How to Choose HVAC Degree Programs Allison Park PA

How to Choose the Right Heating and Cooling Certificate Program near Allison Park Pennsylvania

air conditioner condensers in Allison Park PA Now that you have come to a decision on a career as a heating and cooling technician, the next action is to choose an HVAC vocational school near Allison Park PA. But with so many to select from, how do you pick the best one to get the training that you require? A number of future students will make their choice based entirely on the price of tuition or how close the school is to their residence. While these are important considerations, they are not the only ones to evaluate. Some of the other factors that you need to investigate are the graduation 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 in this article. But before we explore how to pick an HVAC training program, let’s look at what a heating and a/c specialist does to become a licensed skilled tradesman.

Becoming an HVAC Professional

Allison Park PA HVAC Tech installing water heater HVAC is an acronym that is commonly used in the business that stands for “Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning”. HVAC professionals provide services for the installation, maintenance and repair of central air conditioners, furnaces, boilers, hot water heaters and heating systems. As skilled tradesmen, they are commonly required to be licensed, although each state and regional municipality has its own criteria. Attaining professional certification is not mandatory, but an optional means for Allison Park PA HVAC specialists to establish that they are highly skilled and accomplished in their area of specialization. There are multiple recognized certifications within the field that are offered. Following are a few of the significant ones.

North American Technician Excellence (NATE). NATE is a nationally recognized certification for HVAC techs. The certification is achieved by passing a proficiency exam and may be received in one or more specialties.
HVAC Excellence. This certification makes available both a professional and a master specialist credential. Two years of field experience together with passing a comprehensive exam are required for the professional level certification. Master specialists need to have 3 years of experience together with a passing result on the professional level examination. Similar to NATE, certifications are offered in various specialties.
EPA Section 608. This certification is necessary for technicians that handle refrigerants. There are three forms of certification obtainable, one for small appliances, and the other two for low and high pressure refrigerants.

Because licensing may be mandated in your area, and you may also desire to obtain certification, it’s important that you select an HVAC technical school that will prepare you for both. And since you will most likely be working with refrigerants, make certain that the program you select readies you for passing the EPA Section 608 examinations.

HVAC Degree Training Programs

radiator heater in Allison Park PA home There are several 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 period of time, often achieved in as little as 6 months, although some courses are longer. A certificate will train you for most HVAC positions, especially if you are licensed and have certification appropriate to the position. The degree programs might provide a competitive edge for securing employment and will deliver more extensive training than the certificate programs. Following is a short description of each option offered near Allison Park PA.

Certificate. Generally requiring a high school diploma, certificate programs are preferred among beginning residential or commercial HVAC technicians. They furnish a strong foundation of skills for job opportunities within the trade.
Associate Degree. The Associate Degree in HVAC program supplies a more detailed knowledge of heating & cooling systems than the certificate program. Usually requiring two years to complete, some 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 or even 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.

Choosing the right credential program will be dependent on what your future career goals are, in addition to the time and money that you have to invest. One possibility is to begin with a certificate or even an Associate Degree program, and after getting some experience in the field in Allison Park PA, later returning to earn a Bachelor’s Degree. If this is your approach, make sure to ask the HVAC tech school you are looking at about how their returning student program works.

HVAC Online Schools

Allison Park PA student attending HVAC school online Choosing an HVAC program online is one possibility in attaining your training and earning a certificate or degree. Nearly all schools will require some attendance on campus to complete hands on training. A number also sponsor internship or work-study programs in addition to or in place of practical lab work. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, this approach may be a more convenient solution for many Allison Park PA students that are pressed for time. And some online degree programs are more economical than other traditional alternatives. Even driving expenses from Allison Park and study materials may be reduced, helping to make education more economical. And many online programs are fully accredited (more on this later). So if your work or family commitments have left you with limited time to attend classes, maybe an HVAC online training program will make it less complicated to accommodate school into your hectic schedule.

Questions For HVAC Certification Courses

Questions to ask Allison Park PA HVAC training schools After you have decided on the type of degree or certificate that you wish to acquire, either online or on campus, you can begin to decrease your list of schools. As you are certainly aware, there are numerous HVAC technical schools in the Allison Park PA area and all over the USA to pick from. That’s why it is essential to have a checklist of relevant qualifications when making school assessments. As earlier stated in our opening paragraph, location and tuition will probably be the first two aspects you will consider. Following are some additional ones that you should investigate before enrolling in your school of choice.

Accreditation. A large number of HVAC technical schools in the Allison Park PA area have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as HVAC technology. Make sure that the program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get a superior education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states mandate that the HVAC training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion Rates. Ask the Heating and Cooling schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate may signify that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It may also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of Allison Park PA HVAC employers to help grads secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most HVAC training 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 within their network of Heating and Cooling companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with local Allison Park PA HVAC professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional HVAC professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the HVAC technician you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Allison Park PA HVAC contractor if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Allison Park PA home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to a few of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm 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 Allison Park PA, confirm that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering an HVAC School near Allison Park PA?

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

Hampton High School (Allison Park, Pennsylvania)

Hampton High School is located in Hampton Township a northern suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. It is managed by the Hampton Township School District. This was a Blue Ribbon School for 1994–96. In a 2007 US News and World Report article titled "America's Best High Schools", Hampton received a gold ranking, making it among the top 1% of US High Schools.[2][3]

Hampton offers 24 interscholastic programs: Football, Rollerball, Boys' Soccer, Girls' Soccer, Boys' Cross Country, Girls' Cross Country, Golf, Boys' Tennis, Girls' Tennis, Volleyball, Boys' Basketball, Girls' Basketball, Boys' Swimming and Diving, Girls' Swimming and Diving, Girls' Competitive Spirit (Cheerleading), Girls' Gymnastics, Wrestling, Baseball, Softball, Boys' Track and Field and Girls' Track and Field, Boys' Lacrosse and Girls' Lacrosse. In addition there are Five Club Sports: Crew, Ice Hockey, In-line Hockey, Ultimate Frisbee and Disc Golf. In 2009 the Hampton Ultimate team scored 5th place in the state Ultimate championships.

Hampton Team WPIAL or club Championships: 2015: Boys Lacrosse (Division 2) 2012: Boys Lacrosse (Division 2) 2011: Boys Soccer (AA) 2011: Boys Lacrosse (Division 2) 2010: Boys Soccer (AA) 2009: Boys Lacrosse (Division 2) 2009: Boys Basketball (AAA) 2009: Girls Ultimate Frisbee (section 1)+ 2009: Disc Golf+ 2008: Girls basketball (AAA) 2006: Boys Lacrosse (Division 2)+ 2003: Boys Lacrosse (Division 2)+ 1999: Boys Swimming (AA) 1998: Boys Swimming (AA) 1997: Boys Swimming (AA) 1995: Girls Soccer (AAA) 1994: Girls Soccer (AAA) 1994: Girls Tennis (AA) 1993: Girls Swimming (AAA) 1990: Boys Soccer (AA)

How to Choose HVAC Degree Programs Allison Park PA

Choosing the right HVAC training program is an important first step toward a gratifying career in the heating and air conditioning 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 post, you need to pick an Heating and Cooling vocational school and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have excellent reputations within the HVAC community. Other factors to look for are ample practical training and state-of-the-art facilities. You need to check out each of the schools personally 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. Additionally, inquire about scheduling choices and if evening or weekend classes are offered if needed. And remember to ask about financial aid and student loan options as well. If you ask the right questions as we have laid out in our checklist for assessing schools, you’ll be able to filter your choices 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 Allison Park PA.