Rooftop HVAC equipment with vents and a wall-mounted unit on a gray building, water visible in the background.

Description

The HVAC/R Technology program at CDE Career Institute is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment as heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration technicians. The program provides comprehensive hands-on training combined with theoretical instruction covering residential and light commercial HVAC/R systems.

This 900-clock-hour program trains students in the installation, maintenance, diagnosis, and repair of heating, cooling, refrigeration, and air distribution systems. Students develop proficiency in electrical fundamentals as applied to HVAC/R, refrigeration cycle theory and application, gas and oil heating systems, air conditioning systems, heat pump technology, indoor air quality, building controls, and commercial refrigeration.

The program is intended for adult learners seeking to enter the HVAC/R trade. No prior HVAC/R experience is required. Upon completion, graduates will be prepared to sit for the EPA Section 608 Universal Certification examination and to pursue employment as HVAC/R service technicians, installation technicians, or maintenance technicians in residential and light commercial settings.

Ready to Start Your HVAC/R Career?

Fill out the form below and an admissions advisor will contact you with more information about enrollment, financial aid, and class schedules.

"(Required)" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name *(Required)
Address *(Required)
SMS Opt-In
Call Opt-In

Academic Requirements for Graduation from the HVAC/R Technology Program

Students must earn a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 to graduate from the program. While attendance is not calculated into individual course grades or the overall GPA, students must be scheduled for a minimum of 90% of the program’s total clock hours through scheduled attendance or make-up sessions, achieve a minimum attendance rate of at least 67%, and receive a final grade for all courses in order to graduate from the program. There will be no charge for make-up sessions.

Admissions Criteria

For admission into the program, an applicant must be a high school graduate or possess a GED. No prior experience is required.

Prerequisites Required: None

Delivery Method: In-Person

Module Title

Hours

Introduction to HVAC/R and Workplace Safety

70

Electrical Fundamentals for HVAC/R

110

Refrigeration Fundamentals

100

EPA Section 608 Certification Preparation

50

Heating Systems

130

Air Conditioning Systems

120

Heat Pump Systems

90

Air Distribution and Indoor Air Quality

70

Building Automation and Controls

60

Commercial Refrigeration and System Design

100

TOTAL

900

Explore Our Other Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs: HVAC/R Technology Program

Students work through the systems they are likely to see in the field, not just terms from a textbook. That includes heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, heat pumps, airflow, electrical basics, controls, and troubleshooting. The point is to learn what a system is doing and what to check when it is not working right.

Yes. Students study heating systems, air conditioning systems, heat pump systems, and refrigeration. That matters because HVAC/R work is not one season or one type of equipment. A technician may deal with a furnace one week, an AC system the next, and a refrigeration issue after that.

A lot of HVAC/R problems connect back to electrical parts. Students need to understand circuits, controls, motors, wiring, and safe testing before they can diagnose equipment with confidence. Skipping that part would leave a big gap.

Yes. The program includes air distribution and indoor air quality. Students learn how air moves through a system and how comfort, airflow, filtration, and system performance can connect. A room that feels wrong is not always just a thermostat problem.

Yes. Students are introduced to commercial refrigeration and system design. That gives them exposure beyond basic home heating and cooling, which can be useful when looking at different types of HVAC/R service work.

The program helps prepare students to sit for the EPA Section 608 Universal Certification examination. That certification matters because technicians who work with refrigerants need to understand safe handling rules. It is one of those things employers often expect in the trade.

It is built for adult learners who want to enter the HVAC/R trade and need structured training first. Someone may be handy, curious about mechanical work, or ready for a more practical career path, but still need the formal training to understand the systems, safety rules, and repair process.