Hagler and Son
Belleville, IL
VA-approved
On-the-job training Employer / sponsor
- Heating and A/C Repair
VA-approved HVAC programs in Illinois
- Page last updated October 23, 2026
- VA data retrieved October 23, 2026 (Comparison Tool data version 1522)
Quick answer
HVAC training in Illinois is spread across 41 cities, with Chicago the largest at 4 locations.
VA's GI Bill® Comparison Tool lists 50 HVAC training locations in Illinois with 88 approved programs: 40 with school programs and 10 with apprenticeship or on-the-job training. 1 has a VA caution flag.
Before you enroll, open the VA profile to confirm the exact program, and ask the School Certifying Official to confirm your start date. [VA: Choosing a GI Bill approved school]
50 locations, by city
VA profile for Hagler and Son (opens VA Comparison Tool)
Spoon River College
Canton, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Cert HVAC R
GI Bill students (all programs): 18Accredited (regional)
Sheet Metal Workers Local 265 - Carol Stream
Carol Stream, IL
VA-approved
Apprenticeship Employer / sponsor
- Sheet Metal HVAC Technician
John A Logan College
Carterville, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Heating and Air Conditioning
GI Bill students (all programs): 133Accredited (regional)
Kaskaskia College
Centralia, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Advanced Heating Vent and AC
- Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning
GI Bill students (all programs): 87Accredited (regional)
Parkland College
Champaign, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- HVAC Technician
GI Bill students (all programs): 160Accredited (regional)
HVAC Technical Institute
Chicago, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Cert HVAC-R
GI Bill students (all programs): 16Accredited (national)
Kennedy-King College
Chicago, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Air Conditioning Refrigeration Advanced
- Air Conditioning-Commercial Refrigeratio
- Air Conditioning-Domestic Refrigeration
- Air Conditioning-Heating
GI Bill students (all programs): 92Accredited (regional)
Nestle-Solon
Chicago, IL
VA-approved
On-the-job training Employer / sponsor
- Refrigeration and Air Condition Mechanic
Tesla Training Center
Chicago, IL
VA-approved
School program For-profit
- HVACR Technician
Not accredited (accreditation is not required for VA approval of many trade programs)
Prairie State College
Chicago Heights, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning
GI Bill students (all programs): 90Accredited (regional)
Morton College
Cicero, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Heating Ventilation and AC Technician
GI Bill students (all programs): 34Accredited (regional)
Show all 50 locations
Mchenry County College
Crystal Lake, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Commercial Air Conditioning I
- Commercial Air Conditioning II
- Commercial Heating I
- Commercial Heating II
- Commerical Refrigeration
- Residential Air Conditioning
- +2 more
GI Bill students (all programs): 139Accredited (regional)
Danville Area Community College
Danville, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning
GI Bill students (all programs): 47Accredited (regional)
Richland Community College
Decatur, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
VA caution flag
- HVAC-Commercial
- HVAC-Residential
VA caution flag: School placed on Heightened Cash Monitoring. The Department of Education has placed this school on Heightened Cash Monitoring because of financial or federal compliance issues. Learn more about Heightened Cash Monitoring
GI Bill students (all programs): 32Accredited (regional)
Illinois Central College
East Peoria, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Commercial Refrigeration Technician
- HVAC Residential Installer
- HVAC Technician
GI Bill students (all programs): 189Accredited (regional)
Midwest Technical Institute-East Peoria
East Peoria, IL
VA-approved
School program For-profit
- HVAC-R Technician
GI Bill students (all programs): 27Accredited (national)
Elgin Community College
Elgin, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- HVAC Facilities Maintenance Technician
- Light Commercial HVAC Service Tech
- Refrigeration Service Technician
- Residential HVAC Service Technician
- Residential HVAC Systems
GI Bill students (all programs): 166Accredited (regional)
Associated Builders and Contractors INC
Elk Grove Village, IL
VA-approved
Apprenticeship Employer / sponsor
- HVAC Technician
College of Dupage
Glen Ellyn, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Cert Entry Level HVACR
GI Bill students (all programs): 432Accredited (regional)
College of Lake County
Grayslake, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Commercial Refrigeration Technician
- HVAC-R Installation Technician
- HVAC-R Service Technician
- Residential Air Conditioning Technician
- Residential Heating Technician
GI Bill students (all programs): 308Accredited (regional)
Joliet Junior College
Joliet, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Heating,ventilation,and Air Conditioning
GI Bill students (all programs): 182Accredited (regional)
Kankakee Community College
Kankakee, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Air Conditioning Refrige Energy Audit
- Air Conditioning Refrige General Tech
- Air Conditioning Refrige Heating Systems
- Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
- HVAC-R Service Advanced
GI Bill students (all programs): 44Accredited (regional)
Universal Technical Institute INC-Lisle
Lisle, IL
VA-approved
School program For-profit
- HVACR Technician
GI Bill students (all programs): 59Accredited (national)
Lake Land College
Mattoon, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Heating Venting Air Cond Refrigeration
GI Bill students (all programs): 88Accredited (regional)
Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park
Melrose Park, IL
VA-approved
School program For-profit
- Air Conditioning Refrigeration and Heat
GI Bill students (all programs): 76Accredited
Black Hawk College
