • Heating Group 2 Contractor

    conditional
    Scope: contractor_or_business_license; Tied to businessRegulator: NC Board Examiners of Plumbing Heating & Fire Sprinkler ContractorsVerified: Oct 8, 2026

    Required of any person, firm or corporation who for a valuable consideration, verifies, inspects, evaluates, tests, installs, alters or restores, or offers to verify, inspect, evaluate, test, install, alter or restore heating group number two.

    Regulator site

  • Heating Group 3 Contractor (Class I)

    conditional
    Scope: contractor_or_business_license; Tied to businessRegulator: NC Board Examiners of Plumbing Heating & Fire Sprinkler ContractorsVerified: Oct 8, 2026

    Required of any person, firm or corporation who for a valuable consideration, verifies, inspects, evaluates, tests, installs, alters or restores, or offers to verify, inspect, evaluate, test, install, alter or restore heating group number three.

    Regulator site

  • Heating Group 3 Contractor (Class II)

    conditional
    Scope: contractor_or_business_license; Stand-alone licenseRegulator: NC Board Examiners of Plumbing Heating & Fire Sprinkler ContractorsVerified: Oct 8, 2026

    Required of any person, firm or corporation who for a valuable consideration, verifies, inspects, evaluates, tests, installs, alters or restores, or offers to verify, inspect, evaluate, test, install, alter or restore heating group number three as defined

    Regulator site

  • Heating Group 1 Technician

    conditional
    Scope: contractor_or_business_license; Tied to businessRegulator: NC Board Examiners of Plumbing Heating & Fire Sprinkler ContractorsVerified: Oct 8, 2026

    Required of any individual who is a bonafide employee of a firm licensed by a Heating Contractor and performs supervisory duties of the firm's employees and their work on behalf of the contractor. The Heating Group 1 Technician must be a sub-licensee of a

    Regulator site

  • Heating Group 2 Technician

    conditional
    Scope: contractor_or_business_license; Tied to businessRegulator: NC Board Examiners of Plumbing Heating & Fire Sprinkler ContractorsVerified: Oct 8, 2026

    Required of any individual who is a bonafide employee of a firm licensed by a Plumbing Contractor and performs supervisory duties of the firm's employees and their work on behalf of the contractor. The Heating Group 2 Technician must be a sub-licensee of

    Regulator site

  • Heating Group 3 Technician

    conditional
    Scope: contractor_or_business_license; Tied to businessRegulator: NC Board Examiners of Plumbing Heating & Fire Sprinkler ContractorsVerified: Oct 8, 2026

    Required of any individual who is a bonafide employee of a firm licensed by a Plumbing Contractor and performs supervisory duties of the firm's employees and their work on behalf of the contractor. The Heating Group 3 Technician must be a sub-licensee of

    Regulator site

  • Heating Group 1 Technician (State & Local Government)

    conditional
    Scope: contractor_or_business_license; Tied to businessRegulator: NC Board Examiners of Plumbing Heating & Fire Sprinkler ContractorsVerified: Oct 8, 2026

    Required of any person, firm or corporation who for a valuable consideration, verifies, inspects, evaluates, tests, installs, alters or restores, or offers to verify, inspect, evaluate, test, install, alter or restore Heating Group 1. This license is requ

    Regulator site

  • Heating Group 3 Technician (State & Local Government)

    conditional
    Scope: contractor_or_business_license; Tied to businessRegulator: NC Board Examiners of Plumbing Heating & Fire Sprinkler ContractorsVerified: Oct 8, 2026

    Required of any person, firm or corporation who for a valuable consideration, verifies, inspects, evaluates, tests, installs, alters or restores, or offers to verify, inspect, evaluate, test, install, alter or restore Heating Group 3. This license is requ

    Regulator site

  • Refrigeration Service Contractor

    conditional
    Scope: contractor_or_business_license; Stand-alone licenseRegulator: NC Board of Refrigeration ExaminersVerified: Oct 8, 2026

    Engages in maintenance, servicing and repairing of refrigerating machinery, equipment, devices and components

    Regulator site

  • Transport Refrigeration Contractor

    conditional
    Scope: contractor_or_business_license; Tied to businessRegulator: NC Board of Refrigeration ExaminersVerified: Oct 8, 2026

    Engaged in the business of installation, maintenance, repairing and servicing of transport refrigeration

    Regulator site

  • Safety Equipment Inspection Mechanics/Regular

    required
    Scope: individual_license_or_certification; Stand-alone licenseRegulator: NC Department of Transportation — Division of Motor Vehicles — License & TheftVerified: Oct 8, 2026

    Inspect and monitor transportation equipment, vehicles, or systems to ensure compliance with regulations and safety standards.

