Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technicians: Competencies and Educational Requirements

As heating, refrigeration and air conditioning technicians, you’ll find numerous job opportunities with testing laboratories, product designing and manufacturing companies, equipment manufacturers and distributors, construction companies, technical support firms and HVAC service contractors, in the areas of

• Design and development
• Installation and maintenance
• Testing and troubleshooting
• Technical support
• Sales and service

With experience, you can also work as specifications writers, estimators, service managers, sales managers and team leaders. The other opportunities exist in consulting, determining material and labour requirements and quality management and labour relations. However, for more advanced career options, you will need to upgrade your knowledge along with gathering substantial experience in the field.

Building a Career as Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning Technicians

Competencies Requirements

In order to seek entry level jobs in refrigeration, heating and air conditioning, you need to possess following competencies (knowledge, skills and abilities):

• A broad knowledge of design, installation and service techniques of heating and air conditioning systems for commercial and residential settings
• A working knowledge of maintaining, sizing and selecting equipment for air conditioning and refrigeration application
• Hands-on experience in pipe joining and installation
• Ability to work on all traditional and modern electrical and control systems
• Ability to select equipment to meet the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) standards

Educational Requirements

In order to work as a heating and refrigeration technician in Canada, you will need to at least have undergone a formal post-secondary education program in heating, refrigeration and air conditioning. However, for becoming tradesperson, you need to complete an apprenticeship after graduation in plumbing, pipefitting, electrical, sheet metal or refrigeration.

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Courses in Canada : A post-secondary program in heating and refrigeration can help you gain the knowledge and skills required to enter the world of work and start your career. Although a number of colleges in Canada offer refrigeration and air conditioning courses but not all are affiliated. Besides, they may not provide you with hands-on experience which is an essential requirement to find a job after course completion.

Centennial College’s program in refrigeration, heating and air conditioning technician spans the areas of design and engineering, encompassing the development of refrigerants, equipment selection, efficiency standards and installation and service techniques. Besides, it offers much required hands-on experience through its state-of-the-art laboratories.

Program Details

The two-year program covers a wide selection of subjects including:

• Fundamentals of cooling cycles and heating
• Mechanical cooling cycles
• Pipe joining and installation for cooling
• Mathematics
• Acts, regulations and procedures
• Electrical fundamentals
• Mechanical drawing and prints
• Ethics in technology and environment
• Psychometrics – control
• System design and installation
• Electrical and control systems
• Heating hydronic fundamentals
• Air conditioning and distribution systems
• Advanced electrical and control systems
• Admission Requirements
• To apply for this program, you will need:
• Secondary school diploma or equivalent
• English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent
• Mathematics Grade 11 M or 12 C or University or equivalent

Students currently attending high schools can also apply for this program. Their grades will be automatically transferred to the college.