Air Conditioner Classes Springtown PA

How to Enroll In the Right Heating and Cooling Program near Springtown Pennsylvania

air conditioner condensers in Springtown PA Once you have decided on a career as a heating and cooling professional, the next action is to find an HVAC vocational school near Springtown PA. But with so many to select from, how do you decide on the best one to receive the training that you require? Many prospective students will make their decision based exclusively on the price of tuition or how close the school is to their residence. Even though these are important considerations, they are not the only ones to investigate. Just some of the other details that you need to look into are the graduation rates of the HVAC schools, their reputations, and if they are accredited by professional trade organizations. These and additional criteria will be discussed in more detail later within this article. But before we discuss how to choose an HVAC trade school, let’s take a look at what a heating and cooling professional does to become a licensed professional tradesman.

How to Become an HVAC Technician

Springtown PA HVAC Tech installing water heater HVAC is an acronym that is widely used in the trade that stands for “Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning”. HVAC professionals specialize in the installation, maintenance and repair of air conditioners, furnaces, boilers, water heaters and heating systems. As skilled tradesmen, they are commonly required to be licensed, however each state and regional municipality has its own prerequisites. Earning professional certification is not mandatory, but an alternative means for Springtown PA HVAC technicians to prove that they are highly qualified and experienced in their area of expertise. There are several recognized certifications within the field that are available. Following are a few of the significant ones.

North American Technician Excellence (NATE). NATE is a nationally acknowledged certification for HVAC technicians. The certification is earned by passing a proficiency examination and can be acquired in one or more specialties.
HVAC Excellence. This certification makes available both a professional and a master specialist credential. 2 years of field experience in addition to passing a comprehensive exam are required for the professional level certification. Master specialists must have three years of experience along with a passing score on the professional level exam. Similar to NATE, certifications are made available in several specialties.
EPA Section 608. This certification is mandatory 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.

Considering that licensing could be required in your location, and you may also wish to earn certification, it’s imperative that you select an HVAC trade school that will prepare you for both. And since you will probably be handling refrigerants, make certain that the program you choose readies you for passing the EPA Section 608 exams.

HVAC Certificate and Degree Classes

radiator heater in Springtown PA home There are several options offered for HVAC training in a trade or technical school. You can earn a certificate, an Associate Degree, or a Bachelor’s Degree. Obtaining a certificate will take the least amount of time, usually accomplished in just six 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 advantage in the job market and will deliver more in-depth training than the certificate programs. Following is a brief summary of each option offered near Springtown PA.

Certificate. Normally requiring a high school diploma, certificate programs are preferred among beginning residential or commercial HVAC technicians. They provide a solid foundation of skills for employment within the industry.
Associate Degree. The Associate Degree in HVAC program delivers a more exhaustive understanding of heating and cooling systems than the certificate program. Usually taking two years to finish, many degrees feature an internship or work-study program.
Bachelor’s Degree. The Bachelor’s Degree in HVAC is suited more for a career in management or even business ownership. Some programs call for an Associate Degree, while others are a standard four year program. In addition to mastering how to service and maintain heating and cooling systems, you will also learn how to design them.

Selecting the right credential program will be based on what your long term career goals are, as well as the time and money that you have to commit. One approach is to start with a certificate or perhaps an Associate Degree program, and after getting some experience in the field in Springtown PA, eventually going back to earn a Bachelor’s Degree. If this is your tactic, be sure to ask the HVAC tech school you are considering about how their returning student program works.

HVAC Online Training

Springtown PA student attending HVAC school online Choosing an HVAC program online is one approach to obtaining your education and earning a certificate or degree. Most 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 instead of practical lab work. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, this approach may be a more convenient solution for some Springtown PA students that are pressed for time. And a number of online degree programs are more economical than other on campus alternatives. Even travelling expenses from Springtown and study materials may be lessened, helping to make schooling more economical. And numerous online schools are fully accredited (more on this later). So if your work or family responsibilities have left you with minimal time to attend classes, maybe an HVAC online training program will make it less complicated to accommodate school into your hectic lifestyle.

