Do you see yourself working in a hands-on field? Have you thought of perusing a trade?

The trades are an ever-growing field that will always need new hires to join the field. One specific area of growth is Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.

Learn and become an expert in maintaining building environment systems for residence and commercial sectors. During the two-year program, you will learn how to design, operate and maintain environmental systems, in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R). Centennial College’s instructors are trained professionals who are passionate about their line of work and will help you not only familiarize yourself with industry standards but also ensure you are job ready.

Students practice how to install and service heating, refrigeration and air conditioning systems, all under the supervision of licensed professors,. Along with installation and everything from wiring to circuiting, students learn how to use design software which enables them to develop HVAC drawings.

Program Highlights

• Among the specific topics with which you will become familiar in the Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Technician program will be: the use of new refrigerants, set up of equipment to meet the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) standards, the efficiency standards for heating equipment, and more.
• This School of Engineering Technology and Applied Science offering prides itself on having you learn by doing. As such, you will practice how to install and service heating, refrigeration and air conditioning systems under the supervision of licensed professors.

Career Outlook

• Helper
• Heating and cooling mechanic
• Maintenance Personnel
• Sales Representative
• Service Representative

Areas of Employment

There are a number of employment areas in which you will be able to launch a career. Among them are:

• Heating
• Refrigeration
• Sales and service
• Design
• Technical support
• Maintenance and installation
• Residential, commercial, institutional and industrial settings

At Centennial your classroom is our lab. You will spend your time learning and practicing. We are certain after a few classes, you’ll get the hang of it.

Earn a Diploma and Co-Op Experience to Become a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic

Do you have an interest in becoming a mechanical engineering technician? Have you thought about taking air conditioning and refrigeration mechanic courses? Have you completed an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), GED or equivalent; English Grade 12 C or U or equivalent, or skills assessment; and Math Grade 11 M, C or U or Grade 12 M, C or U, or equivalent, or skills assessment? If so, you may want to consider Centennial College’s two-year Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanics – Mechanical Engineering Technician offering, which results in an Ontario College Diploma. In addition to these requirements, please note that applicants my also be asked to submit a questionnaire, resume and references to determine apprenticeship employability.

The air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanic courses in this program are beneficial to students as they allow them to train as apprentices in the refrigeration and air conditioning trade while obtaining a two-year post secondary engineering technician Ontario College diploma in the mechanical field. Eight months of the program time is spent on a co-op placement arranged by the college. The hours earned during the co-op placement are counted towards the practical part of apprenticeship training. Please note, time spent in co-op is compensated.

Meanwhile, during on-campus sessions, students obtain a thorough grounding in engineering sciences and skills, including machine shop operation, tool design, computer-assisted drafting and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), building and testing of equipment as used in the refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic industry. The grounding is offered through a variety of theoretical and lab air conditioning and refrigeration mechanic courses, which include industry-current design software and a project approach to leaning that simulates actual workplace assignments.

Among the specific air conditioning and refrigeration mechanic courses included in this offering are: Refrigeration Fundamentals (course teaches identifying procedures for checking and inspecting mechanical cooling system components. Also teaches students to describe worksite preparation procedures, personal protective equipment, safe working conditions, procedures for handling hazardous or toxic materials, fire safety procedures, the reporting of injuries, demonstration for prevention of personal injuries, procedures for lockout and tagging, operating material handling equipment, procedures for the use of personnel lift equipment); Cooling Cycles Fundamentals (teaches structure of matter, molecular motion, work and energy, thermal energy and the change of state, laws of physics that relate to vapours and gases, operating principles and function, temperatures and pressures a mechanical cooling cycle and procedures for plotting a mechanical cooling cycle in a mollier diagram); Cooling Cycles and Accessories (teaches principles and functions of various compressors, procedures for checking wear tolerances of a reciprocating compressors, the function of condensers and evaporators used in a cooling system designed to preserve perishable goods. Also highlights descriptions of the operating principles and function of metering devices, function of accessories, function of cascade compression and function of compound compression in cooling systems); and more.