Heating & Cooling Technology

Overview

careers

  • HVAC Technician

  • Service Technician

  • Environmental Technician

  • Commercial Refrigeration Technician

Job Placement Rate ⓘ
0 %
Average Salary ⓘ
$ 0

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates a 6% increase in heating and cooling technician jobs through 2032. The industry is growing, and the demand for qualified people both in the field and in the office is creating an interesting set of diverse HVACR positions. New career paths for the HVACR industry include energy auditor, green-technology specialist, and equipment performance-testing specialist, to name a few.

The Mitchell Technical College Heating and Cooling Technology program is accredited by HVAC Excellence. The program provides students with skills and knowledge in mechanics, electricity and sheet metal. Students also receive extensive training in energy management and environmental controls technology to include renewable energy resources such as geothermal and solar technology. Laboratory time is spent installing and servicing heating and cooling systems, as well as designing and forming sheet metal patterns for ductwork.

Graduates are prepared for an expanding field that includes jobs in sales, service, installation and industrial maintenance for a company or as a self-employed contractor. Some typical jobs include service or installation technician, sales, service trainer, industrial maintenance, supervisor, manufacturer’s representative or business owner.

Students may complete the first year of the curriculum and earn a one-year diploma.

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Curriculum

Award: Diploma or AAS Degree

Semesters
2
Curriculum

Award: One-Year Diploma or AAS Degree

First Semester

HV101Electrical Fundamentals3 credits
HV111Heating Fundamentals3 credits
HV121Air Condition & Refrigeration Fund2 credits
HV151Air Condition Heat & Refrig Lab I4 credits
CPR100First Aid, CPR AED0.5 credits
OSHA101OSHA 10 Construction1 credit
SSS100Student Success1 credit
Communications Elective3 credits

Second Semester

HV122Sheet Metal Tech Lab3 credits
HV132Heating Refrigeration Theory4 credits
HV142HV Controls Heat Pumps3 credits
HV152Air Conditioning Heating Ref Lab II4 credits
Math Elective3 credits

AAS Degree ONLY

Third Semester (Summer)

HV290Internship6 credits

Fourth Semester (Fall)

HV160Planning Estimating3 credits
HV231Heat Pumps/Solar Heating Theory3 credits
HV244Schematics2 credits
HV251Air Condition Heat & Refrig Lab III4 credits
CIS105Introduction to Computers3 credits
General Education Elective3 credits

Fifth Semester (Spring)

HV202Commercial Refrigeration4 credits
HV232Commercial Air Conditioning3 credits
HV252Air Condition Heat Refrig Lab IV4 credits
HV259DDC Temperature Control3 credits
General Education Elective3 credits

Requirements

COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS

This program requires a laptop computer so that you can effectively integrate computing skills with your technical education. Many resources that instructors assign are online or require specialty software. To address these needs, Mitchell Tech requires that students entering this program purchase their laptops from Mitchell Tech. The cost for a Mitchell Tech laptop averages about $1,150 for this program. Please be aware that our machines come fully loaded with the software required for this program. 

Whether it’s Microsoft Office, or a specialty software for a technical program, your needs will be met by your Mitchell Tech laptop.  And our laptops are serviced for free by our Technology office. You will not be able to bring a laptop from home into a Mitchell Tech laptop program as we cannot provide support services for every make and model of laptop. Please consider this carefully before making any laptop purchase and check with the Admissions office for more details

Outcomes

At the completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
  • Use standard HVAC tools correctly and safely.
  • Identify and perform various types of duct layouts.
  • Accurately perform load calculations for heating and cooling equipment.
  • Compare refrigeration pressures to a P/T chart.
  • Install new heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
  • Maintain heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
  • Use troubleshooting procedures to diagnose heating and cooling equipment faults.
  • Install and repair common residential and commercial comfort system controls.
  • Perform service technician duties safely.
  • Use oral and written communication skills effectively.
  • Demonstrate personal and professional ethics and interpersonal skills that are expected in the workplace.
Annual Program Review

Check out the 2023-24 Annual Program Review for information on how faculty ensure the quality and effectiveness of the program.

Accreditation

The Mitchell Tech Heating & Cooling Technology program, offered for the AAS degree and diploma, is accredited by

HVAC Excellence
PO Box 491
Mt Prospect, IL 60056-0491
(800) 394-5268; Fax: (800) 546-3726

NATE Certified

Mitchell Tech’s program director is NATE certified. We proudly display the NATE logo—a symbol recognized throughout the industry as the mark of technician excellence.

Faculty

Program Director / Instructor

Cost

AAS

Program Tuition & Fees ⓘ
$ 4000

Other Required Costs

Laptop/Software$1,150
Books / Tools (estimated)$2,922

Diploma

Program Tuition & Fees ⓘ
$ 4000

Other Required Costs

Laptop/Software$1,150
Books / Tools (estimated)$2,732

Scholarships

$750

1 AVAIL.

SD Municipal Electric Association Energy Production & Transmission Scholarship

SD Municipal Electric Association

Powerline Construction & Maintenance
Must be a resident of the SD Municipal Electric Association service area and enrolled in the Powerline Construction & Maintenance program

$500

3 AVAIL.

Tessier Family Foundation – Current Students

Tessier Family Foundation

The Tessier Family Foundation began providing funds for scholarships in 2014 for students enrolled in the Accounting/Business Management, Heating and Cooling Technology, LPN and Medical Assistant programs. The scholarships will be awarded in January each year and applied to the recipient’s accounts the following Fall semester.
First Year Student
Accounting
Heating and Cooling Technology
Licensed Practical Nursing
Medical Assistant
Applicant must be currently enrolled as a first year full-time student in Accounting/Business Management, Heating and Cooling Technology, LPN or Medical Assistant programs to be eligible for these scholarships. Applicant must complete the MTC current student online application during the open application period as instructed to be eligible for these scholarships.

$500

2 AVAIL.

Central Electric Cooperative Scholarship

Central Electric Cooperative

Electrical Utilities & Substation
Power Line Construction & Maintenance
Electrical Construction & Maintenance
Heating & Cooling
Agricultural Business
Agronomy
Applicant must be a full-time student in the Electrical Utilities & Substation, Power Line Construction & Maintenance, Electrical Construction & Maintenance, Heating & Cooling, Agricultural Business or Agronomy program at Mitchell Technical College Applicant must maintain a 2.5 GPA Student must be a member or dependent of a member of Central Electric Cooperative based in Mitchell, SD Applicant must complete the MTC Online application to be eligible to receive this scholarship. Student must provide member name on account and Central Electric will verify membership status before recipient is announced

$1000

1 AVAIL.

Paulson Family Endowed Scholarship

Chuck & Lois Paulson Family

The Paulson Family Endowment was established in 2012. Long-time former Paulson Sheet Metal owners Chuck and Lois Paulson and their son Scott, present owner of Paulson Air, established the endowment to support recruitment scholarships for students enrolled in the Heating and Cooling Technology program. The scholarships will be awarded to students who meet the listed criteria applied to the recipient’s account for the Fall semester. The Incoming student awards will be announced by August 1 and applied to the recipient’s account for the Fall semester and in January for Current students and applied to their accounts the following Fall semester.
Heating & Cooling Technology
Applicant must be an accepted full-time student enrolled at MTC in the Heating and Cooling Technology program Applicant must complete the MTC Incoming online application and provide an online reference between January 1 and June 30 to be eligible for this scholarship. Current students must complete the online application during the Fall application period to be eligible for this scholarship.

$1000

4 AVAIL.

Osterhaus Endowed Scholarships

Martin and Maude Osterhaus established this endowed scholarship in 1995 to provide financial support for at least four deserving Mitchell Tech students each year. The scholarships will be awarded in January each year and applied to the recipient’s account the following Fall semester.
Accounting
Agricultural Business
Agronomy
Animal Science
Architectural Design and Building Construction
Automation Controls/SCADA
Business Management
Culinary Academy of South Dakota
Diesel Power – Ag Power Technology
Electrical Construction & Maintenance
Electrical Utilities & Substation Technology
Heating & Cooling Technology
Human Services Technician
Information Systems Technology
Machining and Manufacturing
Medical Assistant
Medical Laboratory Technology
Medical Office Professional
Medical Office Professional
Power Line Construction & Maintenance
Power Sports & Marine Technology
Precision Ag Technology
Radiation Therapy
Radiologic Technology
Small Business Management
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
Utilities Technology
Wi-Fi & Broadband Technologies
Wind Turbine Technology
Applicant must be a currently enrolled first year full-time student in any two year program Applicant must demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA (universal financial aid application form) Applicant must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher Applicant must complete the MTC online application during the open application period as instructed to be eligible for this scholarship Applicant must have good leadership skills

$1000

1 AVAIL.

Mitchell Tech Retiree Endowed Scholarship

The scholarship was established by the former faculty and staff of Mitchell Tech.
Accounting
Agricultural Business
Agronomy
Animal Science
Architectural Design and Building Construction
Automation Controls/SCADA
Business Management
Culinary Academy of South Dakota
Diesel Power – Ag Power Technology
Electrical Construction & Maintenance
Electrical Utilities & Substation Technology
Geospatial Technologies
Heating & Cooling Technology
Human Services Technician
Information Systems Technology
Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN)
Machining and Manufacturing
Medical Assistant
Medical Laboratory Technology
Medical Office Professional
Medical Office Professional
Natural Gas Technology
Office Technology Specialist
Power Line Construction & Maintenance
Power Sports & Marine Technology
Precision Ag Technology
Radiation Therapy
Radiologic Technology
Small Business Management
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
Utilities Technology
Wi-Fi & Broadband Technologies
Wind Turbine Technology
Applicant must be enrolled full time at MTC. Applicant must have a GPA of 2.5 or greater. Applicant must complete the MTC Online application during the open application period to be eligible to receive this scholarship.

Contact Admissions

For information about any of our programs, application, or any of our other student services please contact us:

Admissions Office
Mitchell Technical College
1800 E. Spruce St.
Mitchell, SD 57301

800.684.1969
605.995.3025
fax: 605.995.3067
[email protected]

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