Relocating to New England

[shifferbrains]

I am retiring from my position of 27 years at a major Southern California University next year. I would like to work another 5 years after I retire from the university. I have worked in the HVAC industry for over 30 years. For a large portion of that time I have specialized in controls. My controls experience has been in both pneumatics and DDC. For the past 19 years I have been heavily into what is now called Siemens DDC Controls, both Apogee and Pre-Apogee.

I like to think of myself as an HVAC guy who does controls and a controls guy who does DDC.

I am thinking of relocating to the east coast in the Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York area. What kind of credentials will need to work in those states?

[psychometric]

I can tell you that you will need to be schooled, probably locally, and apprentice for 4 years, then welcome aboard. This is a very tough area to get going in. One of out techs here in CT spent $25K in 1997 for his HVAC schooling in Rhode Island, but the state of CT would not recognize it! He had to go back to school here. I told him to just move to RI! They don't even let us HVAC guys pull low voltage wire anymore. Seperate license. Sheetmetal licenses too. Ductwork for HAC systems covered with HVAC license, but special metal work, hoods, garage exhaust work etc, covered only by sheetmetal lic. I know only how CT is, but I think the rest of this area is the same. You may want to consider some of the southern states which are not as tough. Too many liberals in the N.E. Very big on Education I guess! I personally hold 3 licenses, $195 a year's worth.

[matt8085]

NH is not like that. Don't need a license for alot of stuff. You need one for oil burners, electrical, and plumbing. That's about it I think. The state passed a law not too long ago that goes into effect this January for a gas license. As of right now, the state doesn't even know what it will use for a test. There are rumors that they'll use NATE, but nothing set in stone yet. They don't even have an office set up yet. I don't even know if they've hired more inspectors yet either. So you don't need one for refrigeration, ductwork, low voltage wire, gas(yet).
You do need your EPA cert. for refrigerants.

[Green Mountain]

VT. I have EPA, gas, electric, oil, plumbers. That's about it. Oh yeah Mass. contractors for good measure.

[offthegrid]

If you have an out of state license RI lets you take their test and I believe MA does also. If you come from a state that doesn't require a license, RI lets you take the test after you give them evidence that you have worked in the industry 5+ years (letters from employers).

[sirhc]

Originally posted by shifferbrains
I am retiring from my position of 27 years at a major Southern California University next year. I would like to work another 5 years after I retire from the university. I have worked in the HVAC industry for over 30 years. For a large portion of that time I have specialized in controls. My controls experience has been in both pneumatics and DDC. For the past 19 years I have been heavily into what is now called Siemens DDC Controls, both Apogee and Pre-Apogee.

I like to think of myself as an HVAC guy who does controls and a controls guy who does DDC.

I am thinking of relocating to the east coast in the Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York area. What kind of credentials will need to work in those states?

Stay away from CT! You'll waste a portion of your life jumping through hoops. There was a seinfeld episode where they had just crossed The NY/CT border, and they mentioned "Connecticut, the state where the whites keep the whites down". This couldn't be closer to the truth.

[chr358]

Im formerly from Mass. I worked at Harvard Medical as a controls guy. No license needed. All Siemens and some Johnson. It was local 877. Its also the best contract 877 has. Excellent place to work!!!!! Would still be there if I had not moved to Fl.