As Wake County's population grows, so does the need for more qualified technicians to maintain the heating and cooling systems for residential homes and businesses. If you enjoy solving mechanical problems and have good communication skills, a career as an HVAC technician may be the perfect fit.

The median annual wage for HVAC technicians is $48,400 – or $23.37 per hour. HVAC technicians can be employed in a variety of places, from an HVAC repair company to a large corporation or educational institution with its own facility maintenance team. Some HVAC technicians start their own businesses or work as independent contractors.

Start your future today by registering for Facility Maintenance Fundamentals. The 160-hour course provides students with the principles of electricity, plumbing and HVAC. If you already have experience in the construction industry, you may be ready to enroll in the HVAC course right away.

Wake Tech also offers career pathways in Heating and Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Operation, Installation and Service.

In these pathways, you will learn the safety standards and protocols as you develop the skills required for entry-level employment as a technician with an HVAC company. On completion, you will be eligible to take the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Section 608 EPA Certification exam to earn certification.

You also could become an HVAC apprentice and start your career as a refrigeration technician, air conditioning technician or HVAC installer.

Financial assistance available

Don't have enough money to pay for a course? Right now, Wake Tech's Propel program offers scholarships that cover the cost of registration, fees, books, course-specific supplies and credentialing exams.

The Propel scholarship application is closed and will reopen October 1.