HVAC Technician from Manitoba Considering Move to Alberta (Looking for Insight)

Hey everyone,

I’m an HVAC technician based out of Winnipeg and have been in the trade for coming up on three years now. I’m currently a Level 2, working fully on my own, with experience in both service and install. I’ve also had the chance to lead some larger install projects. I come from a mix of residential and commercial work, including RTUs, furnaces, AC, boilers, geothermal, and more recently a growing amount of heat pumps and mini splits.

I wanted to share a bit about what things are like here in Manitoba and ask a few questions about Alberta.

To be blunt, the apprenticeship system here with Apprenticeship Manitoba has been really frustrating. I’ve been trying to get back into school for over two years now. Intakes only open about twice a year, and they fill up almost instantly. For example, the intake opened this morning around 8:30, and within seconds everything was fully booked and now it is backed up until 2027.

Because of that, it’s been really hard to progress. I started at 21 dollars an hour as a Level 1, moved up to 25 dollars an hour after schooling, and worked my way up through experience and responsibility to around 31 dollars an hour. I’ve since moved to a new employer and am making 36 dollars an hour doing similar work. I enjoy the trade a lot, but at the end of the day getting my ticket is important to me, and it feels almost impossible to stay on track here without access to schooling.

I also know guys who are not even in yet, Level 0 or Level 1, who are already being told school intakes are booked years out. It feels like HVAC is getting pretty saturated here, similar to what happened with electrical. Work itself has not been hard for me to find, but progressing through the apprenticeship is a different story.

So I am curious about a few things in Alberta.

How is it progressing through an HVAC apprenticeship there?

Is it realistic to attend school once per year and stay on track?

Does anyone know if it is possible to transfer apprenticeship hours or levels from Manitoba to Alberta?

What is the demand like right now for HVAC techs?

I am seriously considering making the move if I cannot get into school here anytime soon. I tried again this morning and everything is already booked into mid 2027, and it is starting to look like I might not get in until 2028 which I do not want to wait for.

Would really appreciate any insight or advice from people working in Alberta. I’ve been to Calgary a few times and love your city and province, but I do know everyone and their dog has been considering moving there too, haha.

Thanks in advance for your input.