In an apprenticeship arrangement, throughout the learning process job candidates may have to take a number of tests that measure their skills in the field. For those with less than 1 year of experience and taking classes, the industry has developed a series of exams to test basic competency in residential heating and cooling, light commercial heating and cooling, and commercial refrigeration.
These are referred to as “Entry-level” certification exams and are commonly conducted at both secondary and postsecondary technical and trade schools. For HVACR technicians who have at least one year of experience performing installations and 2 years of experience performing maintenance and repair, they can take a number of different tests to certify their competency in working with more specific types of equipment, such as oil-burning furnaces.
The tests are offered through Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES), HVAC Excellence, The Carbon Monoxide Safety Association (COSA), Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Safety Coalition, and North American Technician Excellence, Inc. (NATE), among others. Passing these tests and obtaining certification is increasingly recommended by employers and may increase advancement opportunities.
NATE has made a concerted effort to coalesce a group of partners who are stakeholders in the industry, from contractor’s associations to the Department of Energy. They have developed a standardized exam, and provided it to partner organizations that can administer the test. They have developed study materials for the test, proctoring regulations, and a fairly high pass/fail bar. In their words, the test is “designed to test what 80% of technicians have an 80% chance of encountering once in a given year.” Partner organizations that administer the test or provide proctors include:
