Tag Archives: Accredited Local HVAC Trade Schools near Toccoa GA 30577

HVAC Training Schools Toccoa GA

How to Choose the Right HVAC Certification Course near Toccoa Georgia

air conditioner condensers in Toccoa GAOnce you have made a decision on a career as a heating and cooling specialist, the next step is to look for an HVAC trade school near Toccoa GA. But with so many to choose from, how do you choose the best one to receive the training that you need? A number of potential students will make their choice based entirely on the price of tuition or how close the school is to their residence. Even though these are relevant factors to consider, they are not the only ones to evaluate. Some of the other things that you need to investigate are the graduation completion rates of the HVAC schools, their reputations, and if they are accredited by professional trade organizations. These and other criteria will be covered in more detail later in this article. But before we examine how to pick an HVAC technical school, let’s take a look at what a heating and air conditioning professional does to become a licensed professional tradesman.

How to Become an HVAC Contractor

Toccoa GA HVAC Tech installing water heaterHVAC is an acronym that is widely used in the industry that stands for “Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning”. HVAC professionals specialize in the installation, maintenance and repair of air conditioners, furnaces, boilers, water heaters and heating systems. As skilled tradesmen, they are typically mandated to be licensed, although each state and regional municipality has its own requirements. Acquiring professional certification is not compulsory, but an optional way for Toccoa GA HVAC techs to prove that they are exceptionally qualified and knowledgeable in their area of specialization. There are multiple respected certifications within the trade that are available. Following are some of the significant ones.

  • North American Technician Excellence (NATE). NATE is a nationally recognized certification for HVAC technicians. The certification is attained by passing a proficiency 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 in addition to passing a comprehensive examination are needed for the professional level certification. Master specialists need to have three years of experience in addition to a passing score on the professional level examination. As with NATE, certifications are provided in several specialties.
  • EPA Section 608. This certification is required for techs that work with refrigerants. There are three types of certification offered, one for small appliances, and the other two for low and high pressure refrigerants.

Since licensing could be required in your area, and you may also intend to acquire certification, it’s imperative that you enroll in an HVAC vocational school that will train you for both. And since you will more than likely be handling refrigerants, make certain that the school you choose preps you for passing the EPA Section 608 exams.

HVAC Certificate and Degree Courses

radiator heater in Toccoa GA homeThere are several options available for HVAC instruction in a technical or vocational school. You can earn a certificate, an Associate Degree, or a Bachelor’s Degree. Earning a certificate will take the lesser period of time, typically accomplished in as little as six months, though some programs are longer. A certificate will train you for most HVAC positions, particularly if you are licensed and have certification appropriate to the position. The degree programs may provide a competitive advantage in the job market and will provide more comprehensive training than the certificate programs. Following is a short description of each credential offered near Toccoa GA.

  • 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 detailed understanding of heating & cooling systems than the certificate program. Generally taking two years to complete, a number of degrees include an internship or work-study program.
  • Bachelor’s Degree. The Bachelor’s Degree in HVAC is suited more towards a career in management or even business ownership. Some programs call for an Associate Degree, while others are a conventional 4 year program. In addition to being taught how to service and maintain heating and air conditioning systems, you will also study how to design them.

Selecting the ideal credential program will be dependent on what your future career aspirations are, as well as the time and money that you have to commit. One approach is to begin with a certificate or perhaps an Associate Degree program, and after gaining some experience in the field in Toccoa GA, subsequently returning to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree. If this is your tactic, make certain to ask the HVAC technician school you are considering about how their returning student program works.

HVAC Online Schools

Toccoa GA student attending HVAC school onlineAttending an HVAC school online is one approach to getting your training and receiving a degree or certificate. Nearly all schools will require some attendance on campus to participate in hands on training. A number also sponsor internship or work-study programs in addition to or in place of practical lab work. But since the remainder of the classes can be participated in via the internet, this option may be a more practical solution for some Toccoa GA students that are short on time. And some online degree programs are more economical than other on campus choices. Even commuting expenses from Toccoa and study supplies can be reduced, helping to make schooling more affordable. And many online programs are fully accredited (more on this later). So if your job or family commitments have left you with limited time to attend classes, perhaps an online HVAC degree program will make it easier to fit school into your hectic schedule.

