Becoming An Hvac Technician

By Author: William Hauselberg
Total Articles: 816
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Are you looking for a career that is exciting and stable? Becoming an HVAC technician could be just the job for you. Beginning the process of changing careers or starting a new one can be daunting, but becoming an HVAC technician does not have to be.

What an HVAC technician does

HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning.
HVAC techs deal with installing and maintenance related to air conditioning, ventilation, and heat in homes and businesses.

First Steps in HVAC Training

The first step for anyone thinking about becoming an HVAC tech is to research what is involved in the required training. Many community colleges offer programs that will train students to become HVAC techs. These hvac training programs prepare students to work in the HVAC field are usually between six months and two years. In classes, students will learn the tools needed, the anatomy of systems, and how to work safely with heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems.

HVAC Apprenticeship and Learning on the Job

Once you have obtained your degree from a trade school or community college, the ...
... next step is to become an apprentice. Apprenticeships last between two and five years based on your school or program. In an apprenticeship, the understudy will follow an HVAC tech around and learn by helping him /her. During this phase of your training, you will be actively participating in fixing and maintaining various units. This is an excellent opportunity to ask questions and gain valuable experience while under a trained HVAC technician's wing. This step in obtaining experience also exposes you to several professionals and possible connections for future employment.

Acquiring License

Some states and employers require their HVAC technicians to obtain a license. What this requires varies by state and employer. If you want to work with refrigerators, you most likely will need to obtain a special certification stating that you are trained in that area. Having a license could possibly mean you would make a higher salary in some cases.

Benefits of Working in the HVAC Field

There are some excellent benefits to becoming an HVAC tech such as plenty of work year round, great pay, and ability to find work easily in many locations. Year round work is often provided because people rely on their heat to keep them warm in the winter and air conditioning to keep them cool in the summer. When these units break or need maintenance, people generally do not put off getting them fixed.

If you're interested in working as a HVAC technician, contact your local trade school and get started on your training.

Getting the best hvac training depends on finding the best trade school. The articles written by this author are handy guides when it comes to choosing the best trade school for hvac training.