Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning (HVAC) Installer

Technical Diploma
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Why choose Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning (HVAC) Installer?

  • Acquire the hands-on foundation needed for an entry-level position in the HVAC fields.
  • Complete the EPA 608 Technician Certification exam.
When nature’s thermostat rises and falls, HVAC installers are there to ensure thermal comfort throughout the day, designing and installing the perfect AC unit or furnace to suit a customer’s needs and budget. Beyond temperature control, the systems they install also contribute to air quality and overall environmental control of buildings.

Program Locations

Wisconsin Rapids Campus
500 32nd Street North
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494

What You'll Learn

Mid-State’s Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning program provides the hands-on foundation needed for an entry-level position in the HVAC fields. Graduates will understand the various components of heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration systems, including furnaces, ductwork, boilers, hydronic piping, HRVs (heat recovery ventilators), evaporators, condensers, circuits, and controls.

Students will also explore geothermal, biomass, and solar heating systems. Through hands-on classroom lab activities, students will join various piping types, design and construct ductwork, and install a complete residential HVAC system. They will also learn the electrical skills necessary to read wiring diagrams and troubleshoot mechanical control systems. Graduates are prepared to take the EPA 608 Technician Certification exam for refrigerants.

Outcomes

  • Join pipes or tubing to equipment and to fuel, water, or refrigerant source to form complete circuit.
  • Test pipe or tubing joints or connections for leaks, using pressure gauge or soap-and-water solution.
  • Lay out and connect electrical wiring between controls and equipment, according to wiring diagrams, using electrician’s hand tools.
  • Install, connect, and adjust thermostats, humidistats, and timers using hand tools.
  • Test electrical circuits or components for continuity using electrical test equipment.
  • Repair or replace defective equipment, components, or wiring.
  • Obtain and maintain required certifications.
  • Install ductwork and test for leaks.
  • Size and lay out ductwork.
  • Comply with all applicable standards, policies, and procedures, including safety procedures and the maintenance of a clean work area.
  • Inspect and test systems to verify system compliance with plans and specifications or to detect and locate malfunctions.

Employability Skills

  • Behave Responsibly: Ethical Behavior, Self-Responsibility, Conflict Resolution, Collaboration
  • Communicate Effectively: Writing, Technical Documentation, Listening, Speaking, Interpersonal Communication, Reading
  • Critical & Creative Thinking: Inquiry, Evidence Collection, Analysis, Reasoning, Reflection (Metacognition)
  • Cultural, Social, & Global Awareness: Global Awareness, Social & Cultural Awareness, Social Responsibility
  • Use Appropriate Technology: Use of Technology, Confidentiality, Security, Digital Civility

Learn more about employability skills at Mid-State.

Estimated Entire Program Cost

Cost based on the 2024/25 academic year.

  • Tuition & Fees: $4,380.53
  • Books: $764.27
  • Supplies, Uniforms, and/or Exams: $25.00
  • Total Estimated Cost: $5,169.80

Financial Aid Eligibility

This program is eligible for full Financial Aid

Cost of Attendance

Learn more about Cost of Attendance, an estimated budget that includes categories of expenses a student can expect to incur while attending. 

This course has options available to receive credit for prior learning (CPL) or work experience.

Term: 1
  Catalog# Title Credits
  10601110 HVAC Heating Fundamentals 2
  10601130 Blueprint Reading for Construction Trades 2
  10483123 Piping Installation 2
  10482107 Construction Fundamentals 2
  10601140 Electricity for the Construction Trades 2
  10442117 Welding Fundamentals 1 1
  10476171 Safety for Construction Trades  1
  Term Total   12 Credits
       
Term: 2
  Catalog# Title Credits
  10483115 Energy Load Estimation and Modeling 3
  10601120 HVAC Air Conditioning Fundamentals 2
  10482103 Electrical Components & Control Circuits 2
  10483113 Hydronics and Heat Pumps 3
  10601121 Intro to HVAC Installation 2
  Term Total   12 Credits
       
  Program Total   24 Credits

Instructors

MARK HAFERMAN, AD

Mark earned his associate degree in industrial mechanical technologies from Mid-State Technical College. He is also a licensed Journeyman Steamfitter and Journeyman Plumber with EPA 608 certification. His teaching at Mid-State draws on 12 years of experience in HVAC, plumbing, and mechanical field service.

“Being a trades instructor is very fulfilling for me. I love to pour into students, share what I have learned through experience, work alongside them, and help them pursue their career in the trades.”

KARL SCHWINGEL, BS

Karl graduated from Northland College with a bachelor of science in environmental science. His certifications include Solar Thermal Installer by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners® (NABCEP®) and EPA 608. Karl’s teaching is informed by 25 years of experience installing and servicing renewable energy systems and doing general residential construction as well as 15 years specializing in hydronic heating system design, construction, and service.

“I really enjoy developing in my students the skill to ask the right questions, in the right way. If you learn to ask the right questions, the answers will yield actionable knowledge.”

Careers

  • Building Controls Technician
  • Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Installer
  • Heating and Air Conditioning Mechanic
  • Apprenticeship

Fast-Track

High school students are eligible to enroll in this program and all courses required. Learn more about Mid-State Fast-Track.

"I entered the working world right after high school. After 20 years, I learned that the only way out of that rat race was through school. I realized that through Mid-State I could make myself worth more to a lot more companies. Without a doubt, attending Mid-State was the right decision, and the HVAC Installer program absolutely lived up to my expectations."

MICHAEL HAVLOVICK
GRADUATE

 

Choose Your Path

Career pathways help you take your education one step at a time to maximize your investment and make college fit your life. Earn a credential and start using it in the workforce. Continue with another stack of related courses to gain a more advanced diploma or degree. Explore this program’s pathway in the graphic below. For an even quicker first step to a degree or diploma, check out our short-term certificates.

TransferDual CreditCredit for Prior Learning

Heating-Ventilation-and-Air-Conditioning-HVAC-Pathway