Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
Program at a Glance
Students enrolled in the HVAC program learn to service and troubleshoot heating equipment (both gas and oil) and air conditioning and refrigeration systems. HVAC technicians ensure that a building's energy systems are working efficiently, and detect and repair problems within those systems. Technicians in the industry will participate in related “green” and energy efficient systems. Because of the technical nature of the job, education in the field is mandatory.
Incoming freshmen students interested in this program will participate in the Exploratory Construction Cluster. Students will have the benefit of experiencing each of the following programs for one marking period to determine their primary program of study: Carpentry, Building Trades, Electricity and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC).
What You Will Learn
Instruction includes installation and/or repair of furnaces, boilers, refrigeration systems, hydronics and zone controls. Students will also receive instruction in motors and controls, soldering, brazing, steel pipe cutting and threading, sheet metal basics, and electrical wiring of relays. Students are continually challenged with new information as the industry continually progresses towards newer, greener technologies.
Career Pathways
There are a variety of job opportunities within the HVAC Industry—residential, industrial, commercial, sales, retail, management, green heating and cooling and energy management, etc. Due to the vastness of opportunities within the field, the HVAC industry is an excellent career opportunity for those interested in non-traditional careers. The skills acquired through this course will allow students to choose any path within the industry that they find most appealing.
Sample Careers
- Environmental Systems Engineering Technician
- Energy Management Technician
- Green HVAC Specialist
- Boiler Technician
- HVAC System Repairperson
- HVAC Service Technician
Curriculum Outline