Certificate of Achievement in Air Conditioning Mechanic

Air Conditioning Mechanic is offered in partnership with the Sheet Metal Local 104 and Bay Area Training Fund. It is a 5-year apprenticeship program with in-class instruction and paid on-the-job training with a sheet metal contractor. It’s a service sector of the sheet metal and heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) industry. The students will perform scheduled maintenance and troubleshoot system problems while dealing directly with a variety of customers. The students utilize understanding of refrigerant, electronic and pneumatic controls, filtration and duct systems to maintain safe and efficient system performance. Mechanics use test equipment to verify conditions, research manufacturer’s data, and then adjust, repair and replace components as needed. Sheet Metal Air Conditioning Service Mechanics work on residential, light commercial and more often, complex commercial systems. Upgrade training is common in this occupation as more advanced and “greener” equipment is produced.

 

Prerequisite: Per California Code of Regulations, this program is limited to students admitted to the Sheet Metal Local 104 & Bay Area Industry Training Fund’s Air Conditioning Mechanic.

Currently, there are 110 students enrolled in the Air Conditioning Mechanic program. The retention rate for this program is between 90 to 95 percent because it also offers employment opportunities. We project to have 12 students graduating in 2020-21 and approximately about 60-70 students will be graduating by 2025-2026.

Air Conditioning Mechanic is offered in partnership with the Sheet Metal Local 104 and Bay Area Training Fund. The program goals and objectives are to provide students on-the-job training and in-class instruction in the service sector of the sheet metal and the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) industry. The students will learn how to perform scheduled maintenance, troubleshoot and repair the HVAC systems used in commercial buildings.

 

Students will be able to

·       Achieve EPA 608 and OHSA 30 Certifications.

·       Understand the different types, properties, and application of refrigerants.

·       Demonstrate the ability to measure, cut, bend, and make various types of tubing and piping connections.

·       Demonstrate the safe use of soldering and brazing equipment.

·       Explain functions of special components: filter driers, sight glass, suction line accumulator, liquid line receiver, hot gas bypass, ambient controls.

·       Explain the application and operational sequence of electric and gas heating.

·       Understand the different types of heat sources for hydronic heating (water, steam, geothermal/waste heat, solar).

·       Perform start-up, diagnosis, repair, and maintenance of cooling towers and pumps.

·       Demonstrate an understanding of green construction and energy conservation as it applies to the HVAC industry in California.

·       Explain the LEED rating system, and how it involves HVAC maintenance over the life of the building.

 

Upon completion of the program, the students will be eligible to receive a Certificate of Achievement in Air Conditioning Service Mechanic from Foothill College and an Apprenticeship Completion Certificate from the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS). The graduates will be employable as HVAC Service Technician/Mechanic, HVAC Service Manager, HVAC Contractor, NATE Certified Air Conditioning Mechanic, Test, Adjust & Balancing Technician, Building Inspector, foreman, estimator/detailer, contractor, instructor, project manager and other related occupations.

 

The program will require students to take 69 core units.

Requirements	Title	Units	Sequence
Core Courses
APSM 151A	Service Introduction and Safety	2.5	Year 1, Fall
APSM 151C	Heat, Matter & Energy in HVAC Service	2.5	Year 1, Fall
APSM 151B	Essential HVAC Service Skills	2.5	Year 1, Winter
APSM 159B	Airflow & Psychometrics for TAB	2.5	Year 1, Winter
APSM 152A	Piping, Refrigerant Evacuation & Recovery	1.5	Year 1, Spring
APSM 152C	Introduction to Electricity	2.5	Year 1, Spring
APSM 155A	Sheet Metal Fabrication	1.5	Year 2, Fall
APSM 153B	Electric Motors & Motor Controls in HVAC Systems	2.5	Year 2, Fall
APSM 154A	Refrigeration in Air Conditioning	2	Year 2, Winter
APSM 152B	Charging Refrigerant Systems	2	Year 2, Winter
APSM 154B	Gas & Electric Heating	2	Year 2, Spring
APSM 154C	Hydronic Heating	2	Year 2, Spring
APSM 156A	Heat Pump Efficient Operation & Service	2.5	Year 3, Fall
APSM 157A	Plans & Specifications for the Service Technician	2.5	Year 3, Fall
APSM 156B	Cooling Towers, Pumps & Piping	2.5	Year 3, Winter
APSM 156C	Chilled Water HVAC Systems & Components	2.5	Year 3, Winter
APSM 158C	Inverter, VFR, & Heat Recovery Technology	2.5	Year 3, Spring
APSM 172B	Proportional Balancing	2	Year 3, Spring
APSM 173C	HVAC Fans, Fan Laws & V-Belt Drives	2.5	Year 4, Fall
APSM 173B	Temperature Measurements, Duct Systems & Basic Controls	2.5	Year 4, Fall
APSM 174A	Hydronic Systems, Pumps & Hydronic Balancing	2	Year 4, Winter
APSM 157B	HVAC Energy Codes & Standards	2.5	Year 4, Winter
APSM 122	Codes & Standards	3	Year 4, Spring
APSM 177A	Title 24 Mechanical Acceptance Testing	3	Year 4, Spring
APSM 158A	Introduction to Direct Digital HVAC controls	2	Year 5, Fall
ASPM 175B	DDC Controls & Programs	2	Year 5, Fall
APSM 177B	Advanced DDC Controls/Commissioning of HVAC systems	2	Year 5, Winter
APSM 178C	Foreman Training/Project Management for HVAC	2.5	Year 5, Winter
APSM 177C	Energy Auditing	2.5	Year 5, Spring
APSM 178A	Indoor Air Quality	2	Year 5, Spring
Total Core Courses		69

This program is an addition to our existing CTE programs and registered apprenticeship programs.

While Air Condition Mechanic program is similar to the existing Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Technology at Foothill, it differentiates itself in the need to train Sheet Metal Workers as Air Conditioning Mechanical and is also included Testing and Balancing of HVAC equipment as part of the curriculum. Industry needs require both trades to be trained independently of each other. I have notified Lena Tran from SJCC and Randy Bryant from De Anza.