Evansville board approves applicant’s out‑of‑state HVAC classroom hours; clarifies credit and hour requirements

The Evansville Apprenticeship/Licensing Board voted Oct. 26 to accept classroom hours an applicant earned at Olney Central College toward his HVAC apprenticeship pathway through Ivy Tech, while making clear the applicant must still complete the locally required on‑the‑job training hours to qualify for a journeyman license.

The decision came after applicant David Daniels told the board he had completed prior HVAC coursework and asked that those classroom hours be credited so he could focus on on‑the‑job training. Board members discussed which external programs the city pre‑approves, the difference between certificates and associate degrees, and how many training hours the city currently counts toward the journeyman requirement.

Why it matters: the board’s ruling affects how education completed at out‑of‑state or non‑preapproved schools counts toward Evansville licensing. The board emphasized that classroom credit and on‑the‑job hours are treated separately: classroom coursework may reduce required classroom time, but applicants still must meet the city’s on‑the‑job hour threshold before testing for the journeyman license.

Board context and decision

David Daniels, the applicant, told the board, “I just got my… you guys approved my application for the apprenticeship last month… but now I'm here to get my…