HVAC Technician Fundamentals

80 hours/12 months access Self-paced learning

Learn the basics of HVAC Electrical, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration with this entry level training. Developed by leading HVACR experts that truly develops your core technical skills and advances your industry knowledge. Topics include Safety, Electrical fundamentals, Air Conditioning fundamentals and Refrigerant Usage.

Curriculum:

Safety for HVACR Technicians

A comprehensive module explaining numerous safety facts, guidelines, and recommendations for the HVACR service technician.

NATE CEHs: 16
CEUs: 1.6
Course length: Approximately 20 hours

Designed For:

Service technicians

After Completing This Course, You Will Understand:

The different types of personal protective equipment (PPE) as required by OSHA standards
The basic precautions and safety tips while using tools and text instruments
The electric hazards, their effect on human body and precautions related to such hazards
The safe installation and maintenance of air-moving equipment and precautions for some of the hazards associated with this equipment.
The hazards during soldering, brazing, and welding and precautions against these hazards
Fire safety and related precautions
The guidelines for the safe use of ladders prescribed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The correct methods of moving materials manually and moving materials using machinery

Course Description:

On-demand, interactive course of 8 modules (short courses)
Online course reader with easy-to-print PDFs
Online self-assessment
End-of-module exam and certificate of completion

Modules: Also sold individually as short courses.

Personal Protective Equipment
Tools and Test Instruments
Electrical Safety
Fan Safety
Soldering, Brazing and Welding
Fire Safety
Ladders, Scaffolds, and Lifts
Material Handling

Every Module Includes:

Module introduction
Topic introduction
Check-point questions
Topic summary
Assessment

Outcomes: The 8 online modules help you to understand:

The types of personal protective equipment (PPE) as required by OSHA standards
The safety tips for using tools and text instruments
Electric hazards and related precautions
Installation, maintenance, and precautions for air-moving equipments
Hazards during soldering, brazing, and welding and related precautions
Fire safety and related precautions
Guidelines for safe use of ladders
Correct methods of handling of materials

Recommended text but not required:

RSES - Safety for the HVACR Technician

Electricity for HVACR Technicians

A thorough introduction to the concepts of electricity and magnetism, description of basic electrical devices that use these concepts, the concepts of alternating current and related devices, and the basic explanation of electrical schematics.

NATE CEHs: 36
CEUs: 3.6
Course length: Approximately 40 hours

Designed For:

Service technicians

After Completing This Course, You Will Understand:

The concepts of electricity and magnetism
The fundamentals of alternating currents
The functioning of basic electrical devices and circuit protection devices
The electrical schematics

Course Description:

On-demand, interactive course of 12 modules (short courses)
Online course reader with easy-to-print PDFs
Online self-assessment

Modules: Also sold individually as short courses

Terminology and Units of Measurement
Electronics - History and Concepts
Series Circuits, Parallel Circuits, and Power
Magnetism and Transformers
Magnetic Attraction, Repulsion, and Shielding
Transformers
Relays, Contactors and Starters
Fundamentals of Alternating Current
Alternating Current: Reactance, Impedance & Power Factor
Circuit Protection Devices: Fuses
Circuit Protection Devices: Circuit Breakers & Overload Protection
Understanding Electrical Schematics

Every Module Includes:

Reading assignment
Learning activities
Lesson summary
Module exam

Outcomes: The 12 online modules help you to understand:

Introduction to the various terminologies and the units of measurement used in the study of electricity.
The basic concepts of electronics, especially as used in the HVACR industry.
The two basic ways in which two circuit components can be connected and the concept of power, its calculations and how the power consumed by the two types of circuits is different.
The principles that define magnetism, the various types of magnets available today, the methods used to produce magnets, and the various theories on the nature of magnetism.
The concepts of magnetic fields and lines of force.
The components that make up a transformer, how transformers are rated, and the different types of transformers in use today.
Troubleshooting techniques for relays, contactors, and starters used in the HVACR field.
The fundamentals of alternating current and the reason why it can be used in the power distribution system.
Calculation of the different resistance introduced in an ac circuit by capacitors, inductors, and resistors and the concept of power factor.
The different types of fuses, their usage and rating, and how they are tested.
The circuit-breakers as circuit-protection devices and the concepts of internal and external overloads.
The symbols and conventions commonly used in schematic diagrams.

