An HVAC apprentice learns the job of an HVAC contractor through on-the-job education or apprenticeship, attending classroom courses and working under the supervision of an experienced technician. Licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction, but apprenticeships are a way to gain real-world experience. Apprenticeships can be organized by local union affiliates, and involve both classroom training and working alongside experienced technicians.
A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) apprentice is someone who is learning the job of an HVAC contractor. HVAC contracting is a skilled trade, so people who want to become contracted often need to complete an on-the-job HVAC education program or an HVAC apprenticeship. During an apprenticeship, the HVAC apprentice typically attends classroom courses and works under the supervision of an experienced HVAC technician. As is true of many internships, the new apprentice will start out by performing basic tasks and observing their supervising technician. Eventually, however, the HVAC apprentice will start performing more involved HVAC procedures.
The process for becoming an HVAC technician can vary considerably by jurisdiction. In some areas, a technician must be licensed, but other areas do not impose licensing requirements, although local unions may develop qualification standards for their members. Unions and licensing boards typically require applicants to have real-world experience doing HVAC jobs, and an apprenticeship is one way to accomplish this. Each union or licensing body will set its own standards for the length of apprenticeship as well as the skills an apprentice is expected to learn. If an HVAC worker wants to become licensed to work in a specific field, he or she is expected to pass the exam and show proof of their time as an HVAC apprentice.
HVAC apprenticeships can be organized by local union affiliates. An HVAC apprentice often works for a contracting company while also taking classes. Classes are usually offered by local community colleges or professional schools and may meet once or twice a week. During classes, the HVAC apprentice is expected to learn about reading blueprints, how heating and cooling systems are designed, and general safety rules. In many cases, part of HVAC classroom training involves education on working with refrigerants, because there are often laws and regulations about their use and disposal that an HVAC contractor must comply with.
In addition to classroom training, the HVAC apprentice works alongside more experienced HVAC technicians. In some cases, a person may start working for an HVAC company before entering a formal apprenticeship program, but in either case, an entry-level worker or apprentice will typically start by helping and observing the work of their senior technicians. Eventually, the apprentice will begin to perform tasks on his own, under the supervision of the senior technician. This supervision continues until the end of the apprenticeship program, after which the apprentice can obtain licensure or union recognition as an HVAC technician and begin working independently.
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