Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating Technology (5604)

Workforce Certificate

Maintaining proper air quality and a comfortable temperature inside every office, industrial building, home and school is a necessity. Ensuring food, medicine and other perishables are safely refrigerated and controlled is also imperative. Those are just a couple of the reasons why the need for trained technicians who know how to install, repair or service air conditioning, heating and refrigeration systems is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through this decade. Earning this certificate can be the starting point of a very satisfying career, which pays higher than average hourly wages.

This program provides exit points for those who wish to specialize in a specific area. Students must complete courses required for each individual exit point.

Career Opportunities, Rapid Placement

Florida’s growth is soaring; Jacksonville is a boomtown. And much of the city and state are being built by graduates of our construction programs. The employment rate in all trades is 100%. No Florida Community College student who wants a job goes without a job.

You have the opportunity to network with major contractors and become employed while you’re still in school. We also refer you for internships and job interviews. This certificate is part of Florida Community College’s Building Construction program, which has a long-standing relationship with the region’s major industry organizations, such as Woods Engineering, C. Young Construction, Superior Construction, Paul Fraser Homes, Stellar Group, C & C Powerlines, Dickey Smith & Company, Miatt Construction and Accubuild Construction.

Members of the Northeast Florida Builders Association serve on our Construction Management Advisory Council and on advisory committees for all trades, as well as provide internships and fund annual scholarships. The advisory committees provide leadership, support and guidance for the program and support such educational activities as constructing residential projects from design to move in.

Annual Salaries

Starting salaries range from $16 to $20 an hour. Overtime, bonuses, rapid advancement and opportunities for self-employment can rapidly increase your income.

Application Procedure

The Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) is a major criterion in a student’s completion of the program. Students who fail to meet the State of Florida’s designated exit score will be required to complete the Vocational Preparatory Instruction (VPI). In order to complete the program successfully, students must achieve or surpass the designated exit score(s). See Standards of Academic Progress.

Students in this program should be advised by the instructor or the program manager before enrolling in courses.

Cost

Estimated cost of tuition is $2,561 (tuition rated for Florida residents, as of 7/06). Contact the program manager for additional costs (textbooks, materials, fees).

Curriculum

Course Number and Title Professional Courses		Contact Hours	Workforce Credits
*VPI 0100	Basic Reading Skills
*VPI 0200	Basic Mathematical Skills
*VPI 0300	Basic Language Skills
ACR 0001	Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Theory I	125	4.00
or ACR 0936 Technical Career Exploration		30	1.00
and ACR 0012 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Theory		95	3.00
ACR 0100	Basic Electricity and Schematics	125	4.00
ACR 0002	Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Theory II	125	4.00
ACR 0621	Applied Heating	125	4.00
ACR 0001L	Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Lab I	125	4.00
ACR 0002L	Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Lab II	125	4.00
ACR 0622	Heating Lab	125	4.00
ACR 0102	Applied Electricity and Schematics	125	4.00
**ACR 0575	Piping	117	4.00
or **ACR 0940B Postsecondary Internship
ACR 0577	HVAC Controls	116	4.00
ACR 0578	Refrigeration Controls	117	4.00
	Total Contact Hours	1,350	44.00

*Students who have satisfactory test scores are not required to take these courses.
**See program advisor to assure proper course selection.

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