Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Technology

Air conditioning and refrigeration technicians are always in demand, and are even becoming more so with the number of residential, commercial and industrial buildings increasing.

Graduates from the Texas State Technical College Harlingen ACT program have excellent mechanical and electrical skills used to install, repair and troubleshoot air-conditioning systems and their components. They are able to use electrical meters, refrigerant recovery units, oxygen/acetylene equipment, manometers, air flow meters, temperature recorders and psychrometric charts for heating and cooling applications.

The TSTC program trains its technicians to communicate with HVAC engineers in solving technical and mechanical problems encountered in the field, and use and record technical information using the special instruments mentioned before. Students may choose to earn a one year mechanic certificate, a one-and-a-half year technician certificate or a one-and-a-half year associate of applied science degree.

Graduates work with service contractors, industrial plants, retirement centers, hospitals, motels, telephone companies or become self-employed.

The prerequisite for the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology program is a high school diploma or GED. Proficiency in high school math and physics is helpful to prepare you for the program.