Original message
| PankratzM
 |  "Questions about Certification"
, posted Sat 5 Jan 17:37  
Hello,
I've got 3 years of college done, but by year three, I found that I wasn't really interested (okay, at all) in what I was doing, and ended up doing horribly at the very end, though I'm actually a very intelligent person (I've worked as a consulting expert with the government and others, but since I didn't gain my knowledge through the usual routes, it's next to impossible to get steady work).
I'm pretty interested in HVAC, and I'd like to get certified, but I don't know the best way to go about it.
There is a local tech school starting ASAP, but there's no way I can be ready by the time they're starting.
I've taken a few online courses and have done very well in them, though.
Do you reccomend online courses? I was looking at PennFoster and a few others. I'm not sure of the best way to proceed.
I'd like to get certified as soon as possible, because my wife and I need a steadier income while she finishes her last two semesters of business school.
Help!
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Replies:
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| justsomeguy
| "Re(1):Questions about Certification" , posted Sun 10 Feb 13:35
Book learning is utterly useless without hands on training. You need to attend a brick and mortar school to get that or find a company willing to hire you at minimum wage as a helper. I would advise the second route because it will tell you if you really want to be in this trade. While the money is good, the hours are long, the attics are hotter than hell, the roofs are icy and cold, and some of your customers you will want to punch out before it's all over. Good luck.
BillyBob
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| hvacbroc
| "Re(1):Questions about Certification" , posted Sat 12 Jan 01:57
I don't know where you're from ,but my experience is go to a technical school that has lots of equipment good instructors and weekly testing etc just being certified doesn't make a good tech I have seen a lot of so so techs and very poor techs most problems are electrical related at a good tech school they will teach you to learn residential commercial refrigeration (splits heat pumps chillers boilers ice machines walkin coolers ) you're worth more money to a employer GOOD LUCK
digital meter and commonsense helps
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| | PankratzM
| "Questions about Certification" , posted Sat 12 Jan 21:57
What's your impression of the online courses available?
The in-person tech school program is way, way more expensive, which is the reason I was looking for something a little cheaper and that can be done on my own time.
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| | commtech
| "Re(1):Questions about Certification" , posted Mon 14 Jan 18:18
Just my 2 cents worth,an on line course will not give you the "hands on" training that is a must.You may finish up spewing book smarts,but that is no substitue for good old fasioned hands on experience.I've been in this field for about 27 years and I still learn something new all the time.One thing for sure,its a skill that keeps a man employed.Also I don't think an on line deploma will impress many service managers that are looking for a new tech.
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| | dwcaveney
| "Re(2):Questions about Certification" , posted Fri 11 Apr 13:53
I just enrolled in Ashworth on-line HVAC TECH course.
I am a disabled carpenter trying to train for HVAC design (I have formal experience and training in AutoCAD)
I know some princles of physics and know my way around a construction site.
I want the theory of HVAC, so in my case, I think I can benefit from the on-line course.
The course cost $619.00 for a one year program. 19 Modules of 6 units.
Wyotech gets $38,000 for their shop based program. I don't have $38,000, and can't get a student loan without a cosigner.
Our power company, PG&E, offers free classes on HVAC, Nate Prep and a variety of other subjects. I am enrolling in those also.
Good Luck
DW
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