Recommended text but not required:

Electricity for HVACR Technicians from RSES

Air Conditioning Fundamentals

A thorough introduction to the concepts, laws, and processes related to air conditioning systems.

NATE CEHs: 20
CEUs: 2.0
Course length: Approximately 24 hours

Designed For:

Service technicians

After Completing This Course, You Will Understand:

The functioning and components of a basic vapor compression system
The basic structure of matter and the fundamental laws related to the behaviour of different states of matter
The air conditioning compression cycle
Use of the refrigerant tables and the refrigerant properties

Course Description:

On-demand, interactive course of 10 modules (short courses)
Online course reader with easy-to-print PDFs
Online self-assessment

Modules: Also sold individually as short courses.

Introduction to Basic System Operation
Basic Structure of Matter
Heat Energy
Gas Laws I
Gas Laws II
Pressure-Temperature Relationships
Compression Cycle I
Compression Cycle II
Refrigerant Tables
Refrigerant Properties

Every Module Includes:

Reading assignment
Learning activities
Lesson summary
Module exam

Outcomes: The 10 online modules help you to understand:

The operation of the vapor compressor system and the components and fluids associated with it, the basic principles of thermodynamics.
The basic structure of matter, the various states of matter and the concept of chemical compounds, the behavior of matter under different conditions.
The processes that take place when heat is added to a material (solid, liquid, or gas) or removed from it, the concepts of measuring temperature changes and amounts of heat.
The description of gas laws that govern the behavior of the refrigerant used in an air conditioning system.
The behavior of various gases under different circumstances, the concept of density and temperature change, the specific volume and specific gravity of a material, the behavior of gases with respect to changes in weight and density.
The key terms - saturation, superheat, and subcooling, and how they relate to the functioning of an air conditioning system, the various temperature and pressure scales used in the HVAC industry and the concept of a pressure-temperature chart.
The principles of cooling, the concept of vapour to liquid conversion, and the air conditioning compression cycle.
The concept of volumetric efficiency and the factors that affect it, transformation of energy, and mechanical energy.
The concept of refrigerant tables and how they help to set controls and compute head pressure, the use of refrigerant tables to calculate liquid and vapor density and net refrigeration effect and estimate discharge temperatures.
The various properties of refrigerants, an explanation of the terms zeotropes, azeotropes, and near-azeotropes and the difference between them, the thermodynamic, physical and safety properties of common refrigerants.

Recommended text but not required:

RSES RAC Unit1 - Principles of Refrigeration

Refrigeration Usage Certificate (EPA)

A thorough introduction to the concepts, laws, and processes related to air conditioning systems.

NATE CEHs: 10
CEUs: 1.0
Course length: Approximately 10 hours

Designed For:

Service technicians

After Completing This Course, You Will Understand:

Ozone-depletion
The characteristics of refrigerants and the laws related to refrigerant usage
The concepts of recover, recycle, and reclaim
The procedures used to recover, recycle, and reclaim refrigerants
The safety considerations and guidelines for using and handling refrigerants and refrigerant cylinders
The process and techniques for repairing small appliances refrigeration systems
The process and techniques for repairing high-pressure and very high-pressure systems
The process and techniques for repairing low-pressure systems

Course Description:

On-demand, interactive course of 4 modules (short courses)
Online course reader with easy-to-print PDFs
Online self-assessment
End-of-module exam and certificate of completion

Modules: Also sold individually as short courses.

Refrigerant Usage Certification
Type I: Small Appliances
Type II: High-Pressure Systems
Type III: Low-Pressure Systems

Every Module Includes:

Module introduction
Topic introduction
Check-point questions
Topic summary
Assessment

Outcomes: The 4 online modules help you to understand:

The understanding necessary to pass Core group
The understanding necessary to obtain Type I certification
The understanding necessary to obtain Type II certification
The understanding necessary to obtain Type III certification