For Dallas–Fort Worth adults who can’t quit their job to go back to school.
Train for an HVAC career in about 10 weeks. Keep your paycheck while you do.
Coursework is 100% online and the hands-on practice happens in VR. Built by a 15-year HVAC instructor, it prepares you for EPA 608 Universal, OSHA 10 and NATE Ready-to-Work in about 10 hours a week. No experience needed.
See if you qualify
Takes 30 seconds. Next, you’ll pick a time to talk with an enrollment advisor.
They trained around work and family.
5.0 on Google from 5 reviews. Read them“I was able to work through the program on my own schedule, which was huge since I was still working full time. I earned my EPA 608 certification and feel prepared to start my career as an HVAC technician.”
“The program is fully online and self-paced, so I was able to work through it on my own schedule while still keeping up with work and family. The VR lessons made the training feel hands-on and kept me locked in instead of just staring at slides.”
“Elite Trade Institute was a huge help in getting my EPA Universal Certification. Their testing source was excellent, and Tyler Watkins guided me every step of the way.”
Most HVAC programs want a year of daytime classes. Most people can’t stop working for that.
So the plan gets pushed back, and another year goes by. ETI is built for people who need to keep their paycheck while they train: lessons on your lunch break, practice after the kids are asleep, and no days off work.
| Traditional DFW campus program* | Elite Trade Institute | |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Daytime classes on campus | On your phone or laptop, any time |
| Length | 9 to 12 months | About 10 weeks at ~10 hours a week |
| Keep your job | Hard to do | Yes |
| Hands-on practice | In-person lab, shared equipment | VR simulations with unlimited reps |
| Credential prep | Varies by program | EPA 608 Universal, OSHA 10, NATE Ready-to-Work, with exams included |
| Tuition | $25,935 to $33,771 | A fraction of that. Your advisor walks you through the exact cost. |
*Traditional programs include more in-person lab hours than ETI’s 100-clock-hour online program. Sources at the bottom of the page.
How online trade school works
- 1
Learn the theory online
Short lessons on your phone or laptop. Everything you’d sit through in a lecture hall, on your own time.
- 2
Practice in VR
Put a meter on a live circuit. Diagnose a compressor that won’t start. Troubleshoot a furnace that won’t fire. Repeat it until it’s second nature, on a headset or your computer.
- 3
Prepare for your credentials
EPA 608 Universal, the federal certification required to handle refrigerant, plus OSHA 10 and NATE Ready-to-Work. Exams are included.
Built by Dan Parker, an HVAC instructor with 15 years in the field.
Dan wrote the curriculum and hosts live office hours every week. When you get stuck on something in the course, he’s the one who answers.
“Dan Parker has been amazing and truly made a difference for me! … Dan took the time to help me improve my resume and, more importantly, helped me recognize and understand skills I already had but hadn’t even thought to include.”
DFW runs on air conditioning.
Dallas–Fort Worth logged 52 days at 100°F or hotter this year, and the metro permits more new homes than anywhere else in the country.
Pay and employment: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 and May 2024. ETI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.
Three ways to cover tuition
Pay in full
One payment, and you start the next Monday.
Monthly payment plan
A small down payment, then low monthly payments while you train and after.
WIOA funding
If you qualify, WIOA funding through your local Workforce Solutions office may cover your tuition. Talk to an enrollment advisor to see if you qualify.
Questions people ask first
Is it really 100% online?
Yes. Coursework and VR simulations run on your phone, laptop or a VR headset. You never have to come to a campus or take a day off work.
How long does it take?
The program is 100 clock hours. Most students finish in about 10 weeks, working roughly 10 hours a week.
Do I need any experience?
No. The program starts from the basics.
How much does it cost?
A fraction of a traditional DFW campus program. You can pay in full, use a monthly payment plan, or use WIOA funding if you qualify. Your advisor goes over the exact cost on the call.
Will I get a job when I finish?
No school can honestly promise that, and ETI cannot guarantee employment or salary. We offer placement assistance, and you’ll finish prepared for the credentials employers ask for.
When can I start?
New classes start every Monday.
