The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

The HVAC Technician Certificate is a comprehensive HVACR training program for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration installers and technicians. This program is designed for learners using an online, mentor facilitated, self-paced environment that are interested in:

  ·  Entry-level into the HVACR industry
  ·  Continuing education for upgrading skills, or
  ·  Becoming Certified or Licensed (NATE, etc)

The content presented in all course offerings focus on learning objectives that have been identified by HVAC/R industry groups as key knowledge for a HVAC/R technician. Below are the industry organizations who are promoting education, training and certification:

            ARI (Air Conditioning Refrigeration Institute)

            NATE (North American Technician Excellence)

            RSES (Refrigeration Service Engineer Society)

            ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America)

NATE “Recognized Training” status.  

This program follows the general consensus among industry leaders regarding the knowledge and skills needed by HVAC/R industry workers. If you wish to see what the industry recommends for study, ARI (Air Conditioning Refrigeration Institute), NATE (North American Technician Excellence), and NSSB (National Skills Standards Board) each have an HVAC curriculum guide/outline posted on their web sites.

Review a tutorial for the CORE Technician Certificate Program

The HVAC Core Technician Certificate program is offered in 8 courses with a subscription length of 120 days per course. Each course contains 12 modules. The modules cover specific HVAC/R concepts by incorporating a presentation that utilizes some or all of the following; text reading assignments, web site tours, applied exercises, quizzes, industry terminology definitions, video clips, animations, images, and printable handouts. Each module if followed by an exam, with a midterm and final for each course. Passing rate for each course is 75% or higher.

Course Objectives

HVACReducation.net expects successful completers to display the following abilities and achievements:

  ·  Demonstrate proper safety practices and procedures, in the lab and the workplace, while installing, designing, troubleshooting and servicing HVAC/R systems.
  ·  Gain competency in the area of fossil fuel combustion systems found in residential and light commercial applications as demonstrated by successfully passing the entry level on the local Gas Fitters exam and or Fuel Oil license exam in areas where licenses are issued.
  ·  Demonstrate competency in the area of refrigerant handling as evidenced by completion of the EPA Refrigerant Handlers Certification Exam to the level of Type 1 and Type 2 license. Type I and Type II cover residential to commercial systems for HVAC & Refrigeration.
  ·  Understand the importance of good work habits, communication practices and computation skills as they relate to the HVAC/R industry workplace.
  ·  Demonstrate a high level of ability to access industry technical information for the HVACR workplace on the Web.
  ·  Obtain required overall industry competencies in the areas of HVAC/R as evidenced by completion of one of the ICE (Industry Competency Exam) administered by the Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Institute. (Residential HVAC, Light Commercial HVAC, Commercial Refrigeration)

OR


  ·  Obtain required overall industry competencies in the areas of HVAC/R as evidenced by completion of one of the NATE (North American Technician Excellence) "Installation" level certifications by completion of the "Installation Core" exam and one "Specialty" exam. (Air Conditioning, Heat Pump, Gas, Oil, Air Distribution) administered by the NATE organization.

  · 101A: This first session is designed to explore the common aspects of HVAC/R technology. Discussion will focus on such topics as heat transfer methods, basic terminology and definitions, and applied physics for HVAC/R systems. Six modules cover:

  ·  Introduction to the industry
  ·  HVAC/R measurements
  ·  Heat energy
  ·  Pressure
  ·  Gas works
  ·  Air works
  ·  Mid Term Exam


  ·  101B: The second half covers the primary safety considerations of the HVAC/R workplace. Presentations and coursework are in six modules that cover:

  ·  Hazard communication (labels and MSDS)
  ·  Personal protective equipment (PPE)
  ·  Personal safety in confined space and ladders
  ·  Electrical lockout/tagout
  ·  Fire extinguishers and compressed gas safety
  ·  Back protection and HVAC/R hazardous materials
  ·  Final Exam

  ·  Electric 1A: Basic electrical theory such as Ohms Law, circuit schematic symbols, circuit characteristics, will be discussed as it specifically applies to DC & AC circuits in the HVAC/R industry. The first six modules cover:

  ·  Introduction to the industry
  ·  What is energy?
  ·  Atomic theory
  ·  Basic circuits
  ·  Parallel Circuits
  ·  Power
  ·  Mid Term Exam


  ·  Electric 1B: A continuation of the Electrical 1 course, concepts presented and discussed are oriented towards alternating current production and application, specifically to devices utilized in HVAC/R systems. The second six modules cover:

  ·  Magnetism
  ·  Alternating current
  ·  Loads, Resistive, and Inductive
  ·  Capacitors
  ·  Impedance and power distribution
  ·  Transformers
  ·  Final Exam

  ·  Electric 2A: The first portion of this course covers common control components found in HVAC/R systems. Presentations and examples are given for specific devices and their electrical sequence of operation in normal HVAC/R applications. The final module of this first half discusses wiring and schematic reading.

