At CareerExplorer, we conduct an ongoing survey of millions of people and ask them how satisfied they are with their careers. It turns out that HVAC technicians rate their professional happiness 3.0 out of 5 stars, placing them among the poorest 29% of careers. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC-R) technicians spend their workdays installing, maintaining and repairing various indoor air conditioning systems that we often take for granted. If it weren't for these dedicated professionals, these life-improving conventions wouldn't be as common as they are now.
If you want to become an HVAC technician, you'll usually want to enroll and complete an HVAC training program at a community college or vocational school. The good thing is that you'll have no problem finding such a program, as more and more are meeting the growing demand for experienced HVAC professionals. Air conditioning training programs usually last between six and 24 months, although it depends on the program. As a student of an HVAC training program, you'll learn the basics of the HVAC industry, which will prove invaluable during your learning.
After completing a program, you'll receive more on-the-job training. There are aspects of the job that you simply need to learn on the job. With some basic information about the occupation, we'll now look at some pros and cons of choosing an HVAC technician career. The continued growth of construction, both commercial and residential, is a factor in the projected growth, in addition to the increasing prevalence of service contracts.
These contracts help stabilize technicians' workload and income year-round by scheduling maintenance appointments. The BLS notes that the job prospects of aspiring HVAC technicians who completed an educational training program were more promising than those of their peers who had not completed that program. The point is that if you want to succeed in your career as a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system technician, a training program will help you lay the foundation on which to build a rewarding career. As we mentioned in the initial section, if you decide to become a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system technician, you will receive extensive training as an entry-level employee after completing your training.
During this time, you will earn approximately half the salary that your fully trained official counterparts earn. However, the great thing about this is that you will typically receive pay increases as you master more and more skills at work. The experienced professionals you learn from will transform you from a novice just out of a training program to a full-fledged HVAC technician with a wealth of practical knowledge. Properly functioning air conditioning systems not only reduce environmental impact, but they also help save consumers money and provide them with optimal comfort in their homes and work environments.
This improves their quality of life, which is invaluable. HVAC technicians can obtain an excess of different certifications, demonstrating their competence to work with different machines. That definitely helps reduce injuries. Those who work with refrigerants must pass a test carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Certifications help make HVAC work environments safer, but they don't completely eliminate workplace setbacks, so keep this in mind when considering a career as an HVAC technician. Now that we've outlined some of the pros and cons of the profession, all you need is a place to start your education and career. Coyne College is one of the highest-rated trade schools in and around Chicago. Coyne is proud to maintain this status by thoroughly training aspiring HVAC-R technicians in its diploma program in the specialized trade.
Coyne College offers its HVAC-R program during day and night to fit your busy schedule. The program can be completed in as little as 42 weeks and is offered on the Coyne College campus, located in the heart of the Chicago Loop at the intersection of State and Madison. The Coyne College HVAC-R program will prepare you to perform the essential functions of an HVAC-R technician, such as installing, maintaining and repairing HVAC-R systems in a multitude of environments. In the program, you'll gain extensive experience in the complexities of HVAC-R by learning from experienced instructors who have significant experience in this field.
At the end of the HVAC-R program, you'll be ready to join to the workforce as an HVAC-R technician. With 118 years of experience helping aspiring skilled professionals become competent members of the workforce, Coyne College has a well-developed network of resources to help students obtain employment after completing their training programs. Coyne College also offers its students professional assistance, including mock interviews, internships, and curriculum assistance. These resources can help students get internships after completing the program.
Air conditioning can be a stressful job at times, especially during the season of peak demand, of May to September. The HVAC industry may require you to work evenings and weekends sometimes to meet the additional demand for broken air conditioning systems during the summer months. If you work in commercial HVAC systems, you may have to work outside normal working hours when businesses and offices aren't busy. HVAC work is a practical and specialized profession, so you should be comfortable working with tools and equipment and working inside people's homes.
Whether you specialize in commercial or residential HVAC, a certified HVAC technician has many opportunities to earn a good salary and have good job security. Being an HVAC technician also requires good communication skills to be able to explain to customers what problems they have with their air conditioning or heating unit. HVAC professionals are both advisors and trusted technicians and must balance both skills. If you were to ask any HVAC technician what their day involves, they would tell you that they spend most of their time installing, repairing and maintaining HVAC and refrigeration systems to keep us cool during hot summer days and warm during cold winter days.
However, even if you don't use math every day as an HVAC technician, it can help you understand the principles of HVAC systems and solve problems. The best thing that attracts so many people to become HVAC technicians is that working in the HVAC field doesn't require a college degree. While you can learn some of the basics of HVAC on your own, school training is usually required to become HVAC certified and practical training is required to receive payment. Whether you specialize in commercial or residential HVAC, a certified HVAC technician has many opportunities to earn a good salary and have good job security. Most people think of heating and cooling system installations and repairs when they think about a career as an HVAC technician, but there are a wide range of job opportunities in various sectors of the HVAC industry.
In the residential and commercial construction industry, the need for qualified HVAC technicians to install and maintain HVAC systems is also increasing. Therefore, if you are interested in training to become an HVAC technician, consider enrolling in the UEI HVAC training program to be trained to this rewarding career. In addition, some HVAC professionals may work as independent contractors or start their own businesses, further improving their independence and potential for financial growth. To determine if HVAC is a good career option, let's discuss the pros and cons of pursuing a career as an HVAC technician.
Therefore, it may be worth pursuing a career as an HVAC technician, as more and more HVAC technicians will be needed to address the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and cooling needs of residential and commercial construction. So, now that you know the importance of HVAC systems, is it worth pursuing a career as an HVAC technician? We will answer this question below. There are lots of free training videos and useful online HVAC podcasts to learn from experienced HVAC technicians. You can even start your own HVAC business by graduating from an HVAC program and get your certifications.
