Finding the Right HVAC Training Program – Don’t Get Ripped Off!

• Getting Started in the HVAC Trade
• Qualities of a Good Trade School
• Finding an HVAC Training School
• Applying for an HVAC School
• HVAC School Costs & Financial Aid Resources
• Academic Training and Apprenticeship Program Sample Descriptions
• HVAC Accreditation and Certification Resources
• Industry Related Articles and Whitepapers

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Heating, Bureau of Labor Statistics, heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers projected percent change in employment is at 21 percent, nearly double the average growth rate for all occupations. Most workers in the HVAC field participate in postsecondary education.

Getting Started in the HVAC Trade

• Choosing a Career as an HVAC Technician : A FAQ about starting a career in HVAC.
• How to Become a Heating, Air Conditioning, or Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer : Bureau of Labor Statistics background on how to get started in HVAC and a list of apprenticeship programs.
• Summary Report for: 49-9021.01 – Heating and Air Conditioning Mechanics and Installers : A report that contains basic information related the HVAC trade, including statistics on amount of education and prepartion needed, wages and employment trends, and job openings.
• How to Become an Apprentice : Guidance from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries on choosing the apprenticeship path towards becoming an HVAC technician.
• What You Should Know About Getting Started in an HVAC Career : An overview of starting a career in HVAC.
• How Long Will I Have to Go to School to Get an HVAC Degree? : A description of the process in which to become an HVAC technician.
• Should You Become an HVAC Technician? : A quiz on one’s readiness to become an HVAC technician.
• What Are the Steps in Getting a HVAC License? : A step-by-step guide to obtaining an HVAC license.
• HVAC Building Training and Education Program Information : An outline of the differences between certification programs, associate’s degree programs, and Bachelor of Science degree in HVAC technology.  

Qualities of a Good Trade School

• Choosing a Vocational School : Assistance from the Federal Trade Commission on how to research and apply for trade school.
• How Do I Choose the Best HVAC Technician Training Program? : Suggestions on choosing a quality HVAC technician training program.
• RSI Publishes a White Paper on Choosing the Right HVAC School : Published by the Refrigeration School in Arizona, this document is intended to guide individuals on finding a quality HVAC school. 
• How Do I Choose the Best HVAC School? Guidance on choosing an HVAC school.
• Tips for Choosing Industrial, Technical & Trade Schools: Four considerations when selecting a trade school. 
• 5 Tips For Choosing the Best Vocational Technical School For You : A blog designed to help readers choose the right post-secondary school. 
• Choosing a Vocational School: An educational resource designed to assist with trade school selection.
• What to Look for When Choosing a Vocational School: A list of questions to consider when researching trade schools to attend. 
• Characteristics of Highly Effective Career and Technical Education Teaching and Learning in Kentucky Schools: Assistance from the state of Kentucky on helping define quality training programs.

 Finding an HVAC Training School

• Top-Ranked HVAC Tech Schools in the Nation: List of top-ranked HVAC schools by the Partnership for Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration, the National Center for Construction Education and HVAC Excellence.
• Partnership for Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation : A list (by state) of accredited HVAC educational organizations.
• Air Conditioning Technology: Adult Education Programs in HVAC Technology : Information regarding HVAC education and a list of popular schools for HVAC training.
• Top HVAC Training Programs: Online & Campus Schools : A searchable and customizable database of online and onsite HVAC training schools. Online HVAC Training Programs: Overview of HVAC online training programs.
• HVAC Training- For Lucrative careers in HVAC Industry: Information regarding components of HVAC education and a searchable database of schools.
• Career Training for HVAC careers : A searchable database of online and onsite training schools for HVAC careers. HVAC Online Trade Schools : A listing of online HVAC training schools.

Applying for an HVAC Training School

• How To Get Into A Trade School : Steps on how to prepare for trade school.
• What Are Some Requirements to Get Into a Trade School? : A description of requirements necessary to apply for trade school.
• How to Apply to a Vocational School: An eHow article on the ten steps to take for applying for vocational education.
• How to Fill Out a College Application : Tips for successfully filling out a post-secondary application.

