Sounds like a left coast thing.
I was going to apply at a job but they said they need me to be "HVAC Certified". I'm pretty sure that's not the same as the Certification I got from my school for HVAC.
So my question is, how does one receive this "HVAC Certified" status? Does it require an apprenticeship or experience in the field followed by some type of test to pass? Sorry kinda lost on this. Thanks in advance.
Sounds like a left coast thing.
[Avatar photo from a Florida training accident. Everyone walked away.]
2 Tim 3:16-17
RSES CMS, HVAC Electrical Specialist
Member, IAEI
AOP Forum Rules:
Really nothing like that back east?
Could mean cfc certification by the epa. Thats a minimal requirement for many HVAC companies. That and at least an apprentice license. I assume you took and passed the ICE exam in school. Other than those, there are a ton of other certs like NATE and RSES to name some good ones.
You should have asked them what they were talking about. Don't be shy with them guys. They're people too!
Gotta have the right tool for the job!
Where is all the stuff MADE IN THE USA?
"Thats what we do Troy. Incredible, Invisible, Imbelivable things. We are an Unseen, Unknown, Unvincible fraternity of craftsman.."
I would say that certification means EPA and trade school or vocational school graduate.
[Avatar photo from a Florida training accident. Everyone walked away.]
2 Tim 3:16-17
RSES CMS, HVAC Electrical Specialist
Member, IAEI
AOP Forum Rules:
im trying to become am HVAC tech in san diego, california, but i am being told that i have to go to angley college florida, do about 6 months of classes and tests online, and then travel and live in florida for 31 days to work 9 hours a day, 6 days a week, to get my hands on.If i pass, i wil have these certifacations:R410A, EPA308,Federal Osha Certifaction, and Lastly, the N.A.T.E.
My question is, if i am certified through a college in Florida, can i work as an hvac tech in California?
In So Calif , I think they are refering to NATE certification....They are mainly looking for educated guys...Not the fly by nights that want into the trade
In Texas you can go from a registered Tech to a certified Tech by providing one of the following 7. What is a qualifying exam?
The Department will accept the following exams:
Air Force DD214, HVAC
Angelina College, Lufkin, HVAC
Ashworth University, HVAC
ATI (American Trades Institute, HVAC)
Austin Community College, HVAC
Blinn College, HVAC
Capital City Trade - HVAC
Career Centers of Texas - Brownsville, HVAC
CARRIER Technical Training Certification
Castillo Training - NATE ONLY
Central Texas, AC and Refrigeration School
Central Texas College, HVAC
Centre County, HVAC
CFESA - Master Tech. Certification (Commercial Food Equipment Service Association)
City of San Antonio, HVAC
Dallas County Community College, HVAC
Department of Labor, HVAC
Education Direct/Penn Foster, HVAC
El Paso Community College, HVAC
Everest Institute, HVAC
Grayson College, HART Program
Hill College, HVAC
Houston Community College
HVAC EXCELLENCE
IAPMO (International Association Plumbing and Mechanical Officials)
ICC (International Code Council)
ICE (Industry Competence Exam)
ICS/National Education, HVAC
Kilgore Junior College, HVAC
Lincoln Technical Institute, HVAC
Lindsey-Cooper
Lone Star College, HVAC
Meridian Technology Center, HVAC
NATE (North American Technician Excellence)
National Comfort Institute
Navy DD214, HVAC
North Central Texas College-HVAC
OSU-Okmulgee, HVAC
Paris Junior College, HVAC
Professional Career Training Institute
Puerto Rico HVAC license
Quality Tech.Training - Las Vegas
RETA-CIRO (Refrigeration Engineers & Technicians Assoc.)
RSES CM and CMS (Refrigeration Service Engineers Society)
RSI-Phoenix, HVAC
San Diego Community College, HVAC
San Jacinto College, HVAC
South Texas College, HVAC
St. Phillips College, HVAC
TACLA, HVAC
TACLB, HVAC
Tarrant County College, HVAC
Terra State, HVAC Associates Degree
Texas A&M-TEEX/HVAC
TSTC (Texas State Technical College, HVAC)
Tyler Junior College, HVAC
UA - Star HVAC Certification
Universal Technical Institute (UTI), HVAC
University of Texas at Brownsville / Texas Southmost College, HVAC
US Army, DD214, HVAC
Vernon College, HVAC
VGI Training - NATE or ICE Only
Weatherford College-HVAC
Western Technical College, El Paso, HVAC
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 608 certification examinations for the use and handling of refrigerants will not be accepted as satisfying the requirements for certification referenced under 1302.508.
