Air Conditioning & Refrigeration
The air conditioning and refrigeration industry offers a bright future for people who wish to prepare for entry into this profession. This field includes sales, installation, maintenance, service and operation of equipment not only in residential settings, but also in commerce and industry. The need for air conditioning and refrigeration service technicians will continue to expand with the growth of computer applications into the industrial fields. This program also places emphasis on Green Technology initiatives and incorporates an emphasis on PV arrays and wind turbines.
The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program at Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus is accredited by HVAC Excellence, P.O. Box 491, Mount Prospect, IL 60056; telephone: (800) 394-5268; website: www.hvacexcellence.org.
Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus offers a technical certificate in air conditioning and refrigeration (36 hours), and an associate of applied science degree in air conditioning and refrigeration (60 hours) with an available option of Facilities Management, in a completely equipped shop. Students are required to take and pass the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Section 608 Certification Test and will earn a universal license. Students will also sit for Employment Ready (ER) Electrical, ER Air Conditioning, and ER Heat Pumps industry competency exams through HVAC Excellence prior to graduation.
The facilities maintenance/management program offers training in addition to the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration course work to enable graduates to pursue broader employment opportunities. Course work prepares students for careers in facilities maintenance fields. Students pursuing the Associate of Applied Science degree will be better prepared to pursue positions that will lead to promotion and management positions in the facilities fields.
Students pursuing a certificate of proficiency in construction technology may take classes concurrently with their regular high school studies and earn college credit, which will apply to the technical certificate and associate of applied science degree.