Online Education (certification Of Hvac Degree)

By Author: John Srob
Total Articles: 215
Comment this article

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) certificate programs are typically offered on campus because of the hands-on nature of the field; however, a few online diploma programs are available. Diploma programs typically require more classes than certificate programs and prepare you to handle a wider variety of tasks.

Both programs include coursework that covers electricity, preventative maintenance, heating, refrigeration and installation. Electricity coursework covers wiring, electronic components, controls and HVAC regulation components. You'll also learn about the thermodynamic, chemical and circulation elements of a heating and cooling system. In order to install and repair these systems, you'll learn about welding, basic tools and occupational safety.

Upon completion of a certificate or diploma, you can seek work as an HVAC technician or pursue an associate's degree in HVAC. You'll have the skills to repair HVAC equipment and electronic controls. You'll also be able to install, maintain or repair furnaces, boilers, air conditioners and refrigeration systems.

What Certifications are Available?

If ...
... you want to handle or work with refrigerants, you must pursue Type I, Type II or Type III certification as required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These are specific to small appliances, high-pressure refrigerants and low-pressure refrigerants, respectively. These certifications are acquired by passing a written exam, which is administered at an EPA-approved organization.

You can also take one or more certification exams administered by The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute, the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute, HVAC Excellence or the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society. Earning these voluntary certifications demonstrates your professional expertise as an HVAC technician and may help you advance in your career. In order to be eligible for these exams, you must generally have at least one year of installation experience and two years of repair and maintenance experience. These exams are offered at testing sites nationwide.

How Are Online Programs Different?

If you plan to receive HVAC training through an online diploma program - which are commonly offered by for-profit schools - you will study the same topics that are offered in on-campus programs. Some online programs even include basic tools and textbooks as a part of the tuition. You can study at your own pace, but you do not receive the hands-on training that is offered in on-campus programs.

The Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) Engineering Technology curriculum is a two-year, upper-division sequence leading to a bachelor of science degree in HVAC. Instruction is aimed at developing expertise in HVAC system and HVAC controls design, HVAC retrofitting, HVAC testing and adjusting, system balancing and building HVAC operations with microcomputer controls.

College HVAC students learn up-to-date methods of identifying and performing efficiency evaluations on different types of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems found in commercial and industrial buildings. College HVAC degree program also teaches methods of adjusting and balancing HVAC equipment for maximum performance.

In addition to classroom study, our college HVAC students perform energy and HVACR systems analysis for West Michigan businesses and industries. An energy systems laboratory includes HVAC equipment, computers and instrumentation found in commercial or industrial buildings. Our college HVAC lab includes a ten-ton variable air volume, four-zone HVAC system that controls cooling, heating and ventilation with computerized energy management. This college HVAC degree program also includes a paid internship as an HVAC technician in the summer semester between the junior and senior year.

A certificate program in heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration trains students to install, maintain and repair equipment used in residential and commercial buildings. Students learn how to diagnose and troubleshoot equipment such as motors and switches. Most programs require students looking to pursue a certificate in HVAC-R to have a minimum of a high school degree.

Program Coursework

Students enrolled in an HVAC-R certificate program are often prepared to take examinations for industry certifications. Coursework covers:

Basic refrigeration
Basic electricity
Residential heating
HVAC control systems
Commercial refrigeration

Popular Career Options
Those with a certificate in HVAC-R usually find entry-level work in the heating and cooling industry. Employment opportunities may be available in large facilities, such as factories, as well as schools, hotels or office buildings. Those with a certificate in HVAC-R can pursue jobs in:

Commercial refrigeration service
HVAC-R systems installation
Equipment service and sales

You May Qualify For Financial Aid.