How to Locate Accredited HVAC Schools?

Answer 1

Regardless of the economy, qualified heating and air conditioning technicians continue to find strong demand for their skills and expertise. The extensive base of installed furnaces and air conditioners will eventually fail, which ensures that the HVAC industry will continue to grow and prosper.

Educational Pathways

Although there are no formal educational requirements for employment in HVAC, the most challenging jobs that result in the highest levels of compensation demand considerable technical knowledge. HVAC professionals usually have a combination of on the job training, schooling and certification.

Many service technicians began their careers as non skilled field installers while working for an air conditioning company. This kind of experience provides hands on exposure to the various components in a heating and cooling system and a fundamental understanding of the operational aspects of a furnace and air conditioner.

Field training can be augmented with a formal HVAC education obtained from a vocational school or community college. The curriculum for an associate’s degree in HVAC refrigeration usually consists of two separate programs. The HVAC installation technician includes a basic introduction into areas such as setting connections, the proper method of cycling equipment, blower operations and understanding the refrigeration cycle. The more advanced HVAC service technician includes courses that cover areas such as how to identify and diagnose equipment failures, operating equipment through design applications and how to initiate appropriate repairs on malfunctioning equipment.

HVAC schools are sponsored through industry associations as well. Apprenticeship programs offered by the National Alliance of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors (NAPHCC) and the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) provide formal training and classroom education opportunities to promising HVAC students.

HVAC Certification

The combination of work experience and a formal HVAC education can give the service technician the skills and knowledge necessary to acquire certification. The North American Technician Excellence organization is the recognized authority in certification and testing in the HVAC industry.

NATE offers certification opportunities in core installation, core service and senior technician. A certification from NATE ensures both the employer and the consumer that the technician has the appropriate skill and training to successfully diagnose and repair malfunctioning heating and cooling equipment.