Industry Recognized Credentials for HVAC

Essential Safety IRC(s)

All programs must (1) prepare students to take and (2) provide an opportunity to achieve Essential Safety credentials to all students in the program. The essential Safety Credential(s) must be recognized state-wide, if not nationally as valuable and should be most applicable to specific program area.

For this Program area, students (1) prepare students to take and (2) provide an opportunity to achieve at least one of the listed Essential Safety credentials.

 CertificationCertifying Organization
OSHA 10 - ConstructionOSHA
EPA Section 608 Certification Refrigerant Certification Refrigerant Handling, Air Conditioning Contractors of America, EPA
Carbon Monoxide Safety Certification ESCO Group

Essential Industry IRC(s)

All programs must (1) prepare students to take and (2) provide an opportunity to achieve at least one of the listed Essential Program Credentials.

  1. The certification must have high-value currency in the market, which can be gained through various processes including transparency initiatives, general awareness, endorsements and validations, regulations, hiring policies and practices, and/or procedures that can be used to translate the credential into academic credit.
  2. Must lead to improved hiring outcomes and/or increased earnings for students who attain the credential.
  3. Credentials required for employment in program field must be included.

For this Program area, students must (1) prepare students to take and (2) provide an opportunity to achieve earn at least one of the listed Essential Program credentials.

 CertificationCertifying Organization
Refrigeration Credit toward licenseCommonwealth of MA
EPA R-410a Refrigerant CertificationEPA
Hot Work SafetyNational Fire Protection Association

Supplemental IRC(s)

Programs may choose to differentiate and expand upon their program by offering additional credentials. Credentials listed as Supplemental/Specialized may include:
  • Credentials that are endorsed by local or regional industry associations or workforce boards
  • Must be attainable for students in the program who master the competencies outlined in the relevant Career Technical Education Framework such as an advanced/stacked credential above the essentials
  • May be equipment, tool, software or process specific if valued by industry.
 CertificationCertifying Organization
Universal R-410A CertificationESCO Group
Air Conditioning and Heat Pump ProfessionalBuilding Performance Institute
Air Conditioning Service CertificationNorth American Technician Excellence, Inc.
Air Conditioning Installation TechnicianNorth American Technician Excellence, Inc.
Air Distribution Service TechnicianNorth American Technician Excellence, Inc.
Air Distribution Installation CertificationNorth American Technician Excellence, Inc.
Air Leakage Control InstallerBuilding Performance Institute
Air Systems Cleaning SpecialistNational Air Ducts Cleaning Association
Air to Air Heat Pump InstallationNorth American Technician Excellence, Inc.
Air to Air Heat Pump Service CertificationNorth American Technician Excellence, Inc.
ESCO Group
ESCO Group
Certified Assistant Refrigeration OperatorRefrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association
Certified Duct and Envelope TestingESCO Group
Certified in Hydrocarbon RefrigerantsESCO Group
Certified Indoor Air Quality ManagerNational Registry of Environmental Professionals
Certified Industrial Refrigeration OperatorRefrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association
Certified National Appliance Service TechnicianRefrigeration and Air Conditioning, International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians
Certified Refrigeration Compliance Manager National Registry of Environmental Professionals
Certified Residential Heat Load AnalystESCO Group
Certified Subject Matter Educator - Gas HeatESCO Group
Certified Ventilation InspectorNational Air Ducts Cleaning Association
Cleanroom Testing EngineerAssociated Air Balance Council
Combustion Analysis CertificationESCO Group
Combustion Appliance Zone CertificationESCO Group
Commercial Refrigeration ServiceNorth American Technician Excellence, Inc.
Electrical CertificationESCO Group
Fuel Oil Combustion CertificationESCO Group
Gas Heat CertificationESCO Group
Gas Heating (Air) InstallationNorth American Technician Excellence, Inc.
Gas Heating (Air) ServiceNorth American Technician Excellence, Inc.
Geothermal Heat Pump CertificationESCO Group
Green Awareness CertificationESCO Group
Ground Source Heat Pump LoopNorth American Technician Excellence, Inc.
Heat Pump CertificationESCO Group
Heat Pump Installer CertificationESCO Group
Heat Pump Service CertificationESCO Group
Heating AssociateNorth American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners
Heating ProfessionalBuilding Performance Institute
HVAC Efficiency Analyst - SeniorNorth American Technician Excellence, Inc.
Hydronics Gas ServiceNorth American Technician Excellence, Inc.
Hydronics Oil ServiceNorth American Technician Excellence, Inc.
Infiltration and Duct LeakageBuilding Performance Institute
Light Commercial Air Conditioning CertificationESCO Group
Light Commercial HVAC DesignAir Conditioning Contractors of America
Residential HVAC Design for Quality InstallationAir Conditioning Contractors of America
Light Commercial Refrigeration CertificationESCO Group
Light Commercial Refrigeration ServiceNorth American Technician Excellence, Inc.
ESCO Goup
ESCO Group
ESCO Group
ESCO Group
ESCO Group
ESCO Group
ESCO Group
ESCO Group
ESCO Group
Master Specialist Hands On Duct Leak TestingESCO Group
ESCO Group
ESCO Group
ESCO Group
ESCO Group
ESCO Group
ESCO Group
ESCO Group
ESCO Group
ESCO Group
ESCO Group
ESCO Group
ESCO Group
ESCO Group
ESCO Group
National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence
NAFA Certified Air Filter SpecialistNational Air Filtration Association
NAFA Certified Technician Level INational Air Filtration Association
Oil Heat CertificationESCO Group
Oil Heating (Air) ServiceNorth American Technician Excellence, Inc.
Principles of Electrical and Refrigeration TheoryESCO Group
ESCO Group
Residential Heat Load AnalystESCO Group
Solar Heating InstallerNorth American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners
STAR Commercial Refrigeration MasteryNational Inspection, Testing and Certification Corporation
STAR HVAC MasteryNational Inspection, Testing and Certification Corporation
National Inspection, Testing and Certification Corporation
ESCO Group
Test and Balance TechnicianAssociated Air Balance Council
Test and Balance EngineerAssociated Air Balance Council