HVAC Systems Technician is a Diploma program (Hybrid) offered by Dorsey College in Woodhaven, MI. The program takes 36 weeks (~9 months) to complete, with a total tuition of $16,020.
Program Overview
The hybrid HVAC systems technician certificate program is designed to prepare students to work in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry. The HVAC industry offers a broad range of opportunities to work in residential, commercial, construction and industrial settings. Work typically performed includes services such as maintenance, inspection, troubleshooting, repair and/or replacement of HVAC equipment. This program also introduces the student to the environmentally friendly “green” activities of weatherization, sustainable building applications and EPA Section 608 universal certification testing.
Available at the Madison Heights, Roseville, Saginaw, Wayne, and Woodhaven Campuses.
What Sets This Program Apart
Externship
Students participate in an externship during the last module of training, which incorporates knowledge acquired in the program into practical application while gaining industry experience. Externship students must complete 180 externship hours during the six-week module.
Professional Certification
Professional certifications enhance the prospect of ultimately securing and maintaining rewarding employment. Dorsey College graduates are encouraged to sit for applicable certification examinations. Dorsey College will pay the cost one time for HVAC technician program graduates to challenge a certification examination as selected by Dorsey College, contingent upon the graduate meeting Dorsey College exam preparation requirements.
Admission Requirements & Process
Admissions Policy
Admissions inquiries may be directed to a Dorsey College campus convenient to you or by visiting our website at www.dorsey.edu. Applications for admission may be completed by contacting Dorsey College to arrange a convenient appointment with an admissions representative. A career planning session will be scheduled to review Dorsey College career programs and the applicant’s attitude, motivation, and commitment to training. Successful applicants will be provided with a copy of their fully executed enrollment agreement. Current government issued photo identification or passport is required when completing the enrollment agreement. The enrollment process is complete when the applicant commences training.
Admissions Requirements
Requirements for admission to Dorsey College are:
- High school diploma or its equivalent (for example, a General Education Development “GED” High School Equivalency Certificate), as evidenced by an attestation signed by the student,
- A career planning session with a Dorsey College admissions representative, and
- The desire, interest, and motivation to succeed.
Documentation of high school diploma or its equivalent must be submitted to the campus by the program applicant. Students enrolling into Dorsey College with a foreign diploma or transcript must have their diploma evaluated prior to enrollment to provide proof that the diploma or transcript is equivalent to a United States high school diploma.
Program applicants of select programs are required to submit to a criminal background check at enrollment. Continued enrollment in these programs is contingent upon the results of the background check. A history of a criminal background and/or drug abuse may be cause to deny a student entrance into any program. Individual programs also carry additional programmatic admission requirements (such as immunizations, drug screening, minimum age, and AHA/BLS certification).
Successful completion of most programs requires the use of a laptop or other electronic device outside of the campus to access learning management systems that Dorsey College deems enriching to the educational environment. Students enrolled in programs utilizing distance education or hybrid delivery are responsible to ensure reliable internet access is consistently available during designated distance education courses.
School Information
Location
Accreditation & Approvals
Institutional Accreditation — Council on Occupational Education
Dorsey College is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education. The Commission of the Council on Occupational Education granted accreditation to Dorsey College effective February 19, 2018. The formal action of the Commission included the main campus, located in Madison Heights, as well as its affiliate campus locations in Roseville, Woodhaven, Wayne, Dearborn, Saginaw and Grand Rapids. Contact: Council on Occupational Education, 7840 Roswell Road, Building 300, Suite 325, Atlanta, GA 30350, Telephone: 770-396-3898 / FAX: 770-396-3790, www.council.org.
Dorsey College Holdings d/b/a Dorsey College is a Michigan entity recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and is currently approved by the U.S. Department of Education as a private non-profit institution of higher education.
Programmatic Accreditation
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN): The Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program at the campuses located in Madison Heights, Saginaw, and Wayne, and the Practical Nurse program at the campuses located in Madison Heights, Roseville, Wayne, Woodhaven and Saginaw, are accredited by ACEN, 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000. The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for these programs is initial accreditation.
Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT): The Associate of Applied Science in Radiologic Technology program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60606-3182, (312) 704-5300, mail@jrcert.org.
