A quote by: Brian Sullivan, Assistant Professor of Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Technology, New England Institute of Technology
The United States needs more skilled tradespeople, particularly in the HVAC workforce. Part of the reason is demographics: as the Baby Boomers retire, there are fewer Millennials and Zoomers to replace them, and the number of skilled trade jobs continues to outpace the supply of qualified workers to fill them. But that shortage is compounded by a historical cultural push towards students getting traditional, four-year liberal arts bachelor’s degrees, few of which are necessary for a successful career as a skilled tradesperson.
Advances in HVAC-R practice are driving HVAC education forward, toward an understanding of greener systems and components, and connected and embedded technologies such as Nest thermostats that control advanced heating and cooling systems in ever more sophisticated ways. New HVAC certification and degree programs focus on preparing technicians to install, maintain and repair modern HVAC-R systems, often device-controlled and incorporating progressively greener technology. This blog surfaces the best modern HVAC programs across a number of dimensions, along with the professors that are pushing HVAC education forward, and the apps and technologies that are emerging as future HVAC-R standards. As licensing and certification requirements evolve to incorporate new advancements in the field, and as active HVAC educators and practitioners share their stories, the www.hvacclasses.org team will publish that information here.
In the age of AI, with the nature and definition of work continuing to change, America needs more robust pathways to different forms of education. Students need easier access to opportunities in skilled trades like HVAC. If some of this education could start early, at the high school level, students, industry, and the general public would all benefit.
Take the time to share these stories with family, schools and others looking for wonderful opportunities!