VGCC Hosts HVAC Technician Certification Exam

Vance-Granville Community College will serve as host for a certification exam for professionals in the heating/ventilating/air-conditioning/refrigeration (HVAC/R) industry on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

The North American Technician Excellence (NATE) HVAC technician certification exam session will begin at 6 p.m. on Oct. 15 at the college’s main campus in Vance County.

NATE certification symbolizes a technician’s knowledge, expertise and commitment to an HVAC/R career. Businesses that employ technicians are encouraged to help employees become certified as a way to make their organizations more marketable. The magazine Consumer Reports calls NATE certification “a plus.”

To become certified, a technician must pass both a Core and a Specialty exam. The cost for each exam is $95.

NATE, Inc. is an independent, third-party certification body for HVAC/R technicians. NATE-approved testing organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada offer NATE tests. Candidates can earn installation and/or service certification in five specialty areas: air-conditioning, air distribution, heat pumps, gas heating & oil heating. NATE certification exams are respected and supported by manufacturers, government agencies, utilities, wholesalers, educators, contractors and trade associations.

VGCC offers an Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology diploma program, which prepares graduates to assist in the start-up, preventive maintenance, service, repair and/or installation of residential and light commercial systems.

For more information, contact Wesley E. Smith , head of Vance-Granville’s ACHR Technology program, at (252) 738-3214.