HVAC School Costs & Financial Aid Resources

• Federal Student Aid: Information on how to apply for a federal government loan for school.
• Seek Out Scholarships for Vocational and Trade Students : A U.S. News and World Report blog by Scholarship America on how to apply for trade school scholarships.
• Trade School Scholarships : A list of eligibility requirements and types of trade school scholarships.
• How Financial Aid for Trade School Works : Guidance on the various financial assistance options available for trade school students.
• Trade School Student Loans: A guide to helping students pay for career training.
• The Rees Scholarship Foundation : A scholarship designed to recruit HVAC technicians who are enrolled in an institutionally accredited program.
• American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Scholarships and Grants: Potential scholarships and grants for students enrolled in an accredited program.
• Nexstar Legacy Foundation: A non-profit organization providing scholarships and grants to new students in the plumbing, HVAC, and electrical trades.

Academic Training and Apprenticeship Program Sample Descriptions

• Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating Technology: HV206C-Certificate Program : A sample HVAC certification program description from Lincoln Technical Institute.
• Air Conditioning and Refrigeration: Sample HVAC certification and associate degree program descriptions from Antelope Valley College.
• HVAC apprenticeships are overseen by the U.S. Department of Labor and corresponding State Apprenticeship Agencies .

The following are two examples of state HVAC apprentice programs:

• Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning: Oregon Apprenticeship Guide : The State of Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries guide to a two to five year apprenticeship in the HVAC trade.
• Wisconsin’s Environmental Systems Technician/HVAC Installation Technician Apprenticeship : The State of Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development guide to a five year HVAC apprenticeship.

In addition to state apprenticeships, programs are also offered through trade organizations and unions. The following are examples of this type of HVAC apprentice program:

• PHCC Apprenticeship Training : A guide to the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association apprenticeship program.
• ACCAWPA Apprenticeship Enrollment Information : The Air Conditioning Contractors of America Western Pennsylvania Chapter’s enrollment guide to the HVAC apprenticeship.
• HVACR Apprenticeship: The Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) set of textbooks for entry-level technicians.

HVAC Accreditation and Certification Resources

• Partnership for Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation (PAHRA): An accrediting organization that established industry standards through a partnership of HVACR educators and the corresponding industry.
• HVAC Excellence :  A non-profit organization designed to improve the education of HVAC technicians.
• Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET): Oversees accreditation of 3,367 programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology.
• Section 608 Technician Certification Programs : A list, maintained by the EPA, of HVAC technician certification programs.
• Overview of Issues on EPA Certification Test : The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) overview of content covered on each of the certification tests.
• RSES: EPA Section 608 Certification:Study materials and background information on the EPA certification tests.
• EPA Section 608 Certification Study Guide for Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technicians: An HVAC training company, American Trainco, study guide to the EPA certification tests.
• North American Technician Excellence (NATE): A non-profit certification organization for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration technicians.

Industry Related Articles and Whitepapers

• American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Public Policy Issue Brief: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education & Competitiveness : A position paper on the need to strengthen science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in order to have a future supply of trade technicians and engineers.
• Federal Affairs – ACCA: A listing of position statements by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America.
• Educating Our Future Workforce : An article from Contractor Magazine (Winter 2013) about recruiting and training skilled workers.
• Air conditioning in nearly 100 million U.S. homes: A report on the rise of home air conditioning use over the last thirty years.
• Creating Efficient HVAC Systems: Heating and Cooling Fundamentals for Commercial Buildings: A description by Duke Energy of the impact on a building’s energy use based upon HVAC equipment installed and efficiency rating.
• Setting New Standards for Ultra High Performance HVAC: A white paper on the confronting the challenges of maintaining the performance of HVAC systems through enterprise application approaches.
• Building America Expert Meeting Report: Transitioning Traditional HVAC Contractors to Whole
• House Performance Contractors: A report prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy highlighting the move towards endorsing whole house energy upgrades.
• Using Chemical Products in HVAC Systems: NADCA Provides Guidance: A position paper by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association on the pros and cons of using chemical cleaning compounds to remove contaminants and debris from interval HVAC systems.