How to Become an HVAC Technician in Michigan

Every home, school, hospital and grocery store in Michigan needs heat in the winter and cooling in the summer. That keeps HVAC technicians busy. Michigan expects HVAC jobs to grow 7% over the next decade, and you can get started through a one-year certificate, a paid apprenticeship or a job with a contractor. This guide covers the licenses, pay and training options.

What an HVAC technician does

HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Many techs also work on refrigeration, so you will see it written HVACR. Technicians install, maintain and repair furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, air conditioners, ductwork and refrigeration systems.

Some techs install new systems in homes or commercial buildings. Others run service calls, diagnosing a furnace that will not light or a walk-in cooler that is running warm. The job mixes hands-on work with electrical troubleshooting and customer service.

Michigan HVAC license and certification requirements

No separate state license for technicians

Michigan does not issue a separate state license for individual HVAC technicians. Instead, the Bureau of Construction Codes at the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) licenses mechanical contractors. LARA lists no journeyman, apprentice or technician license for mechanical work. Techs do the work as employees of a company that has a licensed mechanical contractor of record.

EPA Section 608 certification (federal)

If you connect gauges, add or remove refrigerant, or open a refrigerant system, federal law requires EPA Section 608 certification. Apprentices are exempt only while a certified tech closely supervises them. There are four types:

• Type I: small appliances
• Type II: high-pressure and very-high-pressure systems
• Type III: low-pressure systems
• Universal: all three types

The certification does not expire. Most HVAC programs prepare you for the test.

Mechanical contractor license (your own license)

Many techs go on to earn their own mechanical contractor license. It is the credential you need to run your own HVAC business in Michigan.

• Classifications: the license is split into work classifications, each with its own exam. Examples include HVAC equipment, ductwork, refrigeration, hydronic heating and cooling, limited and unlimited heating service, and limited and unlimited refrigeration and AC service.
• Experience: 3 years or 6,000 hours in each classification, backed by signed statements from the licensed contractors you worked for.
• School credit: a 2-year HVAC program can count for up to 1 year (2,000 hours) of that experience.
• Order: several classifications, such as ductwork and limited heating service, require the HVAC equipment classification first.
• Exams: given by PSI at five testing centers across the state, six days a week.
• Fees: up to $100 per classification exam. The license is $300 for a 3-year cycle that ends August 31. The initial license fee is waived for veterans.

Detroit has its own refrigeration and boiler licenses

The City of Detroit’s Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED) runs its own boiler and refrigeration license exams, with a written test followed by an oral exam. If you plan to work in Detroit, call BSEED at (313) 224-3184 to find out what your job requires. Other cities may have their own rules, so check with the local building department.

How much HVAC technicians make in Michigan

Michigan HVAC mechanics and installers earned a median of $60,850 a year in May 2025, almost the same as the national median. Ann Arbor stands out, paying about $14,000 more than the state median.

Area	Median annual pay	Median hourly pay
United States	$61,010	$29.33
Michigan	$60,850	$29.26
Detroit–Warren–Dearborn	$63,170	$30.37
Grand Rapids–Wyoming–Kentwood	$60,190	$28.94
Lansing–East Lansing	$60,440	$29.06
Ann Arbor	$75,000	$36.06

Source: O*NET OnLine, BLS OEWS May 2025

Experience matters. The top 10% of Michigan HVAC techs earn more than $95,000 a year.

Job outlook for HVAC technicians in Michigan

Michigan projects HVAC employment to grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, from 14,780 to 15,750 jobs, with about 1,360 openings each year. Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 11% growth from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average.

Training paths in Michigan

There is no single required route into HVAC in Michigan. Most people choose one of three paths: a union apprenticeship, a non-union apprenticeship or a college program. Some combine school with a job.

Union apprenticeships (United Association)

UA pipefitter and HVAC locals run paid apprenticeships, typically 5 years, that cover heating, cooling and refrigeration. Construction Careers Michigan lists locals by territory.

