Start Your Career with an HVAC Apprenticeship
Become an HVACR Apprentice
Launch your career in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) with Howard Community College. HVACR professionals install, service and repair heating and cooling systems. HVAC technicians preform work in residences and commercial establishments. HVACR jobs are part of a growing industry. HCC's HVACR apprenticeship program allows students to complete on-the-job training with experienced technicians. During an HVAC apprenticeship, you may assist with tasks including:
- Carrying materials
- Insulating refrigerant lines
- Cleaning furnaces
- Cutting and soldering pipes
- Checking electrical and electronic circuits
Earn Your Maryland Journeyman’s License
Interested HVACR professionals or HVACR professionals that are currently employed by a licensed HVACR company can now train to become a licensed Maryland journeyman through HCC’s partnership with the Heating and Air Conditioning Contractors of Maryland (HACC of MD). HACC of MD established an apprenticeship program in 1996. The State of Maryland’s Apprenticeship and Training Council registers each apprentice. The council sets the rules for the apprenticeship. Once the program is complete, the council issues an apprenticeship completion certificate. Student can then apply for and receive a Maryland State HVACR journeyman license without taking the exam.
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About the Program
This apprenticeship program will provide training for apprentices to specialize in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning/refrigeration systems. Work may include installing, servicing and repairing heating and air conditioning systems in residences and commercial establishments.
Apprenticeships usually begin by assisting experienced technicians with such tasks as carrying materials, insulating refrigerant lines or cleaning furnaces. In time, apprentices will move on to more difficult tasks such as cutting and soldering pipes and checking electrical and electronic circuits.
The program takes four years to complete and includes a classroom portion along with 8,000 hours of on-the job training.
Although participants do not have to be employed by an HVACR contractor to start the program, applicants will need to find a job in the industry by the start of the second year in the program. -
Requirements
Students are required to have a tablet or a laptop for class. You have an option to purchase a Chromebook at Check-out. Our partner, HACC of MD, has negotiated discounted rates for our students and the Chromebooks come with two years of technical support.
Requirements for the tablet or laptop if you want to purchase your own is:
Operating Systems
• Windows – Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10
• Macintosh – macOS 10.13, 10.12 / OS X 10.10 -10.11 (High Sierra, Sierra, Yosemite, El Capitan)
• Chrome – Chrome OS
• Mobile – iOS 6+, Android (see below note for browsers)
Hardware Requirements
• Minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768
• Minimum: Intel® or AMD® CPU at 1.8 GHz or better / 1 GB of RAM
• Recommended: Intel® CPU at 2.0 GHz or better / 4 to 8 GB of RAM -
Courses
Year 1 No. of Hours Introduction to Trade, Tools & Safety 20 Basic Heating Cycle 20 Basic Math 20 Refrigeration Cycles & Basic Refrigeration 40 Basic Electricity I 20 Basic Electricity II 20 Trade Math 20 Year 2 No. of Hours Fundamentals of Brazing & Soldering 20 AC/DC Circuits, Electric Motors & Starters 20 Wiring & Testing 20 HVAC Controls - Start Up & Testing 40 Advanced Refrigeration & Pipe Fitting 40 Communication Skills 20 Year 3 No. of Hours Trouble Shooting - Gas, Oil, Electric Heating & Cooling 40 Heat Pumps & Heat Pump Trouble Shooting 40 Refrigeration Installation & Service – Commercial 20 Chilled Water Systems – Cooling Towers & Pumps 20 Boilers & Hyrdronics 40 Year 4 No. of Hours Wiring Diagrams 40 Heat Loss/Gain Calculations 20 Introduction to NEC/HVACR 20 Introduction to Electronics/HVACR 20 Introduction to BOCA Mechanical Code/HVACR 20 Blue Print Reading 20 Air Distribution Systems – Balancing & Measuring 20 -
How to Apply
To begin the program, an application must be submitted through HACCMD's application portal. For instructions on how to complete this process, please go to their Apprenticeship Program Instructions page.
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Benefits for HVACR Employers
The HACC of MD has worked with hundreds of HVACR employers in Maryland to train quality employees. HVACR companies may help offset the costs for this program through a sponsorship. HVACR employers can benefit by:
- Having highly qualified staff as apprentices earn their Journeyman's License
- Developing and retaining highly-skilled workers
- Higher productivity
- Lower turnover
- Less recruitment costs
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Upcoming Information Sessions
Information sessions for the HVACR apprenticeship have concluded. Dates for future sessions will be announced soon.
Our HVACR apprenticeship is one of many in the program. Apprentices take classes and benefit from a full-time salary and industry training. HCC works with employers across Maryland to hire new and emerging talent in their fields. Learn more about our apprenticeship program.
For more information about our apprenticeship program, contact Adrienne Summers at 443-518-4972 or asummers@howardcc.edu.
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