Heating and Cooling Certification and Certificate Programs
If you keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer, you most likely have a graduate of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technology certificate program to thank. Coursework takes about one year to complete and prepares graduates to pass their certification exams and gain work as HVAC technicians.
Certificate in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technicians are responsible for the installation, maintenance and repair of heating and cooling systems found in homes and businesses. Most students in an HVAC certificate program are seeking entry into the job field. Those looking to improve upon their job skills also enroll in these programs to stay abreast of the advances in the field, such as the technologies being used to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified design standards.
Educational Prerequisites
Heating and cooling certificate programs offered through a technical college or a university's continuing education department simply recommend that applicants have a bachelor's degree. Programs offered by community colleges, however, require applicants to have a high school diploma or GED. An additional entrance exam testing for reading, writing and math proficiency may also be required and is administered by the college.
Program Coursework
Coursework begins with general topics in safety and materials terminology. In upper-level courses, students learn how to maintain a building's comfort levels through the management of an air conditioner or furnace's electrical systems, compressors, heat pumps and thermostats. Courses for an HVAC certificate are hands-on and often supplemented by laboratory requirements. In some cases, students enroll in apprenticeship programs through the college or vocational school to gain experience while completing the following coursework at nights or on weekends:
- HVAC system measurements
- Electrical components
- Sheet metal construction
- Refrigeration
- Heating fuels
- Ductwork
Salary Information and Employment Outlook
HVAC mechanics and installers earned a median hourly pay of $19.08, as of May 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov). Employment in this field is expected to grow by 28% during the period of 2008-2018, due to the increasing number of homes and businesses that will need new systems installed. Existing models in older homes will also need to be repaired or replaced in the coming years with more energy efficient or environmentally friendly systems, reports the Bureau.
Continuing Education and Professional Certification Information
HVAC technicians who handle refrigerants must be certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Passing a written exam is necessary in order to be certified. There are three types of exams specific to the amount of refrigerant a technician will be certified to handle, and they range from small appliances (type I) to high- and low-pressure appliances (type II and III). These written examinations require technicians to demonstrate their knowledge of the proper handling techniques for using refrigerants.
Optional heating and cooling certification is available through trade organizations like the North American Technician Excellence, which offers 5-year certification to those who pass two written examinations. One of these is in general HVAC knowledge and the other specializes in either the installation or service of air conditioning, furnace and refrigeration or other heating and cooling systems.
A number of additional professional organizations offer similar certifications to technicians of all experience levels. These include the Air Conditioning Refrigeration Institute (ARI), Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) and Refrigeration Service Engineer Society (RSES).
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5 Popular Schools
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
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- Master
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 17 years of age or older
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 18 years of age or older
School locations:
- Online Learning
Distance Learning Programs
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Non-Degree
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- AS in Engineering Technology
- Career Diploma: HVAC Technician
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Masters degree applicants must have a Bachelors degree
- Doctorate degree applicants must have a Masters degree
School locations:
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
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Online and Classroom-Based Programs
- Master
Other Schools:
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School locations:
- Rhode Island (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at New England Institute of Technology include:
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- Non-Degree: Coursework
- Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
- Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering and Electronics
- Engineering - Architectural
- Environmental Engineering
- Heating, Venting, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration
- Mechanical Engineering
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School locations:
- Michigan (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Ferris State University include:
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- Graduate: First Professional Degree, Master
- Non-Degree: Certificate, Coursework
- Post Degree Certificate: Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
- Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Drafting and Design Engineering
- Electrical Engineering and Electronics
- Engineering - Architectural
- Environmental Engineering
- Energy Management Technologies
- Environmental Engineering Technologies
- Heating, Venting, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration
- Industrial Engineering
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Math
- Mechanical Engineering
- Plastics Engineering
- Surveying
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School locations:
- Michigan (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Northern Michigan University include:
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- Graduate: Master
- Non-Degree: Certificate, Coursework
- Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
- Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Drafting and Design Engineering
- Electrical Engineering and Electronics
- Environmental Engineering
- Heating, Venting, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration
- Water Quality and Treatment Technologies
- Industrial Engineering
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Math
- Mechanical Engineering
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School locations:
- Minnesota (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Dunwoody College of Technology include:
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- Non-Degree: Certificate, Coursework
- Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
- Engineering
- Drafting and Design Engineering
- Electrical Engineering and Electronics
- Environmental Engineering
- Heating, Venting, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration
- Industrial Engineering
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Materials Engineering
- Surveying
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School locations:
- Wisconsin (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Milwaukee Area Technical College include:
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- Non-Degree: Certificate, Coursework
- Undergraduate: Associate
- Engineering
- Biomedical and Medical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Drafting and Design Engineering
- Electrical Engineering and Electronics
- Engineering - Architectural
- Environmental Engineering
- Heating, Venting, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration
- Water Quality and Treatment Technologies
- Industrial Engineering
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Materials Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Plastics Engineering
