HVAC Technician

“The program gave me the skills and confidence I needed to break into HVAC. The hands-on virtual training helped me understand systems instead of just memorizing information. I appreciated being able to learn at my own pace while still feeling supported every step of the way.”

- Luis R.

Quick Facts

Program Length 100 Clock Hours
Delivery Format 100% Online — Asynchronous Distance Education with VR Lab Component
Modules: 14
Typical Duration 5 weeks at 20 hrs/week, or 10 weeks at 10 hrs/week (maximum 12 months)
CIP Code 47.0201 — Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology
SOC Codes 49-9021 (HVAC Mechanics), 49-9071 (Maintenance & Repair Workers)
Target Occupations HVAC Apprentice, HVAC Installer Assistant, Refrigeration Helper, Maintenance Technician
Qualifies for Texas Workforce Commission WIOA funding

Meet Your Instructor -
Dan Parker

The HVAC Technician program is led by Dan Parker (John "Dan" Parker), a Missouri-based HVAC/R instructor and business owner with more than a decade of field, classroom, and consulting experience in residential and commercial HVAC. Dan is the named instructor of record for student Q&A, manual review, and the twice-monthly virtual office hours.

Background & Credentials

• HVAC/R Instructor at Poplar Bluff Career Technical Center (2020–present).

• Owner of Need Air, an HVAC and facilities service company in Poplar Bluff, MO (2015–present) — daily field work across HVAC/R, electrical, plumbing, and construction in residential and commercial settings.

• Former HVAC Tech Consultant for HVAC Insurance Co., providing non-biased damage diagnostics across the Southeast Missouri territory (2014–2019).

• M.S., Career and Technology, University of Central Missouri (2021); Industry Training concentration (2023).

• B.S., Business Administration (Production & Operations), Southwest Missouri State University.

• HVAC/R Certificate, Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center.

• EPA Section 608 Universal certification.

• OSHA 10.

• TWIC card holder.

Dan teaches HVAC every weekday at a career center and runs an HVAC company the rest of the time. Students get answers from someone who is actively diagnosing, charging, and troubleshooting real systems — and who has trained the next generation of techs in his own classroom.

Program Overview and Prerequisites

Our HVAC Technician program is a 100-clock-hour, online distance-education course that prepares learners for entry-level positions as HVAC apprentices, installer assistants, and service helpers. The curriculum integrates HVAC fundamentals, electrical theory for HVAC/R, refrigeration principles, gas furnace simulations, and the EPA Section 608 certification pathway.

The HVAC Technician program emphasizes hands-on competency through embedded virtual reality simulations and gas furnace troubleshooting labs. Graduates are positioned to sit for the NATE Ready-to-Work, OSHA 10-Hour Construction Industry, and EPA Section 608 Universal credentialing exams. Students are provided a license that allows two attempts for the OSHA and EPA exams and 1 attempt of the Nate Ready to Work Exam.

This program is designed for adult learners seeking entry-level competency. Applicants must meet the following:

• Minimum age 18 years

• U.S. residency and English proficiency for course materials and credentialing exams

• Functional reading and basic math (fractions, decimals, simple algebra)

• Computer literacy and the technology described in Program Policies

• Physical ability to perform basic mechanical tasks (with or without reasonable accommodation)

• No prior HVAC experience required

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

1. Describe the function of major HVAC system components and their role in residential and light-commercial systems.

2. Apply electrical fundamentals, including AC/DC, Ohm's Law, and meter use to HVAC circuits.

3. Identify and explain refrigeration principles, including the refrigeration cycle, heat transfer, and refrigerant behavior.

4. Perform basic HVAC system diagnostics using a digital multimeter and standard service tools.

5. Diagnose compressor, capacitor, contactor, and motor faults using systematic troubleshooting procedures.

6. Explain heat pump operation, defrost cycles, and applications across climate zones.

7. Apply OSHA 10 Construction Industry safety standards to HVAC jobsite tasks.

8. Demonstrate evacuation and charging procedures using EPA Section 608 best practices.

9. Troubleshoot gas furnace sequence-of-operations faults including thermostat, ignition, and flame-sensor failures.

10. Demonstrate workplace readiness skills including customer communication, ethical conduct, and jobsite professionalism.

Ready to Change Your Life?

Reach out today for a no-obligation assessment!