For anyone interested in a career that is rewarding, interesting, secure, and lets you use your skills to help others, the path of an HVAC service technician can offer all of that and more. But even so, the HVAC trade, like many skilled labor careers, sometimes meets its fair share of misconceptions.

Whether it’s because of preconceived notions, uninformed decision-making, or simply the fact that it may not be a job full of glitz and glam, these misconceptions can sometimes drive people who may find themselves to be a natural fit away.

If you are interested in a career in HVAC in the Houston area but are second-guessing yourself, let us help put your mind at ease. We are here to set the record straight and bust some myths on four common HVAC career misconceptions.

You need a background in the field to get started

Some people shy away from pursuing a career in HVAC because they feel they don’t have the background in skilled labor, working with their hands, or any prior knowledge HVAC. However, that is far from the actual case!

While having a background or basic understanding of HVAC certainly won’t hurt you, the training you’ll receive at The Training Center of Air Conditioning & Heating teaches students everything they need for an entry-level HVAC technician position. As long as you have the commitment and drive to work hard, you can succeed and become a certified HVAC tech even if you don’t have prior skills in the field.

It takes a long time to get certified

The kind of education you receive at a trade school is not as well understood as the format of your typical college. Therefore, lots of people assume trade schools follow the similar 4+ year requirement, which many don’t have the time or money to commit to.

In actuality, completing HVAC training and gaining your certification takes significantly shorter! Courses at The Training Center of Air Conditioning & Heating take just 14 weeks to complete, covering 16 subjects. With classes offered three times a year and the option for morning or evening classes Monday through Thursday, not only can you get certified in a short period of time, but you can do it on the schedule that works best for you.

HVAC is not a financially rewarding career

HVAC technicians, like many of those working in other skilled trades, sometimes face the perception that because of its hard work and labor requirements, it is a less than rewarding career financially. However, because of the unique skill the job requires and the ever-growing demand for skilled AC technicians in Texas, a career in HVAC is quite a rewarding career indeed.

CareerExplorer estimates the average HVAC technician in Texas can earn about $45k per year, with potential to earn anywhere up to $75k per year. The average is comparable to other similar skilled trades like plumbers and electricians. Clearly, anyone who thinks a career in a skilled trade like HVAC is not rewarding is quite mistaken.

There aren’t any opportunities for young HVAC techs

If you are interested in a career that offers variety, excitement, and a clear path to grow and succeed, look no further than a career in HVAC. There has never been a higher demand for skilled workers, especially in HVAC, than right now. And it is only going to go up from here!

Over the next decade, BLS is projecting that the aging majority of most skilled laborers are going to open up a large number of opportunities for young, up and coming laborers to enter an industry that is already facing a shortage of workers. That means there aren’t just opportunities to find technician jobs that will have high job security, but there are also opportunities to eventually grow beyond just being a technician by starting your own business or training the next wave of workers as an instructor.

Despite what perceptions may exist, a career in HVAC is one that is filled with the excitement of seeing new places, meeting new people, earning a competitive salary, utilizing an invaluable skill, and offering a service to folks that is genuinely valued and needed.

Interested in starting your HVAC career? HVAC professionals and service technicians, even entry-level ones, will rarely struggle to find work in the southern US and here in Texas. Learn more about the programs offered here at The Training Center of Air Conditioning & Heating and start your career path today!