HVAC Hands On Training Strattanville PA

How to Pick the Right Heating and Cooling Certificate Program near Strattanville Pennsylvania

air conditioner condensers in Strattanville PA Now that you have made a decision on a career as a heating and cooling professional, the next action is to look for an HVAC technical school near Strattanville PA. But with so many to pick from, how do you select the ideal one to get the training that you require? Many prospective students will make their selection based exclusively on the price of tuition or how near the school is to their residence. Even though these are relevant factors to consider, they are not the only ones to take into account. 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 benchmarks will be addressed in more detail later within this article. But before we tackle how to choose an HVAC vocational school, let’s take a look at what a heating and cooling technician does to become a licensed qualified tradesman.

How to Become an HVAC Tech

Strattanville PA HVAC Tech installing water heater HVAC is an acronym that is extensively used in the trade that stands for “Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning”. HVAC techs specialize in the installation, maintenance and repair of central air conditioners, furnaces, boilers, hot water heaters and heating systems. As skilled tradesmen, they are typically mandated to be licensed, however each state and regional municipality has its own requirements. Acquiring professional certification is not required, but a voluntary way for Strattanville PA HVAC techs to prove that they are exceptionally skilled and experienced in their area of expertise. There are several respected certifications within the industry that are offered. Below are some of the important ones.

North American Technician Excellence (NATE). NATE is a nationally acknowledged certification for HVAC technicians. The certification is attained by passing a proficiency examination and may 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 together with passing a comprehensive exam 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 examination. As with NATE, certifications are provided in multiple specialties.
EPA Section 608. This certification is mandatory for techs that handle refrigerants. There are three types of certification obtainable, one for small appliances, and the additional two for low and high pressure refrigerants.

Considering that licensing may be required in your area, and you may also intend to earn certification, it’s important that you choose an HVAC trade school that will train you for both. And since you will most likely be dealing with refrigerants, make certain that the program you select readies you for passing the EPA Section 608 exams.

HVAC Certificate and Degree Courses

radiator heater in Strattanville PA home There are several options available for HVAC training in a vocational 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 completed in as little as six months, though some programs are longer. A certificate will train you for the majority of HVAC positions, particularly if you are licensed and have certification relevant to the position. The degree training programs can provide a competitive edge in the job market and will provide more extensive training than the certificate programs. Below is a brief summary of each credential offered near Strattanville PA.

Certificate. Generally requiring a high school diploma, certificate programs are preferred among entry level commercial or residential HVAC specialists. They provide a solid foundation of skills for job opportunities within the trade.
Associate Degree. The Associate Degree in HVAC program delivers a more extensive knowledge of heating & cooling systems than the certificate program. Usually requiring two years to complete, a number of degrees include an internship or work-study program.
Bachelor’s Degree. The Bachelor’s Degree in HVAC is suited more for a career in management as well as business ownership. Some programs require an Associate Degree, while others are a standard 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 financial resources that you have to invest. One possibility is to start with a certificate or perhaps an Associate Degree program, and after getting some experience in the field in Strattanville PA, later going back to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree. If this is your approach, be sure to ask the HVAC technician school you are looking at about how their returning student program works.

HVAC Schools Online

Strattanville PA student attending HVAC school online Enrolling in an HVAC program online is one alternative in attaining your training and receiving a certificate or degree. Most schools will call for some attendance on campus to participate in hands on training. Many also provide internship or work-study programs in addition to or in place of practical lab work. But since the remainder of the classes can be participated in online, this alternative may be a more convenient solution for many Strattanville PA students that are short on time. And a number of online degree programs are less expensive than other on campus choices. Even commuting expenses from Strattanville and study materials may be lessened, helping to make schooling more economical. And many online programs are fully accredited (more on this later). So if your job or family responsibilities have left you with little time to attend classes, perhaps an online HVAC degree program will make it more convenient to accommodate school into your hectic lifestyle.

Questions to Ask HVAC Schools

Questions to ask Strattanville PA HVAC training schools Once you have chosen the type of certificate or degree that you would like to acquire, either online or on campus, you can start to decrease your selection of schools. As you are probably aware, there are many HVAC trade schools in the Strattanville PA area and across the Country to select from. That’s why it is extremely important to have a list of key qualifications when making school assessments. As formerly mentioned in our opening paragraph, location and tuition will probably be the initial 2 variables you will consider. Following are several additional ones that you should research before enrolling in your school of choice.

Accreditation. A large number of HVAC technical schools in the Strattanville PA area have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as HVAC technology. Make sure that the school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you receive an excellent education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, many states require that the HVAC training program 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate might indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It might also mean that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of Strattanville PA HVAC employers to assist graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of HVAC technical programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of Heating and Cooling companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with local Strattanville PA HVAC contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional HVAC professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the HVAC technician you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Strattanville PA HVAC contracting company if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Strattanville PA residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized training 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 experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with several of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Strattanville PA, check that the programs 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, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering an HVAC School near Strattanville PA?

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

Strattanville, Pennsylvania

Originally laid out in 1828 by John Strattan Sr., Strattanville lays claim to be the oldest town in Clarion County. Indeed, the first settlement of the town predates the county by 11 years. In 1850 the village incorporated into a borough. As one of the three original towns of Clarion County, it was once in consideration for the county seat. Due to the political turmoil of the time, it was elected to erect a new, separate municipality to hold the county offices in Clarion, Pennsylvania only three miles away. Strattanville still has many auspices of this age in its history. The old school house now houses the local American Legion. The original store owned by Mr. Strattan still stands at the southeastern corner of Market St. and Main St. However, only the drug and furniture store are easily identifiable of the "four dry goods and grocery stores, a postoffice, one drug store, one hardware store, one foundry, two boot and shoe shops, two millinery establishments, one blacksmith shop, one tannery, one furniture store and undertaking establishment, one barber shop, a Western Union telegraph office, two hotels, one livery stable, and a lumber office" [4] that once populated the borough.

Strattanville is located in eastern Clarion County at 41°12′9″N 79°19′44″W / 41.20250°N 79.32889°W / 41.20250; -79.32889 (41.202482, -79.328934).[5]U.S. Route 322 passes through the borough, leading west 3 miles (5 km) to Clarion, the county seat, and east 4.5 miles (7.2 km) to Interstate 80. Exit 64 on I-80 is 3 miles (5 km) southwest of Strattanville via secondary roads.

Strattanville Volunteer Fire Company operates out of one station located within the borough limits. Emergency medical services are provided by Clarion Hospital EMS. The Pennsylvania State Police in Clarion are responsible for law enforcement.

Picking the right HVAC training program is a critical first step toward a rewarding career in the heating and air conditioning trade. You originally came to this website because you wanted more information regarding HVAC Hands On Training. However, as we have addressed in this post, you should select an HVAC training program and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have outstanding reputations within the HVAC profession. Other factors to search for are lots of practical training and modern facilities. You need to go to each of the schools in person that you are most interested in to tour the campus and talk with both the current students and faculty. Try to get a feel for the quality of the training and the interaction between them. Also, ask about scheduling choices and whether night or weekend classes are available if needed. And don’t forget to ask about financial aid and student loan options too. If you ask the proper questions as we have detailed in our guidelines for evaluating schools, you’ll be able to narrow down your options so that you can make an educated decision. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, you can ultimately become a licensed HVAC specialist in Strattanville PA.