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP): The Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology program is accredited by CAAHEP upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA). The paramedic program is accredited by CAAHEP upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).
Accrediting Commission of the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF): The culinary arts program offered at the Dorsey College Roseville campus is programmatically accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation, 180 Center Place Way, St. Augustine, FL 32095, (800) 624-9458.
Licenses and Approvals
Dorsey College is approved in the State of Michigan by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity – Workforce Development. It is approved to offer EMS training programs by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, Bureau of EMS, Trauma, & Preparedness. The Registered Nurse and Practical Nurse programs are approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing, and the Massage Therapy program is an approved education program by the Michigan Board of Massage Therapy. Dorsey College is approved for the training of veterans and other eligible persons for VA Educational Programs at the Madison Heights, Roseville, Dearborn, Grand Rapids, Wayne, Woodhaven and Saginaw campuses, and is approved to participate in State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA).
Application Process
- 1Submit ApplicationComplete the online application form with your personal information and educational background.
- 2Submit TranscriptsProvide official high school transcripts or GED certificate. Some programs may require additional documentation.
- 3Financial AidComplete the FAFSA to determine eligibility for federal financial aid. Meet with a financial aid advisor to review your options.Complete FAFSA Application
- 4EnrollmentOnce accepted, complete enrollment paperwork, register for classes, and attend orientation.
Program Schedule
The HVAC system technician program length is 8.3 months (36 weeks) of contact time, which is scheduled over approximately 9 months.
- October 05th, 2026
- November 16th, 2026
- January 11th, 2027
- February 22nd, 2027
- April 05th, 2027
- May 17th, 2027
- June 28th, 2027
- August 16th, 2027
- October 04th, 2027
- November 15th, 2027
Curriculum
Course — quarter credits:
An asterisk (*) next to the course name indicates that all or part of the course content is delivered online utilizing distance education delivery.
Cost of Attendance & Financial Aid
Tuition includes course e-textbooks and textbooks (except non-consumable textbooks, which remain the property of Dorsey College). One complimentary uniform shirt, an electronic device, and a basic tool kit containing items commonly required in the trade are provided to all students enrolled in the HVAC technician program.
Types of Financial Aid
After completing the FAFSA and establishing eligibility, students at Dorsey College receive a financial aid offer that may include one or more types of assistance.
Scholarships — Typically awarded on the basis of academic achievement or other qualifying criteria. Scholarships do not need to be repaid. Examples include the Fostering Futures Scholarship, Michigan Achievement Scholarship, Michigan Competitive Scholarship (MCS), Mi Gear Up Scholarship, Dorsey Great Start Scholarships, and several memorial scholarships.
Grants — Need-based awards that may be funded by the federal government, the State of Michigan, Dorsey College, or private organizations. Grants do not require repayment. Examples include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Children of Veterans Tuition Grant (CVTG), Michigan Tuition Grant (MTG), Ruth Dorsey Grant, Pat Fischer Culinary Arts Grant, and Dorsey Veterans Grant.
Loans — Low-interest student loans are available and must be repaid when a student graduates, withdraws, or drops below half-time enrollment. Options include the Federal Stafford Loan Program, Direct PLUS Loan (for parents), Dorsey Institutional Loan, and private educational loans.
Federal Work-Study — Provides part-time employment opportunities, enabling students to earn wages that can be applied toward educational expenses.
Other Benefits and Job Training Opportunities — Students may also qualify for state-sponsored programs, veterans’ benefits, or other workforce development and job training initiatives, including the Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) Phase I, EMS Career Programs Advance Payment Incentive, Tuition Reimbursement, Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS), Michigan Merit Award, Veterans Education Benefits, Workforce Investment Act (WIA), and UAW Tuition Assistance Plan.
The Dorsey College financial aid department provides students with both entrance and exit loan counseling.
Total program tuition is $16,020 (tuition only; any fees billed separately).
Career Outcomes
Career Services
Career services coordinators assist program completers in establishing and accomplishing personal employment goals, polishing resumes, and providing job search and interview techniques, in support of Dorsey College’s objective to “assist students to secure training-related employment.” The Dorsey College career services coordinators can be reached at each campus or online at www.dorsey.edu.
