HVAC Training in Tampa, Florida

HVAC careers are a consistently necessary field of workers. HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. As new commercial buildings are built, or old ones remodeled, they need HVAC technicians to install or fix their HVAC systems. Residential homes also need HVAC technicians to install or fix their HVAC issues. Many vocational schools offer HVAC certification after as little as 9 months of classes. This means getting into an entry level position in the HVAC field in less than one year after committing to the process.

Associations
Tampa Bay Builders Association is an organization focused on the trades of construction, developers, contractors, suppliers, HVAC, and other businesses in the building industry. They are a volunteer organization, with the mission to provide important services and enhance the building industry. They are affiliated with the Florida Home Builders Association and the National Association of Home Builders.

HVAC Salaries in Tampa, FL
HVAC service technicians in Tampa, Florida make an average of $21.30 per hour. They have a range running from the high teens ($17 per hour) to the high twenties ($29 per hour). Around half of HVAC service technicians receive dental, and many also have medical coverage included in their salary. It is not uncommon for HVAC technicians in Tampa, Florida to receive a year-end bonus of around $1000. Pay generally starts at the lower end once you are have completed a program, and increases as your experience increases.

HVAC Careers & Jobs
Common names for a job in HVAC:
• HVAC Installation Technician
• Maintenance Technician, HVAC Certified
• HVAC Service Technician
• HVAC Controls Technician
• HVAC Engineer Technician
• Commercial HVAC Serviceman
Common job requirements in HVAC industry:
• Experience:
Higher end jobs or jobs with better salaries often require two years of experience in residential or commercial HVAC work. The necessity to prove that you have worked hands on, instead of just taken courses, is what they are looking for. Proof of ethical practices within the workplace, especially with HVAC work, is another bit of experience most companies look for. Being able to get the job done correctly and with ethical standards is necessary. Many HVAC companies in Tampa a family owned, or small businesses. With that in mind, they can’t afford to have employees who tarnish their name as a business.

• HVAC Skills:
Being EPA certified is necessary for HVAC jobs in Tampa. Having the ability to clearly communicate is a skill every HVAC job is looking for. Whether it is through verbal, written, phone calls, or emails, they need people who can communicated effectively. Having a positive attitude may not seem like a skill, but it certainly is when looked at by businesses who are hiring new technicians. Since these are often customer facing businesses, and there value is not only on quality work but also on pleasant experiences for the customers, HVAC companies want employees who act professional and pleasantly even in difficult situations. Being punctual is important in any job, HVAC work included. Many HVAC companies will have company cars for you to use, meaning you don’t need to spend your own money to get from place to place. But you do still need to get there on time. And if you are going to be driving around in a vehicle that doesn’t belong to you, it is even more important to show respect to the people hiring you. Show you are punctual.

HVAC Licensing

In Tampa, Florida you don’t need a license to practice HVAC work. But you do need a license to own an HVAC business, or a business that works in HVAC. There are several requirements in order to receive a license to run an HVAC business in Florida. You must have at least three years of experience in HVAC, though five years is preferable and will help your case when applying. You must be at least eighteen years old to apply for a license. There is a required fee in the application, though that fee can be waived for military veterans, their spouses, and Florida National Guard members. There is an examination process that you must go through in order to receive a license from the Department of Business and Professional Regulations. While the state doesn’t require any licensing, many jobs require you to be EPA and ICE certified. Many technical schools who offer HVAC courses also offer chances to study for, and take the examinations required to obtain EPA and ICE certification.

Tampa HVAC Colleges
Aviation School of Maintenance:
The Aviation School of Maintenance has campuses across the United States. They are primarily a university built on aviation mechanics and maintenance, but also offer HVAC certification. The AIMS ins approved by the Veterans Education and Training. Their HVAC program offers EPA (environmental protection agency) certification, along with the Industry Competency Examination (ICE). The closest campus to Tampa is in Orlando, FL.

Florida Career College
With a campus located directly in Tampa, Florida, The Florida Career College offers a great and nearby opportunity to receive HVAC training. The FCC Tampa location is along Princess Palm Ave at 9950. Their HVAC program is 36 weeks long, and includes preparation for both of the major exams, just like Aviation School of Maintenance. Their career outcomes hope to place you into HVAC mechanic, installer, specialist, or technician jobs upon the course’s completion. They will also ready you to become a refrigerator mechanic and technician. Their objectives include both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience, meaning you get the cutting-edge information and an understanding of how to apply it in real world situations. At the Florida Career College you enter the HVAC vocational school with little to no knowledge, and leave with a readiness for any entry level HVAC position.

Altierus Career Education

Alterius has 21 campuses across the United States. Not all of them offer HVAC courses, but their campus in Tampa, Florida certainly does. Their program is 9 months. The 9 month HVAC program offers education in all the contemporary pieces of the HVAC field. You learn through hands on training and are prepared for the EPA certification exam and the ICE exam. Their program includes education on common mechanical, electrical, and electronic components of the HVAC world. This can include fans, switches, compressors, thermostats and more. They teach in a workshop setting, allowing for hands on training through the entire program. They will ready you for either residential or commercial work.

Resources:

http://www.aviationmaintenance.edu/programs/heating-ventilation-air-conditioning/index.html

http://www.floridacareercollege.edu/vocational-school-programs/heating-ventilation-air-conditioning