Air Conditioning Classes Springfield Gardens NY

How to Enroll In the Right HVAC Degree Program near Springfield Gardens New York

air conditioner condensers in Springfield Gardens NYOnce you have come to a decision on a career as a heating and air conditioner specialist, the next action is to find an HVAC vocational school near Springfield Gardens NY. But with so many to pick from, how do you select the best one to receive the training that you need? Many potential students will make their choice based entirely on the cost of tuition or how near the school is to their residence. Even though these are relevant considerations, they are not the only ones to evaluate. Just some 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. Those and other criteria will be addressed in more detail later within this article. But before we tackle how to select an HVAC technical school, let’s take a look at what a heating and a/c professional does to become a licensed skilled tradesman.

Becoming an HVAC Technician

Springfield Gardens NY HVAC Tech installing water heaterHVAC is an acronym that is commonly used in the industry that stands for “Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning”. HVAC contractors provide services for 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 prerequisites. Obtaining professional certification is not mandatory, but a voluntary way for Springfield Gardens NY HVAC specialists to demonstrate that they are exceptionally proficient and experienced in their area of specialization. There are a number of recognized certifications within the field that are available. Below are a few of the significant ones.

  • North American Technician Excellence (NATE). NATE is a nationally acknowledged certification for HVAC techs. The certification is attained by passing a competency exam and can be earned in one or more specialties.
  • HVAC Excellence. This certification makes available both a professional and a master specialist credential. Two years of field experience in addition to passing a comprehensive examination are required for the professional level certification. Master specialists need to have 3 years of experience as well as a passing score on the professional level exam. As with NATE, certifications are made available in multiple specialties.
  • EPA Section 608. This certification is necessary for technicians that work with refrigerants. There are 3 types of certification obtainable, one for small appliances, and the other two for low and high pressure refrigerants.

Since licensing might be required in your location, and you may also intend to obtain certification, it’s essential that you pick an HVAC trade school that will train you for both. And since you will most likely be handling refrigerants, make sure that the program you choose preps you for passing the EPA Section 608 exams.

HVAC Certificate and Degree Courses

radiator heater in Springfield Gardens NY homeThere are a number of alternatives available for HVAC instruction in a technical or trade school. You can obtain a certificate, an Associate Degree, or a Bachelor’s Degree. Acquiring a certificate will take the lesser period of time, typically achieved in just 6 months, although some courses are longer. A certificate will qualify you for the majority of HVAC positions, particularly if you are licensed and have certification related to the position. The degree training programs may provide a competitive edge in the job market and will provide more comprehensive training than the certificate programs. Below is a brief summary of each option offered near Springfield Gardens NY.

  • Certificate. Usually 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 trade.
  • Associate Degree. The Associate Degree in HVAC program delivers a more extensive knowledge of heating and cooling systems than the certificate program. Normally requiring 2 years to finish, a number of degrees include an internship or work-study program.
  • Bachelor’s Degree. The Bachelor’s Degree in HVAC is geared 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 being taught how to service and maintain heating and cooling systems, you will also learn how to design them.

Selecting the appropriate credential program will be based on what your future career goals are, along with the time and money that you have to invest. One option is to start with a certificate or even an Associate Degree program, and after acquiring some experience in the field in Springfield Gardens NY, later going back to obtain 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

Springfield Gardens NY student attending HVAC school onlineChoosing an HVAC school online is one possibility in obtaining your training and receiving a certificate or degree. Most schools will call for some attendance on campus to complete hands on training. Some also sponsor internship or work-study programs in addition to or instead of practical lab work. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, this option may be a more convenient solution for some Springfield Gardens NY students that are short on time. And some online degree programs are less costly than other on campus choices. Even commuting expenses from Springfield Gardens and study supplies may be reduced, helping to make schooling more economical. And a large number of online schools are fully accredited (more on this later). So if your career or family obligations have left you with minimal time to attend classes, perhaps an online HVAC degree program will make it easier to fit school into your busy lifestyle.

What to Ask HVAC Certification Courses

Questions to ask Springfield Gardens NY HVAC training schoolsOnce you have chosen the type of certificate or degree that you want to acquire, either online or on campus, you can begin to limit your selection of schools. As you are certainly aware, there are many HVAC technical schools in the Springfield Gardens NY area and throughout the United States to choose from. That’s why it is essential to have a checklist of important qualifiers when making school comparisons. As formerly stated in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will undoubtedly be the initial two variables you will take into consideration. Following are several additional ones that you will want to research before enrolling in your school of choice.

