HVAC training in Ontario: colleges, apprenticeships, and what each path actually costs

Introduction

There are three legitimate paths into the HVAC trade in Ontario, and they look more similar than the marketing makes them sound. All three end at the same place: a 313A Certificate of Qualification with G2 and ODP tickets attached. Time, cost, and admission requirements vary by a factor of 2x to 3x. The right path depends on where you are starting from and how fast you need to be earning.

Here is what each path actually looks like, at the colleges that matter most, with real tuition numbers and clear notes on what each program does and does not get you.

The three paths, at a glance

1. Path A: 1-year college certificate, then apprenticeship. Pre-employment programs (typically 8 months / 2 semesters) that prepare you for hiring as an apprentice. Bundles G3, G2 prep, and ODP into the curriculum. Examples: Mohawk 180, Conestoga Heating/Refrigeration/AC.
2. Path B: 2-year college diploma, then apprenticeship. Longer technician programs with more theory depth. Examples: Centennial College HRAC Technician (2 years).
3. Path C: direct apprenticeship. Skip college entirely. Get hired by a contractor as a helper, register as an apprentice once they sponsor you, and do all in-school as 8-week Level 1/2/3 blocks at a community college. Lowest up-front cost, slowest start.

All three routes converge on the same Certificate of Qualification exam administered by Skilled Trades Ontario [1].

Mohawk College, Hamilton (Path A)

Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Techniques (program 180) is a 1-year (8-month, 2-semester) Ontario College Certificate [2]. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on work. Students build, wire, and troubleshoot refrigeration and AC systems in the college’s lab. Mohawk also runs the full 313A apprenticeship (Levels 1, 2, 3) as 8-week blocks separately from the pre-apprenticeship program [3].

• Duration: about 8 months full-time
• Credential: Ontario College Certificate
• What it gets you: hireability as an apprentice. Many graduates have a sponsor lined up by graduation. Some graduates also receive an exemption from Level 1 in-school once they register as a 313A apprentice. Confirm with the college for the current year.

Centennial College, Toronto (Path B)

Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician is a 2-year, 4-semester program at Centennial’s Progress campus in Toronto. Tuition is approximately $5,442 for two semesters based on Fall 2025 admission [4]. Confirm the current rate, since post-secondary tuition is revised annually.

• Duration: 2 years full-time
• Credential: Ontario College Diploma
• What it gets you: deeper theory base than Path A. Better prep for commercial / institutional work later. Diploma graduates are often hired into bigger shops with faster progression to Level 2 / 3 apprenticeship.

Conestoga College, Kitchener-Waterloo (Path A)

Conestoga’s HRAC Technician program runs about $4,040 for two terms [5]. It prepares students for the TSSA G3 and G2 Gas Technician exams and grants an exemption from Level 1 of the 313A and 313D apprenticeship in-school training upon completion [5]. That exemption is the single most valuable line on the curriculum. It shaves 8 weeks off your apprenticeship timeline once you register.

• Duration: 2 terms (full-time)
• Tuition: about $4,040 (two terms)
• What it gets you: G3 prep, G2 prep, Level 1 313A/313D exemption, ODP card eligibility.

Conestoga also runs the standalone 313A apprenticeship in-school program for already-registered apprentices [6].

Other public-college options

Beyond the big three, several other Ontario colleges deliver the 313A apprenticeship in-school levels or pre-apprenticeship programs:

• Algonquin College (Ottawa): 313A apprenticeship in-school delivery. Strong fit for Ottawa-region apprentices who want to stay local.
• Fanshawe College (London): HRAC pre-apprenticeship and 313A in-school.
• George Brown College (Toronto): standalone TSSA G3 and G2 Gas Technician programs through Continuing Education [7][8]. Useful if you already work in HVAC and need to add the gas tickets fast.
• Humber College (Toronto): refrigeration and HVAC apprenticeship in-school.

Private trade schools: when they make sense

Private institutions like HiMark College, Skilled Trades College of Canada, and Stanford International College run accelerated HVAC certificates, ODP refrigerant courses, and 313A pre-exam prep. They are typically faster and more expensive per credit than a public college [9][10].

The honest case for a private school is one of three scenarios:

• You need a single ticket fast. For example, just the ODP, or just G3, to take a job offer.
• You missed the September public-college intake and do not want to wait 8 months. Many privates run rolling admissions.
• You are prepping for the 313A C of Q exam after banking your hours. HiMark’s 313A pre-exam course is the most cited option [11].

For a full apprenticeship pathway, public colleges are almost always the better value.

