How to Choose HVAC Certification Training Wallace SC

How to Choose the Right HVAC Training Class near Wallace South Carolina

air conditioner condensers in Wallace SCNow that you have made a decision on a career as a heating and cooling specialist, the next action is to choose an HVAC vocational school near Wallace SC. But with so many to choose from, how do you select the best one to obtain the training that you need? A number of future students will make their choice based solely on the cost of tuition or how close the school is to their residence. Although these are necessary concerns, they are not the only ones to evaluate. 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. Those and additional benchmarks will be addressed in more detail later within this article. But before we tackle how to select an HVAC technical school, let’s look at what a heating and a/c specialist does to become a licensed skilled tradesman.

How to Become an HVAC Technician

Wallace SC HVAC Tech installing water heaterHVAC is an acronym that is frequently used in the trade 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 skilled tradesmen, they are commonly required to be licensed, although every state and regional municipality has its own prerequisites. Acquiring professional certification is not mandatory, but an alternative way for Wallace SC HVAC techs to demonstrate that they are exceptionally qualified and experienced in their area of expertise. There are multiple respected certifications within the industry that are available. Here are some of the important ones.

  • North American Technician Excellence (NATE). NATE is a nationally recognized certification for HVAC technicians. The certification is earned by passing a competency exam 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 professional experience as well as passing a comprehensive examination are required for the professional level certification. Master specialists need to have 3 years of experience in addition to a passing score on the professional level examination. As with NATE, certifications are made available in multiple specialties.
  • EPA Section 608. This certification is required for technicians that work with refrigerants. There are 3 forms of certification obtainable, one for small appliances, and the other two for low and high pressure refrigerants.

Considering that licensing may be mandated in your location, and you may also desire to obtain certification, it’s essential that you pick an HVAC trade school that will prepare you for both. And since you will probably be handling refrigerants, make sure that the program you choose prepares you for passing the EPA Section 608 examinations.

HVAC Certificate and Degree Schools

radiator heater in Wallace SC homeThere are a variety of choices available for HVAC training in a technical or vocational school. You can obtain a certificate, an Associate Degree, or a Bachelor’s Degree. Acquiring a certificate will take the lesser amount of time, typically completed in just 6 months, although some programs are longer. A certificate will qualify you for most HVAC positions, especially if you are licensed and have certification related to the position. The degree programs may provide a competitive edge in the job market and will furnish more extensive training than the certificate programs. Following is a short summary of each option offered near Wallace SC.

  • Certificate. Generally requiring a high school diploma, certificate programs are preferred among beginning residential or commercial HVAC technicians. They provide a solid foundation of skills for job opportunities within the industry.
  • Associate Degree. The Associate Degree in HVAC program delivers a more extensive background of heating & cooling systems than the certificate program. Generally requiring 2 years to complete, a number of degrees feature 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 require an Associate Degree, while others are a conventional four year program. In addition to being taught how to service and maintain heating and air conditioning systems, you will also learn how to design them.

Selecting the appropriate credential program will be dependent on what your long term career aspirations are, in addition to the time and financial resources that you have to commit. One option is to start with a certificate or perhaps an Associate Degree program, and after getting some experience in the trade in Wallace SC, later returning to acquire a Bachelor’s Degree. If this is your approach, make certain to ask the HVAC tech school you are looking at about how their returning student program works.

HVAC Online Classes

Wallace SC student attending HVAC school onlineAttending an HVAC school online is one approach to obtaining your education and receiving a degree or certificate. Nearly all 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 instead of practical lab work. But since the balance of the classes may be participated in via the internet, this approach may be a more accessible solution for some Wallace SC students that are short on time. And a number of online degree programs are less costly than other on campus alternatives. Even commuting expenses from Wallace and study supplies can be reduced, helping to make schooling more budget-friendly. And many 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 hectic lifestyle.

