HVAC Technician vs HVAC Engineer Career Paths
| Update: May 16, 2025
As long as we continue experiencing drastic temperature and climate changes in our environment, there will be a need for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. However, not all HVAC systems work properly all the time, or when you need them the most. That’s why HVAC technicians and engineers are valuable. Most HVAC jobs require training from a vocational school to be able to break into this field, which is where UEI College can help.
If you want to become an HVAC technician, consider enrolling in UEI College’s HVAC Technician Program. The program can be completed in as little as 10 months.
What Is an HVAC Technician?
An HVAC technician is generally responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing air conditioning, heating, and sometimes refrigeration systems. To become a successful HVAC technician, one must be knowledgeable in equipment maintenance, troubleshooting, and quality control analysis, and comfortable controlling HVAC systems or equipment.
If you like solving practical, hands-on problems and following set procedures that lead to predictable outcomes, then becoming an HVAC technician may be the job for you.
Key Differences Between HVAC Technician vs. Engineer
What is the difference between being an HVAC technician vs. an engineer? Their jobs are similar, but they often work side-by-side rather than in competition with each other.
While an HVAC technician is trained to carry out specific tasks, an HVAC engineer develops the machinery, invents new technology, and designs new products. Generally, an HVAC engineer needs to have all of the skills that an HVAC technician does, but with more extensive knowledge of math, software systems, and physics.
An engineer's job usually requires more education and experience than a technician's. Becoming an HVAC technician is a good building block to working your way up to an engineer.
Career Training for HVAC Technicians
With classes offered day and night, UEI College’s Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Program gives you the training you need and provides knowledge in installation, maintenance, repair, troubleshooting, and the basic design of the most common HVAC systems. Students will learn from industry professionals and practice hands-on lab simulations to gain the experience needed for an entry-level position in the HVAC industry.
If you're ready to start with a technician role and possibly grow from there, this program is a great place to begin. Find a campus near you now.