Moline, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Air Conditioning Specialist
GI Bill students (all programs): 112Accredited (regional)
Midwest Technical Institute-Moline
Moline, IL
VA-approved
School program For-profit
- HVAC-R Technician
GI Bill students (all programs): 22Accredited (national)
Heartland Community College
Normal, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- HVAC-R Installer
GI Bill students (all programs): 121Accredited (regional)
Illinois Valley Community College
Oglesby, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Heating-Ventilation and Air Conditioning
GI Bill students (all programs): 56Accredited (regional)
Olney Central College
Olney, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Cert Industrial Maintenance HVAC I
GI Bill students (all programs): 20Accredited (regional)
Harper College
Palatine, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Air Conditioning Refrigeration Service
- Heating Services
- Refrigeration Service
- Residential Heating Air Conditioning Ref
GI Bill students (all programs): 182Accredited (regional)
Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Advanced Air Conditioning Technician
- Basic Air Conditioning Technician
- Heating and Air Conditioning
GI Bill students (all programs): 105Accredited (regional)
Holthaus Heating and Appliance
Pana, IL
VA-approved
On-the-job training Employer / sponsor
- HVAC Installer
Chicago Professional Center
Prospect Heights, IL
VA-approved
School program For-profit
- HVAC Tech Electrician Maintenance PLC
- HVAC Tech Electrician Maintenance Worker
- Residential and Commercial HVAC Tech
GI Bill students (all programs): 6Accredited
John Wood Community College
Quincy, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- HVAC and Refriger. Service Technician
GI Bill students (all programs): 54Accredited (regional)
Triton College
River Grove, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Cert HVAC Installation Assistant
- Cert HVAC Installation Technician
GI Bill students (all programs): 87Accredited (regional)
Illowa Sheet Metal Workers Local 91 JATC
Rock Island, IL
VA-approved
Apprenticeship Employer / sponsor
- HVAC Serviceman - Zone A
- HVAC Serviceman - Zone B
- HVAC Serviceman - Zone C
Plumbers and Pipefitters Jac of Rock Island County
Rock Island, IL
VA-approved
Apprenticeship Employer / sponsor
- HVAC Technician
Rockford Area Plumbers Pipefitters and Refrigeration Fitters JATC
Rockford, IL
VA-approved
On-the-job training Employer / sponsor
- Refrigeration Mechanic
Rockford Career College
Rockford, IL
VA-approved
School program Private
- Heating Ventilation AC and Refrigeration
GI Bill students (all programs): 38Accredited
River Cities Heating Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
Savanna, IL
VA-approved
On-the-job training Employer / sponsor
- HVAC Installer
South Suburban College
South Holland, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- HVACR Technician
GI Bill students (all programs): 47Accredited (regional)Student complaints in VA data: 1
Lincoln Land Community College
Springfield, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Heating Vent Air Conditioning Refrig
GI Bill students (all programs): 183Accredited (regional)
Midwest Technical Institute-Springfield
Springfield, IL
VA-approved
School program For-profit
- HVAC-R Technician
GI Bill students (all programs): 43Accredited (national)
Springfield Plumbers Pipefitters Local 137
Springfield, IL
VA-approved
Apprenticeship Employer / sponsor
- HVAC
Waubonsee Community College
Sugar Grove, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Heating Ventilation and Air Cond
GI Bill students (all programs): 150Accredited (regional)
Shawnee Community College
Ullin, IL
VA-approved
School program Public
- Basic Heating and Air Conditioning
GI Bill students (all programs): 28Accredited (regional)
West Chicago Professional Center
West Chicago, IL
VA-approved
School program For-profit
- Combined HVAC and Electrician Tech Trg P
- HVAC Technician
- Refrigeration Technician
GI Bill students (all programs): 4Not accredited (accreditation is not required for VA approval of many trade programs)
Eti School of Skilled Trades
Willowbrook, IL
VA-approved
School program For-profit
- HVAC-R
GI Bill students (all programs): 39Accredited (national)
Source: VA GI Bill Comparison Tool program data, retrieved October 23, 2026. School details come from VA's data file dated October 8, 2026. The list is sorted by city, then name. It isn't a ranking.
Common questions
How many GI Bill-approved HVAC programs are in Illinois?
VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool lists 88 approved programs at 50 locations in Illinois as of October 23, 2026. That's about 3% of the 1,767 HVAC locations in VA's data nationally. By type: 30 public colleges and technical schools, 10 employers and apprenticeship sponsors, 9 for-profit schools, 1 private nonprofit school.
Which cities in Illinois have HVAC programs?
By number of locations: Chicago (4), Springfield (3), East Peoria (2), Moline (2), Rock Island (2), Rockford (2) and 35 more cities.
Are there paid HVAC apprenticeships in Illinois that take the GI Bill?
Yes. 10 locations offer VA-approved on-the-job training in Illinois (12 programs); 5 of them are registered apprenticeships. With the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you're paid wages plus a monthly housing payment that steps down every six months.
[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool] [VA: On-the-job training and apprenticeships]
Do any HVAC schools in Illinois have VA caution flags?
Yes. 1 location has a VA caution flag. Each flag is shown on its listing in VA's wording. Read it before you enroll.
Other trades in Illinois
← All HVAC/R programs · Does the GI Bill cover HVAC school?
Sources
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “GI Bill Comparison Tool”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “GI Bill Comparison Tool data (ComparisonToolData.xlsx)”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Choosing a GI Bill approved school”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.