Tag Archives: Accredited Heating and Cooling Schools near Lakeville MN 55044

HVAC Schools Cost Lakeville MN

How to Enroll In the Right HVAC Training Program near Lakeville Minnesota

air conditioner condensers in Lakeville MNOnce you have come to a decision on a career as a heating and cooling professional, the next action is to choose an HVAC trade school near Lakeville MN. But with so many to select from, how do you decide on the right one to receive the training that you need? Some prospective students will make their selection based exclusively on the cost of tuition or how close the school is to their home. While these are important concerns, they are not the only ones to investigate. A few of the other things 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 other benchmarks will be addressed in more detail later in this article. But before we discuss how to choose an HVAC training program, let’s look at what a heating and air conditioning specialist does to become a licensed qualified tradesman.

Becoming an HVAC Pro

Lakeville MN HVAC Tech installing water heaterHVAC is an acronym that is commonly used in the industry that stands for “Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning”. HVAC technicians provide services for the installation, maintenance and repair of central air conditioners, furnaces, boilers, hot 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. Attaining professional certification is not compulsory, but an alternative means for Lakeville MN HVAC techs to demonstrate that they are highly qualified and accomplished in their area of specialization. There are many respected certifications within the industry that are offered. Following are some of the significant ones.

  • North American Technician Excellence (NATE). NATE is a nationally recognized certification for HVAC techs. The certification is earned by passing a proficiency examination and may be acquired in one or more specialties.
  • HVAC Excellence. This certification offers both a professional and a master specialist credential. Two years of field experience in addition to passing a comprehensive examination are needed for the professional level certification. Master specialists must have 3 years of experience together with a passing score on the professional level exam. Similar to NATE, certifications are offered in multiple specialties.
  • EPA Section 608. This certification is required for specialists that work with refrigerants. There are three forms of certification obtainable, one for small appliances, and the other two for low and high pressure refrigerants.

Since licensing may be mandated in your area, and you may also intend to acquire certification, it’s important that you pick an HVAC technical school that will train you for both. And since you will most likely be dealing with refrigerants, make certain that the school you choose prepares you for passing the EPA Section 608 exams.

HVAC Degree and Certificate Classes

radiator heater in Lakeville MN homeThere are several alternatives available for HVAC training in a technical or vocational school. You can earn a certificate, an Associate Degree, or a Bachelor’s Degree. Obtaining a certificate will take the least amount of time, usually completed in just 6 months, although some programs are longer. A certificate will train you for the majority of HVAC positions, especially if you are licensed and have certification appropriate to the position. The degree training programs might provide a competitive advantage for securing employment and will furnish more in-depth training than the certificate programs. Following is a short explanation of each credential offered near Lakeville MN.

  • Certificate. Normally 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 detailed knowledge of heating and a/c systems than the certificate program. Normally requiring 2 years to finish, some degrees incorporate an internship or work-study program.
  • Bachelor’s Degree. The Bachelor’s Degree in HVAC is geared more for 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 cooling systems, you will also learn how to design them.

Selecting the ideal credential program will be based on what your long term career aspirations are, in addition to the time and money that you have to invest. One option is to start with a certificate or perhaps an Associate Degree program, and after acquiring some experience in the field in Lakeville MN, eventually going back to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree. If this is your strategy, make certain to ask the HVAC tech school you are considering about how their returning student program works.

HVAC Online Courses

Lakeville MN student attending HVAC school onlineEnrolling in an HVAC program online is one option to getting your education and receiving a certificate or degree. Almost all schools will call for some attendance on campus to complete practical training. Many also offer internship or work-study programs in addition to or instead of practical lab work. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended via the internet, this option may be a more practical solution for many Lakeville MN students that are short on time. And some online degree programs are less expensive than other on campus choices. Even commuting expenses from Lakeville and study materials can be reduced, helping to make education more economical. And many online schools are fully accredited (more on this later). So if your work or family responsibilities have left you with little time to attend classes, maybe an HVAC online training program will make it more convenient to accommodate school into your active lifestyle.

What to Ask HVAC Schools

Questions to ask Lakeville MN HVAC training schoolsOnce you have selected the type of degree or certificate that you want to earn, either online or on campus, you can start to narrow down your list of schools. As you are no doubt aware, there are a large number of HVAC trade schools in the Lakeville MN area and across the Country to choose from. That’s why it is extremely important to have a list of important qualifiers when making school evaluations. As earlier stated in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will undoubtedly be the first two factors you will take into consideration. Following are some additional ones that you will want to explore before enrolling in your school of choice.

