Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning

The Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) program provides training in the theories, techniques and practices involved in the HVAC field. Students learn to install, maintain and troubleshoot HVAC system installations and will be conversant with industry standards. Students are also prepared to complete the EPA Universal certification process, which is required for graduation.

Students who successfully complete the program receive a diploma. The program is offered at the Clovis, Modesto and Redding campuses.

• IOT includes a toolkit in the cost of the program.
• Preparation for the EPA certification exam.
• Morning, afternoon or evening programs available (program availability varies by location).
• A hybrid format that combines online learning with face-to-face classroom and lab experiences, created to provide hands-on, in-person training and a flexible schedule.

The school notes that a growing emphasis on energy efficiency and pollution reduction will require more HVAC technicians.

All students interested in applying must first meet with an Admissions Representative and successfully pass a 12-minute assessment test. Students must be a minimum of 18 years of age, or 17 years of age with the written consent of a parent or guardian, and possess a high school diploma or equivalent, a valid government or state issued GED, or proof of completing an officially recognized and accredited home schooling program (home-school applicants must also pass an entrance examination). Foreign education documents that cannot be confirmed must be evaluated by a third-party agency at the applicant’s expense.

Non-ATB applicants take the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam; diploma programs require a minimum score of 10. Students with delinquent student loans must resolve them before being considered, and students who have defaulted on a student loan will not be considered for admission.

Hybrid (IDL) programs. Applicants must attest to their ability to succeed in a distance learning environment and pass the online “Computer Literacy and Internet Knowledge” (CLIK) pre-assessment with a score of 14 or higher. Minimum technology: a PC, laptop and/or tablet able to create documents in Microsoft or Google Docs, the ability to join Zoom or Microsoft Teams calls (speakers and microphone required), and continuous, reliable internet access.

Driving record. Graduates may be required by future employers to have a clean driving record, and applicants are personally responsible for maintaining a clean driving record during enrollment.

No diploma or GED? Through a partnership with C4L Academy, students in an eligible career pathway program (ECPP) can earn a high school diploma while concurrently enrolled; ability-to-benefit applicants must pass the ACCUPLACER test (Reading 233, Writing 235, Arithmetic 230).

The program is 800 hours / 48.5 quarter credit hours. It is a hybrid or interactive distance learning (IDL) program: classes are a combination of on-ground and online for 40 weeks, with on-campus classes two days per week.

Daily schedule. In a hybrid program, classes are conducted on campus and online; on-campus attendance is required two days per week, and online attendance events (a quiz, test, final exam or Discussion Board post) are monitored weekly. Each five-week module runs Monday through Sunday for four weeks and Monday through Thursday in week five. At the Clovis campus, Professional Development, CERM, HVAC, MBOA and PMA on-campus sessions are held Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., or 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.; the Modesto campus also publishes a Monday/Wednesday hybrid schedule.

Graduates will be prepared to contribute in a broad range of entry-level occupations in the HVAC field, including Refrigeration Technician, Heating Technician, Air Conditioning Technician and Systems Engineer, supporting HVAC contractors in both residential and commercial construction.

Uniforms and a toolkit are required and are available for purchase; textbooks are provided as classroom resources or are purchased by the student. Students complete the EPA Universal certification process, which is required for graduation.

Hybrid students attend on campus two days per week and complete the rest of their coursework online, with active engagement monitored weekly.