Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning

Program Overview

HVAC professionals are instrumental in ensuring that homes and buildings function properly on a daily basis. The HVAC program introduces students to the basic concepts of residential and commercial work. With an emphasis on safety, students work with copper, black pipe, electric, and full HVAC systems.

Topics covered include selecting and ordering materials, supplies, tools, codes, blueprint reading, and low voltage wiring. Students learn about safety, tools, residential work, blueprints, and basic HVAC systems. Students are taught in compliance with the International Code Council (ICC) Mechanical, Fuel Gas Code and the Residential Construction Academy (RCA) industry standards.

* Blueprint Reading is a required course for this program of study.

Skill Alignment Chart (Click to Expand)
Educational & Physical Attributes Expectations
Program Safety & Physical Considerations
  • A focus on safety around HVAC equipment found in the industry
  • Ability to work independently, read & follow directions
  • Able to lift 50 lbs
  • Good eye hand coordination
  • Stamina to stand for long periods of time
  • Ability to work in small, cramped, dark & damp spaces
  • Able to distinguish colors
Essential APTITUDES for this lab–Recommended Levels
  • Finger & manual dexterity
  • Motor coordination
  • Visual & spatial thinking skills
  • Strong math skills
  • Mechanical reasoning
  • Troubleshooting
  • Proficient communication skills
  • Ability to work productively in a team
Reading
  • Explain the main ideas or draw accurate conclusions after reading text
  • Follow a complex multi–step procedure independently
  • Evaluate how key words and phrases shape meaning and tone in texts
  • Comprehend written text and apply it to understand tables, charts, and other visuals
  • Learn and apply content–specific symbols correctly
  • Apply content–specific vocabulary correctly
  • Identify and explain how different ideas connect throughout text
  • Read and understand diagnostic and schematic data to solve a problem
  • Compare & contrast information in a text
  • Summarize information from different written resources
  • By the end of grades 9–10 & 11–12 read & comprehend technical texts independently & proficiently
  • Evaluate the hypotheses, data, analysis & conclusions in a technical text
Writing
  • Write with a sharp, distinct focus identifying topic, task, and audience
  • Produce clear & coherent writing
  • Write with awareness to audience using program–specific vocabulary
  • Write routinely over short/long time frames for a range of tasks, purposes & audiences
  • Clearly convey with precision step–by–step work completed
  • Write fast–paced, accurate work reports
  • Use technology to produce, publish or share writing
Math Levels

    Numbers and Operations:

  • Grade 6 – Fluency in operations with whole numbers and decimals
  • Grade 6 – Fraction computations
  • Grade 6 – Representing negative values
  • Grade 7 – Fraction to decimal conversion
  • Grade 7 – Percent and ratio problems
  • Grade 8 – Decimals to rational number (fraction) conversion
  • Algebra 1 – Problem solving with real world units, including conversions
  • Measurement:

  • NG – Units: English Metric Precision: Nearest 1 inch
  • Grade 7 – Area, volume surface area of objects composed of triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons, and right prisms
  • Algebraic Concepts:

  • Grade 8 – Slope
  • Algebra 1 – Analyze graphs – include those with different scales
  • Geometric Concepts:

  • Grade 7 – Angle measure problems (supplementary, complementary, adjacent, angles of a triangle, parallel lines cut by transversal)
  • Grade 7 – Scale drawings of geometric figures
  • Geometry – Scale models and drawings
  • Data and Probability:

  • Algebra 1 – Interpret data on various displays – use to make predictions
Theory Time
  • Approximately 1.5 hours/day
Homework
  • Occasional if not done in class
Lab Time
  • 4 hours/day
Tests
  • Textbook chapter assessments
  • Industry Certifications
    • OSHA 10
    • EPA 608
    • Ladder Certification
    • CSST Gas Lines
  • NOCTI (mandatory for all CTE programs)
POS Academics and Electives Recommended
  • College English is a component of the DCTS program.
  • Algebra I
Study & Other Skills
  • Ability to read diagrams and follow manuals.
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Active listening
  • Critical thinking skills
Technology Skills/Knowledge
  • Use and navigate school–issued laptop
  • Web navigation
  • Email management
  • Navigate learning management system and instructional technology tools
  • Video conferencing
Certifications Offered
  • EPA
  • OSHA
  • CSST Gas
  • Ladder
Post–Secondary Options and Continuing Ed
  • Employment
  • Apprenticeship
  • Trade School
  • Associates HVAC
  • B.A. Engineering