Can You Be Succesful With Only A AAS Degree?

[Hojubobdan]

I fresh out of high school and I am seriously thinking about HVAC. I have zero knowledge and experience in it. With that being said, if I went to this tech school and got my HVAC AAS Degree would I be able to be successful and find a good job?

[timebuilder]

Let me ask you...


Were you that kid who took everything apart...and put it back together?

Do you have a knack for electricity?

Have you always marveled at air conditioning on a hot day?

Then yes.

You just won't make great money right away.

[dougfamous]

Before you go to school for this, realize a few things:

You won't be making $100,000 a year right out of school
You WILL be working more than 40 hours a week
Being a tech means a lot of long, hard nights working while your buddies party

We need techs in this field with knowledge, but there's too many kids coming out of school and expecting to be lead tech on their first day. After 19 years I still see weird things every day.

[MM#7]

I fresh out of high school and I am seriously thinking about HVAC. I have zero knowledge and experience in it. With that being said, if I went to this tech school and got my HVAC AAS Degree would I be able to be successful and find a good job?

yes!

[marter]

i dont have a degree, i dont know if you can get a job in hvac without one. i just knew someone that get me my start

[michigan1]

The answer is yes, you can. Most of the best techs I know have no degree. However if you plan on getting into the engineering/design side, a bas is usually required.

[desert guy]

I have been in this trade for 30 years adn see it all the time. My advice is to get a degree while you work the trade or join the Union (benefits + training + retirement).
Just work harder than the next guy and you will be successful. You can start out as an entry level worker and learn enough to become a Project Manager, Dept Head or open your own business.
Very Doable but you need to work your tail off like anyone else.

[freonr22]

imho, I would rather a tech that started at the bottom, went to trade school, ie city college, state school, county vocational, etc. Worked as a grunt while getting paid to learn, changing filters, etc. than some one going to a $15,000-$25,000 school.

With that said, becoming a mechanical engineer, would take a different educational tract. but for a service guy...

[michigan1]

I've learned more from 1 day classes put on by local supply houses than my years in school.

[btuhack]

You can be successful with an 8th grade education and a criminal record if you have an interest, ability, work ethic, and desire to persevere. This is America.

The real question is: How much do you invest in education before you know if it's right for you. Get a summer job as a driver for a contractor, not as a grunt. Drivers see it all, the jobs, the office, the parts houses... the whole cast. You'll get a glimpse the industry and the workers that already do the job you want.


Trade school, union apprenticeship, community college, etc would be the logical place to start in acquiring the basic fundamental knowledge that employers are looking for to put someone in a trainee position. Continuous learning should be expected regardless of whether you stay in the field or transition to management. Your rate of success will depend on you... providing you don't saddle up with a crumby company.

Give some thought as to where you want to wind up~(resi, commercial, refer) (service, construction) (corporate monkey, small shop, owner, etc.) and you'll have a better map for your career path and education.


Good luck

[DeltaT]

You have been taught a lie if you are assuming that a degree and success equals each other. Going to get a formal education in the field you desire is a major step in the right direction but it's what is inside of you that will make you a success or not. The experience of being taught by knowledgable people in the school and field of your choice will accellerate you in the right direction. But having a degree for the sake of a degree will not.

Go to learn from people who know what you want to know. Gain from their guidance, knowledge and wisdom. And if you end up getting a degree place it in a draw and forget about it. Place your learned knowledge out there by your deeds and actions and use that as your foundation for success.

[marter]

my view on degrees are that its only a tool to help you get a interview, that is all.
it will seperate someone like you with a degree and no experience vs someone without a degree and no experience. but that doesn't mean you would be picked over the one without a degree.

but if i were to choose from a man with a 2year degree and no experience or someone with 2 years experience and no degree. id go with the experienced guy imo

[stonewallred]

Most successful HVAC guy I know is my favorite ex-employer.
He worked in the off season (minor league pro athlete) for a guy doing heating and air, retired from sports and started out in a truck and a goal.
Roughly 30 years later, he is in the process of selling his business, has ~30 employees, big shop, and most worthwhile, a very good reputation as an honest and ethical business man who stands behind his work and offers good service for a fair price.

I'd call that successful.

[newinthefield]

Having a degree wont guaranty you a job or 100.000 dollars a year,and eployer will choose guy w two years field experience over you. Having said that ass. Degree will show out there that you are not quitet and and that you can learn. After two years on job and with degree you'll beat that guy w just twi years experience every time. Money comes slowly but it will come regardles degree or not. Si dont let some of these guys here tell you that you wasted your time in school. My boss chosed me over two years of experience guy, so school means something out there. All these guys that told you different dont have school but they have certificate,epa card,nate cert. Or some type of class that they have to go thgrou,there is nobody out there working whitout nothing. Good luck. This world is full of haters.