How to Choose HVAC Degree Programs West Chesterfield NH

How to Choose the Right HVAC Certification Course near West Chesterfield New Hampshire

air conditioner condensers in West Chesterfield NHNow that you have made a decision on a career as a heating and air conditioning technician, the next action is to find an HVAC vocational school near West Chesterfield NH. But with so many to select from, how do you pick the best one to receive the training that you require? Some prospective students will make their decision based entirely on the cost of tuition or how close the school is to their residence. Even though these are important concerns, they are not the only ones to evaluate. Just some of the other details that you need to investigate are the graduation rates of the HVAC schools, their reputations, and if they are accredited by professional trade organizations. These and other benchmarks will be addressed in more detail later within this article. But before we explore how to choose an HVAC vocational school, let’s look at what a heating and cooling professional does to become a licensed professional tradesman.

Becoming an HVAC Pro

West Chesterfield NH HVAC Tech installing water heaterHVAC is an acronym that is frequently used in the trade that stands for “Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning”. HVAC technicians specialize in the installation, maintenance and repair of air conditioners, furnaces, boilers, hot water heaters and heating systems. As professional tradesmen, they are typically required to be licensed, however every state and regional municipality has its own requirements. Obtaining professional certification is not compulsory, but an alternative way for West Chesterfield NH HVAC specialists to prove that they are exceptionally proficient and experienced in their area of specialization. There are multiple recognized certifications within the trade that are available. Below are some of the significant ones.

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

Since licensing might be mandated in your location, and you may also intend to acquire certification, it’s important that you select an HVAC vocational school that will prepare you for both. And since you will probably be working with refrigerants, make sure that the school you pick readies you for passing the EPA Section 608 examinations.

HVAC Degree and Certificate Training Programs

radiator heater in West Chesterfield NH homeThere are a variety of options offered for HVAC training in a technical or vocational school. You can earn a certificate, an Associate Degree, or a Bachelor’s Degree. Earning a certificate will take the least amount of time, often accomplished in just six months, although some programs are longer. A certificate will qualify you for most HVAC positions, particularly if you are licensed and have certification related to the position. The degree training programs may provide a competitive advantage for securing employment and will deliver more comprehensive training than the certificate programs. Below is a short summary of each credential offered near West Chesterfield NH.

  • Certificate. Normally requiring a high school diploma, certificate programs are very popular among entry level commercial or residential HVAC professionals. They furnish 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 cooling systems than the certificate program. Generally taking two years to complete, a number of degrees feature an internship or work-study program.
  • Bachelor’s Degree. The Bachelor’s Degree in HVAC is suited more towards a career in management as well as business ownership. Some programs call for an Associate Degree, while others are a conventional 4 year program. In addition to learning how to service and maintain heating and cooling systems, you will also learn how to design them.

Choosing the right credential program will be based on what your future career objectives are, in addition to the time and financial resources that you have to commit. One approach is to begin with a certificate or perhaps an Associate Degree program, and after gaining some experience in the trade in West Chesterfield NH, eventually returning to earn a Bachelor’s Degree. If this is your strategy, be sure to ask the HVAC technician school you are looking at about how their returning student program works.

HVAC Courses Online

West Chesterfield NH student attending HVAC school onlineEnrolling in an HVAC program online is one option to getting your education and receiving a certificate or degree. Almost all schools will call for some attendance on campus to participate in practical training. Some also provide internship or work-study programs in addition to or instead of practical lab work. But since the remainder of the classes can be participated in online, this approach may be a more convenient solution for some West Chesterfield NH students that are short on time. And many online degree programs are less costly than other on campus choices. Even travelling expenses from West Chesterfield and study supplies may be minimized, helping to make education more affordable. And numerous online programs are fully accredited (more on this later). So if your career or family responsibilities have left you with minimal time to attend classes, maybe an online HVAC degree program will make it easier to accommodate school into your busy lifestyle.

Questions to Ask HVAC Trade Schools

Questions to ask West Chesterfield NH HVAC training schoolsAs soon as you have chosen the type of degree or certificate that you want to earn, either on campus or online, you can start to limit your list of schools. As you are certainly aware, there are a large number of HVAC vocational schools in the West Chesterfield NH area and across the Country to choose from. That’s why it is essential to have a checklist of key qualifiers when making school assessments. As formerly mentioned in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will undoubtedly be the first 2 aspects you will look at. Following are some additional ones that you need to explore before enrolling in your school of choice.

