Trade Playbook

HVAC & Refrigeration

Compulsory trade, certification required

HVAC/R is heavily regulated: the refrigeration and A/C mechanic trades (313A/313D) are compulsory, gas work needs a TSSA ticket, and handling refrigerant requires an ODP card.

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Getting inBecome an HVAC technicianHow people actually enter this trade: sponsors, registration, hours, and school.Open Getting certifiedFinish your ticketAlready an apprentice? The Last Mile guide: closing out hours, booking the exam, exam day.Open Comparing optionsWhat HVAC technicians makePay by stage, the lanes that change the number, and the difference between a wage and a business rate.Open Going out on your ownStart a HVAC businessThe step-by-step from qualified tradesperson to incorporated, insured, bid-ready owner.Open Just lookingCommon questionsLicences, costs, timelines: the questions everyone asks, answered straight.Open

HVAC & Refrigeration at a glance

Licence to do the work
Required — 313A/313D C of Q (compulsory) + TSSA gas ticket + ODP card by scope
Path in
Apprenticeship — 313A about 5 years; 313D is the shorter residential stream
Regulated by
Skilled Trades Ontario + TSSA
Insurance baseline
$2M CGL — confirm gas and completed-operations coverage
Union route
UA Local 787

The licensing layer, explained

Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic (313A) and Residential A/C (313D) are compulsory trades. Gas-fired heating work requires a TSSA gas fitter certificate (G3/G2/G1). Anyone handling refrigerant needs an Ozone Depletion Prevention (ODP) card. Residential sheet metal/HVAC installers may hold 308R. To contract, you incorporate and carry the trade tickets your scope requires.

Certifications in this trade

Insurance to expect

HVAC combines gas (fire/CO exposure), refrigerant handling, and rooftop/equipment work. Carry $2M CGL minimum and confirm coverage for completed-operations and gas work.

Go to the source

The official pages that govern this trade. Bookmark these, they are the final word on requirements and fees.

Keep reading

313A Refrigeration & A/C313D Residential A/CIncorporationCRA RegistrationWSIB & ProvincialTrade LicensingInsuranceSafety ComplianceOperational SetupBid Readiness

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