    Regulator site

  • Safety Equipment Inspection Mechanics/Emission

    required
    Scope: individual_license_or_certification; Stand-alone licenseRegulator: NC Department of Transportation — Division of Motor Vehicles — License & TheftVerified: Oct 8, 2026

    Inspect and monitor transportation equipment, vehicles, or systems to ensure compliance with regulations and safety standards.

    Regulator site

  • Air Quality (Part I "Title V Operation")

    conditional
    Scope: contractor_or_business_license; Tied to businessRegulator: NC Department of Environmental Quality — Air QualityVerified: Oct 8, 2026

    The potential to emit over 100 ton/year of a single criteria air pollutant, 10 ton/year of a single hazardous air pollutant, or 25 ton/year combination of single hazardous air pollutant. Title V permits are administered by DAQ's Central Office Permitting

    Regulator site

  • Commercial Refrigeration Contractor

    conditional
    Scope: contractor_or_business_license; Tied to businessRegulator: NC Board of Refrigeration ExaminersVerified: Oct 8, 2026

    Engaged in the business of contracting to install, maintain, service, and repair refrigerating machinery and devices.

    Regulator site

  • Special Restricted: Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning

    required
    Scope: individual_license_or_certification; Stand-alone licenseRegulator: NC Board of Electrical ContractorsVerified: Oct 8, 2026

    This license allows individuals to install, maintain, or repair electric wiring or devices only as an incident to the licensee?s plumbing, heating, or air conditioning business.

    Regulator site

Training options

Verified current training programs. Availability, tuition and delivery mode are separate facts.

We have not verified a current training listing for this selection. This is not evidence that no programs exist — only that we have no verified current listing to show here. The pathway, wage and regulatory guidance on this page remain fully usable, and you can widen your search in the finder.

Registered apprenticeships

Registered programs are the default view; confirmed application status is shown separately.

We have no publishable registered apprenticeship directory records for this selection.

Funding pathways

Direct, trade-matched and broad funding routes to investigate. Conditional awards are not guaranteed funding.

2 direct individual opportunities, 2 tied to this trade through supported evidence, and 6 broad pathways to investigate. Conditional awards are not guaranteed funding, and potential awards are never summed as savings.

Direct individual opportunities

You apply as an individual. Eligibility is determined by the administering organization.

  • PHCC Educational Foundation Scholarship - HVACR

    PHCC Educational Foundation

    Direct individual applicationupcoming cycle announcedNational scope

    Legal U.S. residents in qualifying HVACR apprentice, trade-school, community-college, or related degree programs; some apprentice applicants must work for a licensed PHCC member contractor.

    Award: not statedBeneficiary: individualDeadline: 2027 application opens in January; materials due May 1, 2027.Status checked: Oct 8, 2026
    Direct individual applicationEligibility and deadline rules still apply; no award is guaranteed.
    Official program page

  • Women in HVACR Scholarship

    Women in HVACR

    Direct individual applicationupcoming cycle announcedNational scope

    Women enrolled in or entering an HVACR trade-school or college program, with the published academic and application requirements.

    Award: not statedBeneficiary: individualDeadline: Applications received after June 1, 2026 are entered for the following-year cycle; next selection date not separately published.Status checked: Oct 8, 2026
    Direct individual applicationEligibility and deadline rules still apply; no award is guaranteed.
    Official program page

Matched to this trade

Supported by source evidence for this occupation. Specificity varies — check the eligibility summary.

  • The Home Depot Foundation Path to Pro Scholarship

    The Home Depot Foundation

    Direct individual applicationactive rollingNational scope

    Individuals pursuing eligible construction skilled-trade education, subject to the applicable Path to Pro scholarship terms.

