Tag Archives: Accredited Local HVAC Classes near Florence AZ 85232

Heating and Air School Florence AZ

How to Choose the Right Heating and Cooling Certification Class near Florence Arizona

air conditioner condensers in Florence AZOnce you have decided on a career as a heating and cooling technician, the next step is to look for an HVAC technical school near Florence AZ. But with so many to choose from, how do you decide on the right one to obtain the training that you require? Many prospective students will make their choice based entirely on the cost of tuition or how near the school is to their home. Even though these are important concerns, they are not the only ones to take into account. A few of the other factors that you need to research are the graduation completion rates of the HVAC schools, their reputations, and if they are accredited by professional trade organizations. Those and other benchmarks will be discussed in more detail later within this article. But before we examine how to pick an HVAC trade school, let’s take a look at what a heating and cooling professional does to become a licensed skilled tradesman.

How to Become an HVAC Professional

Florence AZ HVAC Tech installing water heaterHVAC is an acronym that is widely used in the business that stands for “Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning”. HVAC professionals provide services for the installation, repair and maintenance of air conditioners, furnaces, boilers, water heaters and heating systems. As skilled tradesmen, they are commonly required to be licensed, though each state and local municipality has its own requirements. Earning professional certification is not mandatory, but a voluntary means for Florence AZ HVAC techs to demonstrate that they are highly proficient and experienced in their area of expertise. There are several respected certifications within the field that are available. Following are some of the significant ones.

  • North American Technician Excellence (NATE). NATE is a nationally recognized certification for HVAC techs. The certification is attained by passing a proficiency examination 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 exam are needed for the professional level certification. Master specialists must have three years of experience along with a passing score on the professional level exam. As with NATE, certifications are offered in various specialties.
  • EPA Section 608. This certification is mandatory for techs that handle refrigerants. There are three types of certification obtainable, one for small appliances, and the other two for low and high pressure refrigerants.

Because licensing might be mandated in your location, and you may also wish to obtain certification, it’s important that you pick an HVAC trade school that will train you for both. And since you will probably be working with refrigerants, make certain that the program you choose prepares you for passing the EPA Section 608 examinations.

HVAC Degree Training Programs

radiator heater in Florence AZ homeThere are a number of alternatives available for HVAC instruction in a vocational or trade school. You can obtain a certificate, an Associate Degree, or a Bachelor’s Degree. Acquiring a certificate will take the least amount of time, usually achieved in just 6 months, although some programs are longer. A certificate will qualify you for most HVAC positions, particularly if you are licensed and have certification appropriate to the position. The degree training programs may provide a competitive advantage in the job market and will provide more extensive training than the certificate programs. Following is a short summary of each option offered near Florence AZ.

  • Certificate. Generally requiring a high school diploma, certificate programs are preferred among beginning commercial or residential HVAC specialists. They furnish a solid foundation of skills for employment within the trade.
  • Associate Degree. The Associate Degree in HVAC program provides a more extensive understanding of heating & cooling systems than the certificate program. Usually requiring two years to complete, some 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 or even business ownership. Some programs call for 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.

Choosing the appropriate credential program will be based on what your future career aspirations are, together with the time and financial resources that you have to invest. One option is to begin with a certificate or even an Associate Degree program, and after acquiring some experience in the trade in Florence AZ, eventually going back to acquire a Bachelor’s Degree. If this is your tactic, make certain to ask the HVAC tech school you are looking at about how their returning student program works.

HVAC Classes Online

Florence AZ student attending HVAC school onlineEnrolling in an HVAC program online is one option to getting your training and receiving a degree or certificate. Nearly all schools will call for some attendance on campus to take part in practical training. Many also sponsor internship or work-study programs in addition to or in place of practical lab work. But since the balance of the classes can be attended on the web, this approach may be a more practical solution for some Florence AZ students that are pressed for time. And some online degree programs are more economical than other on campus choices. Even commuting expenses from Florence and study supplies can be minimized, helping to make education more affordable. And numerous online programs are fully accredited (more on this later). So if your work or family commitments have left you with little time to attend classes, maybe an HVAC online training program will make it easier to fit school into your hectic lifestyle.

Questions For HVAC Schools

Questions to ask Florence AZ HVAC training schoolsWhen you have selected the type of degree or certificate that you would like to earn, either on campus or online, you can begin to narrow down your selection of schools. As you are probably aware, there are numerous HVAC technical schools in the Florence AZ area and all over the Country to select from. That’s why it is extremely important to have a list of relevant qualifications when making school evaluations. As previously stated in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will probably be the initial two variables you will look at. Following are several additional ones that you need to explore before enrolling in your school of choice.

