What Is A Good Degree To Go With Hvac

Is being an HVAC Tech a good career?

I'm about to finish my first year at a community college where I've been taking general education classes. Next fall I'm considering switching and getting a 2 year degree in HVAC. I guess I'm wondering if this is a good career path. I've never been really mechanically inclined, but I do enjoy working around the house with my hands, being active, and enjoy hard manual labor. My parents have been pushing me to continue on to get a 4 year degree but I don't feel like it's for me. I have no idea what I'd want to major in and these pointless gen eds just bore me to death. I know that I could complete a degree because I am not a bad student, I really just don't want to. Everyone tells me to stay in school, get your degree, but I read all the time about graduates who are unable to find a job, or are working for minimum wage and have the burden of 20k in loans to pay back. I can't find the justification for it. HVAC seems like a good field. Can't be outsourced, job prospects are good, the money is decent.

HVAC as a career? is that a good idea and HELP?

HVAC-R is needed everywhere. Hating is a way of life in New England where as Air Conditioning is just as important in the southern states.

The R stands for refrigeration and that too comes in handy wherever you go.

As for what school you should go to it depends on whether you want to be an all around kinda HVAC tech or a specialized one.

Ask yourself the following question:

Why do I want to go into the HVAC-R field?

Your answer to the question will help you see whether you are going to be installing burners and boilers or chillers and condensers.

There is a HUGE world of HVAC-R out there. A great college is The Massachusettes Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay Massachusettes. This can get you hands on experience working on boilers and some pretty high tech burner systems. They mainly deal with the heating side of things but that opens up a door into power plants and the like. You might even wind up a technician in a boiler room on some tanker or luxury cruise ship.

You could also try

http://www.refrigerationschool.com/

I only have experience on the heating side of things and that is only in the realm of commercial heating and hot water. The truth of the matter is this field has many different facets like many other fields, but this field is a lot cooler (pardon the pun!)

As far as help with finding a job a lot of local community trade colleges offfer services like that. Just make sure that while your study the laws of thermal dynamics you try to netwotk a little too!


I am not endorsed by either of the above institutions but the MMA comes recommended from many of my fellow employees and the other was a quick google search (sorry bing!)

My ultimate advice is find out what you like and what you don't. Want to weld and do a lot of heavy lifting? Be a pipefitter. Want to work for yourself and have a small business? Go residential. Worried about the environment and the consumption of fosssil fuels? Stay in school and get a Doctorate in engineering, avoid getting jaded, and redesign the world as we know it.

Is HVAC a good career to get into?

I eventually would like to go to college but I can't afford it. I live in Tennessee AND I am thinking of moving to Pennsylvania or Maryland. I understand that I might not make a lot of money the first few years. I eventually want to get my degree in business or engineering

HVAC trade school or community college?

I am looking into getting into the HVAC industry, I am soon going to be moving into the Denver area and have been looking at schools in the area, but im not exactly sure whats the best way to go about it.
I saw one trade school, Red Stone, that looked pretty nice. But I also saw Red Rocks Community College, which looks nice and offers a nice HVAC program.
My question is is it better to go to a trade school or community college to find a job, and which one will offer the better training. Money isnt an issue (GI BILL)

I want to get good training, and find work. Any help, tips, or info is appreciated

HVAC certification or degree??? Help please!!!?

I agree with the answers posted. I would like to take some of the answers a little further. If his immediate future goal is apartment maintenance, just get certified. I have seen many people get turned down for maintenance positions with a degree mainly because they are "over qualified". Another issue, ANYONE and I mean anyone can go to certain places and take the test for certification in a minimum of three days. The test does not in any way teach you what you need to know in the field. It only explains the rules and laws of being certified. The average apartment management company will pay for non certified Maintenance Technicians to become certified if they see it is worth their money. But of course, this means starting from the very bottom. If you were to be in search for an industrial type job, then the degree route would be best. But it does take much longer. I can tell you from experience, even with a certification (degree or not) most apartment communities will not hire someone just because they are certified. You would need much more hands on in many more subjects (plumbing, electrical, carpentry, etc.) to usually get in for apartment maintenance. My personal opinion: I would first try and find a company that is needing a non certified person and stress that you are wanting to be certified even if you have to pay for it. They will love to hear this. In the meantime, look for quick and easy ways to become certified then try and hang out with people that work on them for a living. There are two companies I know of that offer "quick" certification. I am not sure if they are near you or if they require a business account:

http://www.foxapplianceparts.com/

http://hdsupplysolutions.com/webapp/wcs/...

I personally LOVE my job! I learn something new everyday and I do something different everyday. This makes the day go by fast and productivly. Good luck...