Course Overview

No matter the weather, heating and cooling systems keep homes, offices and schools at the optimal temperature. Students learn how HVACR technicians install, maintain and repair these complex and increasingly high-tech systems in our Heating/Air Conditioning & Refrigeration course.

As they explore a career field with an employment growth rate that’s three times the national average, students are introduced to the following skills:

• Cut and assemble various piping materials, including ACR copper tubing, CSST and PVC pipe
• Wire series, parallel and series-parallel circuits; install electric disconnects, circuit breakers and fuses
• Install and service a variety of cooling, heating and refrigeration systems, as well as their components
• Fabricate air ducts; evaluate ventilation systems’ performance by measuring air velocity, volume, etc.

Instruction begins with job-site safety, tool use, blueprint reading and other fundamentals before moving to advanced tasks like gas furnace maintenance, refrigerant recovery and heat pump installation. Working in a course lab equipped with appliances made by Carrier, Goodman, Honeywell, Trane and other industry-recognized manufacturers, students collaborate to complete projects that mirror on-the-job tasks.

Beginners, for example, wire thermostats, add ductwork to an existing ventilation system and install condensate, gas and refrigerant lines. Advanced students, meanwhile, build a sealed HVAC system, troubleshoot an ice machine and install a geothermal unit.

Our Heating/Air Conditioning & Refrigeration course is accredited by the following organization:

NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research)

Course details

Course length: 9 months

Next start date(s): Fall 2024 dates TBD

Tentative schedule: 8:15 am – 2:45 pm, M-F

Credentials & college credit

Students who complete our course earn the following industry-recognized credentials:

• Various NCCER® certifications
• Various Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Institute certifications
• OSHA Certification via CareerSafe®

Students who complete our course are well-positioned to earn associate degrees at the following school(s):

• Lehigh Carbon Community College

Career pathways

with credentials earned at LCTI:

• Geothermal Technician
• HVAC Technician
• Refrigeration Technician
• Parts Salesperson

with credentials + experience:

• Contractor
• Controls Specialist
• Parts Sales Manager

with more postsecondary training or college degree:

• Construction Manager
• Mechanical Engineer
• Mechanical Engineering Technician

Learn more about potential career pathways.

Contact Amy Rex at 610-799-1316 or rexa@lcti.org for registration details, more information, or for a personalized tour.