Learn the Ins and Outs of Becoming a Successful Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician
Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning technicians are the professionals who make, install, repair and service residential, commercial and industrial cooling and heating systems. While some of them work in building maintenance, others specialize in repairing small, portable refrigeration and freezing units. As part of their job, refrigeration and air conditioning technicians measure, cut and connect piping using welding and brazing equipment; recharge systems with refrigerant gases as required; connect rooftop units to gas, test and balance systems and connect electrical systems; adjust computerized controls; use computer software to calculate loads, and work on large machines. The areas in which they may work include technical support, maintenance and installation, design, sales and service. It should be noted that when graduates first leave the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician program, they may obtain employment as heating technicians or through affiliated trade apprenticeships in plumbing, pipefitting, electrical, sheet metal or refrigeration. Apprenticeship is required after graduation, for those who wish to become tradespersons.
If this field sounds like it could be of interest to you, you may want to consider attending Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning courses at Centennial College in Toronto, Ont. This two-year, four-semester offering specializes in helping students to acquire a broad knowledge of the design, installation and service techniques of heating and air conditioning systems for commercial and residential settings.
In order to attend the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning courses at Centennial College, interested parties are required to have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older). In addition, they must have the credits for compulsory English 12C or U, or skills assessment, or equivalent; and Math 11M or U, or 12C or U, or skills assessment, or equivalent.
Once they are accepted, students study out of Progress Campus. Of Centennial Colleges four locations, this one is the largest and most centrally located. It provides many places in which students can practice their craft such as a restaurant and conference centre. During their Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning courses, students learn a variety of skills to ensure that theyll be career ready upon graduation. Some specific skills include: maintain, size and select equipment for air conditioning and refrigeration application; the development of refrigerants; development of equipment to meet the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) standards; efficiency standards for heating equipment; installation and service techniques; among others.
Specific Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Courses in which students partake during their time at Centennial College include: Fundamentals of Cooling Cycles, Mechanical Cooling Cycle, Mechanical Drawing & Prints, Heating Fundamentals, Pipe Joining & Installation for Cooling, Psychtometrics – Control, and more. In addition, at the end of their training, students participate in a Capstone Project. This final project encompasses elements of everything the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning students have learned throughout their time in the program. A faculty member supervises this project.