Accreditation.  Numerous HVAC technical programs in the West Chesterfield NH area have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example HVAC technology. Make sure that the program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the HVAC training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion Rates.  Ask the Heating and Air Conditioning schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate might indicate that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It could also mean that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of West Chesterfield NH HVAC employers to assist grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Most HVAC training programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of HVAC companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with local West Chesterfield NH HVAC specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local HVAC professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the HVAC specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local West Chesterfield NH HVAC contractor if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your West Chesterfield NH residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling.  Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near West Chesterfield NH, confirm that the programs you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering an HVAC School near West Chesterfield NH?

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

Chesterfield, New Hampshire

Chesterfield is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,604 at the 2010 census.[1] It includes the villages of Spofford and West Chesterfield. Chesterfield is home to Spofford Lake, Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area, and parts of Pisgah State Park and Wantastiquet Mountain State Forest.

Granted in 1735 by Governor Jonathan Belcher of Massachusetts, this town was the site of Fort Number 1, first in the line of forts bordering the Connecticut River. After the border between Massachusetts and New Hampshire was fixed, the town was incorporated on 11 February 1752[2] by Governor Benning Wentworth as Chesterfield, named for Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield. The first settlers were Moses Smith and William Thomas, who, with their families, came up the Connecticut in canoes, in the fall of 1761. Their chief subsistence through the winter and spring of their first year in the wilderness consisted of salmon and shad, of which there was a great abundance in the river, and deer, which were numerous in the forests.[2] The town contains some of the finest farmland in Cheshire County, yet once was home to small manufacturing, notably spinning wheel parts and handtools.[3]

In 1772, Philip Embury conducted the first Methodist religious services in New Hampshire at the James Robertson farm in Chesterfield, and in 1803, Francis Asbury preached here. Asbury Church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is recognized for its historic puritan design. Asbury Church is considered the "Mother Church of Methodism" in New Hampshire, and is the oldest Methodist church in New Hampshire. The town has had continual Methodist Sunday services for over 225 years.[4]

How to Choose HVAC Degree Programs West Chesterfield NH

Choosing the ideal HVAC training course is an important first step toward a fulfilling career in the heating & cooling trade. You originally came to this website because you wanted more information regarding How to Choose HVAC Degree Programs. However, as we have discussed in this article, you need to pick an Heating and Cooling trade school and a degree or certificate program that are both accredited and have exceptional reputations within the HVAC community. Other factors to search for are ample hands-on training and modern facilities. You need to visit each of the schools in person that you are most interested in to explore the campus and talk with both the current students and faculty. Try to get a feel for the quality of the instruction and the interaction between them. In addition, ask about scheduling options and whether or not evening or weekend classes are offered if needed. And don’t forget to inquire about financial aid and student loan options as well. If you ask the appropriate questions as we have outlined in our checklist for comparing schools, you’ll be able to filter your options so that you can make an educated decision. With the appropriate training, hard work and dedication, you can ultimately become a licensed HVAC contractor in West Chesterfield NH.

More Hot and Cool Locations in New Hampshire

  • HVAC Vocational Training Jackson NH
  • Air Conditioner Course Monroe NH
  • HVAC Vocational School Wolfeboro Falls NH
  • How to Choose HVAC Certification Courses Warren NH
  • Heating and Cooling Courses Grantham NH
  • HVAC Training Program Bartlett NH
  • Air Conditioning Training School Claremont NH
  • Heat and Air School Center Conway NH
  • Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Schools Andover NH
  • Air Conditioner Training Course Lyndeborough NH
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 41

    L&G Propane
    2 Reviews
    Propane, Utilities, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    11 Sheridan Ave, Keene, NH 03431

    Window Quilt
    1 Reviews
    Insulation Installation
    Phone:
    22 Browne Ct, Ste105, Brattleboro, VT 05301

    Cota and Cota
    1 Reviews
    Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Propane
    Phone:
    2097 Vt Rt 30, Jamaica, VT 05343

    Gary Jackson Heating Services
    4 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Water Heater Installation/Repair
    Phone:
    152 Davis St, Ste 3, Keene, NH 03431

    Pinney Plumbing & Heating
    4 Reviews
    Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    217 Old Homestead Hwy, Keene, NH 03431

    Hohengasser Plumbing & Hydronics
    1 Reviews
    Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    63 Ridge Ave, Athol, MA 01331

    JEK Plumbing Heating and Cooling
    2 Reviews
    Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Septic Services
    Phone:
    603 Wiley Mountaint Dr, Readsboro, VT 05350

    Dead River Company
    1 Reviews
    Propane, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    452 Winchester St, Keene, NH 03431

    Arctic Refrigeration
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    20 Oak Hill Rd, Greenfield, MA 01301

    Discount Oil of Keene
    5 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    11 Sheridan Ave, Keene, NH 03431