HVAC/R TECHNICIAN
APPRENTICE PROGRAM
Start a career in Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning with the foundational skills you need to be successful!
11 MONTHS
2-3 HOUR LAB SESSIONS EACH WEEK COMBINED WITH OTHER MODULES
$10,000
INCLUDES MATERIALS, TOOLS, BOOKS, AND 24/7 LMS ACCESS. 7:1 STUDENT-INSTRUCTOR RATIO.
OUR LOCATION
NEW JERSEY
Get Directions
PROGRAM BEGINS SUMMER 2024!
Technician Apprentice Program Overview
The Technician Apprentice Program (TAP) is specifically designed for graduates to excel in the HVAC industry. This curriculum efficiently blends cutting-edge classroom instruction with hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art HVAC Lab, allowing you to directly engage with the very equipment you'll encounter in the field. Here, you'll learn the “must-knows” and actively perform simulated repairs and installations, mirroring real-world scenarios.
Our program is crafted to lay down professional fundamentals through immersive, habit-forming, practical training. While there are no shortcuts to proficiency, our conducive learning environment, equipped with the right tools, ensures a streamlined path to mastery.
We offer a comprehensive suite of resources for the aspiring HVAC professional, including contemporary training methods, EPA certification, HFO/A2L safety certification, assistance with job placement, and ongoing career support, all aimed at fostering the best practices and ensuring your success.
This is an 11-month program consisting of 82 classes, 40 of these classes are in-person in Wrightstown, NJ.
Master HVAC Knowledge
Live expert-led HVAC classroom & hands-on training. Learn the essentials of system operations, thermodynamics & refrigeration.
Hands-On Training
Train with top-tier HVAC equipment in our Lab. Execute simulated installations & repairs, mirroring field conditions.
Career Advancement
Become EPA 608 Universal & HFO/A2L Safety Certified. Receive your certification instantly & get job placement support.
Master HVAC Knowledge
To ensure success in our HVAC Technician Apprentice Program, it is imperative that students dedicate themselves to mastering the fundamental skills essential to this field. This foundation includes a thorough understanding of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, encompassing both theory and practical application.
Key areas of focus will be on the principles of thermodynamics, refrigeration cycles, and the electrical knowledge necessary to troubleshoot and repair HVAC equipment efficiently. Additionally, hands-on training will play a pivotal role, offering students the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios, thus bridging the gap between learning and doing.
Mastery of these fundamentals is crucial, as it provides the groundwork upon which advanced skills and specializations can be built, ensuring that our graduates are well-prepared to meet the demands of the industry with confidence and expertise.
Hands-On Training
Achieving success in this HVAC technician course requires students to actively engage in hands-on application of the skills they are learning. By participating in lab exercises, simulations, and on-site training opportunities, students can translate theoretical knowledge into practical expertise.
This hands-on approach not only reinforces understanding of HVAC systems but also develops critical problem-solving and diagnostic skills essential for real-world challenges. Success hinges on students' willingness to immerse themselves in these practical experiences, making the most of every opportunity to work on actual equipment and scenarios they will encounter in the field.
Collaboration with peers and seeking feedback from instructors are also vital components, as they provide different perspectives and insights that enhance learning. By embracing this active learning model, students can build a solid foundation of skills, preparing them for a successful career in the HVAC industry with the confidence to tackle any issue with competence and professionalism.
Career Advancement
Graduating as an HVAC Apprentice marks a significant milestone in the journey toward becoming a skilled professional in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning industry. One of the most valuable benefits of our program is the comprehensive job placement and career guidance support provided to graduates.
This support bridges the gap between academic achievement and professional success, offering personalized assistance in finding positions that match each graduate's skills, interests, and career goals. By leveraging relationships with local businesses, contractors, and industry partners, our program ensures that graduates have access to a wide range of employment opportunities. Furthermore, career guidance sessions help students refine their resumes, hone their interview skills, and navigate the complexities of the job market with confidence.
This holistic approach to education and career development not only facilitates a smoother transition into the workforce but also positions our graduates for long-term success and advancement in the HVAC field.
Eligibility
No experience in HVAC equipment is required to enroll in this program. Students will receive their experience during the program by completing hands-on experience working under the direction of our experienced instructors in our state-of-the-art HVAC Laboratory.
Requirements
✔ 18 Years of Age or Older
✔ High School Diploma or Equivalent (GED)
✔ Own a Smart Phone
✔ Passing a Basic Pre-Test
✔ Compliance to Personal Conduct Standards
✔ Live within commuting distance of Wrightstown, NJ
WHY TAP?
Choosing a career is a big decision.
We want you to feel confident that The Training Center is the right place for you.
Gain extensive, no-shortcut HVAC training over 11 months, offering significant value without compromising experience or quality.
Benefit from a blend of online instruction and hands-on lab experience tailored for real-world skills.
Equip yourself with industry-demanded expertise to be field-ready in less than a year.
