Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC-R)

Graduates of the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration program will be trained for entry-level positions in the air conditioning, heating, ventilation fields as an installer, service technician or salesperson.

Our heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration, or HVAC-R, program provides students with an engaging learning experience designed to keep them on top of technology and prepare them for a successful future as an HVAC-R technician. Students in the HVAC-R program benefit from a thorough, hands-on learning experience in which they are able to train using the kind of technology, tools and resources they are likely to find when they are employed in the field.

As a student in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration program, you will blend important theory from classroom instruction with opportunities for practical learning in laboratory settings. Upon your graduation you will receive an associate in specialized technology degree.

Lennox partner school. Train to be an HVAC-R Technician at a Lennox Partner School, in Penn Commercial’s Lennox sponsored HVAC lab.

HVAC labs. Residential and commercial equipment includes heat pumps, condensers, roof top units, oil heaters, boilers, hot water heaters, electric furnaces, air condition units, refrigerators, ice machines and walk-in coolers.

Industry certifications on campus. All testing for EPA Section 608 Technician, A2L GWP – Low and OSHA-10 is completed on campus, and the fees for one attempt at the exams are included in the cost of the program.

Penn Commercial welcomes prospective students interested in its training programs. Prior to signing an enrollment agreement, all applicants are required to review the comprehensive School Catalog and consumer disclosure information. Admission to any of Penn Commercial’s programs requires a high school diploma or GED certificate, and you’ll be asked to sign a release form to obtain your official transcripts so we can confirm that this has been achieved.

Applicants may sign an enrollment agreement and receive conditional acceptance prior to submitting all required documentation. However, enrollment is not complete, and classes cannot commence until all admission requirements, including proof of high school graduation or equivalency, have been fulfilled. High school seniors who submit applications prior to graduation and meet all other admission criteria will be conditionally accepted.

Classes are scheduled any time Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Externship sites may require attendance on Fridays as well. Students are scheduled for CPR during their first quarter of classes. Classes begin four times a year.

The next start date is January 4, 2027.

2026 tuition and fees. The school’s 2026 Tuition and Fees Schedule lists the following for this program (program total $31,186):

• Tuition: $23,850
• Books / supplies: $5,930
• Lab fee: $1,000
• Professional liability insurance: $26
• CPR and certification fees: $195
• Graduation fee: $75
• Application fee: $25
• Registration fee: $85

What the fees cover. The application fee includes the cost of the entrance exam and the administrative fee to process applications; the registration fee includes the key fob, photo ID badge, high school transcript charges and overall matriculation; the lab fee/consumables covers lab supplies, equipment and maintenance, electronic library system, software licensing, campus internet and technology, and clinical rotation fees; the graduation fee includes degree/diploma preparation and the ceremony.

Financial aid. Penn Commercial is an eligible institution approved by the United States Department of Education for participation in various Title IV programs. Students who want to apply for federal aid (and state aid, if applicable) must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year at studentaid.gov; Penn Commercial’s FAFSA school code is 004902. Various types of aid for the eligible student may include: PA State Grant, Federal Pell Grant, Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loan, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford/Ford Loan, Federal PLUS Loan, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work Study, Pennsylvania Targeted Industry Program Grant, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) and other agency funding, Department of Public Assistance, Trade Assistance Act Benefits, Department of Veteran’s Affairs, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, private loans, institutional payment plans, employer reimbursement and scholarships.

Veterans. Penn Commercial is approved for the training of veterans and will not impose any penalty on a covered individual because of the delayed disbursement of funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33.

Scholarships. The Stanley S. Bazant Scholarship may be awarded for students entering a technical program of study (deadline May 1). The GED Scholarship (deadline December 15) and the STAR Scholarship (deadline March 31) may be awarded to students who enroll in a specialized associate degree program. Each amounts to 25% of tuition per quarter.

Payment. For current students who make monthly payments, tuition is due by the second of every month; a twenty ($20) dollar late fee is applied to payments received after the due date. Tuition and fees may be subject to increase with 60-days written notice.

Living expenses. The school’s cost-of-attendance chart lists, per 9-month period (minimum): room and board $4,500 for a student living with a parent or $9,000 for a student not living with a parent; personal expenses $1,800; transportation $2,700. Program costs need to be added to these figures to calculate the cost of attendance.

The goal of the HVAC-R program is to successfully prepare students for entry-level positions in the air conditioning, heating and ventilation fields, in settings such as residential homes, schools, hospitals, stores, office buildings, factories, utility companies and governmental organizations, such as:

• HVAC-R installer
• Service technician
• HVAC-R technician
• HVAC-R salesperson

Student achievement rates. As reported by Penn Commercial to ACCSC in the school’s 2025 Annual Report, for the HVAC-R cohort (1/2022 - 12/2022): graduation rate 92% (12 of 13); employment rate 100% (12 of 12).

Who hires our grads. Admiral Heating & Cooling, Canonsburg General Hospital, Coca-Cola, Google, JB Mechanical, Lennox, McMurray Heating & Cooling, Pittsburgh Comfort Tech and many more.

Schedule. The 18-month HVAC-R AST degree (106 quarter credits, 1,855 hours) is taught in person; classes are scheduled any time Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, and externship sites may require attendance on Fridays as well. Students are scheduled for CPR during their first quarter of classes, and core courses must be passed with a grade of C or better.

Orientation. All incoming students, and returning students who have been absent for six months or more, are required to attend orientation before classes start. During orientation you become acquainted with the campus, meet key administrative staff, instructors and fellow students, and learn about important policies and procedures. If you cannot attend the scheduled orientation, your admission representative can arrange an alternative date/time before classes start.

Attendance. All students are expected to attend all scheduled classes, including clinical and externship rotations, in a regular and punctual manner. Attendance is recorded in fifteen-minute increments and becomes part of the student's permanent academic record, and there is no distinction between an excused and an unexcused absence. Students who exceed attendance thresholds may be placed on attendance warning and probation, and a student is withdrawn after fourteen consecutive calendar days of non-attendance.

Class size. Class sizes vary by program. Lecture/lab classes typically maintain a student-to-teacher ratio of 9:1, and laboratory/shop classes provide hands-on training using industry-standard equipment.

Dress code and ID. Strict adherence to the dress code is mandatory in all classrooms, laboratories and clinical settings; each program's specific dress code is communicated during enrollment. Students must display their photo identification badge at all times on campus and at externship or clinical sites, and every student receives a personalized key fob to enter and exit the building.

Graduation. To graduate, students must complete all required coursework with a passing grade, accumulate the credits or clock hours required for their program, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, complete 100% of any required externship or clinical hours, fulfill all financial obligations, complete the exit interview process if applicable, and adhere to their program's attendance policies.

Externship. The externship is a culminating, supervised experience that integrates academic theory with practical, career-oriented skills. The Director of Career Services works with Lead Instructors to prepare students for their externship three months in advance, with orientation sessions on expectations, documentation, professional conduct, attendance, confidentiality, supervision and evaluation. Externships are a mandatory part of the graduation requirements and are typically unpaid; afterwards each student has an exit interview with the Director of Career Services.