How To Become a HVAC Tech Jeffersonville VT

How to Select the Right Heating and Cooling Training Class near Jeffersonville Vermont

air conditioner condensers in Jeffersonville VT Now that you have made a decision on a career as a heating and air conditioning specialist, the next step is to choose an HVAC technical school near Jeffersonville VT. But with so many to choose from, how do you select the best one to receive the training that you need? Some prospective students will make their choice based exclusively on the cost of tuition or how near the school is to their home. Although these are relevant factors to consider, they are not the only ones to investigate. A few of the other things that you need to look into are the graduation completion rates of the HVAC schools, their reputations, and if they are accredited by professional trade organizations. Those and additional criteria will be addressed in more detail later in this article. But before we discuss how to choose an HVAC trade school, let’s take a look at what a heating and a/c contractor does to become a licensed skilled tradesman.

Becoming an HVAC Specialist

Jeffersonville VT HVAC Tech installing water heater HVAC is an acronym that is commonly used in the industry that stands for “Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning”. HVAC technicians specialize in the installation, maintenance and repair of central air conditioners, furnaces, boilers, water heaters and heating systems. As professional tradesmen, they are generally mandated to be licensed, however each state and local municipality has its own prerequisites. Acquiring professional certification is not compulsory, but a voluntary way for Jeffersonville VT HVAC techs to demonstrate that they are highly skilled and knowledgeable in their area of expertise. There are many recognized certifications within the field that are offered. Below are a few 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 competency exam and may be earned in one or more specialties.
HVAC Excellence. This certification offers both a professional and a master specialist credential. 2 years of professional experience together with passing a comprehensive examination are needed 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 provided in various specialties.
EPA Section 608. This certification is mandatory for specialists that work with refrigerants. There are 3 types of certification available, one for small appliances, and the additional two for low and high pressure refrigerants.

Because licensing might be required in your location, and you may also intend to obtain certification, it’s imperative that you select an HVAC vocational school that will prepare you for both. And since you will more than likely be dealing with refrigerants, make certain that the program you pick readies you for passing the EPA Section 608 exams.

HVAC Degree Classes

radiator heater in Jeffersonville VT home There are a number of choices available for HVAC training in a vocational or trade school. You can obtain a certificate, an Associate Degree, or a Bachelor’s Degree. Obtaining a certificate will take the minimum amount of time, often achieved in just six months, although some programs are longer. A certificate will qualify you for most HVAC positions, particularly if you are licensed and have certification applicable to the position. The degree programs may provide a competitive edge for securing employment and will deliver more in-depth training than the certificate programs. Below is a short description of each credential offered near Jeffersonville VT.

Certificate. Normally requiring a high school diploma, certificate programs are very popular among entry level commercial or residential HVAC specialists. They provide a solid foundation of skills for employment within the industry.
Associate Degree. The Associate Degree in HVAC program provides a more extensive knowledge of heating & cooling systems than the certificate program. Normally requiring two years to complete, many degrees incorporate 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 traditional four year program. In addition to learning how to service and maintain heating and air conditioning systems, you will also study how to design them.

Choosing the appropriate credential program will be dependent on what your future career aspirations are, along with the time and financial resources that you have to invest. One approach is to begin with a certificate or perhaps an Associate Degree program, and after acquiring some experience in the field in Jeffersonville VT, subsequently going back to earn a Bachelor’s Degree. If this is your approach, be sure to ask the HVAC technician school you are considering about how their returning student program works.

HVAC Schools Online

Jeffersonville VT student attending HVAC school online Choosing an HVAC program online is one approach in attaining your training and earning a certificate or degree. Most schools will require some attendance on campus to complete hands on training. A number also provide internship or work-study programs in addition to or as an alternative to practical lab work. But since the balance of the classes may be attended on the web, this alternative may be a more practical solution for some Jeffersonville VT students that are short on time. And some online degree programs are cheaper than other on campus alternatives. Even commuting expenses from Jeffersonville and study materials may be reduced, helping to make schooling more budget-friendly. And many online schools are fully accredited (more on this later). So if your work or family obligations have left you with minimal time to attend classes, maybe an HVAC online training program will make it less complicated to fit school into your hectic schedule.

Questions For HVAC Trade Schools

Questions to ask Jeffersonville VT HVAC training schools After you have selected the type of certificate or degree that you want to obtain, either on campus or online, you can start to decrease your selection of schools. As you are no doubt aware, there are numerous HVAC vocational schools in the Jeffersonville VT area and all over the Country to choose from. That’s why it is extremely important to have a checklist of important qualifications when making school evaluations. As earlier stated in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will undoubtedly be the first 2 variables you will look at. Following are some additional ones that you will want to research before enrolling in your school of choice.

