What Does Fortis College-Columbia Offer HVAC Students?
Fortis College-Columbia in Columbia, South Carolina offers a certificate in HVAC through its Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC-R) program. Tuition and fees for 2024–25 were $14,777 for a full-time year (all students). The school awarded 72 HVAC credentials in 2024–25. It runs evening classes. Best for working adults who need evening classes.
Class Schedule and Certification Testing at Fortis College-Columbia
Schedule. Classes meet Monday through Thursday in a morning session (8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) or an evening session (6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.).
Testing. Students take a 60-hour EPA certification prep course, must take and pass the EPA certification exam, and are eligible to sit for the EPA Universal exam in their final quarter.
Fortis College-Columbia HVAC Tuition: $14,777 a Year
- Tuition and fees
- $14,777 all students, 2024–25
- Books and supplies
- $1,178 2024–25 estimate
- HVAC certificates awarded
- 72 2024–25
- Students enrolled
- 582 school-wide, Fall 2024
Tuition and fees are for a full-time year. Awards count HVAC credentials conferred. Graduation rate and enrollment cover the whole school. Source: NCES College Navigator.
The Fortis College-Columbia HVAC Certificate
| Award | Type | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Certificate | Certificate | 960 contact hours, 64 quarter credits (48 instructional weeks) |
As listed on Fortis College-Columbia's HVAC program page, reviewed September 26, 2026.
From Residential to Commercial Systems: What Fortis College-Columbia Teaches
The certificate runs 48 weeks in four-day-a-week morning or evening sessions and includes a course on water-based heating systems.
- EPA 608 refrigerant certification
- Refrigeration systemscommercial refrigeration, industrial refrigeration
- Electrical and wiringelectric heat
- Heating, furnaces and boilersgas heating, hydronics
- Air conditioning
- Heat pumps and geothermal
- Controls and building automationmotor controls
- Commercial and industrial systemscommercial refrigeration, industrial refrigeration
Where You'll Train: Fortis College in Columbia
- Fortis College in Columbia246 Stoneridge Drive, Suite 101, Columbia, SC 29210
Check start dates, admission steps and the current course list on Fortis College-Columbia's own site.
Visit fortis.eduWhat HVAC Technicians Earn Around Columbia
HVAC technicians in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $57,610 a year. Across South Carolina, the median HVAC technician wage is $56,610 a year, from $39,170 at the 10th percentile to $75,530 at the 90th, with 6,920 HVAC mechanics and installers employed. The national median is $61,010. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
5 More HVAC Schools Within 64 Miles of Columbia
- Midlands Technical College5 mi · $5,100/yr
- Central Carolina Technical College41 mi · $5,715/yr
- Aiken Technical College55 mi · $5,174/yr
- Piedmont Technical College61 mi · $4,775/yr
- York Technical College64 mi · $8,036/yr
Straight-line distance between campuses. All HVAC schools in South Carolina · HVAC schools in Columbia
Fortis College-Columbia HVAC FAQ
Does Fortis College-Columbia Have an HVAC Program?
Yes. Fortis College-Columbia offers a certificate in HVAC at Fortis College in Columbia. Training covers EPA 608 refrigerant certification, refrigeration systems, electrical and wiring, heating, furnaces and boilers, air conditioning.
How Much Does HVAC School Cost at Fortis College-Columbia?
Fortis College-Columbia's 2024–25 tuition and fees were $14,777 for a full-time year (all students), with books and supplies estimated at $1,178. HVAC students also buy hand tools and meters.
How Long Is the HVAC Program at Fortis College-Columbia?
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Certificate: 960 contact hours, 64 quarter credits (48 instructional weeks).
Does Fortis College-Columbia Offer Night or Weekend HVAC Classes?
Classes meet Monday through Thursday in a morning session (8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) or an evening session (6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.).
Can You Get EPA 608 Certified at Fortis College-Columbia?
EPA 608.
How Much Do HVAC Technicians Make in South Carolina?
The median HVAC technician wage in South Carolina is $56,610 a year, and the middle half earn between $46,560 and $62,990 (BLS, May 2025).
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