Accreditation.  Numerous HVAC trade programs in the Florence AZ area have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example HVAC technology. Verify that the school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get an excellent education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, some states require that the HVAC training course be accredited for it to qualify 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 course. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It might also mean that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory 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 validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of Florence AZ HVAC employers to assist graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many HVAC trade 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 inside their network of HVAC companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with local Florence AZ HVAC professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area HVAC professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make certain that the campus 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 specialist you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Florence AZ HVAC company if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Florence AZ residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be higher 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 challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Florence AZ, confirm that the programs you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering an HVAC School near Florence AZ?

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

Florence, Arizona

Florence (O'odham: S-auppag) is a town, 61 miles (98 km) southeast of Phoenix, in Pinal County, Arizona, United States.[4] Florence, which is the county seat of Pinal County, is one of the oldest towns in that county and is regarded as a National Historic District with over 25 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The population of Florence was 30,770 at the 2015 census.[5]

The area where the current town of Florence is located was once inhabited by the members of the Athabascans, ancestors of the San Carlos Apache tribe.[6] Prior to the establishment of the town, the Gila River served as a part of the border between the United States and Mexico. In 1853, the Gadsden Purchase extended American territory well south of the Gila.[7]

Levi Ruggles, a veteran of the American Civil War, founded the town of Florence on the south bank of the Gila River. He came to Arizona Territory in 1866 as a U.S. Indian Agent. Recognizing the agricultural potential of the valley, he found an easily fordable crossing on the Gila River and surveyed a townsite there. With the aid of Governor R.C. McCormick, he secured a post office in August of the same year. Ruggles held numerous public offices including that of Territorial Legislator.[8] Florence became the county seat in the newly formed Pinal County. Silver was discovered in 1875 in the nearby mountains which led to the creation of the famous Silver King Mine.[9]

Heating and Air School Florence AZ

Enrolling in the right HVAC training course is a critical beginning toward a fulfilling career in the heating & cooling field. You originally came to this website because you wanted more information regarding Heating and Air School. However, as we have covered in this post, you need to pick an Heating and Cooling trade school and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have outstanding reputations within the HVAC profession. Other factors to look for are sufficient practical training and modern facilities. You need to go to each of the schools personally that you are most interested in to explore the campus and talk with both the faculty and current students. Try to get a feel for the quality of the teaching and the interaction between them. In addition, ask about scheduling options and whether evening or weekend classes are available if needed. And don’t forget to ask about financial aid and student loan options as well. If you ask the appropriate questions as we have outlined in our guidelines 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 dedication, you can ultimately become a licensed HVAC professional in Florence AZ.

More Hot and Cool Locations in Arizona

  • Air Conditioner Schools Snowflake AZ
  • Associates Degree in HVAC Sahuarita AZ
  • Air Conditioning Trade School Solomon AZ
  • HVAC Schools Cost Payson AZ
  • Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Schools Luke Afb AZ
  • Heating and Air Conditioning Training Online Peoria AZ
  • Air Conditioning Courses Online Parks AZ
  • Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Training Seligman AZ
  • Learn HVAC Catalina AZ
  • HVAC Service Technician Training Littlefield AZ
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 542

    E & Jc Heating & Cooling
    3 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    13670 N Tener Rd, Florence, AZ 85232

    Arizona's Dukes of Air
    345 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    6938 E Parkway Norte, Mesa, AZ 85212

    Northern Air Mechanical Services
    19 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    1804 E Loveland Ln, San Tan Valley, AZ 85140

    Desert Devil Heating & Cooling
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    San Tan Valley, AZ 85143

    Scott's A/C & Heating
    3 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    Coolidge, AZ 85128

    Team AIR-zona
    9 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    Queen Creek, AZ 85142

    AirTime Cooling and Heating
    66 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    Chandler, AZ 85286

    Sure Temp Air Conditioning
    57 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    7931 E Pecos Rd, Mesa, AZ 85212

    Comfort Experts
    15 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    3317 S Higley Rd, Ste 114-225, Gilbert, AZ 85297

    Sterling Services
    60 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Plumbing
    Phone:
    7256 S 89th Pl, Ste 103, Mesa, AZ 85212