TAP Course Modules
We start by fostering The Student Mentality (TSM) and encouraging the students to create the mindset of being a lifelong learner. Effective communication is an important skill for any customer-service professional, and we will explore ways improve with clients, co-workers, and more. Developing a proper work-life balance is one of the keys to happiness in your career and home life.
Understand why things work, not just how by studying the science behind refrigeration systems. Starting with the Laws of Thermodynamics and Heat Theory, then the relationship between pressure and temperature. Sensible and Latent Heat, BTUs and boiling points. Discuss and consider the Kinetic Theory of Gases. What makes a material a good insulator, what are the best conductive materials, and what are the three ways that heat transfers?
We will start by learning the very basics of electricity: atoms, protons, neutrons, and electrons. Electrical safety and the basic electrical components and circuitry. Understand the flow of electricity, voltage, amperage, and resistance and how they impact each other--Ohm's Law and how it applies. We will discuss what makes electrical materials good conductors and good insulators, and how to choose what material to use, including sizes of wire and when to use what size.
We will take an in-depth look at how to use the multimeter. Discussion of the different types of circuits and their use in the industry: series and parallel. Learn what component controls you will find in heating and cooling circuitry, such as relays, contactors, switches, sequencers, and more. Finally we will understand how to use electrical connectors like wire nuts and terminal blocks and determine which is right for each job. You will install and test each.
We cover the basics of electric motors including AC and DC, as well as the components of a motor and how they work. Single-phase, split capacity, and three-phase motors. Understand the use of capacitors in motors. Learn about hermetically sealed motors and how to test them. Discuss the new ECM and variable speed motors. Dissect an ECM to expose internal components, replacing modules and complete motors. Motor controls and thermal protection under heavy load.
Define refrigeration, journey through the refrigeration cycle and be able to describe it in detail, as well as what happens in the four processes to make it work effectively. Learn about residential split-systems and the components involved and commercial systems and what makes them different. Discuss the different variations of installation like conventional, high-velocity, and mini-split, know the pros and cons of all and how to choose which method might be best.
You will learn all that you need to know about refrigeration tubing: sizing, how to connect the ends, brazing and flaring soft copper. Learn how to perform refrigerant recovery and evacuation of a system. Hook up and use gauges. Charge a system with subcooling or superheat and use the correct formula to arrive at the proper charge, weigh the charge properly. Methods of troubleshooting including identifying leaks, high and low voltage, insufficient airflow, and motor burnout.
Discuss the history of refrigerants, the impact of those refrigerants on the environment, and the development of the EPA's regulatory involvement. Understand the conservation aspect of the EPA and how to comply by completing leak checks and repair timelines. Learn about HFO/A2L refrigerants and the complete a safety course on flammable refrigerants. This module ends with being EPA 608 Universal Certified and HFO/A2L safety certified, both of which are imporant in the industry.Item description
Learn what a heat pump is and how it works. Discover the components involved, including the 4-Way Reversing Valve. Discuss back-up heating systems, with technology moving forward and creating more efficient systems we see electric heat as backup. Learn the difference between pump thermostats and conventional thermostats. Finally we will get hands-on with the complexity of heat pump wiring and the wiring of the electric backup emergency heat systems.
We go back to communicating and asking the right questions in order to have a troubleshooting mindset. Learn how to read pictorial and ladder wiring schematics and the unique icons and lines, and how to apply the diagram to the actual system. Discover methods of electrical troubleshooting, how to chase power, and check components. Troubleshoot mechanical issues such as a motor or a compressor, or a TX valve. The best way to learn to troubleshooting is by going hands-on!
We will wrap-up this program by participating in practice interviews and building a quality resume--the essential items to get the first job!
TAP FAQ
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The course is 11 months from start to finish. It consists of a total of 82 classes. 42 classes are virtual via Zoom webinar. The other 40 classes are in-person and are held at our state-of-the-art classroom and HVAC lab in Wrightstown, NJ—students must attend these classes in-person.
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The course is $10,000. This includes all course materials, a professional tool set, EPA 608 Universal and HFO/A2L Safety certifications, and small group in-person hands-on training at our state-of-the-art HVAC Lab. A $1,000 deposit is required to hold your spot, and the remaining balance is due prior to the start of the program.
Compare this cost (with the real-world value of training, as well as the 7:1 Student-to-Instructor ratio) to most other HVAC/R training programs/schools and our course will come out on top!
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The course is offered in a hybrid virtual and in-person format. About half of the 82 classes are virtual via live Zoom webinar, the other 40 classes take place in-person at our training facility in Wrightstown, NJ.
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Our team is dedicated to preparing you to jump right into a career as an HVAC/R Technician Apprentice. We will help you develop all the skills you need to be successful with real-world, practical, hands-on training experience in our HVAC Laboratory.
In addition, our goal is to help you find placement with an HVAC company to begin your apprenticeship. With the training you have received in TAP, you will be an immediate asset to that company and build on the skills you have learned.
