Best HVAC Schools in Oregon (2026)

Compare accredited HVAC Technician schools across Oregon below, then review pay, licensing steps, and training paths for the trade.

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Best HVAC Technician Schools in Oregon

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 10 schools within 106 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 10 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR 71.9 miles away BOC Score 73.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 70.4% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 16
  • Annual completions: 576
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $71,799 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Lower Columbia College

Longview, WA 45.0 miles away BOC Score 66.5
Tuition $4,626 - $16,169
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 24.2%
  • Programs offered: 50
  • Annual completions: 165
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $52,301 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

University of Portland

Portland, OR 4.6 miles away BOC Score 65.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 3
  • Annual completions: 39
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $80,459 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Portland State University

Portland, OR 0.5 miles away BOC Score 65.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Programs offered: 19
  • Annual completions: 684
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $62,060 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Clark College

Vancouver, WA 8.3 miles away BOC Score 63.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 37.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 36
  • Annual completions: 782
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $49,337 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Chemeketa Community College

Salem, OR 40.2 miles away BOC Score 49.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 21.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 50
  • Annual completions: 533
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $50,594 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Mt Hood Community College

Gresham, OR 13.7 miles away BOC Score 48.8
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 24.9% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 56
  • Annual completions: 627
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $52,184 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Portland Community College

Portland, OR 5.8 miles away BOC Score 46.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 70
  • Annual completions: 3526
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $55,238 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#9

Columbia Gorge Community College

The Dalles, OR 72.3 miles away BOC Score 42.2
Tuition $5,940 - $18,608
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 21.6%
  • Programs offered: 19
  • Annual completions: 100
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $53,750 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

Lane Community College

Eugene, OR 105.5 miles away BOC Score 38.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 20.4% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 57
  • Annual completions: 847
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $59,131 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Compare HVAC Technician Schools in Oregon

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the main population center in Oregon.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)TuitionMedian grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
166.5$4,626 - $16,169$52,30124%Yes*45 mi
263.1Contact school for pricing$49,33737%Yes*8 mi
349.9Contact school for pricing$50,59422%Yes*40 mi
448.8Contact school for pricing$52,18425%Yes*14 mi
546.0Contact school for pricing$55,238Not reportedYes*6 mi
642.2$5,940 - $18,608$53,75022%72 mi
738.9Contact school for pricing$59,13120%Yes*106 mi

Schools closest to the main population center in Oregon are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the main population center in Oregon is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Median Graduate Earnings at HVAC Technician Schools in Oregon
Median graduate earnings by school, Best HVAC Schools in Oregon (2026) (College Scorecard)Lane Community College $59131; Portland Community College $55238; Columbia Gorge Community College $53750; Lower Columbia College $52301; Mt Hood Community College $52184; Chemeketa Community College $50594.Lane Community College$59,131Portland Community College$55,238Columbia Gorge Community Col...$53,750Lower Columbia College$52,301Mt Hood Community College$52,184Chemeketa Community College$50,594
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard - median earnings of all graduates at each school (not a single program).
Median graduate earnings by school for schools serving Best HVAC Schools in Oregon (2026)
SchoolMedian graduate earnings
Lane Community College$59,131
Portland Community College$55,238
Columbia Gorge Community College$53,750
Lower Columbia College$52,301
Mt Hood Community College$52,184
Chemeketa Community College$50,594

HVAC Technician Pay and Job Outlook

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers annual wage by percentile: $40,050 at the 10th percentile, $61,010 median, $95,210 at the 90th. Source: U.S. BLS OEWS, May 2025 release.
What heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn across the pay scale
Projected job growth for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers: 425,200 jobs in 2024 to 459,700 in 2034, +8.1% change. Source: U.S. BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034.
Projected job growth for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
Top-paying states for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers - District of Columbia leads at $84,390. Source: U.S. BLS OEWS, May 2025 release.
Top-paying states for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

