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Originally Posted by hvactech79

very interesting topic

I work in souhtern ontario, and we have a full apprenticeship (5 years) however there are a few trade schools where you can learn refrigeration

Probably because it is already so cold in Ontario already! Ha! (Yes my jokes could be better and I know I'm replying to an old thread).

I looked into the Canadian apprentice program and it doesn't seem easy to qualify. And a 5 year program!?! That's frightfully long.

In Response. Trade schools offer an overview of our industry. But some offer false promises to students as to their value, at the end of their graduation. I have hired a lot of tech school graduates. The point I will make is you must be humble apply your self to being able to work hard & willing to learn. have social skills & communicate. A good employer will provide a path to grow your career. My next point is Union Apprentices. I went thru a 5 yr apprenticeship, But we had to be employed with a union contractor during our apprenticeship. Which really gave us an advantage, for the learning curve. But now 30 yrs forward. Union help has changed as well, with some of the members. I have hired ex union guys who have worked in union jobs that lets say there employer has a lot of work that is 3-5 year guaranteed contracts with Super Markets, City Contracts as an example. I have more in house trained & harder workers then some of the latter I described. They can buy there way into a union & get paid great money with big egos, But soon there work habits & there idea of an 8 hr day will soon be seen. You make your career path as you choose to apply yourself. Either being a great employee for someone, or deciding owning your own business one day. Lets here it.

Research

Originally Posted by secorp

Instinct usually works best, if you are already having doubts well. ?.......

Regarding the response to your note on considering a career in the HVAC industry. It can be the most rewarding thing you can do for your career choice. If your choice is finding an accredited school, Then do research about the school & what former students have said. Be committed & focused on learning as much about the industry as possible, Then if the school has a placement program look into who you might be placed with & ask as many questions. What will be expected from you & the opportunity to grow. If you apply yourself to making it a career choice you can write your own ticket with in a few years. As an employer from a 30yr old HVAC service firm. good candidates are hard to find. And as I always will say after 40+ years in the trade it is by far of all the trades the best one to get into. Hang in there.

One thing leads to another in life. Try something-- if you don't like it, move on. As for paying to learn something ...well that's life. If you learn something-- then it's not a waste.

Seems a bit pricey, be sure you know how you are going to pay for the tuition.

You've got a 70% chance of getting work upon completion.

Originally Posted by Rookie_At_Life

I'm necro-ing this thread because I saw this nearly a couple of months ago after a customer of mine at a retail establishment gave me 'advice' not to go into a Trade so gun-ho. I'm considering going to Apex Technical School(Yes, I live in NY) sometime next year in HVAC but after reading this thread and seeing what the HVAC industry is or has reduced into, I'm hesistant in going or should find another Blue Collar career I should go into. After making this thread early this year, I realize how broad this HVAC is and what I should narrow myself down in this industry. However I should be smart and figure what other options are out there. Ever since volunteering with Habitat for Humanity I realize how much I enjoyed working with my hands and getting a satisfaction of getting hands on work done it's something what I want to do.

Should I research more about the industry and go ahead with it or move on to something that's more to my speed?

Instinct usually works best, if you are already having doubts well. ?.......

I'm necro-ing this thread because I saw this nearly a couple of months ago after a customer of mine at a retail establishment gave me 'advice' not to go into a Trade so gun-ho. I'm considering going to Apex Technical School(Yes, I live in NY) sometime next year in HVAC but after reading this thread and seeing what the HVAC industry is or has reduced into, I'm hesistant in going or should find another Blue Collar career I should go into. After making this thread early this year, I realize how broad this HVAC is and what I should narrow myself down in this industry. However I should be smart and figure what other options are out there. Ever since volunteering with Habitat for Humanity I realize how much I enjoyed working with my hands and getting a satisfaction of getting hands on work done it's something what I want to do.

Should I research more about the industry and go ahead with it or move on to something that's more to my speed?

I totally agree with you. Well spoken/written. I love this country but to a degree--perhaps, we have become too individualistic. We immortalize folks who made millions doing this or that not knowing the full story. Your words come from understanding while others come from ignorance.

My son was the last graduating year UTI in Arizona, has the HVAC program I believe 7=8 years ago

Originally Posted by 54885488

I also went to uti . Got there in oct 85 and left july 4th weekend 86 . Went nights . Went to phoenix campus . Excellent school .

I also went nights Sept 85 to June 86. What a great school it gave me a huge head start in my career. Even the solar portion which at the time I thought was a waste of time but as time went on I saw it alot of that applied to hydroponics.

To bad they dropped the coarse that actually helped people learn and get jobs and put in BS coarses like NASCAR mech. yep I'm pretty sure they have a high placement rate on that one.

Judging by the techs I've seen from other schools over the last 30 years, UTI is [was] the best school out there, no question about it.

Originally Posted by 54885488

I also went to uti . Got there in oct 85 and left july 4th weekend 86 . Went nights . Went to phoenix campus . Excellent school .

I also went to uti . Got there in oct 85 and left july 4th weekend 86 . Went nights . Went to phoenix campus . Excellent school .

I went during the day.

Days or nights?

Pretty sure I graduated '86. In December I am sure of.

Maybe we were shop buddies ?

Originally Posted by buttwheat

That sounds like my story. What year did you go? I was there 85-86

Originally Posted by BBeerme

I payed $4,500 back in the mid 1980's. Well, sort of. It was for UTI, got to be the best trade school there was. Eight hours a day for nine months; half the day was classroom, the other half was shop time.

I got a student loan for $2500 (which a bunch was taken out of to pay for future interest), a government grant for $1700, then I came up with the balance.

That had to be the best money the government ever invested in. Seeing as how now I'm paying tens of thousands each year in taxes.

That sounds like my story. What year did you go? I was there 85-86

Originally Posted by CircusEnvy

My boss keeps me happy with the green stuff

Smoke or paper?

My ex brother in law worked at a supply house and went to ati. He is the best tech I have ever seen, he can work on anything from an ice machine, walk in cooler, central air, large rooftops, etc. Self employed business owner, went to work in Kansas, for York technical support, now owns his own business again.
He said you will only get out of it, what you put into it. He got A LOT out of it. Ive been in the trade for 33 years and I have the utmost respect for his skills.

Excellent information!

I payed $4,500 back in the mid 1980's. Well, sort of. It was for UTI, got to be the best trade school there was. Eight hours a day for nine months; half the day was classroom, the other half was shop time.

I got a student loan for $2500 (which a bunch was taken out of to pay for future interest), a government grant for $1700, then I came up with the balance.

That had to be the best money the government ever invested in. Seeing as how now I'm paying tens of thousands each year in taxes.

Originally Posted by Dehno

Damn, I payed 3 grand for my HVAC degree at a local technical college. Best money I've spent. Where are these 10 grand trade schools at?