Top Heating and Cooling Training Schools Albuquerque NM

How to Choose the Right Heating and Cooling Degree Program near Albuquerque New Mexico

air conditioner condensers in Albuquerque NMOnce you have made a decision on a career as a heating and air conditioning professional, the next step is to locate an HVAC vocational school near Albuquerque NM. But with so many to select from, how do you select the right one to receive the training that you need? Some future students will make their decision based exclusively on the cost of tuition or how near the school is to their home. Although these are necessary considerations, they are not the only ones to take into account. Just some 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 addressed in more detail later in this article. But before we tackle how to choose an HVAC training program, let’s take a look at what a heating and cooling technician does to become a licensed qualified tradesman.

Becoming an HVAC Professional

Albuquerque NM HVAC Tech installing water heaterHVAC is an acronym that is widely used in the industry that stands for “Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning”. HVAC techs provide services for the installation, maintenance and repair of air conditioners, furnaces, boilers, hot water heaters and heating systems. As skilled tradesmen, they are commonly mandated to be licensed, although every state and regional municipality has its own requirements. Attaining professional certification is not required, but an optional way for Albuquerque NM HVAC techs to establish that they are highly proficient and accomplished in their area of expertise. There are a number of recognized certifications within the field that are offered. Below 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 proficiency examination and may be received in one or more specialties.
  • HVAC Excellence. This certification offers both a professional and a master specialist credential. 2 years of field experience in addition to passing a comprehensive examination 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. Similar to NATE, certifications are provided in multiple specialties.
  • EPA Section 608. This certification is necessary for technicians that work with refrigerants. There are three types of certification obtainable, one for small appliances, and the other two for low and high pressure refrigerants.

Because licensing may be mandated in your location, and you may also desire to obtain certification, it’s imperative that you pick an HVAC trade school that will train you for both. And since you will most likely be dealing with refrigerants, make sure that the program you decide on prepares you for passing the EPA Section 608 exams.

HVAC Degree and Certificate Courses

radiator heater in Albuquerque NM homeThere are several alternatives offered for HVAC instruction in a technical or vocational school. You can attain a certificate, an Associate Degree, or a Bachelor’s Degree. Obtaining a certificate will take the lesser period of time, usually completed in just 6 months, though some programs are longer. A certificate will qualify you for the majority of HVAC positions, especially if you are licensed and have certification applicable to the position. The degree programs can provide a competitive advantage for securing employment and will furnish more in-depth training than the certificate programs. Below is a brief summary of each credential offered near Albuquerque NM.

  • Certificate. Normally 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 supplies a more comprehensive background of heating & cooling systems than the certificate program. Typically taking two years to complete, many 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 as well as business ownership. Some programs require an Associate Degree, while others are a traditional 4 year program. In addition to mastering how to service and maintain heating and cooling systems, you will also study how to design them.

Selecting the right credential program will be based on what your long term career aspirations are, along with the time and financial resources that you have to invest. One approach is to start with a certificate or even an Associate Degree program, and after acquiring some experience in the field in Albuquerque NM, eventually returning 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 Schools

Albuquerque NM student attending HVAC school onlineChoosing an HVAC school online is one possibility to getting your training and receiving a degree or certificate. Nearly all schools will require some attendance on campus to take part in hands on training. Some also provide internship or work-study programs in addition to or as an alternative to practical lab work. But since the rest of the classes may be participated in online, this approach may be a more accessible solution for many Albuquerque NM students that are pressed for time. And some online degree programs are more economical than other on campus options. Even travelling expenses from Albuquerque and study materials may be minimized, helping to make schooling more economical. And numerous online schools are fully accredited (more on this later). So if your work or family obligations have left you with minimal time to attend classes, perhaps an online HVAC degree program will make it more convenient to fit school into your active schedule.

Questions For HVAC Certification Courses

Questions to ask Albuquerque NM HVAC training schoolsWhen you have selected the type of degree or certificate that you desire to acquire, either online or on campus, you can begin to narrow down your list of schools. As you are probably aware, there are many HVAC trade schools in the Albuquerque NM area and throughout the United States to choose from. That’s why it is imperative to have a checklist of key qualifications when making school assessments. As earlier stated in our opening paragraph, location and tuition will most likely be the first 2 variables you will look at. Following are several additional ones that you will want to investigate before enrolling in your school of choice.

Accreditation.  A large number of HVAC vocational schools in the Albuquerque NM area have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn 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. Make certain that the program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it may assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states require 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 looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It may also signify that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of Albuquerque NM HVAC employers to help students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many HVAC vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of Heating and Cooling companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with local Albuquerque NM HVAC contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional HVAC professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the HVAC technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Albuquerque NM HVAC contracting company if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Albuquerque NM home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

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

Flexible Scheduling.  Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Albuquerque NM, confirm that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.

