Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician Course Cover Broad Range of Topics

There are many areas in which a Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician may find work. For example, those who attend Centennial College’s two-year offering are fully prepared upon graduation to take on the tasks associated with technical support, maintenance and installation, design as well as sales and service. Grads may also find employment in industries in which a temperature-controlled environment is a must, including: dairies, meat packing plants, food processing plants, breweries, canneries and cold storage companies. The careers of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician grads begin with apprenticeships in plumbing, pipefitting, electrical, sheet metal or refrigeration. The apprenticeship step is required after graduation for those who wish to become tradespersons.

According to Service Canada, the number of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technicians has increased sharply over the past few years. This increase is primarily attributable to demand for air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. Even though growth in this demand is expected to slow, the number of refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics should increase significantly over the next few years.

Here is how Centennial College’s Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician courses prepare students to enter the burgeoning field.

• One of the main focuses of the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning courses is design, installation and service techniques of heating and air conditioning systems for commercial and residential settings.
• Students learn to maintain, size and select equipment for air conditioning and refrigeration application.
• Other key areas of the undertaking include: the development of refrigerants, selection of equipment to meet the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) standards, and the efficiency standards for heating equipment.
• Among specific Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning courses are: Fundamentals of Cooling Cycles, Pipe Joining & Installation for Cooling, Electrical Fundamentals, Mechanical Drawings and Prints, Heating Hydronic Fundamentals, Air Conditioning & Distribution Systems and others.
• Because class sizes are small, Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician students are able to obtain one-on-one time with instructors.
• The faculty members in the offering have experience in the field that allows them to share useful anecdotes with students.
• Progress Campus, where the courses are housed, is outfitted with state-of-the-art labs that allow for practical application.
• Students become familiar with common tools of the trade through hands-on learning.
• A standout aspect of the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician program is a Capstone Project in the final semester that allows students to apply everything they have learned during the previous semesters.
• Prior to applying, Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician applicants are asked to already have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), GED or equivalent. They should also have completed the English Grade 12 C or U credit or equivalent, or skills assessment; and Math Grade 11 M, C or U credit or Grade 12 M, C or U credit, or equivalent, or skills assessment.