Questions to Ask HVAC Trade Schools

Questions to ask Toccoa GA HVAC training schoolsAs soon as you have decided on the type of certificate or degree that you would like to earn, either on campus or online, you can start to decrease your selection of schools. As you are probably aware, there are numerous HVAC technical schools in the Toccoa GA area and across the United States to select from. That’s why it is very important to have a checklist of key qualifiers when making school assessments. As formerly stated in our opening paragraph, location and tuition will undoubtedly be the initial two aspects you will take into consideration. Following are several additional ones that you will want to explore before enrolling in your school of choice.

Accreditation.  A large number of HVAC trade schools in the Toccoa GA area have attained 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 a specific program, such as HVAC technology. Make sure that the program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, some states mandate that the HVAC training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion Rates.  Ask the Heating and Air Conditioning schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It may also signify that the instructors were not qualified 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 alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of Toccoa GA HVAC employers to help grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many HVAC trade programs are taught together 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 Heating and Cooling businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with local Toccoa GA HVAC companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local HVAC professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the HVAC technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Toccoa GA HVAC contractor if they can give you some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Toccoa GA home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized 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 observe how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to a few of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Toccoa GA, check that the schools you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.

Considering an HVAC School near Toccoa GA?

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

Toccoa, Georgia

Toccoa is a city in, and the county seat of, Stephens County, Georgia, United States,[6][7] located about 50 miles (80 km) from Athens and about 90 miles (140 km) northeast of Atlanta. The population was 8,491 as of the 2010 census.

Indian agent Col. George Chicken was one of the first people to mention Toccoa in his journal from 1725.[8] The first residents of European descent were a small number of American Revolutionary War veterans led by Col. William H. Wofford who moved to the area when the war ended. The area was referred to as Wofford's Tract, or Wofford's Settlement. Col. Wofford is buried near Toccoa Falls. His son, William T. Wofford, was born near Toccoa (then part of Habersham County), and was an officer during the Mexican–American War and a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.

The Georgia Land Lottery of 1820 spurred the migration of Scots-Irish from North Carolina and the Georgia coast. The Georgia Gold Rush, starting in 1828,[9] and the 1838 removal of the Cherokee on the infamous "Trail of Tears" further changed settlement patterns in the area.

HVAC Training Schools Toccoa GA

Enrolling in the right HVAC school course is a crucial beginning toward a gratifying career in the heating and cooling trade. You originally came to this website because you wanted more information regarding HVAC Training Schools. However, as we have covered in this post, you need to select an Heating and Cooling technical school and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have excellent reputations within the HVAC community. Other features to look for are lots of practical training and modern facilities. You need to check out 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. Additionally, ask about scheduling options and whether or not night or weekend classes are offered if needed. And remember to inquire about financial aid and student loan options too. If you ask the appropriate questions as we have laid out in our guidelines for evaluating schools, you’ll be able to filter your choices so that you can make an informed decision. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, you can ultimately become a licensed HVAC technician in Toccoa GA.

More Hot and Cool Locations in Georgia

  • Air Conditioning College Courses Sautee Nacoochee GA
  • HVAC Certification Online Courses Redan GA
  • Learn HVAC Cornelia GA
  • HVAC Trade Schools Fayetteville GA
  • HVAC Training Online Summerville GA
  • Heat Ventilation and Air Conditioning Courses Statham GA
  • HVAC Night Classes Nicholls GA
  • Air Conditioning Courses Online Hinesville GA
  • HVAC Training Schools Online Augusta GA
  • HVAC School Cost Clarkston GA
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 31

    Aire Serv of Northeast Georgia
    2 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Air Duct Cleaning
    Phone:
    1937 Robertson Loop Rd, Clarkesville, GA 30523

    Howington's Heating & Cooling
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    156 Level Grove Rd, Cornelia, GA 30531

    Dockery's Electrical Plumbing Heating & Air
    1 Reviews
    Plumbing, Electricians, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    263 Camp Creek Rd, Cornelia, GA 30531

    McKinney Heating & Air
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Air Duct Cleaning
    Phone:
    2300 Jim Watson Rd, Hiawassee, GA 30546

    O'Kelley Heating & Air
    3 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    104 N Oak St, Walhalla, SC 29691

    Williams Heat Air & Refrigeration
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    50 Foot Hills Dr, Cleveland, GA 30528

    Air Unlimited
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    125 Mae Dr, Walhalla, SC 29691

    JN Electrical Temperature Control
    2 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Electricians
    Phone:
    2379 Adams Town Rd, Bowersville, GA 30516

    GeorgiaSpec
    12 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Home Inspectors, Environmental Testing
    Phone:
    249 Double Bridges Rd, Jefferson, GA 30549

    Complete Heat And Air
    3 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    121 Pinewood Dr, Easley, SC 29640