  ·  Control Methods, Temperature, and Pressure
  ·  Residential Heat/cool Thermostats at Low voltage
  ·  Really Good Relay Stuff
  ·  Contractors go/Starters go with protection
  ·  Power wiring
  ·  Odds and ends around a schematic
  ·  Mid Term Exam


  ·  Electric 2B: The second portion of the course is dedicated to common single-phase and small three-phase electric motors. Presentations focus on basic motor theory, common types of motors, starting components and protection devices and motor troubleshooting.

  ·  Basic electric motor theory
  ·  Shaded pole and split-phase motors
  ·  CSIR and CSR motors
  ·  PCS and multiple speed motors
  ·  Dual voltage and variable-speed motors
  ·  Basic three-phase motors
  ·  Final Exam

  ·  Systems 1A: The first half of this course is an introduction to HVAC comfort parameters. Topics covered include human comfort, air properties, intro to psychrometrics, and airflow measurement methods and calculations.

  ·  Heat transfer concepts
  ·  Comfort (humans and machines)
  ·  Conditions of air
  ·  Introduction to psychrometrics
  ·  Using the psychrometric chart
  ·  Air flow measurement
  ·  Mid Term Exam


  ·  Systems 1B: The second half of this course is devoted to developing an ability to perform residential / light commercial heat-loss calculations (for heating systems) and size heating duct systems.

  ·  The basic building envelope
  ·  Heat-loss issues
  ·  Heating equipment selection
  ·  Distribution basics
  ·  Duct sizing
  ·  Common installation standards
  ·  Final Exam

  ·  Refrigeration Cycle 1A: This course will serve as an introduction to the mechanical compression refrigeration cycle and the components necessary for operation. Students will be introduced to the common components and the terms and definitions of the cycle. HVAC/R Fundamentals is required prior to taking this course.

  ·  Basic refrigeration cycle physics
  ·  Compression and compressors
  ·  Condensation and condensers
  ·  Expansion and metering devices
  ·  Evaporation and evaporators
  ·  The system makes a cycle
  ·  Mid Term Exam


  ·  Refrigeration Cycle 1B: The second half of the course is a continuation and elaboration of HVAC/R Refrigeration 1. Presentations will describe the application of common accessories found in a system, piping arrangements, sizing considerations and system operation.

  ·  Refrigerants
  ·  Compressor accessories and applications
  ·  Low side accessories and applications
  ·  High side accessories and applications
  ·  Piping system sizing and applications
  ·  Capacity control methods
  ·  Final Exam

  ·  Oil Heat 1A: The first portion of this course is to introduce the concept of combustion at a fundamental level. The focus will be on the current high-pressure gun oil burner.

  ·  Combustion basics for oil
  ·  Fuel storage and delivery issues
  ·  Direct vent oil
  ·  High pressure gun burner
  ·  Burner components
  ·  Combustions analysis and adjustment
  ·  Mid Term Exam


  ·  Gas Heat 1B: The second half of the course covers combustion basics for natural gas and propane fuels as found in residential and light commercial applications. Presentations cover the common types of gas heating equipment.

  ·  Gas combustion basics
  ·  Common components and safety issues
  ·  Natural draft
  ·  Induced draft
  ·  Direct vent
  ·  Sealed combustion
  ·  Final Exam

  ·  HVAC/R Boilers: This course is designed to introduce the concepts and terminology of heating and power boilers. The main focus of the course will be on commercial and industrial boilers.

  ·  Boiler Fundamentals
  ·  Boiler Types
  ·  Steam and Hydronic Boilers
  ·  Fuels and Burner Types
  ·  Valve Identification
  ·  Safety and Relief Valves
  ·  Water Level controllers
  ·  Boiler Accidents
  ·  Mid Term Exam

  ·  Hydronics: The second half of this course introduces the popular Hydronic heating system. The focus of this portion will be to prepare the learner to understand the installation and operation of a residential Hydronic system.

  ·  System concept
  ·  Residential boilers
  ·  Pumps and system accessories
  ·  Hydronic controls
  ·  System design basics
  ·  Final Exam

  ·  Heat Pump: The first half of this course is designed for a technician as an introduction to reverse-cycle air source heat pumps. Content covers the components and operational differences of a heat pump vs. a straight cooling system. A prerequisite is the HVAC cooling 1 course.

  ·  The heat pump concept
  ·  Three Cycle Modes
  ·  Control systems
  ·  Common installation criteria
  ·  Heat pump service
  ·  Mid Term Exam


  ·  HVAC/R Controls I: A good understanding of common HVAC systems is a prerequisite of this course—The Building and HVAC Systems

  ·  Air Circulation and Air Quality
  ·  Control System Characteristics
  ·  Process Characteristics and Control Systems
  ·  Control System Components
  ·  Control System Categories