Questions to Ask HVAC Trade Schools

Questions to ask Wallace SC HVAC training schoolsAs soon as you have selected the type of certificate or degree that you wish to attain, either online or on campus, you can begin to limit your selection of schools. As you are no doubt aware, there are a large number of HVAC trade schools in the Wallace SC area and throughout the USA to pick from. That’s why it is imperative to have a list of key qualifications when making school assessments. As formerly mentioned in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will undoubtedly be the first 2 aspects you will take into consideration. Following are some additional ones that you should explore before enrolling in your school of choice.

Accreditation.  Numerous HVAC trade schools in the Wallace SC area have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example HVAC technology. Make certain that the program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire an excellent education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, some states require that the HVAC training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion Rates.  Ask the HVAC schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It could also indicate that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to use 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 trade, but also that it has the network of Wallace SC HVAC employers to assist graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many HVAC training programs are taught in conjunction 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 Heating and Cooling companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with local Wallace SC HVAC companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job 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 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 tech you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Wallace SC HVAC company if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Wallace SC home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling.  Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Wallace SC, verify that the programs you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.

Considering an HVAC School near Wallace SC?

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

Wallace, South Carolina

Wallace is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in northwestern Marlboro County, South Carolina, United States. It lies at the intersection of U.S. Route 1 with SC 9 and SC 177, northwest of the city of Bennettsville, the county seat of Marlboro County.[1] Its elevation is 151&feet (46 m).[2] Although Wallace is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 29596;[3] the ZCTA for ZIP code 29596 had a population of 2,606 at the 2000 census.[4]

How to Choose HVAC Certification Training Wallace SC

Finding the right HVAC school course is an important first step toward a rewarding career in the heating & cooling trade. You originally came to this website because you wanted more information regarding How to Choose HVAC Certification Training. However, as we have discussed in this post, you should select an Heating and Cooling technical school and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have exceptional reputations within the HVAC trade. Other factors to search for are ample practical training and state-of-the-art facilities. You should visit each of the schools in person that you are most interested in to inspect the campus and talk with both the current students and faculty. Attempt to get a feel for the quality of the training and the interaction between them. In addition, ask about scheduling options and whether or not evening or weekend classes are available if needed. And don’t forget to inquire about financial assistance and student loan options also. If you ask the right questions as we have outlined in our guidelines for comparing schools, you’ll be able to filter your choices so that you can make an informed decision. With the appropriate training, hard work and commitment, you can ultimately become a licensed HVAC specialist in Wallace SC.

More Hot and Cool Locations in South Carolina

  • HVAC Certification Online Courses Mc Clellanville SC
  • Becoming an HVAC Technician Pageland SC
  • HVAC Training Schools Timmonsville SC
  • Air Conditioner and Refrigeration Courses Myrtle Beach SC
  • How Long is HVAC Training Summerville SC
  • Air Conditioner Schools Fair Play SC
  • HVAC Technician Program Inman SC
  • Heating and Ventilation Courses Mount Pleasant SC
  • HVAC Certification Classes Near Me Santee SC
  • HVAC Certificate Online Conway SC
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 13

    Simmons One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning
    5 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    11780 McColl Rd, Laurinburg, NC 28352

    Wards Heating & Cooling
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    Laurel Hill, NC 28351

    Scholl Mechanical Co
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    108 E Green St, Rockingham, NC 28379

    Mka Mechanical
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    624 E Carolina Ave, Hartsville, SC 29550

    Eco Air Solutions, LLC
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    Marston, NC 28363

    Edwards Refrigeration
    1 Reviews
    Electricians, Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    134 Throop St, Bennettsville, SC 29512

    Pee Dee Comfort Solutions
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    120 Dudley Dr, Lamar, SC 29069

    Paul's Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning
    2 Reviews
    Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    417 Elizabeth Ave, Rockingham, NC 28379

    Marley Electric Heating
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    470 Beauty Spot Rd E, Bennettsville, SC 29512

    After Hours Heating & Cooling
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    2328 Mallard Ln, Florence, SC 29501