Importance of Education and Job Outlook For HVAC Professionals
"RSI put me on the road to where I am today. Instructors see you as a person and are interested in seeing you succeed."
Boyd Lee,
President and Owner, Weather Masters
Overview
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), refrigeration, air-conditioning, and HVAC (the common acronym for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) job opportunities are expected to increase between 18 and 26 percent through the year 2014. Expanding city centers; the growth of suburban office parks; and demands for retail and residential multi-story complexes all ensure that skilled HVAC, air conditioning, and refrigeration professionals are continually needed in the United States.
Professionals who have practical experience installing central air conditioning systems, furnaces, boilers, and heat pumps are in the highest demand, and those who have received professional training will be hired first. Through a combination of theory and practical classroom hours, Refrigeration School, Inc. graduates are adequately prepared to enter the workforce understanding how to install and troubleshoot HVAC systems. Professionals who have completed a certified HVAC training program are also the most likely to receive raises and be promoted to management or supervisory positions.
Changing demands require a dynamic education
The rising cost of fuel and the increasing importance of energy conservation demand that HVAC, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers understand new and complex technologies. Employers prefer to hire HVAC professionals who have completed formal education, as they are the group of professionals trained to understand the complexities of current heating and cooling systems. Many building and business owners are interested in having old heating and cooling systems replaced by energy efficient systems that do the least amount of harm to the environment. Skilled professionals are needed to remove old, harmful systems and install these newer systems. These energy-conserving systems tend to reduce total gas/electricity costs, as well, so it is important that they run at peak efficiency at all times. Certified maintenance workers are also needed at office complexes and apartment buildings around the nation to ensure that HVAC repair issues are addressed as soon as possible.
Over the past several years, indoor air quality has become a concern to urban apartment dwellers and office workers. Newer, energy-efficient systems help to improve indoor air quality, reducing incidents of medical conditions such as asthma and allergies. Proper ventilation systems are also essential for avoiding "sick building syndrome," a term for a collection of health complaints -- such as dizziness, nausea, and fatigue – caused by HVAC systems that fail to distribute breathable air to office workers. Ever-changing governmental regulations that prohibit chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) emissions will continue to require certified heating and cooling professionals to upgrade or replace older HVAC systems.
Career outlook and opportunities
Generally, HVAC and refrigeration technicians work either in a maintenance position (often associated with a facility) or in the service aspect of the field, either as a contractor or working for a contractor. In fact, roughly 50 percent of HVAC professionals work in the service area. Maintenance professionals (often called maintenance engineers or maintenance technicians) usually work in facilities such as:
- apartment complexes
- office buildings
- schools and colleges
- retail stores
- restaurants
- hospitals and care centers
- resort hotels
Municipal and government buildings and facilities also require HVAC professionals to install service and maintain these critical building environment systems. Of course, all residential and commercial appliance retail stores often employ technicians to work on equipment under warranty.
HVAC professionals also play a critical role in helping consumers choose which systems to install. Certified HVAC training program graduates understand how to relate with the public, and how to provide top quality customer service.
Beyond the broad categories of service and maintenance come several specialty positions that require trained HVAC professionals. For example, food processing plants, ice rinks and high tech manufacturing facilities all require technicians who have specialized training for their unique jobs. Even the large earth moving equipment that we see in mines has a computer room to operate the machinery, and this computer room must be maintained at very exact temperatures in harsh conditions. The environmental control for this equipment requires specially trained HVAC technicians.
Changing populations mean more jobs
Over the past several years, Americans have also seen significant demographic shifts in the lower 48 states. According to an April 2007 CNNMoney.com article, major population growth is occurring in the southern and western United States, especially in cities such as Houston, Atlanta, and Phoenix. These regions have humid subtropical climates that demand efficient cooling systems year-round. As population and job growth soars in this part of the States, large numbers of energy-efficient homes and office parks will be built. HVAC, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers who have received formal schooling are essential in addressing America's newest population trends and in adding to the growth of "job hot spots." The greatest number of jobs for HVAC professionals can be found in these regions, as well.