Accreditation.  Many HVAC vocational programs in the Springfield Gardens NY area have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example HVAC technology. Make sure that the school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain an excellent education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, 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 or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which can result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of Springfield Gardens NY HVAC employers to assist graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  A large number of HVAC vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of Heating and Cooling contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with local Springfield Gardens NY HVAC professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional HVAC professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the HVAC technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Springfield Gardens NY HVAC contracting company if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Springfield Gardens NY residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with some of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling.  Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Springfield Gardens NY, check that the programs you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.

Considering an HVAC School near Springfield Gardens NY?

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

Springfield Gardens, Queens

Springfield Gardens is a neighborhood in the southeastern area of the New York City borough of Queens, bounded to the north by St. Albans, to the east by Laurelton and Rosedale, to the south by John F. Kennedy International Airport, and to the west by Farmers Boulevard. The neighborhood is served by Queens Community Board 12.[1] The area, particularly east of Springfield Boulevard, is sometimes also referred to as Brookville.[2]

Major residential development came in the 1920s as Long Island Rail Road service was expanded to the area at the Springfield Gardens station (closed in 1979).[4] Between 1920 and 1930 the population increased from 3,046 to 13,089, with a lot of the newcomers being people from Brooklyn seeking out suburban homes. In 1927, the name of the community was changed to the more elegant Springfield Gardens.[5]

Today the area maintains its low-rise suburban nature. It is home to majority Afro-Caribbean and Indo-Caribbean populations including immigrants from Jamaica, Trinidad, Haiti and Guyana. Many homes have been torn down and remade for more families as more people move into the neighborhood. Part is in a Registered historic District.[6] Springfield Gardens is located within zip codes 11434 (western part) and 11413 (eastern part).

Air Conditioning Classes Springfield Gardens NY

Selecting the right HVAC training course is a critical first step toward a gratifying career in the heating and cooling industry. You originally came to this website because you wanted more information regarding Air Conditioning Classes. However, as we have covered in this post, you need to select an HVAC vocational school and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have exceptional reputations within the HVAC community. Other factors to search for are sufficient practical training and modern facilities. You need to visit each of the schools personally that you are most interested in to tour the campus and speak with both the current students and faculty. Attempt to get a feel for the quality of the teaching and the interaction between them. Also, ask about scheduling options and if night 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 proper 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 proper training, hard work and commitment, you can eventually become a licensed HVAC specialist in Springfield Gardens NY.

More Hot and Cool Locations in New York

  • HVAC Course Outline Brier Hill NY
  • HVAC Distance Learning Rexford NY
  • HVAC Schools Copake NY
  • HVAC Training Course Wyandanch NY
  • Heating and Cooling Classes Tarrytown NY
  • Air Conditioner Repair School New Berlin NY
  • Top Heating and Cooling Training Schools Laurens NY
  • Air Conditioning Repair Training Alexandria Bay NY
  • Air Conditioner School Online Ancram NY
  • HVAC Training Online Lake George NY
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 1700

    Amerikhomes Heating & AC
    60 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Water Heater Installation/Repair
    Phone:
    Queens, NY 11412

    Air Conditioner Installation By Vlad
    268 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    716 Ocean Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11230

    Brooklyn's Best AC
    33 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    805 Franklin Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

    Baker Air
    7 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Air Duct Cleaning
    Phone:
    26 Valley Rd, Port Washington, NY 11542

    MR. AIR NYC
    18 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    Brooklyn, NY 11217

    Premier HVAC Services
    43 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Air Duct Cleaning
    Phone:
    2601 E 24th St, Brooklyn, NY 11235

    24 Hour Plumbing and Sewer Cleaning
    11 Reviews
    Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Water Heater Installation/Repair
    Phone:
    30 New St, Oceanside, NY 11572

    J V MECH
    35 Reviews
    Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Water Heater Installation/Repair
    Phone:
    Floral Park, NY 11001

    Recommended Major Appliance Repair
    2 Reviews
    Appliances & Repair, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    Oceanside, NY 11572

    Ice Flow HVAC
    2 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    128 Bay 50th St, Brooklyn, NY 11214