Pathway lookup
HVAC/R in Virginia
These pages summarize rules to help you plan. They are not legal advice. Before you place students at a work site or change a program, check with your state agency, your district's counsel and your insurance carrier.
In short
Virginia HVACR students can earn EPA 608 and start a registered apprenticeship at 16; DPOR tradesman licenses wait until 18, and rooftop work needs a DOLI-filed agreement.
State program: HVACR I 8503 (140 hrs), HVACR II 8504 (280 hrs, 2 credits); CIP not published by VDOE
What a high school can deliver
EPA 608 and NOCTI HVAC/R plus a registered apprenticeship start at 16; tradesman licenses wait until 18 plus experience.
Credentials students can earn
NOCTI HVAC/R (3064) and other course-page credentials (Board list: Confirm with the agency); EPA 608 (no age floor)
Age and hour requirements
DPOR HVAC tradesman licenses at 18: residential HVAC from 160 hours of training plus 2 years, down to 6 years with no training; master after more experience. EPA 608 has no age requirement.
Other agencies involved
None for the program. DPOR Board for Contractors licenses tradesmen after graduation; whether high school CTE counts as formal vocational training is open.
Who can teach it
Trade and Industrial endorsement (license or industry certification plus 2 years in last 5) via Technical Professional License after a Provisional License, or the three-year CTE license; no HVAC-specific rule found.
Child labor rules for work placements
No permit or hour limits at 16-17. Va. Code 40.1-100(A) bars roofing under 18 (rooftop units) without a work-training agreement filed with DOLI or registered apprenticeship. Federal HO 16, HO 8 and HO 14 need student-learner terms; HO 7 barred.
College credit after high school
No statewide agreement; local VCCS agreements and dual enrollment; CCRV is general education only.
Where to go next
HVAC/R in other states
Other pathways in Virginia
- Nurse Aide / Patient Care
- EMT
- Electrical
- Welding
- Construction and Carpentry
- Cybersecurity / Networking
- Programming / Computer Science
- Automotive
- Medical and Dental Assisting
- Cosmetology
- Agriculture
- Early Childhood Education
- Culinary and Hospitality
- Machining and Mechatronics
- Engineering and Drafting
- Firefighting
- Law, Public Safety and Corrections
- Business Management and Marketing
- Entrepreneurship
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