Your mom may have told you, "If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen." Here's a new spin on an old adage: "If you can't take the heat (or cold), don't go to HVAC schools!"
On the other hand, if you can handle extreme temperatures and a blazing industry forecast, pursue HVAC careers with a passion.
Feeding the Fire
Anywhere there's climate-control equipment, there's work for HVAC technicians. These professionals install, maintain, and repair heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems. This is an important job, because they're the ones controlling the temperature, humidity, and total air quality in a building.
As in any profession, employers prefer to hire those with training and certifications. When researching HVAC schools, make sure they're accredited by one of these agencies: HVAC Excellence, the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), or the Partnership for Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Accreditation (PHARA).
Many HVAC schools offer six-month to two-year programs where you'll learn the basics of installation, maintenance, and repair, as well as theory, design, and equipment construction, and electronics. HVAC courses may include air-conditioning systems, blueprint reading, safety practices, theory and design of heating, use and care of tools, and ventilation.
Fanning the Flame
Once you've taken HVAC courses, certification exams will test your competency. Tests are offered through HVAC Excellence, The Carbon Monoxide Safety Association (COSA), and North American Technician Excellence, Inc. (NATE), among others.
HVAC Excellence, for example, offers Employment-Ready certifications, Professional-Level certifications, and Master Specialist certifications. Master Specialist certification areas include residential air conditioning, gas heat, oil heat, heat pumps, light commercial air conditioning, light commercial refrigeration, low pressure hydronic heat, and combustion analysis.
Lighting the Spark
HVAC technicians held about 270,000 jobs in 2004, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of these, median hourly earnings were $17.43, with the top 10 percent earning more than $27.11.
Job prospects for HVAC technicians are expected to be excellent. In fact, employment is projected to increase faster than average for all occupations through the year 2014.
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Robyn Tellefsen is a frequent contributor to The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school or career that's right for you!
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