Professional Air-Conditioning Maintenance Certification

Month 1: Introduction to HVAC Fundamentals & Safety

• Class 1: Introduction to Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer (Conduction, Convection,
  Radiation). Basic components of an AC system.
• Class 2: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Electrical Safety, and Handling
  Refrigerants (EPA guidelines/local regulations).
• Practical/Field Work: Identify AC components on a physical unit; practice proper Lock Out/Tag-Out (LOTO) procedures; acquire necessary hand tools.

Month 2: The Refrigeration Cycle

• Class 3: The Vapor Compression Cycle explained: Evaporation, Compression,
  Condensation, Expansion.
• Class 4: Analyzing the state of refrigerant at different points in the system (Superheat and Subcooling basics).
• Practical/Field Work: Trace the refrigeration lines on a working unit; identify high and low-pressure sides; measure line temperatures.

Month 3: Electrical Components & Circuitry (Part 1)

• Class 5: Basics of Electricity: Voltage, Current, Resistance, and Ohm’s Law.
  Understanding AC vs. DC.
• Class 6: Reading Wiring Diagrams and Schematics; Symbols for compressors, fans,
  and capacitors.
• Practical/Field Work: Practice using a multimeter to measure voltage on a
  disconnected unit; trace a simple wiring diagram on a real control board.

Month 4: Electrical Components & Circuitry (Part 2)

• Class 7: Testing Capacitors, Contactors, and Relays.
• Class 8: Electric Motors: Compressor motors and Fan motors (PSC, ECM).
  Troubleshooting motor failures.
• Practical/Field Work: Test capacitance on old capacitors; continuity testing on fuses and switches; check motor windings for resistance.

Month 5: Tools of the Trade & Piping Skills

• Class 9: Manifold Gauges (Analog vs. Digital): How to hook up and read pressures.
  Vacuum pumps and recovery machines.
• Class 10: Copper Tubing techniques: Cutting, Swaging, Flaring, and Brazing/Soldering safety (using oxy-acetylene or MAPP gas).
• Practical/Field Work: Practice brazing copper scraps; practice making a perfect flare connection; leak testing joints with nitrogen.

Month 6: Refrigerants & Charging Methods

• Class 11: Types of Refrigerants (R-22, R-410A, R-32, etc.) and their
  properties/lubricants.
• Class 12: System Charging: Weigh-in method vs. Superheat (Fixed Orifice) vs.
  Subcooling (TXV).
• Practical/Field Work: Calculate target superheat/subcooling for a specific day’s
  weather; observe a recovery process (if available).

Month 7: Routine Maintenance Procedures

• Class 13: Cleaning Coils (Evaporator and Condenser): Chemical selection and
  technique.
• Class 14: Airflow: Filter types, checking static pressure, and cleaning blower wheels. Condensate drain cleaning.
• Practical/Field Work: Perform a full deep clean on a condenser coil; clear a clogged condensate drain line; replace various air filters.

Month 8: Troubleshooting Mechanical Failures

• Class 15: Compressor issues: Locked rotor, open windings, short to ground.
• Class 16: Metering device failures: Stuck TXVs, clogged pistons/capillary tubes.
• Practical/Field Work: Diagnose a “system not cooling” scenario (simulation); listen to compressor sounds to identify mechanical stress.

Month 9: Troubleshooting Airflow & Psychrometrics

• Class 17: Understanding the Psychrometric Chart: Humidity, Dew Point, and Enthalpy.
• Class 18: diagnosing airflow restrictions, duct leakage, and uneven cooling issues.
• Practical/Field Work: Measure Temperature Split (Delta T) across evaporator coils; check registers for airflow blockage.

Month 10: Advanced Controls & Inverter Technology

• Class 19: Thermostats: Installation, low-voltage wiring, and smart thermostat
  programming.
• Class 20: Introduction to Mini-Split Systems and Inverter Technology (DC Conversion).
• Practical/Field Work: Install or replace a standard thermostat; review error codes on a mini-split remote or control board.

Month 11: System Installation Basics

• Class 21: Site survey and Load Calculation (Basic Manual J concepts). Equipment
  placement and leveling.
• Class 22: Evacuation (pulling a vacuum) to 500 microns and decay testing.
• Practical/Field Work: Assist in a system pump-down; practice using a micron gauge to verify a vacuum.

Month 12: Customer Service, Business Skills & Final Review

• Class 23: Soft Skills: Communicating with customers, explaining repairs, and quoting prices.
• Class 24: Final Assessment (Written Exam) and Course Recap.
• Practical/Field Work: Mock service call: Arrive, diagnose, quote, and “repair” a staged fault; final tool inventory check.