Dorsey College maintains an impressive graduate employment (“placement”) rate, serving as its hallmark. Dorsey College calculates its placement rate according to the requirements of its institutional accreditor. Thousands of graduates from Dorsey College have launched new, exciting, and rewarding careers with many of Michigan’s leading employers. These graduates fulfill Dorsey College’s objective to educate students who are well prepared to enter the workplace, and assume the tasks and challenges associated with their new careers and satisfy the performance requirements of employers. Licensure must be obtained from the State of Michigan to work as a practical nurse, registered nurse, massage therapist, emergency medical technician, paramedic, cosmetologist, manicurist, esthetician, EMT instructor/coordinator or as a pharmacy technician.
Dorsey College does not guarantee job placement or starting salary. Dorsey College has developed and continues to develop long-term relationships with employers to enhance employment opportunities for completers.
What to Expect as a Student at Dorsey College
A Message From the President
At Dorsey College we take great pride in providing our students with a positive learning environment that includes smaller classes taught by credentialed instructors with real-world experience. Training at Dorsey College is hands-on and performance based, using simulated work environments to ensure you are equipped with the practical skills needed to meet the demands of your chosen career field. Most of our programs are taught in a hybrid learning model that includes online and on-ground courses to provide flexibility and convenience. Classroom and laboratory training is combined with clinical training or an externship in most programs, where students go on-site to an employer in their field to gain real life industry experience.
Established in downtown Detroit in 1934, Dorsey College continues the heritage of its founder, Ruth Dorsey, as a trusted name for comprehensive, quality career training. Now in operation for over ninety years, Dorsey College has continued to be a mark of educational distinction with tens of thousands of graduates enjoying successful careers throughout the country. Institutional facilities consist of seven campus locations with well-equipped classrooms and laboratories, including medical labs, dental labs, HVAC and electrical labs, culinary kitchens, cosmetology clinics and massage therapy clinics furnished with program-appropriate equipment to simulate the work environment for which the student is training.
School Information
Location
Accreditation & Approvals
Institutional Accreditation — Council on Occupational Education
Dorsey College is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education. The Commission of the Council on Occupational Education granted accreditation to Dorsey College effective February 19, 2018. The formal action of the Commission included the main campus, located in Madison Heights, as well as its affiliate campus locations in Roseville, Woodhaven, Wayne, Dearborn, Saginaw and Grand Rapids. Contact: Council on Occupational Education, 7840 Roswell Road, Building 300, Suite 325, Atlanta, GA 30350, Telephone: 770-396-3898 / FAX: 770-396-3790, www.council.org.
Dorsey College Holdings d/b/a Dorsey College is a Michigan entity recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and is currently approved by the U.S. Department of Education as a private non-profit institution of higher education.
Programmatic Accreditation
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN): The Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program at the campuses located in Madison Heights, Saginaw, and Wayne, and the Practical Nurse program at the campuses located in Madison Heights, Roseville, Wayne, Woodhaven and Saginaw, are accredited by ACEN, 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000. The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for these programs is initial accreditation.
Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT): The Associate of Applied Science in Radiologic Technology program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60606-3182, (312) 704-5300, mail@jrcert.org.
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP): The Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology program is accredited by CAAHEP upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA). The paramedic program is accredited by CAAHEP upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).
Accrediting Commission of the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF): The culinary arts program offered at the Dorsey College Roseville campus is programmatically accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation, 180 Center Place Way, St. Augustine, FL 32095, (800) 624-9458.
Licenses and Approvals
Dorsey College is approved in the State of Michigan by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity – Workforce Development. It is approved to offer EMS training programs by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, Bureau of EMS, Trauma, & Preparedness. The Registered Nurse and Practical Nurse programs are approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing, and the Massage Therapy program is an approved education program by the Michigan Board of Massage Therapy. Dorsey College is approved for the training of veterans and other eligible persons for VA Educational Programs at the Madison Heights, Roseville, Dearborn, Grand Rapids, Wayne, Woodhaven and Saginaw campuses, and is approved to participate in State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA).
