Commercial Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning

Lamson’s Commercial Refrigeration, Heating & Air Conditioning diploma program provides comprehensive training to install, maintain and service heating, air conditioning and commercial refrigeration systems. Students learn mechanical refrigeration principles, applied electricity, gas-fired heating and boiler operation, air conditioning, commercial refrigeration and ice machines, troubleshooting and installation, and heat pump systems.

The program is 840 clock hours — 504 lecture hours and 336 lab hours over seven 6-week modules — and at least half of the course is hands-on, with students taking an active role in troubleshooting and installing commercial refrigeration and HVAC systems on real equipment. It prepares students to test for the EPA 608, ESCO, HVAC Excellence and R-410A certifications; students prepare for and take these exams during the program, and Lamson pays for the first attempt of each. Upon graduation, Lamson gives each student their own toolkit to keep.

Lamson Institute has provided hands-on career training in Northwest San Antonio since August 2007, as a branch campus of the Institute for Business and Technology, which was founded in 1965. The school’s mission is to prepare students for career-focused employment by delivering relevant career training, and its curriculum is reviewed regularly by industry professionals.

• Programs can be completed in as few as 9 to 11 months, with morning and evening classes.
• The campus occupies approximately 55,000 square feet in the Exchange Plaza at N.W. Loop 410 and Bandera Road, with classrooms, lecture rooms, a learning resource center, computer labs, medical labs and specialized instructional areas.
• Small classes: traditional class size is up to 30 students, the maximum student-teacher ratio in a laboratory class is 20 to 1, and computer labs have one-to-one equipment.
• USA TODAY, with research firm Statista, named Lamson Institute one of America’s Top Vocational Schools for 2026.
• Graduates may retake any course they have completed at no charge, apart from books and supplies, when space is available.

To be eligible for enrollment at Lamson Institute, applicants must:

• Have a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent, such as a GED or HiSET certificate, a foreign secondary credential with a third-party evaluation, a qualifying college transcript, or a homeschool credential.
• Be at least 18, or 17 with written parent or guardian approval and turning 18 before their expected graduation date or before beginning any externship, whichever comes first.
• Take and pass the EduReady Admissions Assessment with a minimum score of 75 (two re-tests with an alternate form are allowed). This is waived for applicants with an associate degree or higher from an accredited U.S. school.
• Visit and tour the school and complete a personal interview with an admissions representative.
• Show a valid Social Security card and a valid government-issued photo ID or driver’s license.
• Complete an enrollment agreement, attend a financial aid interview if appropriate, and pay the one-time registration fee.

Students enrolling in the Electrical Technician and Commercial Refrigeration, Heating & Air Conditioning programs must provide evidence of a valid, current driver’s license, because employers in these fields require one. Dental Assisting applicants must also pass a criminal background check and fingerprinting/drug screening and provide a signed order for x-rays (18 fmx/pano) from their dentist.

The program runs in 6-week modules, with day or evening classes of 5 hours per day, Monday through Thursday: mornings 8:00 am – 1:00 pm or evenings 5:45 pm – 10:45 pm. The expected minimum completion time is 42 weeks.

2026 start dates (and graduation dates): February 2 (November 19, 2026); March 16 (January 14, 2027); April 27 (February 25, 2027); June 8 (April 8, 2027); July 20 (May 20, 2027); August 31 (July 1, 2027); October 12 (August 12, 2027); November 23 (September 23, 2027).

The school is closed on Memorial Day, July 3, Labor Day, Veterans Day (November 11), November 26–27 for Thanksgiving, and December 21, 2026 – January 1, 2027 for winter break.

Program costs (starts on or after February 1, 2026): tuition $18,145; registration fee $50; books $60; uniforms $200; total $18,455. Students may opt out of buying their books from the school. Tuition is guaranteed for the term of your enrollment.

Financial aid. Lamson is approved to participate in federal Title IV programs for students who qualify: the Federal Pell Grant, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, and Federal Direct PLUS Loans for parents. Apply by completing the FAFSA at StudentAid.gov. Institutional payment plans are available for charges not met by aid, Climb Credit offers third-party financing, and the school can bill employers, workforce agencies or the VA for eligible students.

Graduates are prepared for entry-level employment as residential and commercial refrigeration and HVAC technicians in businesses, property management facilities and contracting services. Example entry-level job titles include HVAC Technician, HVAC Service Technician, HVAC Installer, Refrigeration Installer, Commercial Refrigeration Technician, Field Service Technician, Maintenance Technician and Property Maintenance Technician. An EPA 608 certificate is required for any position handling refrigerant, and the other certifications are highly desired by most employers.

Outcomes. In the 2025 ACCET report (students scheduled to complete in 2024), 94 of 117 students completed (80.34%) and 64 of 80 eligible completers were placed (80.00%).

Career services. The Career Services Department helps students and graduates with job leads, resumes, cover letters, applications and interviews, at no additional cost throughout their careers. Lamson does not promise or guarantee employment. Graduates who show 30 days of career-related employment receive a $100 Graduate Employment Gift.

Class schedule. In-classroom programs meet Monday through Thursday for 5 hours each day or evening: the morning session runs 8:00 am – 1:00 pm and the evening session 5:45 pm – 10:45 pm, in 50-minute class periods with breaks. When a holiday falls on a Monday, classes meet Tuesday through Friday that week. All students have a weekly commitment of 20 hours of lecture and lab.

Support. All new students attend an orientation that introduces faculty, administrators and academic life. Tutors are available as needed at no charge, and the Director of Education and Director of Career Services offer advising.

Grading. Grades are A (90–100), B (80–89), C (70–79) and F (below 70), based on written exams, practical exercises, projects and other work.

Graduation. To graduate you must complete all required courses and credits, earn a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0, complete each course with at least 80% attendance, and pass all required competency and skill testing. Graduating students also complete an exit interview with Career Services and submit an approved resume, cover letter and three references.