Training for HVAC Technicians

Many high school classes help students prepare for careers as an HVAC technician. Shop and vocational schools teach students how to use hand tools, power tools and welding equipment which are all necessary requirements for being a technician. Classes in mechanical drawing and blueprint reading will also be helpful. There are also classes in electrical mechanices that teach students about motors and heating and air conditioning systems.

Technicians constantly work with measurements to install systems. They use math formulas to decide if systems will work well and to figure out the energy costs of running certain HVAC units. Courses in physics and chemistry are useful for these tasks. Classes in computers and computer software are helpful as many HVAC systems include computer diagnostics.

Touring the shop of a local HVAC company of the factories of equipment manufacturers is also helpful for a technician in training. Students should talk to HVAC contractors about their jobs and recommendations. There are also magazines for air conditioning, refrigeration and heating services are good places to find tips and helpful advice. Students should read these magazines to better understand the field.

Supervised Training for HVAC Technicians

People who have graduated from high school can work in assistant positions. An assistant is a person who learns on the job. Assistant technicians do simple tasks for experienced HVAC contractors and will get the opportunity to learn more difficult parts on the job as they work.

Many HVAC companies prefer hiring applicants who have training behond high school or technical school. Some people receive proper training through apprenticeships. An apprectice is someone who learns by working with a skilled person. Unions often sponsor apprenticeship programs. A union is a group that seeks better treatment and fiar pay for workers.

Many associations and technical and vocational schools also offer training programs in heating and air conditioning. Some programs last one year. Others take up for four years. Here, students learn about all the components of heating and cooling systems. They also learn how to install systems and find problems.

Getting Certification

Workers need to special licenses or certificates to get jobs as HVAC technicians. Some organizations offer certification. Certification is offical recognition of a person's abilities and skills. HVAC technicians who work with air conditioning systems must get special certification. The gases that air conditioning systems use to cool air can be dangerous. Technicians cannot let the gases escape into the air. They must be able to pump the gases into tanks correctly. HVAC technicians receive certifications when they pass each test for different levels. This post about HVAC technicians was posted by HVAC in Denver but is from Susan Clinton's book.

(Content from Susan Clinton's book: "Heating-and-air-conditioning Servicers")