HVAC Education - NATE Certification
HVAC Education - NATE Certification
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What is NATE?
NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence and NATE is a certification group that oversees the training, testing, and certification of HVACR technicians throughout North American. NATE is highly respected throughout the HVACR industry and an HVAC technician who achieves NATE certification is considered very knowledgable and skilled in the HVAC trade or HVAC certification specialty.
NATE Certification specialties include the following categories:
Service Category |
Installation Category |
Core Service |
Core Installation |
Air Conditioning Service |
Air Conditioning Installation |
Air Distribution Service |
Air Distribution Installation |
Air to Air Heat Pump Service |
Air to Air Heat Pump Installation |
Gas Heating (Air) Service |
Gas Heating (Air) Installation |
Oil Heating (Air) Service |
Oil Heating (Air) Installation |
Hydronics Gas Service |
Hydronics Gas Installation |
Hydronics Oil Service |
Hydronics Oil Installation |
Light Commercial Refrigeration Service |
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Commercial Refrigeration Service |
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Additionally NATE offers an HVAC Efficiency Analyst Senior certification if someone meets additional requirements.
To become a NATE certified technician a technician must pass the core and at least one specialty category to become NATE certified. Testing and retesting are stringent for technicians before they are allowed to become certified.
Some HVAC manufacturers support NATE testing for their dealer technicians and this is very good for the industry as a whole. It is important that qualified technicians perform the service and installation duties of installing and servicing HVAC air conditioning and heating equipment. Comprehensive testing along with the training on specific equipment ensures that you will get a good HVAC system installed and serviced when the time comes for you to replace your air conditioning and heating equipment. A recent study done by the HVAC air conditioning and heating industry shows that more than 35% of the air conditioning and heating systems installed are installed improperly. This results in poor performance of the air conditioning and heating equipment. Getting a company that has NATE certified technicians almost ensures you will knowledgable technicians who know what they are doing and take pride in their work. Someone who takes pride in their work have a reputation for getting the job done right. This equates to a properly installed air conditioning and heating system for the end consumer and that helps the HVAC industry as a whole.
NATE requires technicians to be recertified every five years. This is necessary because of changing technology and to make sure the technicians remain up to date on that latest technology. To recertify a technician must have a minimum amount of qualified continuing education credits before they are allowed to take the recertification tests. Once the technician proves the have the continuing education credits and after they have filled out the proper forms they are allowed to take the recertification tests.
NATE Certification is good for the HVAC industry as a whole and it is even better for the consumer because it nearly ensures the consumer will get a qualified professional who takes pride and installing or service air conditioning and heating equipment.
Find a rewarding career in HVAC by getting a good foundation with an HVAC education.
Related HVAC Education Pages
Learning the Basics of HVAC | HVAC Jobs and Careers | a list of HVAC schools in your region (coming soon)
Here is a good video about the HVAC industry and the bright future you can have being an HVAC Technician. It all starts with a good HVAC education.
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