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In Tennessee the demand for HVAC mechanics is on the rise, making this occupation one of the best to get into at the present time since it also gives the possibility of becoming your own boss.
Article Table of Contents
HVAC Contractor’s Job
To become an HVAC Contractor in Tennessee, you need the Mechanical HVAC/Refrigeration Contractor License.
This certification is especially needed if the work is done on systems of over $25,000, but you must obtain it before getting or bidding on such jobs.
An HVAC Contractor in Tennessee has 2 roles: that of a journeyman and of a business person.
Requirements:
- Know how to do load calculations
- Knowledge of safety measures
- Knowledge of fire prevention
Job Duties:
- Overseeing the project in its entirety
- Work-related to ventilation or ductwork
- Work in new construction or replacing existing ductwork.
- Installation, maintenance, replacing any heating or air conditioning unit, including appliances that have refrigeration or heating elements.
- Installation, maintenance, repairing of gas pipelines for furnaces or appliances
- Obtaining liability insurance for all projects they work on
The HVAC contractor is not allowed to perform electrical work in Tennessee, except if they also hold an electrician license.
The technicians employed by a contractor don’t have to hold a license, but their employers must have an HVAC certification.
Getting Licensed
You don’t have to attend a school in order to become licensed in the HVAC field, however, you can do so, if you want to, and you can check out the schools below for this purpose.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Fortis Institute | 3354 Perimeter Hill Drive, Suite 105 Nashville, Tennessee 37211 |
| Miller-Motte Technical College | 1515 Gallatin Pike North Madison, Tennessee 37115 |
| Northeast State Community College | 2425 Hwy 75 Blountville, Tennessee 37617 |
| Remington College | 2710 Nonconnah Blvd Memphis, Tennessee 38132 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Chattanooga | 1405 Madison St Shelbyville, Tennessee 37160 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Clarksville | 740 Hwy 46 S Dickson, Tennessee 37055 |
| Tennessee Technology Center at Crossville | 910 Miller Avenue Crossville, Tennessee 38555 |
| Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton | 426 Highway 91 Elizabethton, Tennessee 37643 |
| Tennessee Technology Center at Hartsville | 716 McMurry Blvd Hartsville, Tennessee 37074 |
| Tennessee Technology Center at Jackson | 2468 Technology Center Drive Jackson, Tennessee 38301 |
| Tennessee Technology Center at Knoxville | 1100 Liberty St Knoxville, Tennessee 37919 |
| Tennessee Technology Center at McKenzie | 16940 Highland Dr McKenzie, Tennessee 38201 |
| Tennessee Technology Center at Memphis | 550 Alabama Ave Memphis, Tennessee 38105 |
| Tennessee Technology Center at Morristown | 821 W Louise Ave Morristown, Tennessee 37813 |
| Tennessee Technology Center at Murfreesboro | 1303 Old Fort Pky Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37129 |
| Tennessee Technology Center at Nashville | 100 White Bridge Rd Nashville, Tennessee 37209 |
| Tennessee Technology Center at Newbern | 340 Washington St Newbern, Tennessee 38059 |
| Tennessee Technology Center at Pulaski | 1233 E College St Pulaski, Tennessee 38478 |
| Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville | 1405 Madison St Shelbyville, Tennessee 37160 |
| Tennessee Technology Center at Whiteville | 1685 Highway 64 Whiteville, Tennessee 38075 |
| Vatterott Career College | 2655 Dividend Drive Memphis, Tennessee 38132 |
| William Moore College of Technology | 1200 Poplar Ave Memphis, Tennessee 38104 |
You can try out the industry by joining an apprenticeship program and learning the trade from a journeyman.
However, at the end of the apprenticeship program, you’ll have to pass a test if you want to find employment with a contractor.
If you want to be a contractor yourself, you’ll also have to pass the Business and Law exam, on top of the trade exam.
Licenses are issued by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors.
Requirements:
- Fill out the application
- Pay the application fee of $250
- Provide a financial statement
- Proof of General Liability insurance
- Have Workers’ Compensation,
- Provide references,
- Prove you passed the exams
Some of the applicants might have to pass an interview as well.
If you obtained a license in a different state you’ll have to meet other requirements.
Tennessee has a reciprocity agreement only with the bordering states.
You have to renew your license every 2 years, and the Board will remind you some 3 months in advance.
It’s best to renew it at least 1 month before the deadline, and if you do miss the deadline you have 12 months to do so.
Examination
In Tennessee, the exams are administered by PSI Exams Online.
You can only take the exam after you provide information about your employer and your experience.
You’re also supposed to pay the non-refundable exam fees:
- Trade exam: $57
- Business and law: $57
It’s best to arrive at the testing site some half an hour ahead to allow the verification process to take place.
Being late means you can’t take the exam anymore and losing the money for the exam fee.
Remember the business and law test is an open-book and computerized exam that lasts for 140 minutes, you’ll be shown how to answer the 50 questions.
Topics:
- tax laws,
- contracts,
- risk management,
- environmental safety.
The trade exam is also open-book, and these are some of the topics:
- load calculations,
- heating and cooling principles,
- refrigerants
- electrical knowledge
- ducts,
- piping
EPA Requirements
The federal law requires everyone handling refrigerants to get a special certification.
There’s a special course that teaches everything there’s to know in order to pass the test.
The certification comes in Type I, Type II, Type III, and universal.
The first 3 are limited to specific types of equipment while the last one is valid for all of them.
This certification has no expiry date like others do.
Salary
In Tennessee, an HVAC technician earns on average $42,455 per year, but the range typically goes up to $48,106 per year for the top-paid.
These salaries are lower than the national ones.
The median salary in the United States is $46,731 per year, while the top-paid earns around $52,951 per year.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Memphis | $43,306 |
| Nashville | $43,336 |
| Knoxville | $43,203 |
| Chattanooga | $42,132 |
| Clarksville | $42,007 |
| Murfreesboro | $43,008 |
| Jackson | $42,979 |
| Johnson City | $40,671 |
| Franklin | $43,183 |
| Hendersonville | $43,270 |
Regional Salary in Tennessee
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 780 | $48,680 | $23.4 | $63,420 | $36,440 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | 970 | $44,980 | $21.63 | $53,810 | $37,490 |
| Cleveland, TN | 90 | $47,630 | $22.9 | $62,180 | $33,260 |
| Jackson, TN | 160 | $48,470 | $23.31 | $64,340 | $36,940 |
| Johnson City, TN | 190 | $44,940 | $21.6 | $61,820 | $35,790 |
| Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA | 300 | $48,670 | $23.4 | $64,100 | $36,450 |
| Knoxville, TN | 1,260 | $51,950 | $24.98 | $74,580 | $37,630 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 1,620 | $52,330 | $25.16 | $71,610 | $37,410 |
| Morristown, TN | 70 | $47,130 | $22.66 | $62,730 | $29,820 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 3,480 | $53,610 | $25.77 | $70,070 | $38,100 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Conclusion
HVAC technicians have a promising future and thus it makes sense to start your training as soon as possible.
Hopefully, this article gave you a little insight into the process of getting licensed in Tennessee.
Read the full guide: How to Become an HVAC Technician
HVAC Schools by City
HVAC Schools by State