We often don’t realize how much we rely on properly working appliances until they don’t work. And there is such a small percentage of the population who can fix the appliances we rely on every day. If you like working in an area where you get to understand how things work and see the fruits of your labor, an HVAC certificate or HVAC degree could be perfect for you. This degree is often done through vocational education at a community college or another form of vocational school, and there are both certificate and associate's degree options. These certificates and degrees train students to be able to apply technical and mechanical expertise to repair, install and service air conditioning, ventilation, and refrigeration appliances both residentially and commercially.
Over the last five years, there have been fewer students completing this degree, while more schools have been adding the program. A majority of students are receiving their post-secondary (after high school) certificate in HVAC, which takes roughly one to two years to complete. Some schools are even beginning to offer the coursework for certificates and associate degrees online to make it more easily accessible in our busy lives. And with more and more appliances being able to connect to the Internet and apps, it more important than ever to be technically savvy when making repairs.
Florence-Darlington Technical College offers 2 Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a small suburb. In 2019, 26 Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician students graduated with students earning 14 Certificates, and 12 Associate's degrees.
School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
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Midlands Technical College West Columbia, SC | 42 : 1 | 9,160 | |
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Piedmont Technical College Greenwood, SC | 42 : 1 | 4,747 | |
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Greenville Technical College Greenville, SC | 34 : 1 | 11,123 | |
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Florence-Darlington Technical College Florence, SC | 39 : 1 | 3,558 | |
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York Technical College Rock Hill, SC | 39 : 1 | 4,529 | |
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Fortis College-Columbia Columbia, SC | 62 : 1 | 497 | |
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Horry-Georgetown Technical College Conway, SC | 41 : 1 | 6,705 | |
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Tri-County Technical College Pendleton, SC | 43 : 1 | 6,181 | |
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Technical College of the Lowcountry Beaufort, SC | 46 : 1 | 2,308 | |
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Trident Technical College Charleston, SC | 48 : 1 | 12,351 | |
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Spartanburg Community College Spartanburg, SC | 39 : 1 | 4,633 | |
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Central Carolina Technical College Sumter, SC | 36 : 1 | 3,361 | |
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Aiken Technical College Graniteville, SC | 42 : 1 | 2,236 | |
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Williamsburg Technical College Kingstree, SC | 36 : 1 | 832 |