HVACR

The HVACR program consists of 1200 hours of instruction (75 quarter credit hours) and is available in two schedules. Both the Day and Evening sessions require twelve months for completion on the basis of approximately 25 hours of instruction per week. All terms of the program are independent, thus the sequence in which they are offered to students may vary.

This program is currently taught in a Blended format (lecture material on-line and hands-on skills on-campus) and is also offered residentially (all classes and labs on campus) at selected campuses, as conditions permit. As part of their program materials, students receive a device which is fully compatible with the Learning Management System (LMS) used in both delivery methods. Veterans’ Benefits are only available for the residential version of this program.

This program intensively covers the service, installation and repair of heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems. Students will develop an understanding of the electrical and mechanical principles related to gas and oil heating units, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems. Emphasis is placed on acquiring proficiency in the use of analytical instruments as well as the mastery of heating and cooling principles under which these systems function.

The HVACR classrooms are equipped with the same kinds of gas and oil heating, cooling and refrigeration units currently in use in residential and commercial buildings. In addition to this, students use a variety of analytical equipment, meters, and gauges, refrigerant recovery units, piping and ventilation tools, and different kinds of specialized hand tools needed for this occupation.

Delivery at this campus. On-Ground HVACR Program – Lectures and labs on campus. On-ground availability is anticipated for classes beginning 01/11/27. Should on-ground classes not be available, students could begin the program following the hybrid delivery schedule.

If you’re a hands-on learner who can’t imagine sitting behind a desk all day and considering training at an HVAC school, here are a few reasons the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, & Refrigeration program at Porter and Chester Institute may be the perfect fit for you:

Concrete Skills. Through our intensive HVACR training, you’ll learn to work on the gas, oil and electric heating, cooling and refrigeration systems used in homes and businesses across the country.

Hands-on Training. If you learn best by doing, then our HVACR program is for you! Your online work is supplemented by hands-on work using the actual analytical equipment you’ll find in the field.

Qualified Instructors. Our instructors are all professionals from the HVACR industry. They know how to teach, but more importantly they know what you’re likely to encounter once you’re out on the job. Their years of experience and connections to employers make them an invaluable resource to you and your career.

Certification. As a part of their program, students in our HVACR program have the opportunity to earn their OSHA 30 certification and their EPA Section 608A certification.

Soft Skills. In addition to learning the nuts-and-bolts of the industry, you’ll learn how to interact with customers with professionalism. We’ll teach you what it means to be a good employee in a real world setting.

Prior to enrollment at the Institute, an applicant must have graduated from high school or have acquired a state high school equivalency diploma or graduated from a college degree program. Instruction is only offered in English, requiring proficiency in written and spoken English.

Applications for admission are accepted throughout the year. Students may begin classes in the Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter. Students are encouraged to make early application for admission, as some forms of financial aid give preference to early applicants; and whenever aid is limited, it is made available to the first applicants.

On-Ground program. Lectures and labs on campus. On-ground availability is anticipated for classes beginning 01/11/27. Should on-ground classes not be available, students could begin the program following the hybrid delivery schedule.

Classes in the residential versions of Automotive Technology, CADD, CNT, Electrical Technology, HVACR and Plumbing meet Monday - Thursday from 7:00 AM-2:00 PM or 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM at selected campuses only.

Day Schedule: Automotive Technology, Electrical Technology, HVACR, Low Voltage Technology, and Plumbing are typically scheduled over seven (7) hours per day (e.g., 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM) Monday-Thursday and include up to 60 minutes of scheduled breaks. Students receive approximately 360 minutes (6 hours) of instruction per day.

Students will need approximately 25 hours per week for instruction (whether online or on campus), activities and simulations and for on-campus lab work, with an additional six hours per week for reading assignments and other homework activities.

Upcoming class starts published in the catalog's Program and Term Schedule are January 11, 2027; March 22, 2027; May 31, 2027; August 16, 2027; October 25, 2027; January 17, 2028; and March 27, 2028. If, in the opinion of the Institute, there is insufficient enrollment to make the class start of a program session or section feasible, the Institute reserves the right to cancel that class.

Tuition is $5,665 per term for 5 terms, for total tuition of $28,325. The Materials Fee is $2,520. Program fee by term: Term 1: $2,100; Terms 2–4 ($100 per term): $300; Term 5: $120.

Program fees may include materials, laboratory, technology, and graduation expenses. These fees are applied at various points throughout the student’s training, depending on the specific requirements of the program. All applicable fees are disclosed in the student’s Enrollment Agreement and are included as part of the overall cost of attendance. The Materials Fee covers all books, devices, tools, instruments, uniforms, supplies, and other materials that the students will receive from PCI during the course of their attendance in their program. Even if costs increase, students will never pay more than the fee specified in their Enrollment Agreement.