    Award: not statedBeneficiary: individualDeadline: Applications accepted year-round and reviewed quarterly.Status checked: Oct 8, 2026
    Direct individual applicationEligibility and deadline rules still apply; no award is guaranteed.
    Official program page

  • mikeroweWORKS Work Ethic Scholarship

    mikeroweWORKS Foundation

    Direct individual applicationactiveNational scope

    U.S. citizens who are high-school seniors or graduates and plan an approved skilled-trade program of two years or less at an accredited school, subject to full program rules.

    Award: not statedBeneficiary: individualDeadline: October 31, 2026Status checked: Oct 8, 2026
    Direct individual applicationEligibility and deadline rules still apply; no award is guaranteed.
    Official program page

General funding pathways to investigate

Broad programs without a specific trade match. Scope is deliberately not personalized.

  • North Carolina WIOA training assistance / Individual Training Account pathway

    North Carolina Department of Commerce

    Conditional — through workforce or schoolactive conditional

    Potentially available to WIOA-eligible participants after assessment by the state or local workforce system; training normally must satisfy applicable ETPL and individual-employment-plan rules.

    Award: not statedBeneficiary: individualDeadline: No universal deadline; contact the official workforce system before enrollment.Status checked: Oct 8, 2026
    Conditional workforce or school pathwayRequires eligibility determination or access through a workforce agency or institution; not guaranteed financial aid.
    Official program page

  • Federal Pell Grant for eligible career-school and undergraduate programs

    U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid

    Direct individual applicationactiveNational scope

    Eligible undergraduate students with financial need attending a participating institution and eligible program; trade/career programs may qualify but each program must be confirmed.

    Award: $7,395Beneficiary: individualDeadline: 2026-27 FAFSA and school deadlines apply; verify on StudentAid.gov and with the school.Status checked: Oct 8, 2026
    Direct individual applicationEligibility and deadline rules still apply; no award is guaranteed.
    Official program page

  • Registered Apprenticeship paid employment and training

    Participating employers and registered apprenticeship sponsors

    Conditional — through workforce or schoolactive opportunity directoryNational scope

    Applicants must locate an available apprenticeship opportunity and apply directly to the employer or program sponsor; occupations and entry requirements vary.

    Award: not statedBeneficiary: individualDeadline: Opportunity-specific; do not assume an opening is accepting applications.Status checked: Oct 8, 2026
    Conditional workforce or school pathwayRequires eligibility determination or access through a workforce agency or institution; not guaranteed financial aid.
    Official program page

  • Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)

    U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

    Conditional — through workforce or schoolactiveNational scope

    Eligible child or spouse of a veteran or service member meeting a qualifying permanent-and-total disability, death, MIA, capture, or detention condition; approved technical, vocational, apprenticeship, and OJT may qualify.

    Award: not statedBeneficiary: individualDeadline: Ongoing; delimiting dates and program approval vary.Status checked: Oct 8, 2026
    Conditional workforce or school pathwayRequires eligibility determination or access through a workforce agency or institution; not guaranteed financial aid.
    Official program page

  • GI Bill benefits for approved on-the-job training and apprenticeships

    U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

    Conditional — through workforce or schoolactiveNational scope

    Eligible veterans, service members, or dependents with qualifying GI Bill entitlement who enter a VA-approved OJT or apprenticeship program.

    Award: not statedBeneficiary: individualDeadline: Ongoing; applicant and training establishment approvals are required.Status checked: Oct 8, 2026
    Conditional workforce or school pathwayRequires eligibility determination or access through a workforce agency or institution; not guaranteed financial aid.
    Official program page

  • WIOA Individual Training Account and training-service pathway

    State and local workforce development boards under U.S. DOL

    Conditional — through workforce or schoolactive conditionalNational scope

    Adults, dislocated workers, and some youth who are determined eligible and in need of training may receive training services, commonly through an ITA, for an approved program/provider.

    Award: not statedBeneficiary: individualDeadline: Ongoing local intake; timing and funds vary by local workforce area.Status checked: Oct 8, 2026
    Conditional workforce or school pathwayRequires eligibility determination or access through a workforce agency or institution; not guaranteed financial aid.
    Official program page