My youngest son( being smart enough NOT to follow me into my roofing business0– is interested in a career in HVAC.
He is registered to start classes at a local technical college in sept–and has 2 options— one is an approx. 12 month certificate —-and the other option is an associate degree—-which would theoretically take about a year longer.
all the certificate classes—transfer and apply towards the associates degree program if he so chooses.
Kid is a very hard worker-and motivated– but has never enjoyed school. He DOES enjoy earning, however– and even better—saves what he earns. I whould be happy to pay his tuition—-for whatever he chooses– but he wants to pay his own way—and already has the 2 year program saved for himself
the quandry is—– he tells me he would prefer to do the one year certificate program—get a job and start earning—– and maybe take “continueing education” classes to advance from there
Is that even possible?– what is the general entry into HVAC?- will that certificate program do him ANY good at all?
what do HVAC guys get paid?
stephen
Replies
hvac is one of those carreer that will alway be there, not much lay off except winter months due to slow down. But he could get piss off and move to any small town or big town and get a job, he could work out of a pickup on his own and make money. Or he could go high commerical like shrimp boats, chemical plants, malls, office building, hospitals and make mega bucks.
just remember two type or havc, residental, small change not much overhead and high end, mega bucks.
just remember with HVAC only one thing matter. reputation. have a good reputation you can name your price.
HVAC is certainly not rocket science ... it is FAR more complex (I'm not kidding). Yeah, you can ALWAYS pick up LOTS of remedial classes after you get started. Wouldn't necessarily recommend it, though ... particularly if the guy isn't warming up to classes.
Do two years. Learn to like classes ... because that is where you need to learn the principles behind HVAC. Avoid the contact w/ the people w/ pockets full of 'rules of thumb' and 'we've always done it that way'.
Bite the bullet ... start out right ... find a good school. Otherwise you leave yourself open for problems if you don't know the industry pretty well ... both from a liability standpoint and from a reputation standpoing. Hard work is only half the industry ... good science knowledge of HVAC is the other half ... You HAVE to know it!! No shortcuts.
Talk to the local guys and find out the reputation of the college. Some good, some bad.
Maybe better yet, introduce himself to some of the teachers. Attitude can be fairly easily detected ... and the wrong attitude maybe should be avoided.
thanks guys-- I would have my son stop in breaktime and ask himself----- but this is kind of my hang out and I don't want the kid fully informed in all the B.S.ing I do here!!!, LOL thanks for your advice
stephen
the first year will teach the trade and the associate will teach some business too, so if he ever wants his own company, he needs the business part too. ever though about labor union, they have a great apprentship in HVAC
BSing?? what BSing? ;)
You might want to check with your state building and code enforcement department in addition to the information the school give you.
Here in KY there are a minnimum hours to be worked in each step of progression to the Journeyman and Masters level. The voc/ed classes count for some of them, but not all. License testing is open book, but without the classes or a really diligent study routine, they are hard to pass. Around here you have to achieve the Masters level to be able to pull a permit with proof of insurance. Journeymen work for Masters.