Top HVAC Training Courses Seabrook NH

How to Choose the Right Heating and Cooling Certificate Program near Seabrook New Hampshire

air conditioner condensers in Seabrook NH Now that you have made a decision on a career as a heating and cooling professional, the next action is to choose an HVAC vocational school near Seabrook NH. But with so many to pick from, how do you select the ideal one to receive the training that you require? Many potential students will make their choice based exclusively on the price of tuition or how close the school is to their home. While these are relevant considerations, they are not the only ones to evaluate. A few of the other details that you need to research are the graduation rates of the HVAC schools, their reputations, and if they are accredited by professional trade organizations. These and additional criteria will be discussed in more detail later within this article. But before we explore how to choose an HVAC trade school, let’s look at what a heating and cooling specialist does to become a licensed skilled tradesman.

How to Become an HVAC Specialist

Seabrook NH HVAC Tech installing water heater HVAC is an acronym that is frequently used in the industry that stands for “Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning”. HVAC technicians specialize in the installation, repair and maintenance of central air conditioners, furnaces, boilers, hot water heaters and heating systems. As skilled tradesmen, they are commonly required to be licensed, however each state and regional municipality has its own prerequisites. Attaining professional certification is not mandatory, but a voluntary way for Seabrook NH HVAC technicians to prove that they are highly proficient and knowledgeable in their area of expertise. There are multiple recognized certifications within the trade that are available. Following are a few of the important ones.

North American Technician Excellence (NATE). NATE is a nationally acknowledged certification for HVAC techs. The certification is earned 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 score on the professional level exam. As with NATE, certifications are offered in various 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 other two for low and high pressure refrigerants.

Considering that licensing might be mandated in your area, and you may also desire to earn certification, it’s important that you pick an HVAC vocational school that will train you for both. And since you will more than likely be dealing with refrigerants, make sure that the school you pick readies you for passing the EPA Section 608 exams.

HVAC Degree and Certificate Schools

radiator heater in Seabrook NH home There are a variety of options offered for HVAC training in a trade or technical school. You can obtain a certificate, an Associate Degree, or a Bachelor’s Degree. Earning a certificate will take the least period of time, usually achieved in just six months, however some courses are longer. A certificate will train you for most HVAC positions, especially if you are licensed and have certification relevant to the position. The degree programs can provide a competitive edge in the job market and will furnish more comprehensive training than the certificate programs. Following is a brief explanation of each option offered near Seabrook NH.

Certificate. Usually requiring a high school diploma, certificate programs are preferred among beginning residential or commercial HVAC technicians. They furnish a solid foundation of skills for employment within the trade.
Associate Degree. The Associate Degree in HVAC program delivers a more detailed understanding of heating and cooling systems than the certificate program. Typically requiring 2 years to finish, many degrees include an internship or work-study program.
Bachelor’s Degree. The Bachelor’s Degree in HVAC is suited more for a career in management as well as business ownership. Some programs require 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 learn how to design them.

Picking the appropriate credential program will be based on what your long term career goals are, together with the time and money that you have to commit. One approach is to begin with a certificate or even an Associate Degree program, and after getting some experience in the field in Seabrook NH, subsequently returning to acquire a Bachelor’s Degree. If this is your tactic, be sure to ask the HVAC technician school you are looking at about how their returning student program works.

HVAC Online Training

Seabrook NH student attending HVAC school online Attending an HVAC school online is one option to obtaining your training and receiving a degree or certificate. Nearly all schools will call for some attendance on campus to participate in practical training. A number also offer internship or work-study programs in addition to or in place of practical lab work. But since the rest of the classes may be attended via the internet, this alternative may be a more practical solution for many Seabrook NH students that are short on time. And a number of online degree programs are less costly than other traditional options. Even travelling expenses from Seabrook and study materials can be lessened, helping to make schooling more economical. And many online schools are fully accredited (more on this later). So if your work or family responsibilities have left you with minimal time to attend classes, perhaps an HVAC online training program will make it less complicated to fit school into your busy schedule.

What to Ask HVAC Training Programs

Questions to ask Seabrook NH HVAC training schools After you have decided on the type of degree or certificate that you want to obtain, either on campus or online, you can begin to limit your selection of schools. As you are certainly aware, there are a large number of HVAC trade schools in the Seabrook NH area and all over the USA to choose from. That’s why it is imperative to have a checklist of key qualifications when making school comparisons. As previously stated in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will probably be the initial 2 factors you will consider. Following are some additional ones that you need to explore before enrolling in your school of choice.

Accreditation. Numerous HVAC trade programs in the Seabrook NH area have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance HVAC technology. Confirm that the program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire a quality education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the HVAC training course be accredited for it 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 percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It may also mean that the teachers were not competent 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 more extensive directory of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to employ 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 also that it has the network of Seabrook NH HVAC employers to help students acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most HVAC training programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of HVAC contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with local Seabrook NH HVAC companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local HVAC professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed 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 with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Seabrook NH HVAC contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Seabrook NH home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to some of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Seabrook NH, confirm that the schools you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering an HVAC School near Seabrook NH?

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

Seabrook, New Hampshire

Seabrook is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 8,693 at the 2010 census.[1] Located at the southern end of the coast of New Hampshire on the border with Massachusetts, Seabrook is noted as the location of the Seabrook Nuclear Power Station, the third-most recently constructed nuclear power plant in the United States.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.6 square miles (25 km2), of which 8.9 sq mi (23 km2) is land and 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2) is water, comprising 7.8% of the town. Directly south of Seabrook is the town of Salisbury, Massachusetts, while directly north are the town of Hampton Falls and the resort community of Hampton Beach. The census-designated place of Seabrook Beach occupies the eastern end of the town, along the Atlantic Ocean. The highest point in Seabrook is 217 feet (66 m) above sea level on Grape Hill, whose 230-foot (70 m) summit lies just south of the town line in Salisbury, Massachusetts.

At the 2000 census,[4] there were 7,979 people, 3,425 households and 2,161 families residing in the town. The population density was 895.0 per square mile (345.7/km²). There were 4,066 housing units at an average density of 458.7 per square mile (177.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.52% White, 0.34% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.38% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.86% of the population.

Picking the ideal HVAC training program is a crucial beginning toward a rewarding career in the heating and cooling trade. You originally came to this website because you wanted more information regarding Top HVAC Training Courses. However, as we have covered in this post, you need to select an HVAC school and a degree or certificate program that are both accredited and have excellent reputations within the HVAC profession. Other features to search for are plenty of hands-on training and modern facilities. You should go to each of the schools in person that you are most interested in to tour 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 night or weekend classes are offered if needed. And remember to inquire about financial assistance and student loan options also. If you ask the right questions as we have laid out in our checklist for assessing schools, you’ll be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make an educated decision. With the right training, hard work and commitment, you can ultimately become a licensed HVAC technician in Seabrook NH.