Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning professionals will find faster than average job growth through the end of the decade, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Why not take your HVAC technical training and certification courses here in Kansas?

By Gabby Hyman
RWM Columnist
September 21, 2006

To meet the needs of a busy industry, Kansas vocational and technical schools are offering state-of-the-art training programs in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC). The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has predicted "faster than average" growth in HVAC jobs through 2014, making job prospects excellent throughout the nation. Kansas-based HVAC trade schools have designed accelerated programs that qualify workers to meet technical and EPA certification requirements.

The BLS reports that because of the increasingly technical aspects of HVAC work, graduates from HVAC vocational school programs will have the inside track on landing the new jobs. Federal EPA regulations have made trade school training an invaluable resource in the profession since graduates receive industry certifications in the proper handling of sensitive fluorocarbon refrigerants.

Kansas HVAC Salaries for Recent Vocational School Grads
According to Salary.com, entry-level wages for trade school grads seeking the HVAC1 designation ranges from $32,300 to $43,500 in the Kansas City area. Entry-level wages are just a little lower in Topeka ($30,800-$41,400) and in Wichita ($31,300-$42,200).

Before you enter the workplace, you'll need well-rounded vocational training. In evaluating Kansas-based vocational schools' HVAC programs, look for a comprehensive curriculum that offers both electric and refrigeration fundamentals. In the workplace, you'll be asked to know electrical theory in installing, maintaining, or troubleshooting systems.

Refrigeration and air conditioning fundamentals are critical if you expect to spec your customers' systems needs and install equipment properly. Advanced courses will help you work with motors, evaporators, ducts, power supply and compressor components.

Heating coursework will introduce you to heat pumps, filters, fossil fuels, furnaces, and the electrical systems that drive them. You'll also need a solid background in shop math, blueprints reading, and other mechanical skills.

Once they graduate and move into the vocation, many HVAC professionals seek additional certifications offered by The Refrigeration Service Engineers Society, North American Technician Excellence, Inc., and The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Safety Coalition. It's a good idea to check with prospective vocational schools to see whether their graduates are offered a solid grounding in fundamentals leading to certifications and advancement in the profession.

Kansas-based HVAC vocational schools offer an accelerated trade program than can have you out in the workforce in as little as 60 months. Why not evaluate the technical schools now and see which one fits your HVAC career goals?

Sources
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Salary.com

About the Author
Gabby Hyman has created online strategies and written content for Fortune 500 companies including eToys, GoTo.com, Siebel Systems, Microsoft Encarta, Avaya, and Nissan UK.