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Vermont State University proposes 12‑month HVAC apprenticeship; seeks $100,000 to start program
Summary
Vermont State University told the House General & Housing Committee it can stand up HVAC apprenticeship training (propane, oil heat, refrigeration) within a year, estimates roughly $100,000 to launch the training modules, and asked the committee for a clarified, itemized budget for the HVAC portion of an earlier proposal.
Vermont State University told the House General & Housing Committee on Feb. 20 that it can launch an HVAC apprenticeship pathway within a year and is requesting roughly $100,000 to stand up the HVAC modules.
"HVAC is heating, ventilation, and air conditioning," Sarah Truckel, vice president of business operations for Vermont State University, said in testimony. She described a 12‑month pathway combining roughly 2,000 hours of on‑the‑job training with classroom modules that lead to industry certifications.
Why it matters: The university framed HVAC apprenticeships as a workforce pipeline for residential, commercial and industrial HVAC work and as a complement to existing plumbing and electrical apprenticeships. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projection cited in testimony forecasts a 9% increase in HVAC jobs over 10 years and an average starting salary reported by the witness of about $56,000.
Program details: Truckel said the proposed modules include propane certification (152 instructional hours), the NORA Bronze basic oil‑heat technical training (about 80 hours), and the EPA 608 refrigeration certification. Estimated per‑module tuition/costs provided by the witness were $3,650 for propane, $1,500 for NORA Bronze oil heat training, and $1,500 for air conditioning/refrigeration (including the EPA 608 exam). Truckel said employers typically hire apprentices directly, sponsor the tuition, and provide on‑the‑job mentoring and supervision.
Budget and timeline: Committee members asked for a clear breakout of the proposal submitted earlier by the university's chancellor's office; Truckel said the HVAC portion of the proposal requires about $100,000 to be stood up within one year and that she would provide an itemized HVAC‑only breakdown to committee staff and legislative counsel (Cameron Wood).
Recruitment and partnerships: Truckel said Vermont State University will recruit apprentices through employer partnerships and technical centers (CTE) and through adult learner pipelines; she noted existing employer partners from plumbing and electrical apprenticeships have expressed interest in HVAC apprentices. The university said it plans marketing and an online landing page to support employer and student recruitment.
Next steps: Truckel agreed to provide the committee an HVAC‑only budget breakdown and to CC committee legislative counsel on the submission. Members said recruitment and publicity support from trade associations and technical centers could expand enrollment.
Ending: Committee members asked staff to collect the corrected HVAC budget and to consider the proposal during budget and workforce discussions in committee.