Oregon Quick Facts

MetricValueSource
State median annual wage$62,940BLS OEWS, May 2025
State employment3,980 workersBLS OEWS, May 2025
State location quotient0.77BLS OEWS, May 2025
State unemployment rate4.5%BLS LAUS (2024)
Federal Davis-Bacon prevailing wage$95.49/hr ($60.77 base + $34.72 fringe)DOL Wage and Hour Division, 2026

Top Cities for HVAC Training in Oregon

The cities below have the highest concentration of HVAC training programs and population centers within Oregon. Click through for school listings near each:

How to Become an HVAC Technician in Oregon

  1. Choose an accredited training path. Options include trade schools, community colleges, and registered apprenticeships.
  2. Complete classroom instruction in code, safety, and trade theory.
  3. Log on-the-job training hours under a licensed or experienced professional.
  4. Pass any required state or local exam. In Oregon, the relevant credential is the Conditional Audiology / Conditional Speech Language Pathology (CareerOneStop, 2025).
  5. Apply for licensure or certification, then maintain it through continuing education as required by the state.

HVAC Licensing in Oregon

The licenses below are reported by CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) for HVAC-related work in Oregon:

  • Conditional Audiology / Conditional Speech Language Pathology
  • Apprentice Plumber (Speciality), Solar Heating and Cooling System Installer
  • Tank, Heating Oil, Supervisor
  • Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Fitter’s License
  • Electrician, Limited Energy Technician Class B (LEB) Apprentice

License names and requirements are sourced from the CareerOneStop License Finder. Verify current rules with the issuing agency before applying.

Apprenticeship Programs in Oregon

In Oregon, registered apprenticeships are coordinated through the Oregon Apprenticeship and Training Division (CareerOneStop, U.S. Department of Labor). Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with related classroom instruction, typically over 3 to 5 years.

About HVAC Careers in Oregon

HVAC technicians install, maintain, and repair heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems.

In Oregon, the BLS reports a median annual wage of $62,940, about 3,980 workers in the occupation, a location quotient of 0.77 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Career outlook varies by region and specialization. Refer to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook for national projections and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for the latest state and metropolitan area data.

HVAC Technician Wages and Workforce in Oregon

In Oregon, HVAC Technician programs train for an occupation with a median wage of about $62,940 per year, and most earn between $46,990 and $94,520 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Oregon employs roughly 3,980 workers in this occupation, a workforce concentration of about 0.77 times the national average (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Trade-relevant schools serving Oregon include Chemeketa Community College, Mt Hood Community College, and Portland Community College. Compare tuition, program length, and graduation outcomes in the table above (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

HVAC Technician Training and Licensing in Oregon

Licensing for HVAC Technician varies by state and locality. Confirm current training, exam, and credential requirements with the appropriate Oregon licensing board before you enroll; many employers also look for recognized industry certifications.

Training paths typically range from certificate programs (6 to 12 months) and associate degrees (about 2 years) to registered apprenticeships (3 to 5 years) that combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction (TradeCareerPath program data).

Frequently Asked Questions

What does HVAC technician training in Oregon involve?

HVAC technician training in Oregon is offered through trade school certificate programs (typically 6 to 12 months), community college associate degree programs (about 2 years), and registered apprenticeships that combine paid on-the-job training with related classroom instruction over 3 to 5 years. Coursework generally covers safety, applicable codes and standards, hands-on lab work, and exam preparation for any required credential.

How much do HVAC technicians earn in Oregon?

According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), HVAC technicians in Oregon earned a median annual wage of approximately $62,940. Pay varies with experience, certification, and employer; the 10th to 90th percentile range was approximately $46,990 to $94,520 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

What is the Oregon license or certification process for HVAC technicians?

Licensing for HVAC technicians in Oregon is administered by State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Most candidates complete an approved training program or registered apprenticeship, log the required on-the-job hours, and pass a state exam. Confirm current hour totals, fees, and renewal terms directly with the licensing agency before enrolling. (Source: U.S. Department of Labor CareerOneStop license database.)


About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)