Online HVAC Courses Nelsonville OH

How to Enroll In the Right Heating and Cooling School near Nelsonville Ohio

air conditioner condensers in Nelsonville OHOnce you have come to a decision on a career as a heating and cooling professional, the next action is to choose an HVAC vocational school near Nelsonville OH. But with so many to select from, how do you select the right one to get the training that you need? Many potential students will make their choice based exclusively on the price of tuition or how close the school is to their residence. While these are significant considerations, they are not the only ones to investigate. Just some 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 covered in more detail later within this article. But before we tackle how to select an HVAC trade school, let’s look at what a heating and a/c professional does to become a licensed qualified tradesman.

Becoming an HVAC Pro

Nelsonville OH HVAC Tech installing water heaterHVAC is an acronym that is frequently used in the trade that stands for “Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning”. HVAC techs specialize in 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 each state and regional municipality has its own requirements. Earning professional certification is not mandatory, but an optional means for Nelsonville OH HVAC technicians to prove that they are highly proficient and accomplished in their area of specialization. There are multiple respected certifications within the industry that are available. Below are a few of the important ones.

  • North American Technician Excellence (NATE). NATE is a nationally acknowledged certification for HVAC technicians. The certification is attained by passing a proficiency exam and can be acquired in one or more specialties.
  • HVAC Excellence. This certification offers 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 must have 3 years of experience as well as a passing result on the professional level examination. As with NATE, certifications are provided in multiple specialties.
  • EPA Section 608. This certification is mandatory for technicians that handle refrigerants. There are three forms of certification obtainable, one for small appliances, and the additional two for low and high pressure refrigerants.

Since licensing could be mandated in your area, and you may also wish to earn certification, it’s imperative that you select an HVAC vocational school that will prepare you for both. And since you will more than likely be handling refrigerants, make sure that the program you decide on prepares you for passing the EPA Section 608 exams.

HVAC Degree Courses

radiator heater in Nelsonville OH homeThere are a variety of choices offered for HVAC instruction in a technical or trade school. You can attain a certificate, an Associate Degree, or a Bachelor’s Degree. Acquiring a certificate will take the least period of time, typically completed in as little as 6 months, however some courses are longer. A certificate will qualify you for the majority of HVAC positions, particularly if you are licensed and have certification related to the position. The degree training programs may provide a competitive advantage in the job market and will furnish more extensive training than the certificate programs. Below is a short description of each option offered near Nelsonville OH.

  • Certificate. Generally requiring a high school diploma, certificate programs are very popular among entry level residential or commercial HVAC specialists. They furnish a solid foundation of skills for employment within the trade.
  • Associate Degree. The Associate Degree in HVAC program delivers a more exhaustive background of heating and a/c systems than the certificate program. Usually taking 2 years to complete, many degrees include an internship or work-study program.
  • Bachelor’s Degree. The Bachelor’s Degree in HVAC is tailored more towards a career in management or even business ownership. Some programs call for an Associate Degree, while others are a traditional 4 year program. In addition to learning how to service and maintain heating and air conditioning systems, you will also learn how to design them.

Selecting the appropriate credential program will be based on what your future career goals are, along 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 gaining some experience in the trade in Nelsonville OH, eventually returning to earn a Bachelor’s Degree. If this is your tactic, make sure to ask the HVAC technician school you are looking at about how their returning student program works.

HVAC Classes Online

Nelsonville OH student attending HVAC school onlineAttending an HVAC school online is one possibility to attaining your education and receiving a certificate or degree. Most schools will require some attendance on campus to complete hands on training. Many also offer internship or work-study programs in addition to or in place of practical lab work. But since the balance of the classes may be attended via the internet, this option may be a more convenient solution for many Nelsonville OH students that are short on time. And a number of online degree programs are less costly than other traditional alternatives. Even travelling expenses from Nelsonville and study supplies can be reduced, helping to make education more affordable. And a large number of online schools are fully accredited (more on this later). So if your career or family commitments have left you with minimal time to attend classes, maybe an HVAC online training program will make it more convenient to fit school into your active schedule.

Questions to Ask HVAC Certification Classes

Questions to ask Nelsonville OH HVAC training schoolsWhen you have selected the type of degree or certificate that you wish to acquire, either online or on campus, you can begin to decrease your list of schools. As you are no doubt aware, there are many HVAC vocational schools in the Nelsonville OH area and throughout the United States to choose from. That’s why it is very important to have a list of key qualifiers when making school assessments. As earlier mentioned in our opening paragraph, location and tuition will most likely be the first two variables you will take into consideration. Following are several additional ones that you will want to explore before enrolling in your school of choice.

Accreditation.  Many HVAC vocational programs in the Nelsonville OH area have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example HVAC technology. Confirm that the program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get an excellent education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states require that the HVAC training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion Rates.  Ask the Heating and Cooling 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 course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It might 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 broader directory of graduates, 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 confirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of Nelsonville OH HVAC employers to assist students acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  A large number of HVAC vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools 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 comparing have referring partnerships with local Nelsonville OH HVAC companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional HVAC professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the HVAC technician you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Nelsonville OH HVAC company if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Nelsonville OH home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher tuition charges 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 monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to several of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Nelsonville OH, verify that the schools you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check 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 Nelsonville OH?

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

Nelsonville, Ohio

Nelsonville is a city in northwestern York Township, Athens County, Ohio, United States. It is 60 miles southeast of Columbus. The population was 5,392 at the 2010 census. It is the home town of Hocking College.

Nelsonville is located at 39°27′19″N 82°13′32″W / 39.45528°N 82.22556°W / 39.45528; -82.22556 (39.455167, −82.225650),[6] along the Hocking River; Monday Creek flows through the eastern part of the city.[7] One of the main streets, Canal Street, is located over where the old Hocking Canal once ran.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.00 square miles (12.95 km2), of which 4.89 square miles (12.67 km2) is land and 0.11 square miles (0.28 km2) is water.[1]

Online HVAC Courses Nelsonville OH

Picking 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 Online HVAC Courses. However, as we have addressed in this article, you should choose an Heating and Cooling school and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have excellent reputations within the HVAC profession. Other things to look for are sufficient hands-on training and modern facilities. You need to visit each of the schools personally that you are most interested in to explore the campus and talk with both the current students and faculty. Attempt to get a feel for the quality of the training and the interaction between them. In addition, inquire about scheduling options and if evening or weekend classes are offered if needed. And don’t forget to ask about financial assistance and student loan options as well. If you ask the appropriate questions as we have outlined in our checklist for assessing schools, you’ll be able to narrow down your options so that you can make an informed decision. With the right training, hard work and dedication, you can ultimately become a licensed HVAC technician in Nelsonville OH.

More Hot and Cool Locations in Ohio

  • Air Conditioning Classes Online Powhatan Point OH
  • Schools for HVAC Conesville OH
  • Schools for Air Conditioning and Heating Reynoldsburg OH
  • How to Choose HVAC Technical Schools Marion OH
  • Air Conditioning School Online Pitsburg OH
  • Online HVAC Course New London OH
  • How to Choose HVAC Training Courses Batavia OH
  • Heating and Cooling Schools Near Me London OH
  • Heating and Cooling Schools Cedarville OH
  • HVAC Course Bellevue OH
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 25

    R N Smith Heating & Air Conditioning
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    1312 Campground Rd, Lancaster, OH 43130

    Airclaws
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    24 State St, Amesville, OH 45711

    Dean Heating & Cooling
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    9344 Bassett Rd, Athens, OH 45701

    Accurate Heating & Cooling
    4 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Home Energy Auditors, Plumbing
    Phone:
    3001 River Rd, Chillicothe, OH 45601

    Pure Comfort Heating & Cooling
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Water Heater Installation/Repair, Air Duct Cleaning
    Phone:
    1479 Sugar Grove Rd SE, Lancaster, OH 43130

    Air Comfort Systems
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    15539 Heine Rd, Logan, OH 43138

    Performance Plumbing & Piping
    1 Reviews
    Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    177 Cypress St SW, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068

    Country Air HVAC
    1 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    Canal Winchester, OH 43110

    Sears Appliance Repair
    1 Reviews
    Appliances & Repair, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Electronics Repair
    Phone:
    150 Hocking Mall, River Valley Mall, Logan, OH 43138

    David White Services
    1 Reviews
    Fireplace Services, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    5315 Hebbardsville Rd, Athens, OH 45701