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How to become an HVAC technician in Michigan
Michigan has no individual HVAC technician license. To start, you need EPA Section 608 certification to handle refrigerant, plus training from a community college program or an apprenticeship, and you work under a licensed mechanical contractor. HVAC techs earn a median of $29.26 an hour, with about 1,360 openings a year.
Last checked: October 2026. Pay is the Michigan median from the federal government (May 2025).
Quick facts: hvac technician in Michigan
| Median pay | $29.26 an hour ($60,850 a year) |
|---|---|
| Typical range | $23 to $37 an hour |
| Openings | About 1,360 a year, growing 6.6% through 2034 |
| Training | A community college certificate (often 1 year) or a 5-year union apprenticeship |
| Credentials | EPA 608 (federal, required to handle refrigerant). The state license is for contractors: 3 years or 6,000 hours in each work type plus an exam. |
Sources: BLS, Michigan wages (May 2025) · Michigan Hot 50 (MCDA) · MCDA projections 2024 to 2034 · EPA, Section 608 · LARA, mechanical licensing
Ways to get trained, cheap or free
In high school
Some career tech centers teach HVAC or building trades. CTE guide
Community college
Many Michigan community colleges offer HVAC certificates that prepare you for EPA 608. Free for many adults through Reconnect. Find a college
Union apprenticeship
UA pipefitters train HVAC service techs, free and paid. Detroit, Local 636 (5 years, tuition free) · Lansing, Local 333 (5 years, starts at 45% of journeyman pay) · Flint, Local 370. Ann Arbor's Local 190 isn't taking HVAC apprentices right now.
Short training for this job may qualify for Workforce Pell once Michigan approves specific programs, so ask the provider.
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Common questions
Do you need a license to be an HVAC technician in Michigan?
Not an individual one. Michigan licenses mechanical contractors, and technicians work under them. To handle refrigerant you need federal EPA Section 608 certification.
Source: U.S. EPA
How much do HVAC technicians make in Michigan?
The median is $29.26 an hour, about $60,850 a year. Most earn between $23 and $37 an hour.
Source: BLS, May 2025