What to Ask HVAC Schools

Questions to ask Springtown PA HVAC training schools When you have picked the type of certificate or degree that you want to acquire, either on campus or online, you can begin to narrow down your selection of schools. As you are no doubt aware, there are numerous HVAC trade schools in the Springtown PA area and throughout the Country to pick from. That’s why it is very important to have a list of key qualifications when making school assessments. As formerly stated in our opening paragraph, location and tuition will probably be the first two factors you will consider. Following are some additional ones that you need to investigate before enrolling in your school of choice.

Accreditation. A large number of HVAC technical programs in the Springtown PA area have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example HVAC technology. Verify that the school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you acquire a superior education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. 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 Cooling schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It might also signify that the teachers were not competent to instruct 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 alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to use 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 field, but also that it has the network of Springtown PA HVAC employers to help graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of HVAC technical programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of HVAC contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with local Springtown PA HVAC contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional HVAC professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. 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 Springtown PA HVAC company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your Springtown PA home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to a few of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Springtown PA, confirm that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.

Considering an HVAC School near Springtown PA?

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

Pennsylvania Route 212

Pennsylvania Route 212 (PA 212) is a 14.9-mile-long (24.0 km) state highway in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The route runs from PA 313 in Quakertown northeast to PA 611 in Durham Township, just south of the borough of Riegelsville. The route, which is a two-lane undivided road its entire length, passes through rural areas of northern Bucks County, serving Richlandtown and Springtown. PA 212 has a concurrency with PA 412 through the Springtown area.

The westernmost part of PA 212 between Quakertown and Richlandtown was part of the Richland Turnpike or Plank Road Company, a company established in 1854 to build a turnpike connecting present-day PA 313 and PA 412. PA 212 was first designated by 1927 to run from U.S. Route 309 (US 309, now PA 309) and PA 312 (now PA 663) in Quakertown northeast to US 611 (now PA 611) in Riegelsville. The easternmost part of PA 212 was completed by 1940. PA 313 was designated concurrent with PA 212 on Broad Street in Quakertown by the 1970s. By the 1990s, the west end of PA 212 was cut back to its current location, removing the concurrency with PA 313.

PA 212 begins at an intersection with PA 313 in the borough of Quakertown in Bucks County, heading north on two-lane undivided Hellertown Avenue. The road passes through residential areas, curving east and becoming Tohickon Avenue. The route leaves Quakertown for Richland Township and heads northeast, crossing Tohickon Creek and becoming Richlandtown Pike. PA 212 is lined with homes as it passes through rural areas, crossing into the borough of Richlandtown. Here, the name of the road becomes Main Street and runs past more residences. The route turns northeast onto Church Road and heads back into Richland Township, where it heads north into farmland and woodland with some homes. PA 212 curves northeast and winds north into forested areas, entering Springfield Township. Here, the route becomes an unnamed road and turns northeast into agricultural areas with some woods and homes. The road passes through the community of Pleasant Valley as it continues north through more rural areas. PA 212 reaches an intersection with PA 412, at which point that route joins PA 212 in a concurrency.[2][3]

Picking the right HVAC training course is an important beginning toward a fulfilling career in the heating and air conditioning field. You originally came to this website because you wanted more information regarding Air Conditioner Classes. However, as we have addressed in this post, you need to pick an Heating and Cooling trade school and a degree or certificate program that are both accredited and have excellent reputations within the HVAC field. Other things to look for are ample hands-on training and modern facilities. You should 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 training and the interaction between them. Also, ask about scheduling choices and whether or not evening or weekend classes are offered if needed. And don’t forget to ask about financial assistance and student loan options as well. If you ask the proper questions as we have detailed in our guidelines for comparing schools, you’ll be able to filter your choices so that you can make an educated decision. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, you can ultimately become a licensed HVAC technician in Springtown PA.