There are no additional charges for programs delivered via Distance Education (Hybrid or fully Online). After deducting all anticipated educational funding from the total charges for each term, any balance due to the Institute must be paid by the student out-of-pocket prior to the start of each term. Or, the student may request a monthly payment plan. The first payment on a monthly payment plan is due prior to the start of the first term.

Financial aid is available for those who qualify. Federal Title IV programs available to qualified students include Federal Direct Subsidized Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, Federal Pell Grants and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG). PCI also participates in the Imagine America scholarship program and offers institutional grants and awards to specific student populations.

Veterans’ Benefits are only available for the residential version of this program. All Porter and Chester Institute campuses are approved to train veterans and their qualified dependents who are eligible for Veterans Administration educational benefits.

FAFSA code: 010779 (all PCI campuses other than Hamden). Use the Porter and Chester Institute Net Price Calculator to estimate how much your total career training program will cost you.

For Massachusetts students, the Application/Administrative Fee is non-refundable (except as provided in M.G.L. Chapter 255, Section 13k); the catalog lists Administrative Costs of $25.

Cost of Attendance (COA). For federal student aid purposes, postsecondary institutions must estimate a student’s total cost of attending the institution for a specified period of time, as established by law. The COA includes tuition and fees; room and board (or an allowance for housing and food); an allowance for books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, and dependent care (if applicable); disability related expenses, and some miscellaneous expenses as well. Below is Porter and Chester’s estimate of a student’s cost of attendance, including estimated living expenses.

• Tuition and Fees: Actual (student living with parents); Actual (student with dependents)
• Books and Equipment: Included in the Student Services Fee (student living with parents); Included in the Student Services Fee (student with dependents)
• Room and Board: $906/month (student living with parents); $1576/month (student with dependents)
• Personal Expenses: $231/month (student living with parents); $353/month (student with dependents)
• Transportation: $348/month (student living with parents); $348/month (student with dependents)
• Loan Fees (other): $25/month (student living with parents); $25/month (student with dependents)
• Disability Costs: Actual (student living with parents); Actual (student with dependents)

Graduates from this program will have sufficient knowledge and skill for entry-level employment in the HVACR field. Graduates entering the field of HVACR technology might specialize in either the installation or maintenance of HVACR systems. Some technicians further specialize in one type of equipment or manufacturer. Most technicians do both the installation and the servicing and work with most types of heating, cooling, and refrigeration equipment.

HVACR technicians work in homes, office buildings, factories - anywhere there is climate control equipment in use. Career opportunities are diverse. Typically, these positions are found in businesses in the following commercial or industrial areas:

• Office Buildings
• Resorts and Hotels
• Manufacturing Plants
• Hospitals and Clinics
• Transportation Terminals
• Shopping Malls
• Retail Stores and Wholesalers
• Warehouses
• Food Preparation and Packaging
• Homes

Licensing and certification. There are no licensing requirements in MA for general HVACR work. As part of their program, PCI students have the opportunity to earn their OSHA 30 certification and their EPA Section 608A certification.

Graduation and employment rates. From the 2025 ACCSC annual report, for the 10/2022-9/2023 start cohort at this campus, HVACR reported a graduation rate of 50% and an employment rate of 75% (starting population 24, graduate population 12).

How these rates are calculated. Porter and Chester Institute calculates a Graduation Rate and an Employment Rate for each program using formulas specified by our accrediting agency, the Accrediting Commission for Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). The graduation rate formula uses a cohort of students who began school during a given 12 month reporting period as the denominator, and as the numerator uses the number of students from that group who graduated within 150% of the program length. The employment rate formula uses a cohort of students who began school during a given 12 month reporting period and proceeded to graduate as the denominator. Those of the cohort whose self-reported employment in their field of training, or a related field has been verified by the school, form the numerator. The rate is calculated for the cohort after 150% of the program length has elapsed for all students in the cohort, with an additional three month allowance for placement related activities.

Graduation rate for the student body. The graduation rate for first-time full-time students who began their studies at Porter Chester Institute in Fall 2019 (310 students) and graduated within 150% of their program length (178 students) is 57.4%.

Where graduates work. Worcester campus graduates are working at employers such as Rodenhiser Home Services, C&C Temp Control, Endless Energy.

The Worcester campus consists of approximately 31,500 square feet of space. All classrooms are air-conditioned, brightly illuminated and tiled or carpeted. There are approximately 300 available parking spaces on the premises. Each curriculum division operates its own reference library which contains appropriate resource materials and multimedia. All student workstations are equipped with the same kinds of tools, equipment, and instrumentation in current use by advanced industrial and commercial firms.

Each term, each campus holds a mandatory online or on-campus New Student Orientation, specifically for the incoming student body. Key staff are on hand to share important information.