It’s quite problematic to need your fridge, stove, or laundry machine, one day and notice it stopped working.
The problem is even bigger if any appliance doesn’t work in a commercial place like a restaurant, hotel, or even a laundry mat.
Not everything is lost if you can afford to call an appliance repair technician and he can fix the issue, despite it taking a few days.
If you want to be the one solving these problems for others maybe you’ll consider becoming an appliance repair technician in Alabama!
Earn your accredited, affordable Appliance Repair career diploma online with Penn Foster in as little as 2 months!
Article Table of Contents
Popular Programs
Appliance Repair Technician Job Description and Responsibilities in Alabama
It’s normal to want to know what your new job requires you to do daily.
Appliance repair techs are expected to:
- Fixing damaged appliances
- Maintaining the functioning ones
- Installing and/or adjusting appliances
- Using the correct tools for the job
- Providing the estimated cost of the work
- Ensuring they have the correct spare parts
- Keeping a data log for bills, work, inventory
All these job duties can be carried out in a private house or on a commercial property.
It’s not unusual for these techs to work with just one brand, maybe two, of electric goods.
This way, they become specialists for the brand, and they can deliver better results.
Appliance Repair Technician Training in Alabama
The education or training needed for this occupation may vary, based on the employer or your wishes for your career.
You should expect to need at least your high school diploma or GED before anything else.
The best training would be through a vocational school.
Then, you might want to be a repair technician for a specific brand of electronics.
For this, contacting that company is the best option.
Let’s see which vocational schools in Alabama offer training for future appliance repair technicians!
Fred’s Appliance Academy
This academy offers classes on campus and online, however, the campus is located in Ohio so more difficult to reach.
Expect to learn about:
- Microwaves
- Refrigerators
- Washers
- Dryers
- Dishwashers
- Ranges
Some of these appliances work either with gas or with electricity.
As a future repair tech, you might have to specialize in a single appliance, regardless of what it uses to function.
The tuition for the online learning option is as follows:
- $1,365 for the whole suite
- Between $200 and $570 for a single type of appliance
The tuition for the in-person course includes housing, breakfast, and lunch, from Monday to Friday.
It is split as follows:
- $5,200 Diagnostic & Repair Foundations, with a duration of 3 weeks
- $2,000 Diagnostic & Repair Foundations – Refrigerators, lasting 1 week
Dyer Appliance Repair Academy
The big disadvantage of this training academy is its location, in Texas, thus students must travel to it.
There are no online classes to be offered, but Dyer has some discount agreements with a few places that offer lodging while you’re in town.
The classes last for 2 weeks, they take place during the day, from Monday to Friday.
A sealed systems diagnostics and repair course is offered for the weekend.
Future students are recommended to bring their laptops and tools, although this is not mandatory.
Some of the topics you’ll study are:
- Basic Electricity
- Lokring/R600
- Service Mode Diagnostics
- Multimeter Usage
- Reading Schematics
School Name | Address |
---|---|
Fred's Appliance Academy | online |
Dyer Appliance Repair Academy | 7469 Airport Fwy, Richland Hills, TX 76118 |
Earn your accredited, affordable Appliance Repair career diploma online with Penn Foster in as little as 2 months!
Obtaining the Appliance Repair Technician License in Alabama
Appliance repair techs can choose to be certified and licensed, or not have any such credential.
However, depending on the type of appliance you may want to fix, you should consider a certification.
The best one to obtain is the National Appliance Service Technician Certification (NASTeC).
The license is offered at the state level and the issuing body in this state is the Alabama Home Builders Licensing Board.
The Board issues 3 types of licenses:
- Appliance Technician License
- Appliance Installer License
- Home Appliance Repairman’s Certificate
Some requirements to become licensed are listed next:
- Legal resident of the USA
- Paying the license fee
- Meeting other prerequisites set by the Board
You may have to pass an exam as well.
The exam usually covers topics related to:
- Directly to the occupation
- The laws and regulations governing this occupation.
Licenses are renewed starting on October 1st, and the renewal period lasts for a month.
Individuals who need to renew their credentials must complete 6 hours of continuing education.
Continuing your education is not needed by those who renew their license for the first time.
These hours can be completed by the last day of the year of the renewal period.
Licenses have to be renewed every 2 years.
Appliance Repair Technician Salary in Alabama
Across the nation, the median salary for this occupation is $49,214 per year.
In Alabama, appliance repair techs earn about $45,213 per year.
The next table will show 10 cities across this state, with the highest median salaries.
Annual Salary Range:Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
---|---|
Spring Garden | $47,993 |
Woodville | $46,854 |
Vinemont | $46,669 |
Vandiver | $46,239 |
Woodland | $46,204 |
Wilsonville | $46,055 |
Abernant | $45,908 |
Tanner | $45,704 |
Sylvania | $45,228 |
Pisgah | $45,216 |
Regional Salary in Alabama
Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL | 310 | $37,560 | $18.06 | $52,380 | $22,950 |
Auburn-Opelika, AL | 640 | $40,340 | $19.39 | $62,790 | $22,280 |
Birmingham-Hoover, AL | 3,660 | $44,130 | $21.22 | $62,550 | $28,880 |
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | 1,060 | $38,870 | $18.69 | $50,610 | $27,350 |
Decatur, AL | 480 | $48,140 | $23.15 | $85,110 | $24,960 |
Dothan, AL | 410 | $37,390 | $17.98 | $55,810 | $22,360 |
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | 480 | $40,130 | $19.29 | $58,240 | $25,980 |
Gadsden, AL | 260 | $37,780 | $18.16 | $55,860 | $23,260 |
Huntsville, AL | 1,510 | $45,210 | $21.74 | $65,290 | $27,530 |
Mobile, AL | 1,240 | $40,300 | $19.38 | $58,790 | $24,600 |
Montgomery, AL | 1,330 | $38,870 | $18.69 | $57,000 | $23,710 |
Tuscaloosa, AL | 810 | $39,490 | $18.98 | $56,540 | $24,300 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a minimum age to apply for an appliance repair license in Alabama?
The short answer is “no.”
However, considering the other requirements of the job, you’ll notice that more often than not, you won’t be able to get licensed before the age of 18.
What skills do I need for an appliance repair tech job in Alabama?
All jobs require a set of skills, and many jobs will even have the same sets as others.
Here are the most important set of skills for an appliance repair tech:
- Very good interpersonal skills
- Detail-oriented
- Creative when it comes to solving problems
- Able to work with both hands
- Able to follow instructions
- Able to commute to the client’s location
- Good knowledge of electricity
- Able to work with a computer
What fees must I pay to be an appliance repair technician in Alabama?
Most of the fees are related to your education for the job and the ones related to becoming certified and/or licensed.
Here are some of the fees you might have to pay:
- License application fee: $25
- Exam fee: $70
- License renewal fee: $50
- Certificate replacement fee (if lost): $15
- Late renewal penalty fees (if applicable): $10
Read the full guide: How to Become an Appliance Repair Technician