Accredited HVAC Schools in Tampa and St. Petersburg, FL
While apprenticeships are one option, other workers choose to complete an accredited training program at a school. Accreditation involves an evaluation of the quality of an educational institution’s program by an independent agency. The evaluation includes both the curriculum and the instructors, and when choosing a school, it is essential to determine if it is accredited and which organization granted accreditation.
Two industry organizations evaluate and provide accreditation for HVAC programs: the Partnership for Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation (PAHRA), which awarded accreditation to the Technical Education Center of Osceola, and HVAC Excellence, which has accredited six Florida schools, including Pinellas Technical College in St. Petersburg.
Please note that all of the following programs have regional or programmatic accreditation from a reputable authority.
Altierus Career College
Altierus, a private college, offers an HVAC diploma program. This diploma offers two specialty options to choose from: an HVAC technician or a refrigeration technician. Coursework is presented in a blended format, with two to three days on-campus supplemented by online classes.
The HVAC technician specialty is made up of 55 credits. Students start with job safety, regulatory requirements, trade math, and how to use hand and power tools. They progress to skill-based topics such as reading blueprints and drawings, material handling, the fundamentals of air conditioning and electricity, system service and maintenance, basic and advanced heating, air distribution and ducting, and energy conservation.
The HVAC refrigeration technician specialty is made up of 54.5 credits including courses such as basic construction, basic air conditioning, electricity for HVAC/R technicians, commercial hydronic systems, refrigeration systems, and refrigeration controls and troubleshooting.
The cost also includes preparation and testing for industry certifications such as OSHA safety, NCCER credentials, EPA Universal 608, and Universal R410A.
- Location: Tampa, FL
- Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Careers Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)
- Format: On-campus and online
- Tuition: $15,594 for the full program
- Program length: Nine months
Florida Career College
Florida Career College offers a career-focused HVAC training program. Coursework combines classroom lectures with hands-on experience. Students in this program learn about troubleshooting, maintaining, installing, and repairing residential HVAC systems. The coursework prepares students for 2 important HVAC certifications: the Universal R-410A Safety Training & Certification and the EPA Section 608 Certification.
Comprising 33 credits, the curriculum includes the following: electricity, motors, and HVAC controls, refrigeration theory and application, air conditioning, heating systems, and boilers, troubleshooting, green awareness, duct design, and load calculation, and more.
Graduates receive a diploma and are qualified for entry-level positions as HVAC technicians. Graduates are prepared for entry-level positions such as HVAC mechanic, refrigeration mechanic, service technician, refrigeration technician, air conditioning technician, HVAC specialist, to name a few.
- Location: Tampa, FL, and ten other locations
- Format: On-campus
- Accreditation: Commission of the Council on Occupational Education
- Tuition: $21,500 for the full program
- Program length: Ten months
Technical Education Center of Osceola
The Technical Education Center of Osceola offers an HVAC/R technology certificate preparing students for employment as HVAC/R technicians and providing them with advanced training for the HVAC/R industry. The curriculum includes classroom lectures and hands-on training in the lab.
Consisting of 1,350 clock-hours, the program includes courses such as introduction to HVAC/R, HVAC/R fundamentals, HVAC/R service practices, HVAC/R intermediate service practices, and HVAC/R advanced service practices.
Graduates are prepared to take industry exams, such as NATE, OSHA, EPA Section 608, and CPR certification. To create a professional atmosphere, students are required to wear uniforms befitting their trade. HVAC/R students dress in navy polo shirts and blue work pants.
- Location: Kissimmee, FL
- Accreditation: PAHRA; Council on Occupational Education (COE)
- Format: On-campus
- Tuition: $5,050 for the full program
- Program length: 14 months
Pinellas Technical College
Pinellas Technical College offers an HVAC/R certificate program. The coursework is scheduled based on OCPs so that students are qualified as helpers, assistants, and mechanic level I as they complete each section. The mission of this program is to provide students with task-specific, sequential courses of study which will result in broad industry-related skills, knowledge, and behavior that will be needed to secure employment in the HVAC/R industry.
