HVAC Schools Fowler MI

How to Select the Right HVAC Degree Program near Fowler Michigan

air conditioner condensers in Fowler MIOnce you have decided on a career as a heating and cooling technician, the next step is to choose an HVAC trade school near Fowler MI. But with so many to pick from, how do you select the best one to obtain the training that you require? Many prospective students will make their choice based exclusively on the price of tuition or how close the school is to their residence. Even though these are relevant concerns, they are not the only ones to investigate. A few of the other factors that you need to research are the graduation completion rates of the HVAC schools, their reputations, and if they are accredited by professional trade organizations. These and other criteria will be covered in more detail later within this article. But before we discuss how to choose an HVAC technical school, let’s take a look at what a heating and air conditioning professional does to become a licensed qualified tradesman.

How to Become an HVAC Tech

Fowler MI HVAC Tech installing water heaterHVAC is an acronym that is frequently used in the trade that stands for “Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning”. HVAC techs provide services for the installation, maintenance and repair of central air conditioners, furnaces, boilers, hot water heaters and heating systems. As professional tradesmen, they are commonly mandated to be licensed, though every state and local municipality has its own criteria. Acquiring professional certification is not compulsory, but an alternative means for Fowler MI HVAC techs to establish that they are highly proficient and knowledgeable in their area of expertise. There are multiple respected certifications within the industry that are offered. Below are some of the important ones.

  • North American Technician Excellence (NATE). NATE is a nationally recognized certification for HVAC technicians. The certification is attained by passing a competency examination and may be earned in one or more specialties.
  • HVAC Excellence. This certification offers both a professional and a master specialist credential. 2 years of professional experience together with passing a comprehensive examination are required for the professional level certification. Master specialists must have three years of experience together with a passing result on the professional level examination. Similar to NATE, certifications are offered in multiple specialties.
  • EPA Section 608. This certification is mandatory for technicians that handle refrigerants. There are 3 forms of certification obtainable, one for small appliances, and the additional two for low and high pressure refrigerants.

Considering that licensing might be required in your area, and you may also desire to earn certification, it’s essential that you enroll in an HVAC vocational school that will train you for both. And since you will more than likely be working with refrigerants, make certain that the program you select preps you for passing the EPA Section 608 examinations.

HVAC Certificate and Degree Training Programs

radiator heater in Fowler MI homeThere are a variety of alternatives offered for HVAC instruction in a technical or trade school. You can earn a certificate, an Associate Degree, or a Bachelor’s Degree. Obtaining a certificate will take the minimum period of time, typically achieved in just six months, although some courses are longer. A certificate will train you for most HVAC positions, particularly if you are licensed and have certification appropriate to the position. The degree training programs may provide a competitive advantage for securing employment and will deliver more in-depth training than the certificate programs. Below is a brief summary of each credential offered near Fowler MI.

  • Certificate. Generally requiring a high school diploma, certificate programs are preferred among beginning commercial or residential HVAC specialists. They provide a strong foundation of skills for employment within the industry.
  • Associate Degree. The Associate Degree in HVAC program supplies a more detailed knowledge of heating and a/c systems than the certificate program. Normally taking two years to complete, many degrees include an internship or work-study program.
  • Bachelor’s Degree. The Bachelor’s Degree in HVAC is tailored more towards a career in management as well as business ownership. Some programs require an Associate Degree, while others are a standard four year program. In addition to being taught how to service and maintain heating and cooling systems, you will also study how to design them.

Choosing the appropriate credential program will be based on what your future career aspirations are, in addition to the time and money that you have to invest. One possibility is to start with a certificate or perhaps an Associate Degree program, and after gaining some experience in the field in Fowler MI, later returning to earn a Bachelor’s Degree. If this is your strategy, make certain to ask the HVAC tech school you are looking at about how their returning student program works.

HVAC Online Training

Fowler MI student attending HVAC school onlineEnrolling in an HVAC school online is one option in obtaining your education and earning a degree or certificate. Almost all schools will require some attendance on campus to take part in practical training. Many also sponsor internship or work-study programs in addition to or as an alternative to practical lab work. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended on the web, this alternative may be a more accessible solution for some Fowler MI students that are pressed for time. And a number of online degree programs are less costly than other on campus alternatives. Even commuting expenses from Fowler and study supplies may be lessened, helping to make education more economical. And many online schools are fully accredited (more on this later). So if your job or family obligations have left you with limited time to attend classes, maybe an online HVAC degree program will make it easier to accommodate school into your busy lifestyle.