Accreditation.  Many HVAC vocational programs in the Lakeville MN area have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as HVAC technology. Make certain that the school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it may assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states require that the HVAC training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion Rates.  Ask the HVAC schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It could also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which may 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 field, but additionally that it has the network of Lakeville MN HVAC employers to help students obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  A large number of HVAC training programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of Heating and Cooling contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have working relationships with local Lakeville MN HVAC professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional HVAC professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date 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 Lakeville MN HVAC contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Lakeville MN residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Lakeville MN, confirm that the schools you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.

Considering an HVAC School near Lakeville MN?

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

Lakeville, Minnesota

Lakeville /ˈleɪkvɪl/ is a city in Dakota County, Minnesota, United States. It is a suburb of Minneapolis-Saint Paul, approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of both downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul.[5] Lakeville is one of the fastest-growing cities in the Twin Cities area.[6] The U.S. Census Bureau recorded its population at 55,954 in 2010.[7][8]

Lakeville lies along Interstate Highway 35. Lakeville first became notable in 1910 when Marion Savage built the Dan Patch Railroad Line to service his Antlers Amusement Park.[9] It later became a flourishing milling center; its agriculture industry is still in operation. While many of Lakeville's workers commute northward to Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and more central suburbs like Bloomington, Lakeville has had major industry since the 1960s—including the Airlake Industrial Park, which is served by Airlake Airport, a regional reliever airport.

The Sioux people ceded most of southern Minnesota in the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux in 1851. A military road was constructed between Fort Snelling and the southern forts.[which?] In 1855, J.J. Brackett, a Saint Paul lumber baron and mail carrier using the road, decided to plat a site halfway between Saint Paul and Saint Peter on a lake he named Prairie Lake. The village was established as Lakeville Township in 1858.[10] Notoriety came when Colonel Marion Savage expanded his entertainment business into constructing Antlers Amusement Park in 1910. Riding on fame from his success with the Dan Patch racing horse and the popularity of the park, the lake was renamed Lake Marion, and the rail line servicing the park named the Dan Patch Railroad Line.[11]

HVAC Schools Cost Lakeville MN

Picking the right HVAC school course is an important first step toward a gratifying career in the heating and air conditioning industry. You originally came to this website because you wanted more information regarding HVAC Schools Cost. However, as we have addressed in this article, you need to pick an HVAC training program and a degree or certificate program that are both accredited and have exceptional reputations within the HVAC field. Other features to search for are plenty of practical training and modern facilities. You should visit each of the schools in person that you are most interested in to tour the campus and speak with both the current students and faculty. Try to get a feel for the quality of the training and the interaction between them. Additionally, ask about scheduling choices and if night or weekend classes are offered if needed. And remember to ask about financial assistance and student loan options too. If you ask the right questions as we have laid out 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 dedication, you can ultimately become a licensed HVAC professional in Lakeville MN.

More Hot and Cool Locations in Minnesota

  • Air Conditioning School Online Littlefork MN
  • HVAC Technician Program Mora MN
  • HVAC Classes Fairmont MN
  • HVAC Training Courses Hector MN
  • HVAC Certification Training Milan MN
  • HVAC Vocational School Tracy MN
  • How Long Is HVAC Training Verndale MN
  • How to Choose HVAC Online Training Schools Stewart MN
  • HVAC Courses Programs Clara City MN
  • HVAC Masters Degree Pierz MN
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 230

    Lofgren Heating & Air Conditioning
    5 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    5708 Upper 147th St W, Ste 102, Apple Valley, MN 55124

    The Heating Dude
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    Farmington, MN 55024

    Apple-Lake Heating & Air Conditioning Inc
    3 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    207 150th St W, Apple Valley, MN 55124

    H2C Heating, Cooling and Plumbing
    3 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Plumbing, Water Heater Installation/Repair
    Phone:
    14605 Greenridge Ln, Burnsville, MN 55306

    Ray N. Welter Heating Company
    15 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    4637 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407

    Genesis Heating & Air Conditioning
    2 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    Prior Lake, MN 55372

    LaSalle Heating and Air Conditioning
    6 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    3713 County Rd 42 W, Burnsville, MN 55306

    Kulla Heating & Air
    4 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    16965 Hamilton Ct, Lakeville, MN 55044

    Kleve & JC Mechanical
    4 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    12907 Pioneer Trl, Eden Prairie, MN 55347

    Burnsville Heating & Air Conditioning
    7 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    3451 W Burnsville Pkwy, Ste 120, Burnsville, MN 55337