• Pipefitters Local 636 (Troy): Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, St. Clair, Huron and Sanilac counties. The last confirmed application window was December 9–23, 2024. The next window has not been announced. Applicants needed to be 18 with a diploma or GED and a driver’s license. Local 636 training.
• UA Local 190 (Ann Arbor): HVAC, heating and refrigeration work in Washtenaw and parts of Livingston and Lenawee. The last window was January 2–31, 2026, and the next has not been announced. Program listing.
• UA Local 370 (Fenton): Genesee, Shiawassee and Lapeer counties, with an HVACR track. Program listing.
• UA Local 85 (Saginaw): HVAC service training in the Saginaw Bay region. Call 989-799-5261.
• UA Local 111 (Escanaba): the Upper Peninsula. Its new training center, opened in May 2026, includes HVAC/R. News story.

See which Michigan apprenticeships are accepting applications right now: Michigan Apprenticeship Tracker

Non-union apprenticeships

ABC Southeast Michigan runs a 4-year HVAC apprenticeship through its Southeast Michigan Construction Academy. Classes meet two evenings a week in Madison Heights, Lapeer, Monroe or Adrian.

You can also get hired as a helper or apprentice by a licensed mechanical contractor, earn your EPA 608 and build the 3 years or 6,000 hours you need for your own contractor license.

College programs

These Michigan schools offer HVAC or HVACR programs (listed alphabetically):

• Delta College (University Center): HVAC/R Service Technology associate degree and certificates, with night, weekend and online options.
• Ferris State University (Big Rapids): HVACR Technology associate degree and a bachelor’s in HVACR Engineering Technology.
• Grand Rapids Community College: HVACR certificate (about 1 year) and associate degree.
• Kellogg Community College (Battle Creek): Industrial HVAC-R certificate or associate degree.
• Lansing Community College: Heat and Air Conditioning certificate and associate degree. The next start is January 11, 2027. Michigan Reconnect can help adults 25 and older with tuition.
• Oakland Community College (Auburn Hills): HVACR Technician associate degree (61 credits) and certificates.
• Washtenaw Community College: HVAC residential and commercial certificates.
• Wayne County Community College District: HVAC associate degree and a 3rd Class Refrigeration certificate tied to Detroit’s refrigeration license.

Step-by-step: how to become an HVAC technician in Michigan

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a license to be an HVAC tech in Michigan?

Michigan has no separate state license for individual HVAC technicians. Contractors are licensed, and techs work under a licensed mechanical contractor. You do need federal EPA 608 certification to handle refrigerants.

How do I get my own Michigan mechanical contractor license?

Get 3 years or 6,000 hours of experience in each classification, submit signed experience statements and pass a PSI exam for each classification. A 2-year HVAC program can count for up to 1 year.

How much does the mechanical contractor license cost?

The license is $300 for a 3-year cycle that ends August 31, plus up to $100 per classification exam. The initial license fee is waived for veterans.

Does Detroit require anything extra?

Yes. Detroit’s BSEED runs its own boiler and refrigeration license exams. Call (313) 224-3184 for details.

How much do HVAC techs make in Michigan?

The state median was $60,850 a year ($29.26 an hour) in May 2025. Ann Arbor led at $75,000.

Is HVAC growing in Michigan?

Yes. Jobs are projected to grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, with about 1,360 openings a year.

Where can I get a bachelor’s degree in HVAC in Michigan?

Ferris State University in Big Rapids offers a bachelor’s in HVACR Engineering Technology.

Sources

• Michigan LARA: Mechanical examination, licensing and registration
• Michigan LARA: Mechanical contractor application (BCC-11)
• Michigan LARA: Notice on 2021 PA 68 mechanical experience changes
• Michigan Legislature: MCL 339.5809
• Michigan Legislature: MCL 339.5813 (mechanical fees)
• U.S. EPA: Section 608 technician certification requirements
• City of Detroit BSEED: Contractor license application
• O*NET OnLine: HVAC wages in Michigan (BLS OEWS May 2025)
• O*NET OnLine: HVAC employment trends in Michigan
• BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: HVAC Mechanics and Installers
• Construction Careers Michigan: Plumbers and pipefitters
• ABC Michigan chapters and apprenticeships