Tag: HVAC technician diploma
The journey to becoming a full-fledged HVAC Technician will require you to pass your Gas Technician exams. These exams provide a route to proving your professional competence and qualification in diploma and meeting key licensing requirements that prepare you for a lifetime of practice.
It is mostly by making the mark in these exams that you can give your career a big push, even after all the years of HVAC technician training and work experience. This is why it is important to prepare adequately for your Gas Technician exams. Here, we have provided a few crucial tips to help you prepare for and ace these exams. They are discussed below:
Create a Study Plan and Schedule and Stick to it Throughout HVAC Technician Training
To prepare adequately for your gas technician exams, you need to create a plan that’ll account for your study, practice, and other relevant exam conditions. You must try to settle on a study schedule and a comfortable study location and method that’ll give you enough room to cover sufficient grounds as well as a consistent process to fall back on. You may plan for a physical group study of your peers if you are comfortable with it or check into virtual forums.
Gather relevant study materials, practice resources, gas codes, and other resources that’ll help your course. Set out times for reviewing your learning materials from your HVAC technician training and taking on previous exam questions. And after setting up the schedule, make a conscious effort to follow through on it.
Extensively Review Your Training Materials
The notes, textbooks, and other learning resources from your HVAC Technician courses should provide a handy study guide for exam purposes. So you must go over these materials and get the entire gist of what they contain to prepare you for your upcoming exams. Get a solid grasp of the key concepts behind important topics and research supporting data to break them down into their base form.
You should find notes on such topics as piping systems, safe practices, local codes and regulations, gas heating basics, and other critical subjects. And when you do, ensure to review them in detail, making sure to note down important points and problem areas that you can seek further clarity on.
Practice Previous Exam Questions and Use Exam Prep Guides
Gas technician exams from previous years can provide a critical study/exam practice guide for most people. And by solving the problems from these exams repeatedly, you can set yourself up nicely for a successful exam. You’d be coming to terms with the likely exam questions and the topics they touch on while also familiarizing yourself with the exam format and other conditions.
By getting the right answers to these questions, you can get an even better understanding of your study materials. This is the same for exam prep books that focus on key areas. They can help you provide targeted learning and give you improved exam leverage.
Get Relevant Practical Experience
Some of your gas technician exams will test your appreciation of certain technical skills and knowledge relevant to your discipline. To give you a good chance of success in these exams, ensure to get as much hands-on practice as possible. Your HVAC diploma program should equip you with this practical experience, and further practice beyond the classroom can help you gain extra ground.
Try your hands on critical practical applications/skills like inspection of leaks, venting, and other HVAC installations. Practice with relevant work tools like fasteners, analyzers, cutters, and benders. Work on real-life scenarios that require your use of these skills and you’d be giving yourself a solid headstart in your upcoming exams and future work/career pursuits.
Are you interested in HVAC Technician training?
Explore the HVAC Technician diploma program at the North American Trade School (NATS).
If you’re thinking of starting an HVAC career, there are many tools you’ll need to get acquainted with, as you’ll use them both during your training and throughout your career. In addition to basic hand tools that most tradespeople need to complete basic tasks, such as screwdrivers, power drills, hammers, and pliers, there are several industry-specific tools you’ll use. With the knowledge and skill to use these tools, your work will be done more efficiently. Read on for a brief introduction to some standard HVAC tools you’ll use after training.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors Are Essential for Safety
As an HVAC technician, you’ll come into contact with many different sources of carbon monoxide gas. These include leaking chimneys, back drafting from gas water heaters, wood burners, furnaces, generators, and any poorly maintained combustion device. Inhaling this deadly molecule deprives the body of oxygen, and in the case of carbon monoxide poisoning, you may only notice some mild symptoms like headache, dizziness, or fatigue. Since carbon monoxide gas is undetectable, you’ll need to use detectors. These devices sound an alarm when an unsafe amount of carbon monoxide is detected in the air. They can be life-saving.
