Explore a Career in HVAC Technology

Apprentice talking to mentor

Want to help people and work with your hands?

Like the idea of installing and repairing appliances and cooling systems?

If so, HVAC could be the right field for you.

Imagine it was a really hot summer day, and you wanted to make your home colder (or it was a really cold day, and you wanted to make it warmer). If your air conditioner or heater stopped working, what would you do? If you didn’t know how to fix it yourself, you’d call someone who could, but what if you could figure it out all on your own? You’d be a HVAC technician (well, almost)! With Guilford Apprenticeship Partners (GAP), you can be.

As a GAP apprentice, you will:

Gain the hands-on skills you need

Get paid to go to school and train

Earn a college degree for free

Companies will pay you to work as an apprentice. Plus, you can earn a college degree for free, all while you’re still in high school — your fast track to a paycheck and a rewarding career.

Skills for Success as an HVAC Technician

If you’ve always been curious about how things work, enjoy fixing things, like helping people, and don’t like sitting at a desk, a career in HVAC could be the right fit for you. HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, and many HVAC specialists are also trained in plumbing.

Workers in this field often have the following traits in common. How many of these describe you?

Interests

  • Assembling
  • Repairing
  • Building
  • Technology
  • Troubleshooting
  • Electronics
  • Machines
  • System constructions

Skills

  • Technical ability
  • Problem-solving
  • Attention to detail
  • Mechanical ability
  • Resourcefulness
  • Physical stamina
  • Customer service
  • Time management
  • Hands-on work

School Subjects

  • Math 
  • Physics
  • STEM
  • English
  • Physical education
  • Electrical systems
  • Technical/shop class

Parents…

If this sounds like your child, discover how a GAP apprenticeship can prepare them for career success.

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The Future of HVAC Careers

Demand is great for skilled HVAC technicians, thanks to a retiring workforce and a lack of qualified workers to fill these roles. In fact, about 40,100 new openings for HVAC technicians are expected through 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

With the right training and experience, you could start your own HVAC business, or work in places like these:

  • Hotels
  • Schools
  • Businesses
  • Office Buildings
  • Shopping Malls
  • New Construction
  • Healthcare Facilities
  • Apartment Complexes
  • Home Repair Companies

What’s more, the head start you gain from a GAP apprenticeship could provide you with a higher-paying position sooner and help you build a more competitive income throughout your career. With experience, you could even become an apprentice mentor yourself — helping to train the next generation of workers.

Ready to jump-start your career?

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Potential Apprenticeship Providers and Employers

At Guilford Apprenticeship Partners, we work with top supply chain logistics companies in the Piedmont-Triad area to provide the best hands-on apprenticeship training. Learn from experienced workers who live in your community, gain valuable skills, and develop strong connections.

Once your GAP apprenticeship is complete, you could continue working with your apprenticeship provider as a regular full-time employee. After all, our apprenticeship partners are looking to invest in you — building their next generation of skilled, loyal workers.

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Jowat
Jowat SE with headquarters in Detmold is one of the leading suppliers of industrial adhesives. These are mainly used in woodworking and furniture manufacture, in the paper and packaging industry, for graphic arts, in the textile, automotive as well as in the electrical industry.

FAQs

Get answers to some of the common questions we hear from interested students just like you.

We provide apprenticeships for high school students throughout Guilford County, North Carolina, including Greensboro, Jamestown, Summerfield, Stokesdale, Oak Ridge, McLeansville, Pleasant Garden, Whitsett, and Sedalia.

No, students do not need to live in Guilford County, NC, or attend high school in Guilford County to qualify.

You can apply for our youth apprenticeship program starting your junior year of high school. If accepted, you start on-the-job training while you’re still in high school. You are paid for your work as an apprentice, and the cost of all of your tuition, books, and fees are covered as well.

You’ll earn a competitive hourly wage that increases as you progress through the program. Once you’ve completed the apprenticeship, you’ll have earned an associate’s degree from Guilford Technical Community College. If you’d like to continue on to earn a bachelor’s degree, your associate degree credits are eligible for transfer to most state 4-year universities.

Get info from a student or participating apprenticeship partner

On average, HVAC technicians in the U.S. earn nearly $27 an hour, according to job posting company Indeed, while plumbers average slightly more than that. Additionally, wages for overtime work account for about $6,750 each year. Keep in mind, pay rates will vary based on factors such as location and experience level.

See Where You Can Work an Apprentice

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