HVAC School in Wyoming | Training for HVAC Jobs in WY

Data shows positive growth projections for HVAC jobs going through at least 2022.Wyoming Department of Workforce Services

While at the state level Wyoming doesn’t license HVAC technicians, its largest cities do. Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie, and Gillette all have a similar licensing process that involves gaining years of experience and leveling up through the three licensing phases (apprentice, journeyman, master) by passing exams. Anyone working on the service or install side of the HVAC industry in these cities must be licensed.

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Federal EPA Section 608 Certification

Of course, your city-level license isn’t the only thing you need to think about. Anybody working with pressurized ammonia and Freon based ozone-depleting refrigerants still commonly found in older systems must hold the EPA’s Section 608 certification. This is a universal, federal requirement for HVAC techs and installers throughout the country so everybody in the industry holds this card.

There are four types of this certification that depend on what type of work you’ll be doing:

For servicing small, self-contained appliances containing five or fewer pounds or refrigerant

To earn any of these certifications you must pass the EPA exam specific to the certification type. Same-day education and certification programs are common. Check with your local HVAC college program, with your employer, or with the EPA to find out when and where the next nearest training is.

If you are working with motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC) systems you must complete a separate Section 609 EPA-approved technician training and certification program.

City-Level HVAC Licensing Requirements

Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie, and Gillette have a similar licensing framework for those working in the HVAC industry, which involves progressing through the three standard licensing phases common in the skilled trades:

Apprentice – allows you to work and gain on-the-job training under the direct supervision of a journeyman or master
Journeyman – allows you to work without direct supervision under the direction of a master
Master – allows you to manage projects and work independently; every contractor company must have at least one master

Getting an apprentice, journeyman, or master license is done by filing an application with each respective city. The official titles of the licenses vary somewhat between cities.

The apprentice level does not require any examinations or experience, and can be thought of as an entry-level position. Moving up to journeyman and then master requires gaining years of experience and passing an exam for each level. This required amount of experience can vary somewhat between cities.

If you are licensed in one city, you can generally gain an equivalent license in another city via reciprocity.

Each city accepts exams from the International Code Council (ICC). When you want to apply for the journeyman level and then master level, you’ll first have to pass the appropriate exam from the ICC. Exams are administered by the third-party testing company Pearson VUE, the company you’ll register with to take the exam at an approved testing location.

Cheyenne

Handled by the city’s Building Safety Department, there are two main types of HVACR licenses.

Before you are issued your license you’ll need to have liability insurance with coverage for $300k per occurrence and $600k total aggregate. All licenses must be renewed each year.

Class C-1 HVAC – Required to install or work on warm air HVAC systems:

HVAC Apprentice – No experience or testing requirements; fill out application.
HVAC Journeyman – To qualify for this license you must have four years of experience as an HVAC apprentice and pass the Wyoming Journeyman HVAC Exam #366.
HVAC Master – To qualify for this license you must have four years of experience as an HVAC apprentice, three years of experience as an HVAC journeyman, and pass the Wyoming Master HVAC Exam #359.

Class C-1 Refrigeration – Required to install or work on refrigeration equipment and systems:

Refrigeration Apprentice – No experience or testing requirements; fill out application.
Refrigeration Journeyman – To qualify for this license you must have EPA Section 608 certification, four years of experience as a refrigeration apprentice, and pass the Wyoming Refrigeration Journeyman Exam #849.
Refrigeration Master – To qualify for this license you must have EPA Section 608 certification, four years of experience as a refrigeration apprentice, three years of experience as a refrigeration journeyman, and pass the Wyoming Refrigeration Master Exam #848.

Limited Electrical – If you have an HVAC or refrigeration license and want to perform electrical work on the load side of the disconnect then you must get this license. It also comes with three different levels, starting with the Limited Electrical Apprentice Class C-3.

Before you can apply for this you must register with the state’s Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety to get a state limited electrical contractor registration card.

Casper

Casper’s Community Development Department is responsible for licensing HVAC techs. To work in this field you’ll need to apply for an individual mechanical contractor license.

Before you’re granted this license you’ll need liability insurance policies: $100k personal injury and $300k property damage.

Mechanical Apprentice – No experience or testing requirements.
Mechanical Journeyman – Must have four years of HVAC work experience and pass the Wyoming Journeyman HVAC Exam #366.
Mechanical Master – Must have five years of experience as a mechanical journeyman or nine years of total aggregate experience, and pass the Wyoming Master HVAC Exam #359.

Laramie

The city’s Code Administration Division is responsible for Laramie’s two types of HVACR licenses. These must be renewed every year. Before you receive your license you must have a liability insurance policy of $500k.

Laramie also has Certificates of Qualification that designate which level you’re at on the apprentice-journeyman-master spectrum. You’ll need to fill out both a certificate of qualification form and license application form when you apply with the city.

Mechanical License – Allows you to install and work on HVAC systems including cooling and refrigeration systems with low voltage, but not hydronic systems.

Mechanical Apprentice – No experience or testing requirements.
Mechanical Journeyman – Requires four years of related work experience as an apprentice and passing the Wyoming Journeyman HVAC Exam #366.
Mechanical Master – Requires three years of experience as a journeyman, four years experience as an apprentice, and passing the Wyoming Master HVAC Exam #359.