Taught by industry-experienced faculty, the curriculum comprises 750 clock-hours covering topics such as safety, principles of HVAC, soldering, and brazing, the installation of components, electricity, and wiring, equipment startup, preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, and indoor air quality.
Students who complete the coursework are prepared to take the exams for industry certifications such as EPA 608, ESCO Workplace Readiness, and NCCER. Graduates of the program gain the necessary skills needed for installing, maintaining, and repairing air conditioning, refrigeration, and heating systems.
- Location: St. Petersburg, FL
- Accreditation: HVAC Excellence; Council on Occupational Education (COE)
- Format: On-campus
- Tuition: $4,566.70 for the full program
- Program length: Eight months
Suncoast Technical College
Suncoast offers an HVAC/R certificate program that is divided into OCPs that prepare students for entry-level positions as helpers, assistants, and mechanic level one. Coursework is broken down between hands-on training in the lab and classroom lectures and is available days and evenings.
The coursework is designed to prepare students to install, repair, and maintain residential and commercial HVAC/R systems. Graduates are qualified to sit for the EPA Section 608 exam.
The program consists of 750 clock-hours involving courses such as introduction to HVAC/R, HVAC/R fundamentals, and HVAC/R service practices. The program will also prepare students for industry certifications such as HVAC Excellence Employment Ready certification (Air Conditioning, electrical, and heat pump), NCCER Core Certification, and NCCER HVAC Level 1, 2, and 3.
- Location: Sarasota, FL
- Accreditation: HVAC Excellence; Council on Occupational Education (COE), AdvancED, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS)
- Format: On-campus
- Tuition: $2.44 per clock-hour
- Program length: Seven months
Southern Technical College
The college offers an HVAC diploma program in which students learn through classroom lectures and hands-on training in the lab. Preparing students for entry-level employment in the HVAC industry, the program prepares students in installing and servicing light commercial and residential air conditioning and heating systems.
Taught by industry professionals, the curriculum includes an introduction to building construction, as well as courses on electricity and electronics, motors and controls, HVAC/R theory, HVAC system design, commercial HVAC/R, and career preparation.
Graduates acquire the knowledge and experience needed to seek entry-level positions as residential and light commercial HVAC technicians. On successful completion, graduates can take up opportunities at HVAC firms, construction sites, educational facilities, government facilities, hospitals, residential establishments, office buildings, factories, and more.
Apart from a diploma, the college also offers an associate’s degree in HVAC/R at the Sanford campus.
- Location: Orlando, Auburndale, Brandon, and Sanford, FL
- Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)
- Format: On-campus
- Tuition: $17,995 for the full program
- Program length: Diploma (10 months); associate’s degree (18 months)
Traviss Technical College
Traviss offers HVAC/R technology I and HVAC/R technology II programs. Students learn the basics of the installation, repair, and maintenance of HVAC/R equipment and systems through classroom lectures and hands-on training in a shop. Coursework includes troubleshooting, reading blueprints, and using technical reference manuals. OCPs are awarded as students progress. Passing the EPA Section 608 exam is a requirement for graduation.
The HVAC/R technology I program is made up of 750 clock-hours and includes courses such as an introduction to HVAC/R, HVAC/R fundamentals, and HVAC/R service practices. The HVAC/R technology II program consists of 600 clock hours including courses such as HVAC/R intermediate service practices, and HVAC/R advanced commercial and industrial service practices.
- Location: Lakeland, FL
- Accreditation: HVAC Excellence; Council on Occupational Education (COE)
- Format: On-campus
- Tuition: $ 4,837.50 for the level I program; $ 4,194.75 for the level II program
- Program Length: 750 hours for the level I program; 600 hours for the level II program