 Kevin
White enrolled at Southwest the fall after graduating from
high school. At that time he was certain of his plan to spend two
years at SWCC and then transfer to a university. One class changed
all his plans. “The year after I enrolled, SWCC began offering a new
program, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC). I wasn’t
sure of my major, so I thought I would take a few different classes
just to see if I would be interested, so I enrolled in a HVAC
class.”
Working as a manager at a local fast food restaurant, White first
began to learn about HVAC when HVAC service technicians came into
the restaurant to service their equipment. “I just started asking
them a lot of questions about what they were doing and about their
jobs,” said White.
After taking one class, White decided to pursue a certificate in
HVAC. “I realized by dong this it would allow me to get a
certification to get a great job without the expense of transferring
to a four year university.” White felt that he found a career that
fit his interests. “I have always been mechanically inclined. I was
the type of kid that got a toy car and came home and took it apart.”
White especially enjoyed working with electricity. A typical HVAC
technician job will consist of about 60% electrical work, so he must
be trained as an electrician. SWCC offers electrical training as
part of its HVAC program.
Once White completed one more semester, he went to work full-time at
a HVAC service company and continued taking classes at night. “I
started out as an entry-level maintenance technician. Maintenance
technicians go into homes and clean coils on heat pumps, check
electrical connections on heat pumps, inspect duct work for damages.
In a typical day, I would be in five to seven homes,” said White.
From maintenance technician, White was promoted to residential
service technician. “In this position, I was sent to homes that were
having problems with their HVAC system, troubleshoot the problem,
give home owners price quotes and options, and repair problems,” he
explained. White then moved to Commercial Service, which is the most
advanced. There he diagnosed industrial heating and cooling
equipment.
HVAC technicians also have the option to work in installation.
Installation helpers assist in running the duct work for new HVAC
systems. Lead installers oversee all installation work.
One of the benefits for White was the specialized training that his
company provided. “I have traveled to the Trane factory in Wisconsin
numerous times to receive training on new equipment. Technology is
constantly changing and we have to keep current in order to service
new systems.”
In June 2006, White accepted a position with Russell County Schools
as a HVAC technician. “I travel to all of the schools in the county
and maintain the systems and make any necessary repairs.” He is also
an adjunct instructor at SWCC in electricity.
“HVAC is a great career. I love my job because it never gets boring.
I never work in the same place and I am always on the go. It is also
a great paying career,” he said.
According to White, HVAC technicians must have excellent verbal and
written communication skills. “An HVAC technician must be able to
communicate with the homeowner. Written communication skills are
needed to complete EPA paperwork and other reports.”
To be successful in the field, a technician must be committed. “At
times technicians work a lot of hours and there is a lot of travel
involved. They are also working in extreme weather conditions,” said
White. A technician must also be able to work independently. Many
times, a technician is own supervisor while out in the field.
Individuals interested in training to become a HVAC technician have
several options. The SWCC Construction Academy offers the
pre-apprenticeship training in HVAC. The pre-apprenticeship program
is a 16-week, seven-credit curriculum that offers an overview of the
construction industry and focuses on a respective trade. The
pre-apprenticeship program offers two courses to help students
prepare for entry level employment in HVAC. Financial aid and
scholarships are available to those who qualify.
The Southwest Virginia Community College Construction Academy is
funded in part by a $1.8 million grant awarded under the President’s
Community-Based Job Training Grants, as implemented by the U.S.
Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.
For more information about the Construction Academy or to register
for classes, contact Rachel Lambert, student liaison, at
276.964.7562 or Larry Hughes, project director, at 276.964.7538.
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