HVAC Apprenticeship

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HVAC Apprenticeship

Turn Up the Heat on Your Career

Transform your future with an HVAC apprenticeship program! This earn-and-learn model lets you build valuable skills while earning a paycheck. Gain hands-on experience and real-world training to start a rewarding career in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. As an HVAC technician, you’ll play a vital role in keeping homes and businesses comfortable year-round.

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HVAC Apprenticeship at a Glance

Degree

Apprenticeship

Length of Study

4 years

Course Format

Face-to-Face

Classes Meet

Evening

Program Start

Fall, Spring

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Your Career as an HVAC Technician

After completing your apprenticeship and passing the journeyman's exam you'll be able to work as a HVAC professional.

Your career will involve working to ensure that heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in homes, businesses, and industrial settings are installed, maintained, and repaired properly. Your daily tasks will vary depending on the job and setting.

As your career progresses, you may have opportunities to specialize in specific areas, like refrigeration, commercial HVAC, or energy management.

470K

HVAC Professionals in U.S.

113K

U.S. HVAC Businesses

Program Overview

In the HVAC apprenticeship, you'll get the best of both worlds: hands-on experience and classroom instruction – all while earning a paycheck.

You'll work alongsided experienced professionals, gaining real-world skills in diagnosing, installing, and repairing HVAC systems in both residential and commercial settings.

Your apprenticeship will last around four years and includes 8,000 hours of OJT.

As an apprentice, you're required to complete a set number of classroom hours. The classroom sessions will include topics that are essential to becoming a skilled technician.

Topics will include:

HVAC System Fundamentals
Electrical Principles
Blueprint and Diagram Reading
Energy Efficiency and Green Technologies
Safety and Code Compliance

All classes are taught by instructors who are experts in the field, with years of experience.

To enroll in apprenticeship classes, you must be sponsored by a business or employer.

Regular attendance is required for classroom sessions.

Once you complete your coursework and your training hours you'll be eligible to take the state exam and earn an industry-recognized, nationally-portable credential.

Online HVAC apprenticeship classes are designed for you if you're sponsored by an employer but live or work more than 45 miles from the Cedar Falls Center, making weekly in-person classes a challenge.

With self-paced curriculum, you’ll need reliable internet access to complete the online coursework.

Explore the online program

HVAC Apprenticeship Levels

The HVAC Apprenticeship is approved by the Iowa Department of Labor. Each level fulfills the 144 classroom training hours required by an approved apprenticeship program.

Level 1 Build a strong foundation in HVAC with essential training topics, including heating and cooling systems, air distribution, piping practices, basic electricity, and trade mathematics.

Training Topics

Air Distribution Systems
Basic Electricity
Copper and Plastic Piping Practices
Introduction to Cooling
Introduction to Heating
Introduction to HVAC
Steel Piping Practices
Trade Mathematics

Level 2 Expand your HVAC expertise with key training topics, including air quality equipment, heat pumps, commercial airside systems, refrigerants, metering devices, and essential installation and maintenance practices.

Training Topics

Alternating Current
Air Quality Equipment
Basic Installation and Maintenance Practices
Chimneys, Vents, and Flues
Commercial Airside Systems
Compressors
Duct Systems
Heat Pumps
Introduction to Hydronic systems
Leak Detection, Evacuation, Recovery, and Charging
Metering Devices
Refrigerants and Oils

Level 3 Dive deeper into HVAC systems with comprehensive training on air source heat pumps, forced-air furnaces, hydronic heating, refrigeration, electrical safety, and system troubleshooting, including hands-on skills in installation, servicing, and maintenance.

Training Topics

Air Source Heat Pump Systems
Basic electricity
Combustion and Fuels
Electrical Safety
Forced-Air Furnaces
Forced Air Furnace Components and Controls
Forced Air Heating Distribution Systems
Gas Pipe Sizing
High Pressure side Compressors and Condensers
HVAC and Refrigeration Systems
HVAC and Refrigeration System Safety
HVAC Unit Selection
Hydronic Heating System Boilers
Hydronic Heating Boiler components and Controls
Hydronic Heating Distribution Systems
Indoor Air Quality
Installing Residential Forced Air Heating and Cooling Systems
Installing Residential Hydronic systems
Installing, Servicing, and Troubleshooting Air Source Heat Pump Systems
Installing, Servicing and Troubleshooting Water Source and Geothermal Heat Pump Systems
Installing, Servicing, and Troubleshooting Chiller Systems
Introduction to International Mechanical Code
Low Pressure Side Expansion Devices and Accessories
Proper Charging on Air Conditioning Systems
Refrigeration Principles
Section 608 EPA Certification
Servicing and Troubleshooting Residential Forced Air HVAC Systems
Soldering and Brazing
Steam Heating-Boilers
Water Source and Geothermal Heat Pump Systems

Level 4 Master advanced HVAC and plumbing concepts in the final level of the program, covering topics such as appliance and fireplace installation, boilers, refrigeration, fuel oil piping, system ventilation, and in-depth code regulations all while preparing for industry exams.

Training Topics

Appliances and Fireplaces
Boilers, Water Heaters, and Pressure Vessels
Chimneys and Vents
Combustion Air
Duct Systems
Exam Preparation
Exhaust Systems
Fuel Oil Piping and Storage
Hydronic Piping
International Mechanical Code Scope and Administration, Definitions, and General Regulations
National Fuel Gas Code
Plan Review
Referenced Standards
Refrigeration
Solar Systems
Specific Appliances, Fireplaces and Solid Fuel Burning Equipment
Ventilation

How to Get Started

Beginning an apprenticeship program has a few steps, but we are here to help you through the process!

Secure employment for the on-the-job learning portion of the program.
If you don't have an employer sponsor, contact Hawkeye's Program Coordinator for a list of business partners.
Work with your employer and Hawkeye to enroll.

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