Refrigeration License – Allows you install and work on systems for freezers, coolers, mechanically refrigerated AC, controls, and low-voltage wiring.

Refrigeration Apprentice – No experience or testing requirements.
Refrigeration Journeyman – To qualify for this license you must have three years of experience as an apprentice and pass the Wyoming Refrigeration Journeyman Exam #849.
Refrigeration Master – To qualify for this license you must have two years of experience as journeyman, three years of experience as an apprentice, and pass the Wyoming Refrigeration Master Exam #848.

Gillette

Gillette’s Building Inspection Division is responsible for issuing the city’s two types of HVACR licenses. These are renewed yearly and require liability insurance of $300k per occurrence, $600k total aggregate, and a $5k surety bond filed with the city:

HVAC Technician – Allows you to install and work on HVAC systems including refrigeration, except for gas piping:

Apprentice – Must register with the city within 30 days of employment.
Journeyman – Must have four years of approved work experience and pass the Wyoming Journeyman HVAC Exam #366.
Master – Must have five years of approved work experience and pass the Wyoming Master HVAC Exam #359.

Refrigeration Technician – Allows you to install and work on refrigeration, cooling, freezer, and AC systems:

Apprentice – Must register with the city within 30 days of employment.
Journeyman – Must have four years of approved work experience and pass the Wyoming Refrigeration Journeyman Exam #849.
Master – Must have five years of approved work experience and pass the Wyoming Refrigeration Master Exam #848.

Before you can apply for any refrigeration license you must get the ESCO Basic Refrigeration and Charging Procedures Certificate by passing an online test.

It’s an Exciting Time for the HVAC Industry in Wyoming

Technological developments combined with increasing climate extremes and a growing environmental awareness make Wyoming an exciting place to be right now if you’re an HVAC technician. This field is booming, and it’s only going to get better going forward.

Technician is checking air conditioners

Data from the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services backs this up, showing positive growth projections for HVAC jobs going through at least 2022.

By 2013 Wyoming utilities were already making huge investments in supporting HVAC system retrofits for energy efficiency. Back then they put up $6 million to promote this goal.

Since then support for energy efficiency has only grown. With the highest industrial electricity costs of all states in the mountain region, Wyoming benefits financially as well as environmentally from energy savings.

This helps to understand why the Wyoming State Energy Office is also doing its part to underwrite improvements that stimulate the HVAC industry. In 2017 it was offering to pay small businesses throughout the state 75 percent of the costs incurred from installing energy efficient retrofits. It took this program a step further to encourage local governments to upgrade their old HVAC systems by offering to cover up to 90 percent of the costs.

Altogether the state budgeted $235,000 for these two projects combined.

Not to be outdone, Rocky Mountain Power is one of the private-sector companies that’s offering incentives of its own. Commercial and residential customers can take advantage of hundreds of dollars in rebates to install more efficient heat pumps and water heaters.

HVAC in Wyoming isn’t just getting a government stimulus; it’s getting one from the private sector too.

HVAC TECHNICIAN SALARIES IN Wyoming

In Wyoming, the top 10% of HVAC technicians make an average annual salary of $68,480, or $32.92 an hour. The median annual salary for HVAC technicians in the state is $44,860, or $21.57 an hour (US Department of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, 2015).

Wyoming HVAC Technician Salary (median)

$44,860

Wyoming HVAC Technician Salary (top 10%)

$68,480

In Casper and Cheyenne, the recorded salaries were higher than the national median for HVAC technicians.

HVAC Technician Salaries in Wyoming’s Largest Cities

The data below, sourced from the US Department of Labor, represents the median to top 10% of earnings in both average annual wages and hourly figures. Data is included for five of Wyoming’s largest cities.

Casper
- Annual: $51,500* – $73,920*
- Hourly: $24.76* – $35.54*
Cheyenne
- Annual: $49,270* – $61,770
- Hourly: $23.69* – $29.70
Rock Springs
- Annual: $44,030 – $54,450
- Hourly: $21.17 – $26.18
Sheridan
- Annual: $40,180 – $74,560
- Hourly: $19.32 – $35.85
Riverton
- Annual: $37,910 – $60,270
- Hourly: $18.23 – $28.97

*Salaries that are higher than the national median or top 10%.

The Job Market for HVAC Technicians in Wyoming

From 2012-2024, the HVAC job market in Wisconsin is projected to rise by 5.6%. This change is expected to add at least 30 jobs, with an average number of 10 jobs added per year (Wyoming Labor Market Information).

Though the HVAC market is growing slowly, Wyoming is an ideal location for HVAC technicians who desire to work as independent contractors. Wyoming was ranked number one on a 2016 list of the “Best and Worst States to Start a Business” by Business Insider.

Wyoming ranked in first place because of its business tax climate—there is no corporate income tax, individual income tax, or gross receipts tax in the state, according to the article. In addition, Wyoming has a “great record of business survival.” With such a friendly climate for individual contractors, HVAC technicians are likely to succeed in the state.