Are you interested in becoming an HVAC/R technician but not sure what commercial refrigeration systems include? If you like working with your hands and managing HVAC equipment, then becoming a commercial refrigeration technician may be the right career path for you. So, what is a commercial refrigeration system?
What is a Commercial Refrigeration System?
Commercial Refrigeration Systems refer to cold storage equipment used in commercial settings. You can find commercial refrigeration systems in restaurants, flower stores, grocery stores, warehouses, meat lockers, and even the back of cold storage trucks. These commercial refrigeration systems keep items fresh and ready for consumers to buy. They also allow the transportation of goods across the United States and abroad. As a commercial refrigeration technician, you can be part of an industry that is in demand.
How Do You Become a Commercial Refrigeration Technician?
A great way to become a commercial refrigeration technician is by attending our program at Interactive College of Technology. We provide you with a foundation in commercial refrigeration within the specifics of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.
What Do You Learn During a Commercial Refrigeration Program?
During the Commercial Refrigeration courses at Interactive College of Technology, you build a foundation in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration. What you’ll learn in the Commercial Refrigeration courses include:
- Applied principles of electrical circuits
- Customer service and safety
- Gas, electric, and heat pump heating systems
- Residential and Commercial Refrigeration Systems
- Refrigeration management
- Advanced programmable logic controls
- Low voltage controls and thermostats
The Commercial Refrigeration program will also prepare you for the EPA and NATE certifications.
EPA 608 Certification – In order to handle refrigerant, you must be certified by passing the Section 608 technician certification exam. The Clean Air Act requires that commercial refrigeration technicians understand how to maintain, service, repair, and diagnose refrigeration equipment that could release refrigerants into the atmosphere. The EPA regulations state that a commercial refrigeration technician must be certified if they are to attach or detach hoses and gauges from an appliance to measure pressure. Also included is the task of adding refrigerant to or remove refrigerant from an appliance.
NATE Certification – NATE (North American Technician Excellence) certifies that an HVAC technician has working knowledge of HVAC/R systems. This is important to keep everyone safe and HVAC/R systems working in tip top shape. This is a well-known certification that employers recognize and understand. Many HVAC companies even require their technicians to pass this test.
Benefits of Attending a Formal Education
There are many benefits to attending a Commercial Refrigeration program at Interactive College of Technology. These benefits include:
A Quick Start
Don’t have the time to complete a 4-year degree? The good news is that Interactive College of Technology students can complete trade programs in as little as one year. Without all the electives that make you a “well-rounded” student, we focus on the classes that you will need to prepare for your career. You will learn from classroom lectures on commercial refrigeration and HVAC systems, with workshop training to put classroom theory to the test.
Hands-on Training
In addition to the classroom lectures, you will get plenty of hands-on training at Interactive College of Technology. You will receive guidance from industry experienced instructors that will help you learn from your mistakes. Making a mistake in a real-world situation may be catastrophic but learning from your mistakes while in the classroom will help build confidence in your skills. After completing hands-on training as well as an externship, you will have plenty of experience and be ready to start working on day one of your new career.
Industry Experienced Instructors
We only hire industry experienced instructors that know what you need to succeed. They create a complete curriculum that builds upon itself one course at a time. Because of small class sizes, our instructors can help mentor you through the educational process and answer any questions you may have along the way.
Complete Curriculum
We take your education seriously. Our instructors work with HVAC professionals in the community to curate a set of classes that will prepare you for your new career. In the Commercial Refrigeration program, you learn about the theory behind HVAC systems, electrical circuits, and advanced programmable logic controls. Additional classes will focus on customer service and safety, gas, electric, and heat pump heating systems, as well as low voltage controls and thermostats. When you graduate from Interactive College of Technology, employers know that you are ready to hit the ground running.
Smaller Class Sizes
Don’t want to be just another face in the crowd? At Interactive College of Technology, you learn about HVAC/R systems in smaller classes so that you get one-on-one attention from instructors. You can also make life-long friendships with fellow classmates. Because the instructor is working with a smaller class size, no one is left behind.
Flexible Schedules
Interactive College of Technology offers day and evening classes for those that need to balance life with their education. Whether you have a day job, take care of family members, or just learn better at night, we offer a flexible schedule that meets your needs.
Externships
A great way to get additional hands-on experience and set your resume apart is with the help of an externship. We match you with HVAC employers in the community that allow you to shadow your professional counterparts. Not only do you learn what your future as a commercial refrigeration technician will look like, but you get the chance to perform tasks under strict supervision, all while building confidence. These externships can also turn into full time jobs because your supervisor may also be looking for new commercial refrigeration technicians to hire.
Lifetime Career Services
The best benefit of attending Interactive College of Technology is the lifetime career services that we offer. We take pride in placing our graduates in highly sought-after positions in the HVAC industry. We have strong ties with the community and may even hear about an opportunity before the general public. Employers know that Interactive College of Technology graduates are fully educated and have the skills to start working on day one. Employers also know that Interactive College of Technology offers a complete curriculum so that less on-the-job training is necessary. This helps employers save on resources. It’s a win-win.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know what commercial refrigeration systems are, it is time to learn more about Interactive College of Technology. Working in HVAC is a rewarding career, and it offers many opportunities for advancement and lateral career moves. Take the first step toward becoming a commercial refrigeration technician and Interactive College of Technology will be with you every step of the way.
Want to Learn More?
Our school’s Commercial Refrigeration training program is designed to provide you with a foundation in commercial refrigeration* as it relates specifically to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning industry. We emphasize advanced HVAC concepts such as controls, temperature programming, and computer fundamentals.
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.
