HVAC schools near Providence offer hands-on diploma programs, college degrees and apprenticeship classes in Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts. You can compare published costs and schedules below, then check which refrigerant exam and state trade license fit your plans.
Short diploma optionMTTI: 900 hours, 30 weeks days or 75 weeks evenings
College optionNEIT HVAC associate degree: as few as 18 months
Refrigerant credentialEPA Section 608 requires an approved exam
RI refrigeration routeClass II: 4,000 work hours and 288 school hours
HVAC training near Providence: programs and costs
Compare full trade programs with apprenticeship instruction and focused HVAC classes before choosing a course. The check line names the provider-list entry or institutional accreditation statement checked October 27, 2026, and identifies school statements as such.
Catalog says classes begin four times yearly and includes on-site EPA 608 testing. Pawtucket campus states "Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)".
Apprenticeship classroom instruction, paired with required employment hours. The 2026-2027 cohort is underway. Ask about the next intake and EPA testing arrangements.
Prepares for EPA Universal testing. Day and evening classes are enrolling. School lists accreditation by "Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)".
Prepares for EPA Section 608 certification. The campus says this HVAC program does not yet have approval for VA education benefits. Lincoln lists its campus among those "accredited by ACCSC".
Campus directions list 2480 Post Road; the program page lists 2500 Post Road. Confirm the building with central admissions at the listed phone. Winter term begins January 11, 2027; confirm program entry. NEIT states it "is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education".
Covers EPA 608 exam preparation. School states it "is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education". Confirm which schooling hours meet your intended state's license requirements.
Includes an opportunity to take EPA Section 608 testing. School states it "is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)". Ask separately about Massachusetts commercial refrigeration licensing education credit.
Canton campus offers this degree. Includes EPA Universal certification and heat pump training. Massasoit states it "is accredited by NECHE, the New England Commission of Higher Education". Confirm the next first-semester sequence and current licensing education rules.
Includes EPA 608 preparation and testing. Other HVAC courses can add license education hours. Three Combo Program A starts February 9, 2027; $8,250 tuition plus $1,250 books/fees.
Recommended background: basic HVAC and electrical knowledge. This focused class covers controls, rather than a full entry program. School states: "BVT is fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)."
Southeastern's evening HVAC program teaches air conditioning theory, electrical circuits, equipment installation and service of heating and refrigeration systems.
Peterson teaches refrigeration fundamentals, copper joining and refrigerant recovery in Westwood, with separate courses for controls and heating systems.
Blackstone Valley's adult controls class focuses on wiring diagrams, meters, low-voltage circuits and diagnosing common heating and cooling control failures.
Rhode Island has separate refrigeration, pipefitting and contractor license categories under its mechanical trade rules. Decide where you plan to work, then ask the school which specific license its training supports.
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Compare lab hours and schedules
Check the full calendar before choosing HVAC classes. MTTI lists 900 hours in either a 30-week day or 75-week evening program; NETTTS lists 1,200 hours with day, evening and weekend schedules.
Rhode Island's Class II refrigeration route requires 4,000 on-the-job hours and 288 school hours through a registered apprenticeship. Class I requires 10,000 work hours and at least 144 school hours each year; ask DLT about any allowable school credit.
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Check Massachusetts requirements separately
The Massachusetts refrigeration application lists Universal CFC certification, approved education and documented apprentice employment. Commercial refrigeration has its own license requirements; confirm the education rules that apply on your examination application date.
HVAC employment and wages in the Providence metro
The BLS May 2025 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA estimates report 1,930 heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer jobs (SOC 49-9021). The median wage was $32.39 per hour and $67,380 annually. These figures describe workers across the metro, including parts of Massachusetts, at different experience levels.
BLS survey guidance explains that OEWS measures employment and wages, excluding self-employed workers. The job count is not a count of vacancies, and the median is not a starting wage offer. When you compare training costs, ask employers about apprentice pay, travel between service calls, on-call shifts and benefits.
Published HVAC tuition and funding routes
MTTI publishes $20,150 tuition, while NETTTS's 2026 catalog lists $24,945 tuition and $25,795 with its listed tools, books and registration charge. NEIT lists $18,540 annual HVAC tuition for 2026-2027. An annual rate is not a complete degree price. Request a written total for your actual schedule.
For funding, MTTI's aid page explains FAFSA applications for Pell and other eligible aid. Massasoit's Free College program has Massachusetts residency and other eligibility rules. Ask a Rhode Island DLT Career Center about WIOA eligibility before committing to tuition. Veterans can discuss benefits with MTTI's certifying officials; Lincoln's HVAC page says VA education benefits are not yet approved for that program. Local 51 also offers an employment-based apprenticeship; ask who pays school costs and when paid work starts.
Does EPA 608 certification give me an HVAC license?
EPA Section 608 certification covers refrigerant handling for the equipment types on your credential. It does not replace Rhode Island's trade licensing process. For example, the RI refrigeration rules set apprenticeship requirements for Class I and Class II licenses. You may need both credentials for your work. Ask about your intended tasks, employer and state before assuming that passing the EPA test completes your licensing steps.
What does Universal EPA certification cover?
EPA lists four certification categories: Type I for small appliances, Type II for high-pressure equipment, Type III for low-pressure equipment and Universal for all types. Universal certification requires a proctored core exam. Your credential does not expire. Ask the school which approved certifier administers its exam, whether testing is included and what you must do if you need to retake a section.
How long does HVAC training take near Providence?
The MTTI program page lists 30 weeks for full-time days and 75 weeks for part-time evenings. NEIT says its HVAC associate degree can take as few as 18 months. These are school completion periods. Any apprenticeship hours and state license examination requirements still need separate planning. Ask for the date of the final lab, the exam schedule and the earliest point you can seek supervised work.
Can I attend HVAC classes after work?
Several local programs publish evening schedules. Southeastern lists Monday through Thursday, 4:30-9:30 p.m. RICTA teaches two evenings each week, 6-9 p.m., during its September-April school year. RICTA provides apprenticeship instruction, so confirm the employment requirements as well as the next intake. Ask about attendance rules and lab makeups before you arrange work shifts or child care.
Is public HVAC training available for Massachusetts residents?
Massasoit Community College offers an HVAC associate degree at its Canton campus. Its Free College program may cover tuition and mandatory fees for eligible Massachusetts residents, subject to its full rules. Rhode Island residency alone does not establish eligibility. Review the requirements, complete the required aid application and ask which supplies, transportation and other expenses you would still need to cover.