Iowa HVAC Training

A nearly 19 percent rise in HVAC employment over the next decade is expected. The Iowa Department of Workforce Development

The state of Iowa has fairly strict licensing requirements for HVAC-R technicians. There was a complete restructuring of the state’s HVAC-R mechanic, technician and contractor licensing system that took place in 2012, which put into place a streamlined, but well-defined, apprenticeship structure for state HVAC-R licensing.

The same legislative changes also revamped the contractor licensing scheme for HVAC contractors, making statewide changes which were implemented in 2014 and are being phased in over the following three years.

Although formal schooling in HVAC-R is not required as part of the Iowa licensing process, you might find it good preparation for the rigors of an apprenticeship program or entry-level employment, as well as a solid basis for acquiring other certifications, including the federally-mandated EPA Section 608 certificate or the voluntary NATE private industry certification that employers require for some positions.

There have historically been four mechanical specialty licenses that are of interest to HVAC-R mechanics and installers in Iowa for specific types of work…

• Hydronics – Covers all closed heating and cooling systems that circulate fluid, including boilers, pressure vessels, chilled water systems, steam piping
• Refrigeration – Covers refrigeration systems used for both food handling and comfort connected to natural gas, propane, and other gas lines
• Sheet Metal – Covers all sheet metal ductwork used in HVAC systems
• HVAC – Covers ducted systems and refrigeration that makes use of natural gas, propane or other gas lines

However, under the new PMSB rules, rather than carry multiple specialty licenses, HVAC professionals can opt for the Mechanical license, which covers everything included under the various specialty licenses. This makes the universal Mechanical license the sensible option for those whose job duties involve more than one of the above-named specializations.

There is also other more limited specialty category available outside the mechanical license area: The HVAC Technician Specialty License is appropriate for limited function service technicians and allows the holder to work only on appliances, from the location of the shut-off valve, which can be no more than three feet away from the appliance. This license covers most duties that residential service technicians would be called upon to perform. A NATE certification or other board-approved training program is required; a list of programs can be found here. No apprenticeship or exam is necessary, only a $50 license fee (pro-rated based on your application date).

Licenses for HVAC mechanics, specialty technicians and contractors now now fall under the Iowa Department of Public Health’s Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board (PMSB).

How to Become an HVAC Mechanic or Specialty Mechanic in Iowa: State Licensing Requirements and EPA Certification

A registered apprenticeship is the only route to obtaining a new HVAC-R Mechanical or Mechanical Specialty license in Iowa. Apprenticeship programs are typically offered through unions or industry trade groups.

To earn a journeyman-level HVAC-R Mechanical and Mechanical Specialty licenses in Iowa named above, you must:

EPA Certification Requirements

Completely separate from the state-level license requirements, most positions in the HVAC-R industry require an EPA Section 608 certification. This is named after Section 608 of the Clean Air Act, which mandates certain education and training minimums for anyone servicing, pressure-testing, or otherwise working with systems using controlled refrigerant gases such as Freon or ammonia that might escape.

There are four different categories of Section 608 certification:

Most HVAC trade school, community college, and apprenticeship programs include a component specifically designed to teach Section 608 requirements. In many cases, they also offer the certification test itself, so when you are finished with the program you will also be officially certified.

How to Become an HVAC Contractor in Iowa

At some point, you may decide that building your own HVAC-R business is a good idea. With complete control over your destiny, anyone with a little salesmanship and business sense can make a good living and enjoy the freedom of being an HVAC contractor.

You will have to have a master’s level license before becoming a contractor in Iowa.

Currently, contractor licensing is still in a transitional period for HVAC-R contractors. In addition to registering with and meeting the requirements of the Plumbing and Mechanical System Board, through June of 2017 contractors must also register with Iowa Workforce Development’s Division of Labor. Beginning in May 2017, and thereafter, the registration forms and processes will be combined and PMSB will provide a sole point of contact for contractors.

There is no testing or experience requirement to obtain a contractor’s license other than what is required to become a master technician. The license fee is $250.

You must, however, obtain and submit proof of:

It is possible to designate another person as the master technician to qualify for the PMSB license, who will be known as the Master of Record and must be an employee of the firm.

Some Iowa cities, such as Davenport, may have their own licensing requirements for HVAC contractors in addition to the state license requirement.

HVAC-R Job Prospects and Industry Growth in Iowa

Iowa’s Department of Workforce Development foresees a nearly 19 percent rise in HVAC employment over the next decade. Specialty trade contracting firms in technical areas like HVAC account for the largest percentage of construction companies in the state. This has helped create more job opportunities in the field of HVAC-R than is seen in most of the country.

With the recent licensing changes, Iowa HVAC companies are struggling to find qualified applicants. Newer, stricter licensing with higher requirements have left the lower end of the market light on qualified candidates, mirroring a general construction industry worker shortage. This spells opportunity for new Iowa trade workers as companies offer more incentives in their bid to compete for qualified workers from a smaller pool of candidates.

Iowa Workforce Development reported that HVAC technicians in the top 10% earned an average salary of $73,806 ($35.48 hourly) as of 2016. The median salary among HVAC technicians in Iowa was $47,813 ($22.99 hourly).

The salaries for HVAC technicians in Iowa are exceptionally high according to the US Department of Labor. The median salary among HVAC techs exceeded that nationally in six of the eight largest cities in Iowa as of 2015. In fact, the average salary for HVAC techs in the top 10% in Iowa City exceeded the national average for this category by more than $9,500.

Wages in Iowa’s construction industry increased dramatically in recent years according to a report on the construction industry by the state’s Workforce Development. Employees in construction boasted a 27.7% increase in wages between 2006 and 2014.

HVAC Technician Salaries in Iowa’s Largest Cities

The US Department of Labor provides the salaries of HVAC technicians throughout Iowa as of 2015. The ranges below show the median to top 10% yearly and hourly earnings in each of the state’s major cities.

*Salaries that exceed the national median or top 10%.

Iowa’s Strong Economy Benefits HVAC Technicians

Iowa Workforce Development predicted that the number of jobs for HVAC technicians in the state will increase by 18.9% between 2014 and 2024. The agency expects that 115 jobs will become available on average each year during this ten-year period.

Iowa had the 4^th highest concentration of jobs for HVAC technicians in the country in 2015 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition, the nonmetropolitan area of Southeast Iowa had the 3^rd highest number of jobs of any rural area in the country that year.

Iowa’s construction industry is hot as shown by an analysis of the Associated General Contractors of America. This organization reported that Iowa that the 2^nd highest increase in construction jobs over the year preceding November 2016.

The Des Moines Register reported that Iowa’s construction industry “saw gains year over year.” In fact, the construction industry added more 6,000 jobs in the year preceding March 2015. An indicator of the strong success of Iowa’s construction is that the number of people employed in this industry in 2015 was higher than before the recession.

Dave Swenson, an economist at Iowa State University, told the newspaper that the increases in employment in construction are buoyed by a number of major development projects around the state along with business expansions.

As of 2014, there were 9,413 construction locations in Iowa according to a report on the construction industry by Iowa Workforce Development. Examples of some of the major construction industry employers in Iowa that are likely to employ HVAC technicians are shown below: