HVAC/R Certified Technician (Voucher and Tools Included)

If you have more than a year of HVAC/R experience, this HVAC course will prepare you for the next step—certification. HVAC/R technicians are in demand, but certified technicians can earn more and have better career opportunities.

This online HVAC/R certified technician program is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to maintain and troubleshoot complex heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems. You will be provided with hands-on guidance through videos, reading assignments, over 200 service call simulations, and practical applications. We also offer an optional lesson on soft skills that can help you successfully keep a job and stand out as a HVAC/R certified technician, which can accelerate career growth.

With content aligning with the latest industry standards, including information about COVID-19 and its impact on the HVAC/R technician role, you will be prepared for the HVAC Excellence or North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certification exams by the end of this HVAC technician certificate course. You will also receive a voucher package to take the HVAC Excellence exams. You can even get EPA certified through the Section 608 Technician Certification. However, please research your state's requirements prior to enrollment to ensure this course is the right fit for you.

As an added bonus, you will be provided with your own 66-piece tool kit, including a trades tool backpack featuring pliers, wrenches, multimeter, and more—all included in your course registration. This toolkit features tools from well-known tool manufacturers like Channel Lock, Klein Tools, and MidWest.

Certification Exams

By course completion, you will be fully prepared to sit for the HVAC Excellence Core and Professional Technician exams, the NATE Core and Specialty Test exams, and the EPA 608 certification exam.

Upon completion of this course, you will receive an HVAC Excellence ESCO Group Voucher Package that includes:

• 1 Principals of Electrical and Refrigeration Theory (Core)* exam voucher
• 1 Professional Technician exam voucher (Residential Air Conditioning recommended)
• 1 EPA 608 exam voucher

*To sit for the HVAC Excellence Core exam, you must provide two years of documented work experience. Exam proctor fees may apply.

Additionally, this course aligns with the following Professional Technician specialty areas (vouchers are not included for the exams below):

• Principals of Electrical and Refrigeration Theory
• Residential Air Conditioning
• Gas Heat
• Electric Heat
• Heat Pump Installer
• Heat Pump Service
• Light Commercial Air Conditioning
• Light Commercial Refrigeration

*Proctor fees may apply

What you will learn

• HVAC certification online course
• Understand the procedures and criteria needed to conduct a residential energy audit
• Four basic components that make up the vapor-compression refrigeration cycle
• Functions and desired characteristics of system refrigerants
• Demonstrate piping operations typically performed by the air conditioning technician
• Properly installing and operating an air-conditioning system
• Latest advances and trends in green technology
• EPA laws governing safe refrigerant handling and transport
• Recovering, recycling, reclaiming, and retrofitting refrigerants

How you will benefit

• Be prepared to sit for the NATE certification exams
• Be prepared to sit for the HVAC Excellence certification exams
• Be prepared to sit for the EPA 608 Refrigerant Handling exam
• Use real-world simulations included in this course to get "hands-on" experience
• Soft skills simulations included in the course will help sharpen your customer service skills
• You will be given a 66-piece tool kit to help ensure you launch your career with the tools needed for success
• Enrolled students are invited to attend our exclusive annual virtual National Apprenticeship Week events, featuring live webinars, workshops, and employer interactions

1. Introduction
   1. Heat, Temperature, and Pressure
   2. Matter and Energy
   3. Refrigeration and Refrigerants
2. Safety, Tools and Equipment, and Shop Practices
   1. General Safety Practices
   2. Tools and Equipment
   3. Fasteners
   4. Tubing and Piping
   5. Leak Detection, System Evacuation, and System Cleanup
   6. Refrigeration and Oil Chemistry and Management – Recovery, Recycling, and Reclaiming, and Retrofitting
   7. System Charging
   8. Calibrating Instruments
   9. Simulation: Safety Quiz
   10. Simulation: Soft Skills Quiz
3. Automatic Controls
   1. Basic Electricity and Magnetism
   2. Introduction to Automatic Controls
   3. Automatic Control Components and Applications
   4. Troubleshooting Basic Controls
   5. Advanced Automatic Controls-Direct Digital Controls (DDCs) and Pneumatics
4. Electric Motors
   1. Types of Electric Motors
   2. Application of Motors
   3. Motor Controls
   4. Troubleshooting Electric Motors
5. Commercial Refrigeration, Part 1
   1. Evaporators and the Refrigeration System
   2. Condensers
   3. Compressors
6. Commercial Refrigeration, Part 2
   1. Expansion Devices
   2. Special Refrigeration Systems
   3. Commercial Ice Machines
7. Commercial Refrigeration, Part 3
   1. Special Refrigeration Applications
   2. Troubleshooting and Typical Operating Conditions for Commercial Refrigeration
8. Air-Conditioning (Heating and Humidification)
   1. Electric Heat
   2. Gas Heat
   3. Oil Heat
   4. Hydronic Heat
   5. Indoor Air Quality
9. Air-Conditioning (Cooling)
   1. Comfort and Psychometrics
   2. Refrigeration Applied to Air-Conditioning
   3. Air Distribution and Balance
   4. Installation
   5. Residential Energy Auditing
   6. Typical Conditions
   7. Troubleshooting
10. All-Weather Systems
    1. Heat Gains and Heat Losses in Structures
    2. Air Source Heat Pumps
    3. Geothermal Heat Pumps
11. Domestic Appliances
    1. Domestic Refrigerators and Freezers
    2. Room Air Conditioners
    3. Commercial Air-Conditioning and Chilled-Water Systems
    4. High-Pressure, Low-Pressure, and Absorption Chilled-Water Systems
    5. Cooling Towers and Pumps
    6. Operation, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting of Chilled-Water Air-Conditioning Systems
    7. Commercial, Packaged Rooftop, Variable Refrigerant Flow, and Variable Air Volume Systems
12. Simulation Challenge Mode: HVAC
13. Simulation Challenge Mode: Electricity for HVAC
14. Soft Skills and the HVACR Technician
1. Communication
2. Decision-Making
3. Time Management
4. Problem Solving
5. Accepting Responsibility

