How to Become an Industrial Electrical Technician: Frequently Asked Questions
Interested in an electrical career path? There’s more than one way to work in the industry. Altierus Career College provides training for two types of ...
Interested in an electrical career path? There’s more than one way to work in the industry. Altierus Career College provides training for two types of ...
Posted Thursday, Apr 22, 2021 by Altierus
Looking at heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) schools? Training to become an HVAC technician offers you the opportunity to learn and apply many different concepts from science, mechanics and more—all to help people and businesses keep air comfortable and healthy. Finding the right HVAC school matters.
At Altierus Career College, you can complete our HVAC technician diploma program in as few as nine months of study. Or, you can complete additional training in refrigeration by studying for an additional three months.
Our programs are HVAC Excellence-accredited by the Esco Group, an independent third-party organization that verifies whether HVAC school program prepares students to meet HVACR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration) industry professional standards. Graduates of our program will pursue the following certifications:
This page answers some frequently asked questions about becoming an HVAC technician, what to look for in an HVAC school, and more.
HVAC technicians install, inspect and maintain heating and cooling systems in buildings. They work to keep HVAC systems operating safely and efficiently.
Specifically, HVAC technicians may:
HVAC technicians work in a wide range of settings because every building needs an HVACR system. Work sites for HVAC technicians include factories, homes, schools, hospitals, construction sites, and much more. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the most common employers for HVACR technicians in May 2019 were:
As with other skilled trades, there is a definite gender imbalance in HVACR. BLS labor force statistics for 2020 indicate that only 1.5% of people working in the field were women.[2]
However, industry efforts to address this issue are growing. For example, Altierus Career College partners with Women in HVACR, a non-profit organization that aims to increase the number of women HVAC technicians through education, mentorship and networking opportunities.
To apply to our HVAC technician program, you need to be a high school graduate or hold a GED. There are no specific electives required. However, it’s worth mentioning that HVACR is a hands-on, physical job which can involve constant activity. You should have fine motor skills, be capable of crawling or climbing into tight places, and be able to lift or move moderate amounts of weight.
You can train to become an HVAC technician in a year or less. Our HVAC diploma program lasts nine months—or 12 months if you are pursuing HVACR training. This includes online coursework, in-person labs, and certification exam prep. Learn more in our article “How Do I Become an HVAC Technician?”
HVACR systems have become so complex that most employers prefer to hire candidates with specific post-secondary education. This ensures they are hiring technicians who have a rounded understanding of different HVACR systems as well as crucial safety and environmental practices—understanding which is unlikely to be developed through on-the-job training alone. In addition, many states and localities are increasing regulation of HVACR workers through licensing programs.
For you, one of the many advantages of going to HVAC school is that you are able to learn and practice skills in a lab environment rather than on a job site. In addition, you will receive support preparing for certification exams instead of having to study by yourself.
Yes. There are several HVAC certifications related to safe handling of refrigerants, and one related to general workplace safety.
The U.S. EPA regulates a number of toxic refrigerant chemicals under Sections 608 and 609 of the Clean Air Act. These refrigerants can cause harm to people and the environment if not handled properly. At Altierus Career College, we prepare students for EPA 608 Universal Certification, which applies to HVACR systems in buildings. (EPA 609 Certification applies to motor vehicle HVACR systems.)
The Esco Group provides certification for safe handling of some pressurized-gas refrigerants. We prepare our HVACR students for the Esco Group Universal R410A Safety and Training certification, which certifies them to handle one of the most common pressurized refrigerants.
In addition, we prepare our students for a basic occupational safety certification offered by the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). We want our students to be familiar with practices and principles that can keep them and the people they work around safe.
As a certified technician, you can stand out more in the job market. Altierus Career College provides specific test prep during our HVAC program and also covers test fees for exams in tuition costs.
You can learn more about the importance of certification for HVACR technicians in our article, “Why Does HVAC Certification Matter?”
Nationwide, the BLS reports that the median annual salary for HVAC technicians was $50,590 in May 2019. The bottom 10% of HVAC techs earned less than $31,910, while the top 10% of earners made more than $80,820.[3]
Pay varies by location and employer. Altierus offers its HVAC diploma programs in Florida, Georgia, and Texas. In 2019, salaries in those states were:
Yes! If you love machinery and electronics and enjoy physical, detail-oriented work, you could make a great HVAC technician. You are also entering a stable career field. New buildings require HVAC systems, and older buildings need to be retrofitted with more energy-efficient ones. As a result, the BLS projects that demand for HVAC technicians should rise by 4% from 2019-2029, adding 15,100 new job openings across the country.[7]
Contact Altierus Career College today to learn more about our HVAC and HVACR Diploma programs!
[1] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/heating-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-mechanics-and-installers.htm#tab-3
[2] https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.htm, “heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers”
[3] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/heating-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-mechanics-and-installers.htm#tab-5
[4] https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/49-9021.00?st=FL&g=Go
[5] https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/49-9021.00?st=GA&g=Go
[6] https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/49-9021.00?st=TX&g=Go
[7] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/heating-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-mechanics-and-installers.htm#tab-6
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Our Houston campus hosted Roadtrip Nation on their screening tour of their documentary film, One Step Closer.
One Step Closer follows roadtrippers Melanie, Armand, and Becca across America as they listen to personal stories about how community college shaped the careers of working professionals. Roadtrippers engage in honest dialogue with all kinds of professionals and asked honest questions about their struggles as well as their successes.
We’re excited to continue the conversation about postsecondary education and how Altierus Career College is providing options in career technical education.
Altierus Career College nursing students completed their first round of clinical rotations at Genesis Healthcare. Before graduating with an Associate of Science degree in nursing, students must complete 600 hours of clinical rotations in addition to their program coursework.
During their clinical rotations, students practice what they’ve learned in the classroom in a real healthcare setting, taking vital signs, transferring patients from the bed to the wheelchair, re-positioning patients who can’t get out of bed, assisting in providing oxygenation, as well as administrating medications, inserting and maintaining IVs.
This year, we started some great conversations with key industry partners about closing the HVAC skills gap at all three of our local campus locations. Altierus Career College hosted local HVAC businesses to talk about how to create awareness for career technical education (CTE) and train the next generation of HVAC workers and possible apprenticeship programs so students can earn while they learn.
In addition to local HVAC servicers, we also met with Tim Elliott, CTE program specialist with Georgia’s Department of Education. Tim was excited to talk about to how partner with high schools to create awareness of CTE.
This past March, 12 medical assisting students from the Norcross Altierus campus in Atlanta competed against 4,000 other students from 84 different schools in the region. Betty Wilkins, a Medical Assisting instructor for Altierus, applied for and received a Campaign for Innovation grant from the ECMC Foundation. The grant paid for HOSA membership fees, student uniforms, travel, and other expenses.
Students participated in competitions which tested their healthcare knowledge and skills. Five of those students placed in their respective events.
