Refrigeration courses are available for licensed mechanics and general interest, with most offered as part of an HVAC program. Professional courses include specialized tools and computer simulations, and should be taught by experienced instructors. Vendor-specific training sessions are also available for maintaining complex systems.
When selecting a refrigeration course, take the time to assess your previous learning experience. Courses designed for licensed refrigeration mechanics are widely available at community and career colleges. These programs often provide credit for prior learning, even if the learning took place on the job. Refrigeration courses are available in two streams: general interest and career-oriented study.
A general interest refrigeration course may be applicable to a general plant maintenance technician, maintenance mechanic or someone in a related field. This type of course provides important information on how refrigeration works, simple maintenance and the different design options. The cost for this type of course varies, but is usually between $450 and $600 USD (US$).
The vast majority of refrigeration courses are offered as part of a professional heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) program. This type of program usually lasts two to three years and is required to become a licensed HVAC mechanic. Upon successful completion, candidates can find job opportunities in facility management, HVAC installation and service companies, or open their own HVAC repair shop.
If you are taking a refrigeration course to gain professional certification, make sure the course is appropriate. Individuals who are participating in a refrigeration course as part of an installation technician program must confirm the course with their registrar. Although the installation technician is not obligated to maintain this type of system, a solid understanding of how it works is very helpful when dealing with an HVAC mechanic. Correctly describing the problems, parts and different aspects of the system will speed up problem diagnosis and may reduce the time and cost of repairs.
Most professional refrigeration courses include the cost of specialized tools in the tuition fee. These tools are common to this type of equipment, but are not often used in other areas. Recent developments in technology have allowed many schools to add computer simulation to their refrigeration courses. These programs offer students the unique opportunity to improve diagnostic skills without any physical risk. This type of tool also allows instructors to better assess actual job performance and provide correction and guidance where necessary.
Refrigeration courses must be taught by a licensed master mechanic in HVAC. As a skilled profession, work experience repairing and installing refrigeration equipment is more valuable than academic credentials. The more experience the instructor has, the greater depth of knowledge he or she can draw on to share in class. Anecdotal stories and real-life examples are often the best way to share important knowledge.
Another option for refrigeration courses is vendor-specific training sessions provided when new equipment is installed. These courses are usually offered onsite and are taught by an instructor or salesperson for the installation company. There is no accreditation associated with these types of courses, but they provide valuable information needed when maintaining or managing a large and complex refrigeration system.
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