The HVAC Technician Profession

The increasing development of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems technology creates a number of employment opportunities in this long-standing trade poised for even more growth in the coming years. An HVAC technician installs, maintains, and repairs heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems. Professionals who work in this occupation might specialize in installation, or in maintenance and repair.

This program focuses on broad, transferable skills, including an understanding of the heating, air-conditioning, refrigeration and ventilation industry, and demonstrates elements of the industry such as planning, management, finance, technical and production skills, the underlying principles of technology, and health, safety, and environmental issues. The purpose of this program is to prepare students to perform entry-level HVAC maintenance and repair tasks in residential and commercial environments. This course is designed to prepare students to pursue the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 608 Core and 608 Small Appliances (Type 1) Certification. Students are eligible for an optional externship with a local employer after successful course completion.

Program Objectives

At the conclusion of this program, students will be able to:

• Apply principles of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration to the installation, maintenance and repair of HVACR systems
• Apply safety practices to HVACR installation, maintenance, and repair practices
• Identify and safely use hand and power tools
• Understand and read construction drawings
• Describe trade licensing, certification, career paths, and responsibilities and characteristics available in the HVACR trade in residential, commercial and industrial areas
• Perform basic math and measuring tasks required in the HVAC trade
• Apply knowledge of electricity and electrical safety to HVACR installation, maintenance and repair
• Apply knowledge of heating, cooling, and air distribution systems and individual components to the HVACR installation, maintenance and repair
• Apply knowledge of different types of copper, plastic, and carbon steel piping in HVACR tasks
• Prepare, soldering, and brazing copper tubing safety
• Measure, cut, ream, thread, install, and join steep pipe in HVACR projects
• Understand Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules and regulations related to HVAC practices
• Understand EPA requirements for small appliances, refrigerants and hazardous chemicals

Lesson Checklist

Each lesson includes a prescribed checklist of activities for successful completion of the lesson. This includes lesson objectives, readings, and recommended assignments. Although assignments are optional, the instructor will grade and provide feedback on submitted assignments.

Course Materials:

• Heating, Ventilating, and Air-conditioning Level 1 Trainee Guide.

Module/Lesson Structure

The HVAC Technician program modules contain one or more lesson presentations to view. These lesson presentations are the “lectures” which, along with the textbook readings and resources, will help you learn the material. The lesson presentations aim to address a variety of learning styles and preferences using text, audio, video, etc. Each lesson contains at least one Check Your Understanding interactive self-assessment that will help you gauge your comprehension of that lesson’s content. Some lessons include supplemental resources such as games, animations, videos, and interactive activities. Utilizing these additional materials will deepen your understanding of the content. Each module has a Module test, the last Module concludes with a Final Exam.