Advances in HVAC-R practice are driving HVAC education forward, toward an understanding of greener systems and components, and connected and embedded technologies such as Nest thermostats that control advanced heating and cooling systems in ever more sophisticated ways. New HVAC certification and degree programs focus on preparing technicians to install, maintain and repair modern HVAC-R systems, often device-controlled and incorporating progressively greener technology. This blog surfaces the best modern HVAC programs across a number of dimensions, along with the professors that are pushing HVAC education forward, and the apps and technologies that are emerging as future HVAC-R standards. As licensing and certification requirements evolve to incorporate new advancements in the field, and as active HVAC educators and practitioners share their stories, the www.hvacclasses.org team will publish that information here.
While HVAC is a STEM-focused field, based on science and technology, the skills needed to become an expert HVAC professional can extend beyond the hard sciences. Many HVAC professionals need to be entrepreneurs, marketers, and even counselors to their clients, and not every HVAC program includes classes that adequately prepare students for those roles. However, they soon may.
An HVAC associate degree, such as those offered by the schools on this list, includes instruction in more than just the fundamentals of HVAC systems. An AAS degree requires courses in a range of topics, from communication to mathematics to liberal arts. This breadth of knowledge will be invaluable in a competitive job market.
Virtual reality (VR) is taking professional training to a new level. While some forms of VR have been successfully used for decades—flight simulators, for example, are a long-standing and crucial training tool for new and aspiring pilots—the proliferation of handheld consumer VR devices, like the Oculus Rift, have brought VR into the mainstream. Today, VR is used for training in a number of professional fields: education, healthcare, retail, and, increasingly,...
Heating, venting, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC and HVAC/R) technicians and installers are in high demand in cities. Climate control is requisite for businesses, industries, institutions, and homeowners. It’s needed for comfort, preservation of food, and medical and research facilities. What are the top cities for HVAC professionals?
The title of HVAC project manager can mean different things depending on the hiring party. In most cases, an HVAC project manager is someone with experience in the HVAC field who oversees new projects for an HVAC construction company, or as a consultant for a contractor.
Are you wondering why you might consider pursuing an HVAC degree? View our in-depth, side-by-side comparison to determine whether to invest in an HVAC diploma, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree.
The United States needs more skilled tradespeople, particularly in the HVAC workforce. Part of the reason is demographics: as the Baby Boomers retire, there are fewer Millennials and Zoomers to replace them, and the number of skilled trade jobs continues to outpace the supply of qualified workers to fill them. But that shortage is compounded by a historical cultural push towards students getting traditional, four-year liberal arts bachelor’s degrees, few...
There has never been a better time to seek out training as an HVAC technician. With the right skills to repair and install heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning along with refrigeration systems, it can be a truly rewarding career path that is only growing in demand. Consider pursuing an HVAC degree from one of these top programs in order to immerse yourself in HVAC study and enrich your understanding of...
New building construction, the retrofitting or replacement of old systems, and evolving environmental laws are only three of the forces fueling the demand for qualified HVAC professionals. Each state has a particular combination of economic prosperity, job opportunities, and weather patterns that may make them ideal locations for HVAC professionals.
The HVAC industry has undergone several rapid changes as of late. The Covid-19 pandemic brought new attention to the impact of in-building and in-home air quality on one’s health. A migration towards work-from-home set-ups led to more consumers investing in making their homes more comfortable: appropriately heated in the winter and cooled in the summer. And new climate realities have made the HVAC industry rethink the materials it uses, while...