Refrigeration Gauges Allow You to Manifold Gas and Liquid Pressure
After HVAC Technician training, you’ll use manifold gauges frequently. In fact, many consider them essential HVAC tools. They measure the pressure of liquids and gasses in a cooling system and are used primarily as a diagnostic tool, alerting you to any problems with the operation of a system. They can also be used as a service tool, releasing moisture, debris, or contaminated refrigerant from a system. Using a manifold gauge, you can add refrigerant to a cooling system. Digital gauges offer more efficiency and accuracy.
You’ll Use a Multimeter Regularly After HVAC Technician Training
Multimeters are essential tools that you’ll regularly use after completing HVAC courses. They are used for safety reasons to detect electrical current and notify you of the presence of voltage in order to protect you from electrocution. Multimeters also aid in the troubleshooting of electrical components within a cooling system, like switches, wires, and outlets. It’s important that you use a multimeter specifically designed for HVAC technicians with a thermocouple (air temperature sensor) with a 1000-degree range. HVAC multimeters should also have attachments that are compatible with the electrical components of ventilation systems.
HVAC Software Will Help You Streamline Your Workflow
As an HVAC technician, your success depends greatly on your ability to manage your time, keep track of your invoicing, and maintain good customer relationships. Industry-specific business software can help you greatly improve your efficiency. Software tools that feature drag-and-drop scheduling streamline the invoicing process, and customer relationship management technology are great options you might work within your career.
Our HVAC Technician diploma program is designed to prepare students for the G3 and G2 Gas Technician exam with hands-on training from expert instructors. North American Trade Schools is accredited by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA). The TSSA promotes and enforces public safety in Ontario. Our HVAC Technician Diploma Program and all of the career training programs we offer meet the standards set by the TSSA, meaning that you can trust us to provide all the skills needed to become a certified HVAC technician.
Are you ready to attain your HVAC Technician diploma?
Contact NATS to find out how you can get started.
An HVAC Technician is a skilled professional that installs, repairs, and maintains, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration units. If you are considering becoming an HVAC Technician, there are certain safety principles you will need to know and remember. Once you start your career, you will find that you’ll be working with noxious gasses and electrical systems, and as such, you’ll need to remember safety protocols to avoid any harm. Read on for some safety practices you’ll want to remember throughout your training and career.
Wear PPE After HVAC Technician Training
As an HVAC Technician, you are likely to be exposed to noxious fumes, as well as other particles such as dust, debris, and chemicals which may cause harm. It is essential always to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while you work. For instance, a respirator will help protect you against fumes, and safety goggles can help protect your eyes against any debris or harmful liquids. Other important PPE you may need as an HVAC Technician includes:
- Safety gloves
- A hard hat
- Non-slip shoes
- Earplugs
During your HVAC Technician Diploma program, you will learn the importance of protective gear, including how it should be worn and why it is needed in different scenarios. For example, wearing earplugs when working in a loud environment can help avoid damaging your hearing. Always wearing your safety gear on the job will help prevent you from suffering serious harm.
Be Cautious When Handling Chemicals
An important safety practice to always consider while working as an HVAC Technician is to be cautious with chemicals. You will be working with chemicals daily, and some, such as solvents and refrigerants, can be very harmful if not handled correctly. They may cause burns or in some severe cases, poisoning. During HVAC Technician training, you will be taught how to handle these chemicals safely.
Practical examples will be given and overseen by instructors, where you will need to dispose of, replace, and transport chemicals safely. This will be done using the knowledge of rules and regulations you learn during your training. For example, you’ll learn how to remove and store refrigerant chemicals safely.
Turn Off the Electricity While you Work
When working with units that have a water system or have general electrical issues, it is safer to turn off the main circuit breaker before starting work. Water is a conductor of electricity and can cause electrocution. Water leaking onto the unit you are working on may also be damaging to the unit, as it may cause a short circuit. This can be not only damaging for the unit but is a safety and fire hazard, as well. Additionally, it will be essential to analyze a unit before you begin working on it to see if there are any fluid leaks. This will help you better understand if you need to turn off the main circuit breaker.
The HVAC training you receive at NATS will help you identify leaks, teach you how to fix them, and help you understand the safety practices to follow throughout your career.
Are you ready to begin training for your HVAC Technician career?
Contact NATS to learn how you can get started!
