What Certifications Should HVAC Technicians Have?
Before you hire someone to work on your HVAC equipment, be sure that they have the HVAC technician certifications required by law. Looking for additional industry affiliations translates to an even higher level of competence and knowledge. Considering what’s at stake with your HVAC equipment, it's important to do your homework to find the most qualified technicians in the region.
Legal Requirements
Licensing. At a minimum, the technician needs to have an active HVAC license from Oklahoma. Applicants must pass a test that measures their knowledge of the components of HVAC equipment. Oklahoma issues separate licenses that allow the technician to work with gas piping and sheet metal.
Insurance and bonding. An HVAC technician who works with a licensed HVAC contractor is covered by the mandatory requirement for liability insurance and a surety bond that protects their customers from any accident or financial harm from failure to deliver on the contract between the company and the client.
Additional Certifications
Because HVAC equipment is so complex, several industry groups offer HVAC technician certifications that help consumers select professionals who demonstrate advanced knowledge of the industry.
NATE certification. NATE (North American Technician Excellence) is a nonprofit organization that certifies only the top performing technicians in the HVAC industry. The testing is rigorous and just a small percentage of those who take the tests pass. In order to maintain NATE certification, the technician must complete continuing education credits and retest every two years.It's particularly important to use NATE-certified technicians when you're choosing and installing a new system, since the entire selection, sizing, and installation process will affect your energy costs and comfort for years to come. Contractors who have earned NATE membership follow the most current and stringent recommendations for this crucial process.
ACCA membership. ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) gives members access to an extensive library of technical resources, along with professional networking. ACCA emphasizes the exploration and execution of energy efficiency and environmental protection within the HVAC industry.
To learn more about HVAC technician certifications, contact Air Assurance, a NATE-certified contractor serving Broken Arrow homeowners since 1985.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).Credit/Copyright Attribution: “DeiMosz/Shutterstock”