Considering an HVAC School near Albuquerque NM?

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

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Albuquerque (/ˈælbəˌkɜːrki/ (listen) AL-bə-kur-kee; Navajo: Beeʼeldííl Dahsinil [pèːʔèltíːl tɑ̀xsɪ̀nɪ̀l]; Eastern Keres: Arawageeki; Jemez: Vakêêke; Zuni: Alo:ke:k'ya; Jicarilla Apache: Gołgéeki'yé), also known locally as Duke City and abbreviated as ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico and the 32nd-most populous city in the United States, with a census-estimated population of 558,545 in 2017.[5] It is the principal city of the Albuquerque metropolitan area, which has 910,726 residents as of July 2017.[6] Albuquerque's Metropolitan statistical area is the 60th-largest in the United States. The Albuquerque MSA population includes the cities of Rio Rancho, Bernalillo, Placitas, Corrales, Los Lunas, Belen, and Bosque Farms, and forms part of the larger Albuquerque–Santa Fe–Las Vegas combined statistical area, with a total population of 1,171,991 in 2016.

The city was named in honor of Francisco Fernández de la Cueva, 10th Duke of Alburquerque, who was Viceroy of New Spain from 1702 to 1711.[7][8] The growing village was named by provincial governor Francisco Cuervo y Valdés. The Duke's title referred to the Spanish town of Alburquerque, in the province of Badajoz, near the border with Portugal.

Albuquerque serves as the county seat of Bernalillo County,[9] and is in north-central New Mexico. The Sandia Mountains run along the eastern side of Albuquerque, and the Rio Grande flows through the city. Albuquerque has one of the highest elevations of any major city in the U.S., ranging from 4,900 feet (1,490 m) above sea level near the Rio Grande to over 6,700 feet (1,950 m) in the foothill areas of Sandia Heights and Glenwood Hills.

Top Heating and Cooling Training Schools Albuquerque NM

Enrolling in the right HVAC training program is a crucial first step toward a fulfilling career in the heating & cooling trade. You originally came to this website because you wanted more information regarding Top Heating and Cooling Training Schools. However, as we have discussed in this post, you should pick an Heating and Cooling school and a degree or certificate program that are both accredited and have exceptional reputations within the HVAC community. Other features to look for are lots of hands-on training and state-of-the-art facilities. You need to check out 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 teaching and the interaction between them. In addition, ask about scheduling options and if evening or weekend classes are offered if needed. And remember to inquire about financial aid and student loan options as well. If you ask the appropriate questions as we have detailed in our guidelines for assessing schools, you’ll be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make an educated decision. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, you can ultimately become a licensed HVAC professional in Albuquerque NM.

More Hot and Cool Locations in New Mexico

  • HVAC Training Schools Algodones NM
  • HVAC Education La Mesa NM
  • HVAC Degree Edgewood NM
  • Learn HVAC Online Truth Or Consequences NM
  • Online HVAC Training Datil NM
  • Top Heating and Air Conditioning Training Schools Anthony NM
  • Air Conditioning Courses Melrose NM
  • Online HVAC Classes Peralta NM
  • HVAC College Kirtland NM
  • HVAC Classes Church Rock NM
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 129

    Harder Electrical & Mechanical Services
    34 Reviews
    Electricians, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    Albuquerque, NM 87111

    ABQ Temperature Management
    7 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    2518 Alyssa Dr SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105

    Wagner
    38 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Electricians, Plumbing
    Phone:
    7900 Jacs Ln, Albuquerque, NM 87113

    TLC Plumbing & Utility
    75 Reviews
    Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Contractors
    Phone:
    5000 Edith Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107

    Budget Climate Control
    21 Reviews
    Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Electricians
    Phone:
    2105 Aztec Rd NE, Ste D, Albuquerque, NM 87107

    Duke City Heating & Cooling
    12 Reviews
    Contractors, Electricians, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    8300 Broadway SE, Albuquerque, NM 87105

    JLC Professional Plumbing & Heating
    9 Reviews
    Water Heater Installation/Repair, Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    Sigma Chi Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106

    Williams Mechanical
    10 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Electricians, Plumbing
    Phone:
    3320 Girard Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107

    RMS Services
    3 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Water Heater Installation/Repair
    Phone:
    Albuquerque, NM 87114

    Donner Plumbing & Heating
    1 Reviews
    Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    107 Candelaria Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107