HVAC/R Service Technician Training

HVAC/R Service Technician Training is a specialized field of study for the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration trade. The program provides a solid base of knowledge and skills that can lead to secure and successful employment. Emphasis is placed on the practical skills that are necessary in daily diagnostic, service, repair, installation, and maintenance work. In addition to the technical classes provided, students prepare for local licensure in Heating Mechanics I and federal testing for EPA Refrigerant Certification, and earn an HVAC/R Service Technician Certificate of Completion.

The program begins every September and consists of 900 clock hours of instruction and HVAC/R internship. Each of the subjects is covered in theory and practical work. Competency-based, performance-tested curricula ensure students will not only understand the technical information, but will also be able to perform all related skills. Students also learn customer service skills to help them succeed in their chosen career.

The Northwest HVAC/R Association was incorporated in June 1958 by contractors and Washington Water Power Company, and today is the leading membership organization representing HVAC/R contractors, businesses and maintenance departments in the Northwest. The Training Center was established in 1991 and is a non-profit 501(c)(3) private vocational college.

• As the employer association for the HVAC/R trades industry, the school promises to personalize job placement opportunities from a local to national level.
• The Training Center continually evaluates all aspects of its training using input from industry advisory committees, employers and students, and each class chooses a classmate to sit on the occupation advisory committee.
• Average class sizes range between 20 and 25 students per module, with an additional hands-on lab facilitator on instructor request.
• Two classrooms and a technical lab equipped with operational residential and light commercial HVAC/R equipment and appliances, one mile from downtown Spokane.
• Recognized by Military.com as one of the most Military Friendly Schools and approved for all Veteran Education benefits.
• Tutoring is available at no charge during instructors' posted office hours.

Admission into the program requires either a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) Certificate, and a valid driver's license. The student must complete an Application for Admission, pay the application fee, and be accepted into the program before enrollment. The enrollee must be 18 years of age or older before their graduation date. Admission is not granted based on ability to benefit. A student whose high school diploma or equivalency was earned outside the United States is subject to an English as a Second Language assessment, in accordance with the Private Vocational School Act, RCW 28C.10. Enrollments are made on a first come, first served basis among those who meet all admission requirements.

Enrollment steps. Interview with the Training Coordinator, take a tour of the facility, receive a copy of the current catalog, complete an Application for Admission, present a high school diploma or GED and a valid driver's license, discuss a payment plan, submit the registration fee, and receive notification of acceptance or denial. Students purchase a Washington State Electrical Trainee Card before the program starts.

Transfer of credits. Prior training is evaluated case by case from transcripts. Students with a current EPA Certification Type I and II, or a Spokane City Gas License, may be granted credit for the EPA and Gas Codes and Installation classes. This is an alcohol- and drug-free training program.

Courses consist of four 6.5-clock-hour days of instruction and lab work and one 8-hour day of internship (equal to 2.67 clock hours), for a total of 28.67 clock hours per week. Class times are Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 3:00pm. The program completes within eight and a half months, in two 450-hour terms.

2026-2027 dates. First day of school September 9, 2026; internships start November 6 and 9, 2026; first term ends January 26, 2027; HVAC/R Career Fair April 2027; last day of school May 20, 2027; graduation ceremony May 21, 2027. Holidays include Thanksgiving (November 26-27, 2026), winter break (December 21, 2026 to January 1, 2027), Martin Luther King Day and Presidents' Day. The two-year evening program option is not active at this time.

Tuition is $9,330. The catalog also lists a $3,000 tool kit fee, a high estimated book cost of $600, $510 in school lab and intern fees and a $45 registration fee (total cost of training $13,485), plus about $165 paid directly to agencies for the Washington electrical trainee card, the Spokane Gas Heating Mechanic 1 exam and licence, and the Idaho apprenticeship card (total cost of certification $13,650). EPA Refrigerant Certification is included in tuition; an EPA retest costs $50.

• Federal financial aid and student loans: the Training Center is eligible for Title IV funding; use FAFSA school code 032833 and apply as soon as possible for the school year beginning the following September.
• Self pay and employer pay: students and employers can finance tuition, books, tools and fees with an approved payment plan.
• State programs: dislocated-worker programs, WorkSource training sponsorship and Career Path Services; refer to your state counselor.
• Veterans: the school is approved for all Veteran Education benefits.

The program prepares graduates to seek skilled entry-level positions in their chosen career fields. Depending on academic and internship performance, development of technical skills and past experience, a graduate could seek a higher level of employment. There are many different types of work in HVAC/R, from residential to commercial, installation and system design, maintenance and repair, sales and project management, and technological advances are creating new positions in complex systems and controls for commercial buildings and luxury homes.

Job placement assistance includes student workshops on interviewing and job search, resume development, an annual job fair with HVAC/R employers, and job referrals from Association members and employers regionally and nationwide. The catalog cites a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022 median-to-90% pay for HVAC/R mechanics and installers of $51,390 per year ($24.71 per hour). Although the school cannot guarantee jobs, it strives to maintain 100% placement each school year.

Daily life in the HVAC/R industry is out of the office, traveling to the customer's location, typically working alone or with a small group. Students see that diversity of work throughout the school year and on internships with local companies. The school teaches students from diverse backgrounds such as retail, restaurant, management and construction work.

Each course must be completed with a final grade of 70% or better, and 85% monthly attendance is required. Each student purchases a pre-approved tool kit during the first term; other course materials are furnished. Students must submit weekly internship reports and wear their Washington State Electrical Trainee card on internship days. The Executive Director describes the training as very technical and requiring hard work, but rewarding, with constant teamwork and friendships that evolve.