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.
• Optional simulations require a 64-bit operating system

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 12 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word Online
• Adobe Acrobat Reader .
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

*Optional simulations are not screen reader or keyboard accessible. Simulation activities are not meant to be experienced on mobile devices. Personal computers should be used for these activities.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

• Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Technology, by Silberstein, Obrzut, Tomczyk, Whitman, and Johnson.

The following material will be available online:

• Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Technology PDF
• EPA Section 608 Preparatory Manual - Optional Resource

Please note: You will receive a digital book if the physical book is on backorder.

In addition to the texts listed above, you will also receive the HVAC/R Certified Technician's Tool Kit:

• The 66-piece tool kit includes a trades tool backpack with 44 pockets, featuring the following items:
  • 13pc socket wrench set
  • 12pc hex key set
  • 11pc wrench set
  • 3 screwdrivers
  • 3 wrenches
  • 2 pliers
  • 2 snips
  • 1 nut driver
  • 1 swagging kit
  • 1 long nose stripper
  • 1 awl
  • 1 set of shears
  • 1 hammer
  • 1 hand crimper
  • 1 sheet metal tree scribe
  • 1 notcher
  • 1 seamer
  • 1 telescopic tube cutter
  • 1 tape measure
  • 1 set of safety glasses
  • 1 digital manifold
  • 1 scientific calculator
  • 1 multimeter
  • 1 thermometer
  • 1 fast-flo hose set
  • 1 digital vacuum gauge

Material Fees are non-refundable upon registration.

Please note: Due to the high cost of these items, tools will not be shipped until 10 days after your start date.

Prerequisites:

This course is designed for HVAC/R technicians with one-to-two years of industry experience. In addition, you should have a high school diploma or GED.

Certification Requirements:

Must have the required work experience to take the NATE or HVAC Excellence certification exams, or currently hold Ready to Work certificates and have 2 years of work experience. However, if you do not have previous work experience in the HVAC/R industry, we recommend taking the HVAC/R Technician course.

Please research your state's requirements prior to enrollment to ensure this course is the right fit for you.

Mike Baker

Mike Baker has been an instructor since 2011. Previously, he was HVAC Program Director at both Virginia College and Vista College. Baker was an HVAC technician for several decades and has experience hiring, training, and managing HVAC Technicians. He holds numerous HVAC Excellence certifications, several Green Mechanical Council certifications, an EPA 608 Universal certification, and Emerson Climate Technology certifications. He has served as both an HVAC Excellence Instructor and Exam Proctor.

What is a certified HVAC/R technician?

A certified HVAC/R technician is a professional who has demonstrated expertise in installing, maintaining, and repairing heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems, often by completing essential training and industry-recognized certifications like NATE, HVAC Excellence, or EPA Section 608 certification.

How long does it take to get HVAC certified?

According to Indeed.com, a person can become an HVAC technician after graduating from high school, trade school, or vocational school programs. The length of time it takes depends on the educational program and the number of required courses. The average minimum required education is two years, while some programs last for three years. This time may include classroom time, field experience, internships, and apprenticeships.

Does this course prepare you for a certification?

Yes. This course prepares for the HVAC Excellence Core and Professional Technician certifications exams, the NATE Core and Specialty Test certification exams, and the EPA 608 certification exam. However, you will only be provided with an exam voucher package for the HVAC Excellence exam.

When can I start this course?

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course whenever you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.

How long does it take to complete this course?

After you register, you will receive 12 months to complete the course. The time allotted for completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours.

What if I don't have enough time to complete the course within the time frame provided?

The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.

What kind of support will I receive?

Our courses are designed to accommodate various learning preferences. Depending on the course structure, you may get different forms of support. Self-paced courses are designed to be user-friendly and independent, minimizing the need for external support. In courses with instructors, our direct platform support feature includes opportunities for questions, discussions, and remediation, with email and phone support available for select courses. Our student advising team is available to guide you on program requirements and administrative requests, but they do not provide assistance with course content. Our goal is to provide you with the necessary support for success, whether it's through self-paced exploration, direct communication, or guidance from our advising team.

What happens when I complete the course?

Upon successfully passing the final exam, you will be awarded a certificate of completion from the school or organization that you registered through.

Am I guaranteed a job?

ed2go courses will help you gain the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. However, you should always research the job market in your area before enrolling.

Can I get financial assistance?

ed2go courses are non-credit, so they do not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA, and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards may provide funding to take our courses. Additionally, you may qualify for financial assistance if you meet certain requirements. Learn more about financial assistance.

How can I get more information about this course?

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-877-221-5151 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us."