There are a great many exciting things happening in the Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) field these days, including new energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, greener technologies being used, and new skills for technicians to learn. It is a very solid career path, and for the certified technician, pay can be very rewarding. Besides the good pay earned by qualified professionals, there are some very good reasons why an HVAC technician should strive to be certified in the field.
State and Local Requirements
In some states and local communities, HVAC technicians must belicensed in order to work. On a federal level, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates that technicians must be certified in the handling of air conditioning refrigerants if they work with them or even purchase them. These EPA exams can be taken at many trade schools, union workshops, technical schools, and other testing sites.
NATE-Certified Technicians Are Preferred
According to the non-profit certification program North American Technician Excellence, (NATE) earning a certification increases the hiring appeal of a technician in several ways. Contractors seek out NATE-certified workers because they tend to be more serious about the business and stay in it longer. Historically, NATE technicians do the job right the first time and tend to be more productive than non-NATE certified technicians. Businesses prefer NATE certification because they can rely on proper installation and service every time, and homeowners appreciate certification because they know the technician has been well trained and is experienced in the area of service being provided.
NATE is the domestic organization which has set itself up as the certification agency for the HVAC industry. It is entirely owned, governed, operated, and supported by HVAC members, and provides resources for learning as well as the actual testing and certification of HVAC candidates.
Green Technology is Trending Strongly
With the emphasis being placed on green technologies in HVAC, it behooves a technician to become knowledgeable and certified in these new areas. According to Washington Energy Services, With equipment like the thermal-driven chiller developed in Australia, the ice-powered air conditioner created in California, and greener geothermal heat pumps, a technician must stay abreast of these emerging technologies in order to be able to competently install and service them. Those not trained and certified may be left behind during the certain expansion of use for green technologies.
A Visible Endorsement
The HVAC Excellence Certification is something an individual can proudly wear to any home visit or business work site. Without saying a word, they can announce to everyone that they have achieved either a professional level or master specialist level of certification within the industry by wearing the chevron patch earned with certification. They also receive a wall certificate and an HVAC Excellence patch. None of these are attainable without having completed at least two years in the field (three in the case of a specialist), and passing a difficult exam that tests your knowledge of the area technicians are working in.
This federally-recognized certification shows all clients or employers that the technician is well experienced in the field, and has a solid working knowledge of the profession chosen. Not only will this inspire confidence in their knowledge and ability, but it should also lead to more work opportunities, as well as callbacks for service.