Beat the heat with ACTC’s Air Conditioning program
July 12, 2020
Ashland Community and Technical College’s Air Conditioning Technology program is enrolling students for the fall 2020 semester.
The Air Conditioning Technology program offers a variety of choices for people seeking entry-level jobs as well as currently employed individuals who wish to enhance their skills.
Program coordinator Seth Morrison, who started teaching at ACTC in February, said there is huge demand in the Tri-State to train and prepare the next generation of heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R) professionals.
“With the ever-growing need for HVAC professionals, the wages for technicians are increasingly proportionate to the demand,” Morrison said.
Morrison came to ACTC with both a teaching background and 13 years of service technician and management experience. He earned his bachelor’s degree in social studies secondary education and a degree in financial sciences from Marshall University. But having always been interested in the HVAC trade that his family was a part of, after several years of teaching, Morrison set out to learn that trade.
“I found a job working for one of the best local HVAC companies, General Heating and Air Conditioning,” Morrison said. “I started as an installation apprentice. After acquiring my EPA 608 Certification and my Kentucky Journeyman License, I became a service technician and eventually a service manager. I worked with and learned from some of the region’s best professionals for nearly 13 years before finding that perfect teaching job. Now I’m excited to be here at ACTC.”
Morrison said students who enroll in ACTC’s Air Conditioning Technology program can expect to learn critical thinking skills, customer service, HVAC/R fundamentals, trouble-shooting skills, an introduction to installation and low voltage controls, duct construction and heat load calculations. In addition, students will acquire their EPA 608 Universal Certification (required for graduation) and complete a Kentucky Journeyman prep class for the state certification exam. Students will also receive 1500 hours of 3000 towards their Kentucky HVAC Journeyman Mechanic license.
“In the HVAC/R industry we see many career options graduates can pursue,” Morrison said. “The most common of which is domestic installation. Also, there’s a huge demand for domestic/light commercial service. Other fields are commercial installation and service, commercial HVAC maintenance, industrial installation and service, industrial HVAC maintenance, commercial refrigeration and building automation and controls.
“In addition to traditional HVAC applications, HVAC skills are readily sought after and easily applicable to careers such as building maintenance, industrial maintenance and manufacturing.”
For those interested in pursuing a career in air conditioning technology, Morrison said students should keep in mind that while professions must have technical repair skills, they must also have stellar customer service skills.
“When I’m asked what it takes to be a good HVAC technician, I always emphasize that you must love people,” he said, adding that good technicians must also be honest, hardworking, dependable, articulate, adaptable and life-long learners.
Students enrolled in the Air Conditioning Technology program will earn an associate in applied science degree in two years if they maintain full-time status. Additionally, certificate options are available for environmental control system servicer, environmental system repair helper, domestic AC and furnace installer and refrigeration mechanic.
“It’s so important that young people, or nontraditional students looking for a career change, have an opportunity in the Tri-state to go develop such skills,” Morrison said. “They need a place that is willing to give back and match their willingness to learn with educational investment worthy of their precious time. ACTC has all the tools to be such a place and I intend to forever be improving the opportunities and experiences that we offer our students.”
The last day to submit an application for fall enrollment at ACTC is Aug. 3. Classes begin on Aug. 17.
ACTC is also hosting Mini Open House Registration Days where prospective students can learn about various programs of study and register for classes. The Air Conditioning Technology program, along with Applied Process Technologies, Computer Aided Drafting and Design and Electrical Technology, will be highlighted on Tuesday, July 14, at the Technology Drive Campus.
Those interested in attending one or more of the mini open houses are asked to register in advance by going to https://actcjuly2020.eventbrite.com.
For more information on the Air Conditioning Technology program, email Morrison at smorrison0043@kctcs.edu or visit https://ashland.kctcs.edu/education-training/program-finder/air-conditioning-technology.aspx
