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

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.