Need Lincoln Tech Advice

[bigbadwol4]

I am 25 yr old military veteran in Maryland wanting to enter HVAC. I would like to know if I should go to a one year school like lincoln tech or go a different route. Went for a visit and they feed you a lot of info to pull you in but i know some of it is just fluff. Please help if possible. Thanks guys

[Edmund Forsthe]

go to the community colledge, the va will pay the same amount wherever you go , the community colledge is cheaper, and push comes to shove might have evening courses, you might be able to get a day job in the trade and learn at night. if anything take the difference you'll spend between lincoln tech and the community colledge and use that to buy equiptment such as vac pump , recovery machine, gauges etc. one cost more its up to you to learn.

[Shophound]

What's your background in the military? Former Navy snipe, maybe? Or Air Force or Army AC & R?

Or are you going at this fresh?

Community colleges can have great HVAC programs. Years ago I attended North Lake College in Dallas and they had a very well equipped lab and good instruction. Quality may vary by community (tax base, etc) but the primary aspect is how good are the teachers in your classes. If they know their stuff and have a lot of good practical experience to back it up, you're golden. If they're just warming a chair for the paycheck and reading from a textbook...you'll have to augment what you get in class with some self-study.

Wherever you go, put more into it than you might get from the course of instruction and you'll reap well.

[marylandtech]

i would suggest one of the local community colleges also. i graduated from lincoln tech in columbia,md. It is a good program but you can get the same thing from community college alot cheaper. Program is too long for the info you learn. Just my opinion!

[refrtech]

Lincoln Tech sucks !! Stay far away from the place.I know lots of guys who graduated from there and have said it isnt worth a damn. If you are in the Columbia area HCC has a pretty good program. You may also want look into gettin in with the union here in MD/VA area as an apprentice. The local is 602 in the DC area. I know of lots of companies that would hire you off the streets and train you if they thought you had potential. If you are interested in goin straight into the feild I am good friends with a service manager of my old company, they would hire and train you. They do all commercial HVAC/R around MD/DC/VA. If you are interested reply to this and I will give you the info. Good luck.

[smsi]

I have had a couple of applicants that went through the Lincoln Tech program. They seem to understand the refrigerant circuit but cannot answer any questions pertaining to electrical troubleshooting. I use a test to weed out some people and all these guys did poorly. All these schools (including the community colleges) need to spend a day teaching how to apply for a job (what to wear, be on time, dress appropriately, etc.) I would recommend the community college route along with gaining experience while going to school. Good luck.

[bigbadwol4]

refrtech, thanks for the info. If you could help me further with your old company it would be appreciated. One other question what type of pay does Maryland area get for apprentice Vs. Trade Graduate. Thanks

[refrtech]

Originally posted by bigbadwol4
refrtech, thanks for the info. If you could help me further with your old company it would be appreciated. One other question what type of pay does Maryland area get for apprentice Vs. Trade Graduate. Thanks
As in the comparison of the 2 I am not really sure. I do know that they were hiring 18-20 year old kids with no experience starting around $10-12 per hour. This IS a rewarding carreer but only after you have put in 3-5 years so don't expect to make much more than $10 until you have put in your time. This may get deleted for doing this but send me an e-mail and I will give you contact info.
MRCHILL94@juno.com

[Roscoe]

hey big

thanks for your service you deserve the education you worked for it, and

We owe it to you !!

You're looking in the right area stay with it, sorry I don't know enough about Lincoln Tech.

get the best education you can and go Union if you can

[Edited by pjs on 08-19-2004 at 09:24 PM]

[DougHVAC1]

Lincoln Tech sucks !! Stay far away from the place.I know lots of guys who graduated from there and have said it isnt worth a damn. If you are in the Columbia area HCC has a pretty good program. You may also want look into gettin in with the union here in MD/VA area as an apprentice. The local is 602 in the DC area. I know of lots of companies that would hire you off the streets and train you if they thought you had potential. If you are interested in goin straight into the feild I am good friends with a service manager of my old company, they would hire and train you. They do all commercial HVAC/R around MD/DC/VA. If you are interested reply to this and I will give you the info. Good luck.

Refretech,

I am in the process of switching careers; I am 45 and hold a BS degree in Business. I am good with my hands and I have decided to pursue HVAC as a new career. I have some plumbing experience, I am currently not working and taking HVAC/R classes at night. I am eager to learn and dependable.

[Mr Chesapeake]

I am 25 yr old military veteran in Maryland wanting to enter HVAC. I would like to know if I should go to a one year school like lincoln tech or go a different route. Went for a visit and they feed you a lot of info to pull you in but i know some of it is just fluff. Please help if possible. Thanks guys

Don't know where you live, but if you need a place to start out for employment, you might be able to start as an apprentice where I work. Mind you, I work for the largest supplier of heating oil in Maryland so you'll definitely get your hands dirty, but we do all HVAC work too. PM me if you're interested and I'll give you a few phone numbers.

[pecmsg]

The UA local that refrtech suggested has a program for Vets.

http://www.uavip.org/

and thank you for you’re service.:patriot:

[sw_lv2005]

Go to hvac excellence.org. I am 27 just went back to school myself went to navy air conditioning school but they really do not teach you the electrical part. I wanted to use my beneifits before i lost them. The hvac excellence schools as for hvac on the electrical i think you cant beat my school pretty much makes your wire up a package unit and a split system from scatch so if you went to a unit you all the wires were ripped you would know how to wire it up, they go over everything in detail. As the other member said try veterans in piping plus the union recruits hvac graduates from hvac excellence schools. Good luck

[DougHVAC1]

Refrtech,

Please reply with the service manager's info from your old co. I am taking HVAC classes and I am looking to start as an apprentice. I have some plumbing & construction experience.

Doug