Accreditation. Many HVAC trade schools in the Jeffersonville VT area have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance HVAC technology. Confirm that the school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get an excellent education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states require that the HVAC training course be accredited for it 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 program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It might also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to utilize 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 industry, but also that it has the network of Jeffersonville VT HVAC employers to help grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of HVAC training programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of Heating and Cooling companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with local Jeffersonville VT HVAC contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional HVAC professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the HVAC tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Jeffersonville VT HVAC company if they can give you some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Jeffersonville VT home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Jeffersonville VT, confirm that the schools you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering an HVAC School near Jeffersonville VT?

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

Jeffersonville, Vermont

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.81 square miles (2.1 km2), of which 0.03 square miles (0.07 km2), or 3.25%, is water.[3] The village is located near the geographic center of the town of Cambridge, along the south bank of the Lamoille River where it is joined by the Brewster River. Jeffersonville is 25 miles North-east of the city of Burlington, Vermont. Jeffersonville sits at 1,060 feet above sea level, surrounded by higher standing mountains, such as Mount Mansfield (the highest peak in Vermont at 4,393 feet [1,339m])), 4 miles to the east.

Jeffersonville has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb), with very cold winters and warm, humid summers. The monthly daily average temperatures ranges from 12 °F (−11.1 °C) in January to 64.4 °F (18 °C) in July. The annual precipitation is significant, averaging 72.3 inches (1703.6 mm) and is well-distributed throughout the year, but the latter months are the wettest. The town's location east of Lake Champlain sometimes accounts for localized snow squalls, producing up to 18 inches (45.7 cm) in 12 hours on rare occasions.[20] Annual snowfall is significant, averaging 331.4 inches (841.2 cm). Extremes have ranged from −38 °F (−38.8 °C) on January 28, 1994 to 89 °F (31 °C) on June 28, 2003 and July 26, 1989.[17] The most snowfall from a single storm is 73.1 inches (185.7 cm), which fell January 2–4, 2010.[21]

Climate data for Jeffersonville (Jeffersonville, Vermont), 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1981–present[a] Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °F (°C) 59 (15) 60 (15) 71 (21) 83 (28) 84 (28) 89 (31) 89 (31) 88 (31) 87 (30) 75 (24) 67 (19) 62 (17) 89 (31) Average high °F (°C) 23.1 (-5) 26.4 (-3.1) 31.9 (-.05) 46.2 (7.8) 60 (15.5) 69.8 (20.5) 74.1 (23.4) 71.6 (22) 65 (18.3) 50 (10) 38.1 (3.3) 28 (-2.2) 48.3 (9) Daily mean °F (°C) 12 (-11.1) 15 (-9.4) 23.2 (-4.9) 37.1 (2.8) 50 (10) 61 (16.1) 64.4 (18) 62.6 (17) 55 (12.8) 42.3 (5.7) 31.7 (-.1) 19.2 (-7.1) 39.2 (4) Average low °F (°C) 1.1 (−17.2) 4.9 (−15) 14.5 (-9.7) 27 (-2.7) 41.3 (5.2) 51.6 (10.8) 55.8 (13.2) 54.3 (12.4) 45.1 (7.3) 32 (0) 22.2 (-5.4) 10 (-12.2) 29.7 (-1.3) Record low °F (°C) −38 (−38.8) −34 (−36.6) -22 (−30) -3 (−19) 21 (-6.1) 28 (-2.2) 35 (1.7) 30 (-1.1) 15 (-9.4) 10 (−12.2) -12 (−24) −29 (−33.9) −38 (−38.8) Average precipitation inches (mm) 5.2 (132.8) 4.6 (116.8) 4.1 (104.1) 4.4 (111.7) 6.1 (154.5) 5.8 (147.3) 6.1 (154.5) 6.2 (157.5) 5.4 (137.2) 6.8 (172.3) 5.8 (147.3) 6.6 (167.6) 72.3 (1703.6) Average snowfall inches (cm) 67.0 (170.8) 61.3 (155.7) 55.2 (140.2) 21.3 (54.1) 5.6 (14.6) 1.3 (3.3) 0 (0) 0.1 (.3) 2.8 (7.1) 17.1 (43.4) 36.4 (92.5) 63.2 (160.5) 331.4 (841.8) Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 20.3 18 14.3 17.8 18.2 17.2 15.4 16.2 13.3 14.4 19.6 22.6 207.3 Avg. snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 19.8 16.8 12.8 13.3 6.2 1.1 0 0.1 1.3 5.2 8.2 14.3 20.4 Source: WCC

Selecting the right HVAC training course is a crucial first step toward a gratifying career in the heating & cooling field. You originally came to this website because you wanted more information regarding How To Become a HVAC Tech. However, as we have addressed in this post, you need to choose an HVAC training program and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have exceptional reputations within the HVAC field. Other things to look for are lots of practical training and modern facilities. You need to visit each of the schools personally that you are most interested in to inspect the campus and speak with both the current students and faculty. Attempt to get a feel for the quality of the instruction and the interaction between them. Additionally, ask about scheduling options and whether evening or weekend classes are available if needed. And remember to inquire about financial aid and student loan options also. If you ask the proper questions as we have detailed in our checklist 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 eventually become a licensed HVAC professional in Jeffersonville VT.