Just the gas tickets: TSSA G3 / G2 standalone

If you already work in the trades (electrical, plumbing, or building maintenance) and want to add the gas tech license without doing the full 313A, you can take standalone G3 and G2 programs at George Brown, Conestoga Continuing Ed, and others [7][8].

Important rule change effective January 1, 2026. G3 certificate holders who earned their G3 through the challenge process (not the standard college path) must now show 450 hours of documented G3 work experience on company letterhead before they can enroll in a G2 program [12]. Standard-path G3 holders are unaffected.

Time and cost, side-by-side

The trade-off matrix (rough, 2026 numbers, verify with each institution for the current cycle):

• Path A (1-year college): 8 months, about $4,000 to $6,000 tuition, then 3 to 5 years apprenticeship. You earn from year 1 of work. Faster hireability than Path C.
• Path B (2-year diploma): 2 years, about $10,000 to $13,000 tuition, then 3 to 5 years apprenticeship. Best for techs who want a commercial/institutional career.
• Path C (direct apprenticeship): $0 up-front tuition (apprenticeship in-school is heavily subsidized. EI covers you during blocks). You spend 3 to 6 months as a helper before sponsorship. Total time to C of Q is similar to Path A, but you start earning about $17 to $22 per hour from week one [13].

Which to pick

• If you can land an apprenticeship today: take it. Path C. Tuition-free, earnings start immediately, and the employer often sponsors your G3 and ODP courses anyway.
• If you cannot find a sponsor: Path A. One year at Mohawk, Conestoga, or Fanshawe gets you hireable and gets you the G3 and ODP. Roughly the same end-of-program outcome at meaningfully lower cost than Path B.
• If you are aiming at commercial or institutional: Path B (Centennial 2-year diploma). The extra theory matters once you are past straight residential service.
• If you are a working tech already and just need the gas tickets: standalone G3 / G2 at George Brown or Conestoga ConEd.

For contractors hiring out of these programs

The best contractor-side hiring funnel in Ontario is to build a relationship with one of these college programs in your region and offer Level 2/3 apprentice slots to their graduates. The pre-screening is already done. They hold a G3, ODP, and (in Conestoga’s case) a Level 1 exemption. Your training investment is on the job-specific workflow, not the fundamentals.

The faster you can put a fresh hire into productive intake and quoting work, the faster they pay for themselves. See our piece on the apprenticeship structure and why every HVAC quote should start with photos for the operating playbook.

Frequently asked questions

Which Ontario college has the best HVAC program?

The honest answer is that it depends on where you live and which path you want. Mohawk (Hamilton) and Conestoga (Kitchener-Waterloo) run 1-year pre-apprenticeship certificates that prepare you for hiring. Centennial (Toronto) runs a 2-year diploma with more theory depth. Algonquin (Ottawa), Fanshawe (London), Humber (Toronto), and George Brown (Toronto) all deliver the 313A in-school apprenticeship blocks for already-registered apprentices.

How much does HVAC training cost in Ontario?

A 1-year college certificate runs roughly $4,000 to $6,000 in tuition (Mohawk, Conestoga). A 2-year diploma is closer to $10,000 to $13,000 total (Centennial). Direct apprenticeship is essentially tuition-free. Apprenticeship in-school blocks are heavily subsidized and Employment Insurance covers wages during them. Verify current rates with each institution.

Is a college HVAC certificate required to become a tech in Ontario?

No. You can skip college entirely and register as an apprentice directly with a sponsor employer. College helps with finding that first sponsor and bundles the TSSA G3 and Ozone Depletion Prevention (ODP) certification into the curriculum, but it is not a legal requirement.

Can I do HVAC training online in Ontario?

Partially. Theory components (refrigerant handling for ODP, TSSA G3 prep, basic gas code) are available in online or hybrid formats from private trainers and college continuing education. The full 313A apprenticeship in-school requires in-person lab work that cannot be done remotely.

Does Conestoga's HVAC program exempt me from Level 1 apprenticeship in-school?

Yes. Completing Conestoga's full-time HRAC Technician program grants an exemption from Level 1 of both 313A and 313D apprenticeship in-school training, removing one 8-week block from your apprenticeship timeline once you register with Skilled Trades Ontario.

What's the difference between a 1-year HVAC certificate and a 2-year diploma?

The 1-year certificate (Mohawk, Conestoga) focuses on practical skills and getting you hireable as an apprentice. The 2-year diploma (Centennial) adds more theory, including system design, advanced controls, and commercial work. It is a stronger foundation for commercial or institutional careers later. Both paths still require apprenticeship hours after graduation to earn a 313A Certificate of Qualification.