Accredited HVAC Schools in South Carolina
Anyone looking to complete HVAC education in South Carolina should also understand that many aspiring technicians choose to enroll in accredited programs, which often last between six months and two years. These programs have been evaluated by independent organizations for faculty, facilities, curriculum, and learning outcomes.
As of this writing, two main organizations offer accreditation for HVAC programs: HVAC Excellence and the Partnership for Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation (PAHRA). The Central Carolina Technical College (profiled below) has earned accreditation from HVAC Excellence. As of early 2021, there are no PAHRA-accredited programs in this state.
Midlands Technical College
Those interested in pursuing a formal degree in HVAC may consider the associate of applied science (AAS) in HVAC and refrigeration offered by Midlands Technical College located in Columbia. The college also offers an academic certificate in HVAC/R and a diploma in HVAC/R technician. These programs prepare students for careers in commercial and residential HVAC/R, and equipment maintenance and installation. They will receive classroom instruction as well as hands-on instruction.
The certificate consists of 35 credit-hours and includes courses such as fundamentals of refrigeration, tools and service techniques, basic electricity for HVAC/R, heating fundamentals, basic air conditioning, heat pumps, duct fabrication, and domestic and commercial refrigeration.
The diploma comprises 45 credit-hours including all courses from the certificate. Additional coursework includes college orientation, contemporary mathematics, technical communications, and introduction to computers.
The associate’s degree program includes all the above-mentioned courses. Students in this AAS degree program must take 71 credit-hours of courses, including additional units in advanced electricity for HVAC/R, advanced air conditioning, residential load calculations, codes and ordinances, advanced refrigeration electricity, advanced refrigeration, general psychology, refrigeration, calculation & equip selection, and American history.
At the end of the program, graduates can pursue opportunities at mechanical contracting firms, HVAC installation and repair corporations, refrigeration installation and repair companies, food preparation organizations, and more. The college also offers an HVAC entry-level training certificate.
- Location: Columbia, SC
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Expected Time to Completion: Certificate and diploma (three semesters each); AAS (five semesters)
- Estimated Tuition: Certificate ($6,230); diploma ($8,010); AAS ($12,638)
Central Carolina Technical College
The Central Carolina Technical College in Sumter has HVAC Excellence-accredited certificate programs in both basic and advanced air conditioning and heating. These programs prepare students for various careers in the HVAC/R field. Including both practical as well as theory work in HVAC/R, these programs have both days as well as evening classes available.
In the basic program, students study 39 semester-hours of subjects such as basic electricity for HVAC-R, tools and service techniques, heating fundamentals, domestic refrigeration, basic air conditioning, codes and ordinances, duct fabrication, and EPA 608 certification preparation.
The advanced HVAC/R certificate requires 22 semester-hours of topics such as gas heating principles, service customer relations, advanced electricity for HVAC/R, commercial refrigeration, industrial air conditioning, troubleshooting and maintenance, and advanced air conditioning.
The program opens up HVAC/R opportunities in sales, service technician, installation, operations, repair and maintenance, and more for graduates.
- Location: Sumter, SC
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges; HVAC Excellence
- Expected Time to Completion: Varies
- Estimated Tuition: In-state ($194 to $227 per credit-hour); out-of-state ($331 per credit-hour)
Greenville Technical College
Greenville Technical College also offers several HVAC Excellence-recognized programs, including a diploma in applied science (AC/refrigeration technology), and two certificates in applied science (AC/refrigeration technician or basic electricity/refrigeration).
The majority of these programs require candidates to take specific competency exams in areas such as residential air conditioning and heating in order to qualify for graduation. Graduates of these programs will be ready to install and service every type of HVAC/R equipment.
The diploma program is made up of 45 credit-hours, while the HVAC/R technician certificate in the applied science program is made up of 36 credit-hours. Beginning electricity & refrigeration certificate in applied science consists of 12 credit-hours. The curriculum includes courses such as fundamentals of refrigeration, tools and service techniques, basic electricity for HVAC/R, heating fundamentals, basic air conditioning, commercial refrigeration, automatic controls, and basic sheet metal, among others.
Students in these programs will learn about the basics of installing, servicing, and maintaining residential, industrial, and HVAC/R systems. They will be prepared for the EPA section 608 certification and other competency exams.
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Expected Time to Completion: Diploma and HVAC/R technician certificate (three semesters); basic electricity refrigeration certificate (one semester)
- Estimated Tuition: In-county ($277 per credit-hour); out-of-county ($294 per credit-hour); out-of-state ($470 per credit-hour)
Spartanburg Community College
Spartanburg Community College offers an associate in applied science and a certificate in HVAC/R technology. These HVAC/R programs help students in developing the knowledge and skills for repairing, installing, and maintaining industrial, domestic, and commercial HVAC controls and equipment. They learn to design, service, and repair these systems and also learn to read blueprints.
The certificate comprises 40 credit-hours. As part of the program, students will delve into topics such as HVAC/R fundamentals, basic electricity and airconditioning, domestic refrigeration, heat pumps, residential load calculations, advanced automatic controls, and codes and ordinances. All courses earned in this certificate will be applied towards the AAS degree.
The AAS degree program consists of 67 credit-hours. Additional courses include Professional Communications, Contemporary Mathematics, Industrial Computer Techniques, and Economic Concepts, among others.
On successful completion of the program, graduates can take up roles such as service technician, energy management technician, preventative maintenance technician, service manager, installer, and many more.
- Location: Spartanburg, SC
- Accreditation: Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Expected Time to Completion: Certificate (42 weeks); AAS (74 weeks)
- Estimated Tuition: Spartanburg and Cherokee County residents ($198 per credit-hour); Union county residents ($226 per credit-hour); out-of-county residents ($245 per credit-hour); out-of-state residents ($403 per credit-hour)