Other AC&R Technician certification examinations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. For related questions you may contact us at (512) 463-6599 or toll-free in Texas (800) 803-9202 OR email us at air.conditioning@license.state.tx.us - make sure to put “Certification Examination” in the subject line. NOTE: Certification is not required to become a “registered” technician.
i answered this before.
the only thing you need to work as an HVAC technician in California is your EPA 608.
it doesn't matter where you get it from, i knew a guy who got one out of the country.
if you sell equiptment to homeowners, the company that hires you sends you to California's Live Scan, to submit fingerprints for a background check,
and the Contractor's board gives you a sales permit in the name of the company that hires you.
any other requirements are a request of the company.
...such as N.A.T.E.
most companies in California don't ask you for anything else other than work history experience , driving record, or company testing.
in California, "HVAC certified" ,means your EPA 608
While most of these sites are all scam sites there a re a few that do deliver what they promise.Buddy of mine purchased a diploma from this site and was delivered what he asked for.They provide many services even having the chance of bein IT Technology Certified like Microsoft,Cisco,Comptia,Linux and many more
www.diploma-certscreations.com
After 18 years experience. I think I will let this be....Before I say something that will get me chewed out. I have been behind so called NATE certified techs. I know one that I would not let within 20 yards of an A/C. There are people that are very book smart, but have a total lack of common sense. Just look at the federal government.
To Teck323 & MarkusSD
I'm based out of Orange County, CA and I think the certification the companies are looking for are your EPA license type 1 & 2 at a minimum and most expect universal (type 1,2 & 3).
NATE is quickly becoming the standard certification for techs and most legit companies expect you to have NATE core and 1 specialty (from 21 or 22 i think?)
Next question how do you get certified?
Yes you could spend thousands to go to tech school in Florida or other schools around the country.
Go to a local supply house, Johnstone supply, MSI, US airconditioning and ask what classes they offering. Many of them offer R410 cert, EPA 608 and NATE classes.
Sign up to a local community college and see what classes/courses are available for HVAC. I think Palomar in San Marcos offered classes.
Lastly Southern California Edison teamed up with an online hvac training company to give $1800 worth of free training. I don't know if you'll qualify or if its still available but here's the site.
www.itsaboutq.net
You cannot cheat an honest man. But that doesn't stop people trying!
Everyone must have the EPA 608 Certification.
Some companies want ICE Certification for 1 year entry level techs.
Many want NATE for 2 year+ techs.
RSES also has a certification.
Certification doesn't mean you can function as a tech it just means you're smart enough to study and pass a test on the basics. I think all techs should be competent on the basics.
Every state has different qualifications from nothing to NATE + 4 years experience. There are websites that list each state and the qualifications.
The union programs are usually 4 year Certifications.
Back to the original post. Hes not the one that specified California...It depends on the state, for example in Alaska there is ALOT you have to do. If your a service tech on heating systems and your only doing part for part replacement and not altering the design of a system you dont need anything. Service tech for A/C you need EPA 608. BUT...for forced air INSTALLS or altering a system you MUST be a state licensed sheetmetel apprentice (working under a journeyman) or journeyman (8000hrs.) working under a state licensed Mechanical Administrator (12000hrs.). For Hydronic (boilers, Waterheaters, ext.) Installs its the same requirements but plumber vs. sheetmetel. Up here NATE may help to set you apart but the high majority of techs dont have it because if your at the Journeyman level you have already expressed a level of knowledge above what the NATE exam expresses. Not saying the NATE exam isnt worth anything, just saying in comparison the test for the alaska Journeyman licenses are a bit harder. I would check with your state requirements by going to there professional licensing/ Contracor licensing site. In alaska its a $10,000 fine if your caught workinging without the proper licensing and id hate to see anyone get hit with that because they didnt know. But again visit your states site. Also check county and city requirements. In the municipality of Anchorage Alaska its the same requirement as the state so basically you need both a state license and city license. Ive never done HVAC outside of Alaska so Im not at all familure with other states requirements but from the sounds of it most of them are a bit easyer then up here. Kinda makes me want to move. haha.
The only, "HVAC Certified" I've ever seen are wallet cards handed out to students from a local trade school. This is actually funny to me because I don't believe there is such a thing. EPA, NATE, RSES certified, yes. HVAC certified, no...
Just had a thought...maybe they mean the little card handed out by the state? In TX we have to be registered as a tech with the state.
up here in CT we have to go to school for 800 hrs as well as have apprentice hrs up to 8000 then take a test to get to be an S2 journeyman.
but like they say it is up to each state
If you want HVAC Certified So! you must that place where you learn about HVAC. They will help.