How Do You Get an HVAC Apprenticeship in New York?
Registered apprenticeships in New York are run by employers and unions and combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. You apply to the employer or union that runs the program, not to a school. Among New York colleges, SUNY Delhi stands out: some plumbers' unions accept the plumbing portion of its HVAC degree as the first year of a five-year apprenticeship. Short programs such as the Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center in Copiague, which includes 30-hour OSHA training, can make you a stronger applicant.
An apprenticeship is the one way into HVAC where you get paid from the start instead of paying tuition first. For a career changer with rent to cover, that matters. But apprenticeships are competitive, they aren’t run by schools, and the path in is less obvious than signing up for a class.
This guide explains how registered apprenticeship works in New York, the one college program in this data that ties directly into an apprenticeship, and the schools that can help you get hired as an apprentice or train alongside one.
How a Registered Apprenticeship Works
A registered apprenticeship is a job with a training plan attached. You are hired by the program’s operator, usually a union training program or a contractor, and you learn in two ways at once:
- On-the-job training. You work under experienced mechanics, starting with simpler tasks and taking on more as you go. You are paid for this time, and pay usually steps up as you complete each stage.
- Related classroom instruction. You take classes, often in the evening or in blocks, covering theory, codes, electrical work and refrigeration.
“Registered” means the program is approved by the U.S. Department of Labor or a state apprenticeship agency. When you finish, you receive a nationally recognized credential. Programs usually run several years; SUNY Delhi’s example below is a five-year plumbing apprenticeship.
You can search for registered programs by trade and location on apprenticeship.gov. The HVAC apprenticeship guide covers the process in more detail, including what programs look for.
You Apply to an Employer or Union, Not a School
This is the part that trips people up. You can’t enroll in an apprenticeship the way you enroll in a college. Unions and contractors open applications on their own schedules, and the process often includes an aptitude test and an interview. Spots can be limited.
That is why some people take a short HVAC program first. It won’t replace the apprenticeship, but it can show an apprenticeship program that you are serious, give you safety credentials, and teach you enough to be useful on day one.
SUNY Delhi: A Degree That Can Count Toward an Apprenticeship
Among New York’s HVAC colleges in this data, SUNY College of Technology at Delhi is the one that ties its program directly to apprenticeship. Its two-year Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning AAS combines HVAC with plumbing, and some plumbers’ unions accept the plumbing portion as the first year of a five-year apprenticeship.
The degree covers refrigeration, electrical work, heating, air conditioning, plumbing, blueprint reading and troubleshooting. In-state tuition and fees were $8,772 for a full-time year in 2024-25, and the college conferred 21 HVAC awards in 2024-25.
This path suits you if you are drawn to both HVAC and plumbing, want a degree, and hope to join a union afterward. Ask any union you are considering whether it accepts the Delhi coursework before you plan around it. You can see other programs in the area on the Delhi page.
Programs That Make You a Stronger Apprentice Applicant
If you want an apprenticeship but have no trade experience, a short program with safety training and EPA 608 preparation can help. These New York programs stand out:
| School | City | Length | What it adds | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center | Copiague | 600 hours | 30-hour OSHA, fall prevention, Site Safety Training card hours | Day (about 20 weeks) or evening (about 27 weeks) |
| Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES | Liverpool | 715 hours | OSHA and EPA testing, a tool kit with meter and gauge manifold | Full-time adult program |
| Erie 1 BOCES | Cheektowaga | 300 hours | EPA 608 exam, required off-site internship | Day or evening section |
| Apex Technical School | Queens | 900 hours | EPA 608 preparation, commercial refrigeration | Full time or part time, new starts every few weeks |
Whole-program tuition and fees are $8,948 at OCM BOCES, $11,230 at the Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center and $18,379 at Apex Technical School.
The Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center on Long Island is the most apprenticeship-friendly on paper. Its 600 hours open with a 150-hour All Trades block covering 30-hour OSHA Outreach training for construction, 8-hour fall prevention and drug and alcohol awareness toward a Site Safety Training card.
Erie 1 BOCES in the Buffalo area includes a required off-site internship, which gives you real job-site time and a contact at a local employer. Students take the EPA 608 exam during the program. Day sections run January to April 2027 and evening sections February to June 2027.
OCM BOCES near Syracuse lists OSHA and EPA testing fees in the program, so you finish with both.
Training You Can Fit Around a Job
Many apprentices, and many people waiting for an apprenticeship to open, need training that fits around full-time work. These programs offer evening or weekend schedules:
- Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood offers its HVAC/R degree courses in day, evening and weekend formats. It also runs a free non-credit Heat Pump Inverter Technology course on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., which prepares students for ESCO Institute certification exams and can earn seven college credits.
- Career School of NY on Staten Island has a Monday-Thursday evening schedule from 3 to 10 p.m., about 12 months, for its 900-hour electrical and HVAC certificate.
- The Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center runs evening sessions Monday to Friday, 6 to 10:30 p.m., about 27 weeks.
- Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica offers a one-year HVAC certificate whose courses all apply toward its two-year AOS, so you can stop and restart without losing credit.
What the Job Pays Once You Are Trained
Apprentice pay scales are set by each program, so they vary. What you can check is where the finish line sits. In May 2025, BLS reported these annual wages for HVAC mechanics and installers in New York:
| Pay level | New York | New York-Newark-Jersey City area |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,560 | $50,690 |
| Median | $74,430 | $77,990 |
| 90th percentile | $100,680 | $108,780 |
The median hourly wage statewide was $35.78. Upstate metros pay less than the city: Syracuse had a median of $66,600, Rochester $63,570 and Buffalo $62,180. Whichever route you take, those are the numbers your training is working toward.
Apprenticeship or School First?
Both paths lead to the same job. The question is which one fits your life right now.
Go straight for an apprenticeship if you can handle a competitive application process, need to earn from day one, and are willing to wait for an opening.
Take a short program first if you have no trade background, want EPA 608 certification in hand, or want to start working for a contractor quickly. Then apply to apprenticeships with that training on your résumé.
Take a degree such as SUNY Delhi’s if you want a broader education and a possible head start with a plumbers’ union.
The apprenticeship vs trade school guide walks through the trade-offs in more depth. To compare prices, see how much HVAC school costs in New York, and for pay after you finish, see the New York HVAC technician salary guide. Every program is listed on the New York HVAC schools page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do HVAC Apprentices Get Paid in New York?
Yes. A registered apprenticeship is a paid job from the first day, with raises as you complete each stage. For context, the 10th percentile wage for HVAC mechanics and installers in New York was $48,560 in May 2025, and the median was $74,430.
Can a College Degree Count Toward an Apprenticeship?
Sometimes. SUNY Delhi says some plumbers' unions accept the plumbing portion of its Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning AAS as the first year of a five-year apprenticeship. Ask any apprenticeship program you apply to whether it gives credit for prior schooling.
Where Do I Find Registered HVAC Apprenticeships?
Search apprenticeship.gov, the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship site, which lists registered programs by location. Local union training centers and larger HVAC contractors run most of them.
Is There HVAC Training in New York With a Required Internship?
Yes. Erie 1 BOCES near Buffalo requires an off-site internship as part of its 300-hour HVAC Technician certificate, which also includes the EPA 608 exam.
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