Veteran Trade Schools

VA-approved HVAC/R programs and apprenticeships

Quick answer

VA's GI Bill® Comparison Tool lists 1,767 HVAC training locations in 53 states and territories, with 2,434 approved programs. 834 of them offer apprenticeship or on-the-job training. What the GI Bill pays for HVAC school.

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Source: VA GI Bill Comparison Tool program data, retrieved October 23, 2026; school details from VA's Comparison Tool data file dated October 8, 2026. Caution flags are shown in VA's wording.

HVAC/R programs by state

States with at least 5 locations have their own page. Use the filter above for any state.

Counts for all 53 states and territories
StateLocationsWith school programsWith apprenticeship / OJT
Alabama29272
Alaska532
American Samoa110
Arizona27225
Arkansas21156
California806020
Colorado16115
Connecticut2188210
Delaware1266
Florida1037627
Georgia553421
Guam110
Hawaii312
Idaho35332
Illinois504010
Indiana452223
Iowa971087
Kansas18144
Kentucky301812
Louisiana31265
Maine1798
Maryland231013
Massachusetts281513
Michigan632439
Minnesota22148
Mississippi16151
Missouri26188
Montana15213
Nebraska633
Nevada871
New Hampshire716
New Jersey34277
New Mexico541
New York412813
North Carolina734627
North Dakota532
Ohio543717
Oklahoma362115
Oregon422
Pennsylvania543519
Puerto Rico20200
Rhode Island615
South Carolina231112
South Dakota13310
Tennessee423012
Texas1047826
Utah1275
Vermont312
Virginia522725
Washington221210
West Virginia13121
Wisconsin401129
Wyoming312

Common questions

How many HVAC programs are approved for the GI Bill?

As of October 23, 2026, VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool lists 2,434 approved programs at 1,767 locations in 53 states and territories. By type: 832 employers and apprenticeship sponsors, 671 public colleges and technical schools, 216 for-profit schools, 48 private nonprofit schools.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

Which states have the most GI Bill-approved HVAC locations?

By number of locations in VA's data: Connecticut (218), Texas (104), Florida (103), Iowa (97), California (80).

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

How much HVAC training approved for the GI Bill is on the job?

834 locations offer VA-approved apprenticeship or on-the-job training (47% of all locations), with 904 programs. The other locations offer school (non-college degree) programs only.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool] [VA: On-the-job training and apprenticeships]

What are HVAC programs usually called in VA's data?

The most common program titles are “Heating & Cooling Mechanic” (101), “HVAC Technician” (75), “HVAC” (66), “Warm Air Heating & Cooling Mechanic” (55), “HVAC Service Technician” (41). Titles are as the school or employer reported them to VA.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

Do any HVAC schools have VA caution flags?

Yes. 85 locations have at least one VA caution flag. We show each flag on its listing in VA's wording.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

Sources

  1. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “GI Bill Comparison Tool”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  2. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Non-college degree programs” (page last updated December 13, 2024). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  3. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “On-the-job training and apprenticeships” (page last updated February 4, 2025). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  4. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Post-9/11 GI Bill rates (Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027)” (page last updated October 13, 2026). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  5. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Licensing and certification tests and prep courses” (page last updated October 23, 2026). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  6. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Section 608 Technician Certification”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.