Top HVAC Technical Schools Cottage Grove WI

How to Pick the Right Heating and Cooling Certification Course near Cottage Grove Wisconsin

air conditioner condensers in Cottage Grove WI Once you have decided on a career as a heating and air conditioning professional, the next action is to find an HVAC vocational school near Cottage Grove WI. But with so many to select from, how do you decide on the ideal one to get the training that you require? A number of prospective students will make their decision based exclusively on the cost of tuition or how close the school is to their home. Although these are important considerations, they are not the only ones to evaluate. Some of the other factors 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. These and other benchmarks will be addressed in more detail later within this article. But before we explore how to pick an HVAC vocational school, let’s take a look at what a heating and air conditioning technician does to become a licensed skilled tradesman.

How to Become an HVAC Professional

Cottage Grove WI 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 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 generally required to be licensed, however each state and local municipality has its own prerequisites. Obtaining professional certification is not required, but an alternative way for Cottage Grove WI HVAC specialists to establish that they are exceptionally qualified and knowledgeable in their area of specialization. There are a number of recognized certifications within the field that are offered. Following 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 competency examination and can be earned in one or more specialties.
HVAC Excellence. This certification makes available both a professional and a master specialist credential. 2 years of professional experience as well as passing a comprehensive examination are required for the professional level certification. Master specialists need to have three years of experience as well as a passing result on the professional level examination. As with NATE, certifications are provided in multiple specialties.
EPA Section 608. This certification is necessary for technicians that work with refrigerants. There are 3 types of certification obtainable, one for small appliances, and the additional two for low and high pressure refrigerants.

Considering that licensing might be required in your location, and you may also intend to acquire certification, it’s essential that you select an HVAC vocational school that will prepare you for both. And since you will probably be handling refrigerants, make sure that the school you decide on prepares you for passing the EPA Section 608 examinations.

HVAC Degree Courses

radiator heater in Cottage Grove WI home There are several choices offered for HVAC training in a technical or trade school. You can attain a certificate, an Associate Degree, or a Bachelor’s Degree. Earning a certificate will take the least period of time, usually achieved in as little as six months, though some courses are longer. A certificate will qualify you for the majority of HVAC positions, especially if you are licensed and have certification applicable to the position. The degree programs may provide a competitive advantage for securing employment and will furnish more comprehensive training than the certificate programs. Below is a brief explanation of each credential offered near Cottage Grove WI.

Certificate. Normally requiring a high school diploma, certificate programs are preferred among entry level residential or commercial HVAC professionals. They furnish a solid foundation of skills for job opportunities within the industry.
Associate Degree. The Associate Degree in HVAC program supplies a more comprehensive understanding of heating & cooling systems than the certificate program. Normally taking 2 years to complete, many degrees include 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 call for an Associate Degree, while others are a conventional four year program. In addition to mastering how to service and maintain heating and cooling systems, you will also study how to design them.

Choosing the appropriate credential program will be based on what your long term career goals are, along with the time and money that you have to commit. One approach is to start with a certificate or even an Associate Degree program, and after getting some experience in the trade in Cottage Grove WI, eventually going back to earn a Bachelor’s Degree. If this is your strategy, be sure to ask the HVAC technician school you are considering about how their returning student program works.

HVAC Training Online

Cottage Grove WI student attending HVAC school online Attending an HVAC school online is one alternative to getting your education and receiving a degree or certificate. Most schools will call for some attendance on campus to take part in hands on training. Some also offer internship or work-study programs in addition to or as an alternative to practical lab work. But since the balance of the classes can be attended via the internet, this approach may be a more practical solution for some Cottage Grove WI students that are short on time. And a number of online degree programs are less costly than other on campus options. Even commuting expenses from Cottage Grove and study materials can be reduced, helping to make education more affordable. And many online programs are fully accredited (more on this later). So if your career or family obligations have left you with minimal time to attend classes, maybe an HVAC online training program will make it easier to fit school into your hectic lifestyle.

What to Ask HVAC Trade Schools

Questions to ask Cottage Grove WI HVAC training schools When you have chosen the type of certificate or degree that you desire to earn, either on campus or online, you can start to decrease your selection of schools. As you are no doubt aware, there are numerous HVAC trade schools in the Cottage Grove WI area and across the United States to pick from. That’s why it is very important to have a list of key qualifiers when making school comparisons. As earlier stated in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will most likely be the initial two aspects you will consider. Following are several additional ones that you should research before enrolling in your school of choice.

Accreditation. Many HVAC vocational schools in the Cottage Grove WI area have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example HVAC technology. Make sure that the school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire an excellent education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states require that the HVAC training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion Rates. Ask the HVAC schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It might also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of Cottage Grove WI HVAC employers to help students acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many HVAC vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of HVAC businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with local Cottage Grove WI HVAC contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area HVAC professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the HVAC tech you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Cottage Grove WI HVAC contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Cottage Grove WI residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging 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 instructors. Speak with several of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Cottage Grove WI, check that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, 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 Cottage Grove WI?

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

Cottage Grove, Wisconsin

Cottage Grove is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 6,248 at the 2010 census. A suburb of Madison, it shares a school district with Monona. The village is located within the Town of Cottage Grove.

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 6,192 people, 2,210 households, and 1,628 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,779.3 inhabitants per square mile (687.0/km2). There were 2,289 housing units at an average density of 657.8 per square mile (254.0/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 92.1% White, 2.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.2% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.0% of the population.

There were 2,210 households of which 47.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.3% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.26.

Finding the ideal HVAC school program is a critical beginning toward a gratifying career in the heating & cooling industry. You originally came to this website because you wanted more information regarding Top HVAC Technical Schools. However, as we have addressed in this article, you need to select an HVAC trade school and a degree or certificate program that are both accredited and have outstanding reputations within the HVAC profession. Other things to look for are lots of practical training and state-of-the-art facilities. You need to go to each of the schools personally 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 teaching and the interaction between them. In addition, ask about scheduling choices and if evening or weekend classes are offered if needed. And don’t forget to inquire about financial aid and student loan options as well. If you ask the appropriate questions as we have laid out in our checklist for evaluating schools, you’ll be able to filter your options so that you can make an educated decision. With the right training, hard work and commitment, you can eventually become a licensed HVAC technician in Cottage Grove WI.