Are you looking to start a new career and wonder if you should become an HVAC technician? When considering a career in HVAC, it’s normal for questions to arise. You want to know what level of education is required, what your job would be like, and whether it’s really a good career to pursue.
You should know that becoming an HVAC is a fast-paced, engaging role with opportunity for you to shape your career to suit your ideal lifestyle. In this guide, we’ll explore why HVAC is a good career and how you can become an HVAC technician.
Why is HVAC a Good Career?
If you value your time and want flexible work hours, then HVAC is a great field to enter. Not all HVAC technicians work the typical 9-to-5 routine. You may decide to work around your schedule, specialize in maintenance and repairs or even open your own business.
As an HVAC technician, you will work an active career, while traveling to and from various customer residences. You also get to work outdoors, use your hands, and problem-solve as you repair systems and perform diagnostics.
Although you may work alone as an HVAC technician, you can still enjoy communication with customers, supervisors, and dispatch. You’ll work with others to gather information, offer suggestions, and even conduct consultations to help a customer choose the right heating and air conditioning solutions.
What Does an HVAC Technician Do?
HVAC technicians diagnose, examine, maintain, repair, and install different heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. No two days are exactly the same, which means you’ll always have a new challenge to look forward to and new problems to solve. Here are some of the main responsibilities of an HVAC technician:
Routine HVAC Maintenance
As an HVAC technician, you are responsible for ensuring a home’s HVAC is working properly. In addition, you will identify ways to optimize HVAC equipment for energy-efficiency. Maintenance can include replacing old parts, installing upgrades, and conducting annual HVAC diagnostics.
Provide Customer Service
Although your primary role will focus on performing technical work, as an HVAC technician you must also provide customer support. Customers will have questions about their system, want to know how to use new hardware, and get important information on problems they’ve experienced. With the right education, you can become a trusted, definitive source of HVAC information that helps customers make better choices for their families.
Diagnose and Repair HVAC Systems
Regardless of what the issue is, a trained eye can find the problem and choose the right solution. There are various techniques and tools that you will learn during an HVAC program that will help you to differentiate between solutions and pick the right one for your customers.
How Do You Become an HVAC Technician?
A vocational HVAC program is a good place to begin your career. Here, you get the essential skills, training, and education you need to qualify for a state HVAC license. This is also an easy way to bypass lengthy apprenticeships and enter the field directly as a qualified HVAC technician.
What Do You Learn in an HVAC Technician Program?
Our heating, ventilation and air conditioning training program specializes in the many areas of residential HVAC. You will learn the many phases of repair and maintenance for domestic HVAC, including residential heating and ventilation systems as well as air conditioning systems.
The curriculum also covers Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the North American Technicians Excellence (NATE) certification programs for refrigerant management.
The entire program is made up of five core categories:
- Residential Air Conditioning and Heating Systems
- Principles of Electrical Circuits for HVAC Professionals
- HVAC/R Fundamentals (Knowledge, skills, and best practices)
- Low-voltage Controls and Thermostats
- Customer Service and Safety Protocols
What are the Benefits of Attending a Vocational School?
There are many benefits to attending a vocational school. From a comprehensive curriculum to career services and everything in between. Attending a vocational school is a great way to prepare for your new career as an HVAC technician.
A Comprehensive Curriculum
Our school offers a complete curriculum of residential HVAC fundamentals and advanced repair techniques to prepare you for more than just a job; you start a career and enter the field ready to succeed. With a strong foundation and confidence gained through hands-on training, you can start working as a qualified and capable HVAC technician on day one.
EPA and NATE Certification Prep
With dedicated prep courses, you’ll have full confidence to take your EPA and NATE exams. NATE certifications allow HVAC technicians with at least two years of experience to become HVAC specialists in areas they’re passionate about.
A Passionate Faculty and Student Body
With industry-experienced instructors and like-minded classmates, you have the perfect environment to learn, grow and discover new things about yourself. There are plenty of exercises throughout the course that let you work alongside your peers and build skills that will carry you through your career.
Career Services to Help You Grow
If you need help, have questions, or want to know more about becoming an HVAC technician, the Interactive College of Technology is here for you. Our dedicated career services team specialize in HVAC job placement and preparation. From the first interview to the moment you sign your contract, you can count on our team to coach you through every stage of the hiring process. Whether it is mock interviews, building your resume or writing a great thank you email, we take pride in following our graduates throughout their career, helping them along the way.
Is HVAC Tech School Hard?
Nothing worth doing is ever easy. There will be plenty of challenges as you learn about HVAC, however all you need is a passion for HVAC to start learning. Your instructors are all experienced in HVAC, so they are the perfect people to prepare you for a career as an HVAC technician. They’ve been in your shoes, and they are always willing to go the extra mile to help you master difficult concepts.
Final Thoughts
As an HVAC technician, you will learn a tremendous amount during your training. By the time you graduate, you will be an expert in residential heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. As you enter the field, the experience you gain will help you expand your knowledge, hone your skills, and become even more skilled at your job as an HVAC technician.
Want to Learn More?
This HVAC residential training program at the Pasadena, TX and Newport, KY campuses offer training in all phases of repair and maintenance of residential heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. The HVAC/R Technology program at the Chamblee, GA campus offers training in all phases of HVAC including refrigeration systems. Both programs at all three campuses prepare students for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Certification in the management of refrigerants and North American Technicians Excellence (NATE) Certification.
An externship is a part of the heating, ventilation, air conditioning residential training program and assigns you to a partnering company for 135 hours, giving you the opportunity to put your new skills to use and gain real-life career training experience. Plus, after you graduate, our Lifetime Career Placement Support program will be there to help you find work whenever you need it.
Let’s take the first step together! Contact us now to learn more.
