Accredited Programs

Click here to view a list of accredited programs.

What is Programmatic Accreditation?

Programmatic accreditation is an independent third party review of an HVACR educational program. The process validates that established standards of excellence for HVACR educational programs are met. These standards are designed to assure that our future workforce receives the quality of training required to provide the skills necessary for success in the HVACR industry.

Standards require a thorough examination of Mission of the program, Administrative responsibilities, Finances and funds, Curriculum, Plan of instructions, Facilities, Equipment and tools, Cooperative Training and Instructor’s Qualifications. Each of these nine standards have numerous sub standards that must be met. HVAC Excellence standards are based in part on the National Skills Standards, and State Educational Standards.

Students need to be confident that a program will prepare them for successful jobs in the HVACR industry. Contractors need to be confident that the people they hire have employment ready skills. Schools accomplish this through programmatic accreditation.

In seeking accreditation, the staff of a school completes an in depth self study evaluation of their program. The self study once completed is submitted to HVAC Excellence for review. Executive members of HVAC Excellence thoroughly assessed the self study. Upon completion of their review, HVAC Excellence selects a group of industry veterans with combined technical, administrative and teaching experience in the HVAC industry to visit the campus and validate the self study through an intense on site evaluation. The findings are reported back to a committee which then votes if accreditation should be granted to the program.

To maintain the integrity of the accreditation, schools are required to submit an annual report. The report demonstrates that they have remained in compliance with the standards. Schools are required to submit any substantive changes to the program (such as expansion of the shop, new curriculum added, change of instructor, etc.).

Benefits of Accreditation

• Assists institutions in establishing articulation agreements
• An eligibility determinant for Federal, State and private funding
• Requires faculty and staff participation in self evaluation
• Provides students with confidence in the quality of the program
• Employers have the assurance that the graduates are properly trained
• Can assist the students in the acceptability of transfer credits
• Creates goals for self improvement
• Can increase enrollment
• Student placement and employer satisfaction is enhanced
• Accreditation is a requirement of CareerConnect
• The Mechanical Service Contactors Association of America has made recruitment of persons with HVAC Excellence credentials a top priority. MSCA is a trade association representing Carrier, Johnson Controls and over 1,200 top employers. ( Memo )
• The United Association will grant at a minimum one year's credit and start the applicant in the second year of their HVACR apprenticeship if they meet the following qualifications:
  • Graduate from a program that has been granted full accreditation by HVAC Excellence
  • Achieve a C average or better in their studies
  • Pass six HVAC Excellence Employment Ready Certifications:
    • Electrical
    • Air Conditioning
    • Electric Heat
    • Light Commercial Air Conditioning
    • Light Commercial Refrigeration
    • And one of three Heating exams (Gas, Oil, or Heat Pumps).
  • View the articulation agreement
• Program listed on industry recruitment site www.5starcareers.com

Program Standards

• Secondary programs
• Post Secondary programs
• Competencies Task List

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will I receive a true third party accreditation?
A: Yes. We meet the requirements as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations Title 34 and remain independent of industry trade or membership organization.

Q: Are my students required to take the HVAC Excellence Student Outcome Assessments?
A: No. However, we do require a nationally recognized trade specific student assessment that provides a comparative analysis.

Q: Who conducts the onsite evaluation?
A: HVAC Excellence programmatic accreditation is conducted by persons with combined field, technical, administrative, and teaching experience.

Q: Do you mandate I use a specific EPA Section 608 Certification program?
A: No.

Q: Do you require a specific text book or curriculum?
A: No. However, each program is held accountable for program content and meeting the HVAC Excellence standards.

Accreditation Process

• Call 1 (800) 394-5268 for an application
• Complete and submit the application
• The Accreditation Manual is forwarded to your institution
• An accreditation team member is assigned to aid you through the process
• Conduct a self study
• Submit the Self Study to the review committee
• Self Study is reviewed by the committee
• Upon approval of the Self Study a visiting team is assigned
• An on-site visit is scheduled
• The one day on-site validation process is executed and completed
• Final determination to grant accreditation and list the program in HVAC Excellence's official directory is made by the Executive committee

For Additional Information

Call 1-800-394-5268 or view the PowerPoint presentation *.

* Requires Microsoft PowerPoint. Download the viewer here