Questions For HVAC Trade Schools

Questions to ask Fowler MI HVAC training schoolsAs soon as you have picked the type of degree or certificate that you wish to acquire, either on campus or online, you can begin to narrow down your selection of schools. As you are certainly aware, there are a large number of HVAC trade schools in the Fowler MI area and throughout the USA to select from. That’s why it is essential to have a checklist of important qualifiers when making school assessments. As previously stated in our opening paragraph, location and tuition will most likely be the first two aspects you will consider. Following are some additional ones that you should research before enrolling in your school of choice.

Accreditation.  A large number of HVAC technical schools in the Fowler MI area have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance HVAC technology. Verify that the program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it may assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, some states require that the HVAC training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion Rates.  Ask the HVAC schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It may also mean that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of Fowler MI HVAC employers to help students acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Most HVAC trade programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of Heating and Cooling companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with local Fowler MI HVAC specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area HVAC professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the HVAC specialist you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Fowler MI HVAC company if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Fowler MI home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s important that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to a few of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling.  Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Fowler MI, verify that the programs you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering an HVAC School near Fowler MI?

Perhaps you are considering enrolling in an HVAC training program in the Fowler Michigan area.  If so, you may find the following background information about the location of your new school campus both interesting and informative.

Fowler, Michigan

Originally called "Dallas", Fowler was created when Robert Highman, Chief Engineer of the Detroit, Grand Haven, and Milwaukee Railroad, and E.A Wales acquired a tract of land along the railroad right-of-way in 1847. The town subsequently moved to a tract of land 1/10 of a mile east of the original tract, owned by John N. Fowler[6] and in 1869 the name was changed to "Fowler". In 1885, the town incorporated as a village in Clinton County, reportedly during a high growth lumber boom.[citation needed]

The village is located at approximately -84.739 Longitude and 43.002 Latitude in Dallas Township on M-21 about 10 miles (16 km) west of St. Johns and about 50 miles (80 km) east of Grand Rapids. It is about 20 miles (32 km) north of I-96 via county roads. The 48835 ZIP code centroid is located at -84.749958 longitude, 43.010137 Latitude, somewhat outside the incorporated city limits.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.35 square miles (3.50 km2), of which 1.32 square miles (3.42 km2) is land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km2) is water.[1]

HVAC Schools Fowler MI

Selecting the right HVAC school program is an important first step toward a fulfilling career in the heating and cooling industry. You originally came to this website because you wanted more information regarding HVAC Schools. However, as we have discussed in this post, you should select an Heating and Cooling school and a degree or certificate program that are both accredited and have outstanding reputations within the HVAC trade. Other features to search for are plenty of practical training and modern facilities. You need to visit each of the schools in person that you are most interested in to tour the campus and speak with both the faculty and current students. Try to get a feel for the quality of the instruction and the interaction between them. In addition, inquire about scheduling options and whether night or weekend classes are available if needed. And don’t forget to inquire about financial assistance and student loan options as well. If you ask the right questions as we have laid out in our guidelines for evaluating schools, you’ll be able to filter your options so that you can make an informed decision. With the right training, hard work and dedication, you can ultimately become a licensed HVAC technician in Fowler MI.

More Hot and Cool Locations in Michigan

  • HVAC Training School Jeddo MI
  • How to Choose HVAC Training Programs Escanaba MI
  • How to Choose HVAC Trade Schools Pullman MI
  • Heating and Cooling Classes Online Beaverton MI
  • Accredited HVAC Schools Canton MI
  • HVAC Technician School Standish MI
  • HVAC Technician Online Courses Detroit MI
  • Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Course Dollar Bay MI
  • HVAC Classes Fowlerville MI
  • Heating and Cooling Training Homer MI
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 47

    Graham Heating and Cooling
    1 Reviews
    Contractors, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    1207 Kelcrasta Dr, St. Johns, MI 48879

    Chasco Plumbing & Heating
    1 Reviews
    Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    407 N Clinton Ave, Saint Johns, MI 48879

    All Star Mechanical
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    300 N Jenison Ave, Lansing, MI 48915

    Bill's After Hours Heating and Cooling
    2 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    15802 Brook Rd, Lansing, MI 48906

    Vredevoogd Heating and Cooling
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Appliances
    Phone:
    3721 W Michigan Ave, Ste 301A, Lansing, MI 48917

    Service Professor
    30 Reviews
    Electricians, Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    4770 50th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512

    A-1 Mechanical
    7 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    3610 Old Lansing Rd, Lansing, MI 48917

    North Winds Heating & Cooling
    5 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Appliances
    Phone:
    2861 Jolly Rd, Okemos, MI 48864

    Tri-Delta Mechanical
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    5919 Sunchase Cir, Lansing, MI 48917

    All Weather Mechanical, Inc
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    419 Kenway Dr, Lansing, MI 48917