HVACR Technician Fixing a Residential Mini-Split System

Available HVACR training resources include:

  • Air Conditioning/Heat Pump Troubleshooting Learning System (T7082A)
  • Environmental Applications Learning System (T7083)
  • Refrigerant Recovery and Charging Learning System for R-134a (T7031)
  • Refrigerant Recovery and Charging Learning System for R-410a (T7032)
  • Residential Heat Pump Troubleshooting Learning System (T7100)
  • Residential Mini-Split Heat Pump Learning System (T7130)
  • Thermal Science Learning System (T7081)
T7100 Residential Heat Pump Troubleshooting Learning System
Residential Heat Pump Troubleshooting Learning System

(T7100)

Available Geothermal training systems include:

  • Geothermal Flush Cart Learning System (95-GEO3)
  • Geothermal Learning System (950-GEO1)
  • Geothermal Learning System with Desuperheater (950-GEO1D)
  • Geothermal Troubleshooting Learning System (950-GEO2)
  • Geothermal Troubleshooting with Desuperheater Learning System (950-GEO2D)


Available Steam training systems include:

  • Steam Systems 1 Learning System (950-SH1)
950-GEO1D In USe
Geothermal Learning System with Desuperheater

(950-GEO1D)

Some Curriculum Also Available in Spanish

HVACR Training | Hands-On Skills for HVACR Technicians

Amatrol offers a robust mix of interactive eLearning curriculum and HVACR training systems that feature real industrial components technicians will encounter on the job. These training resources were developed in conjunction with HVACR experts to provide comprehensive training that equally combines practice with theory.

Amatrol’s HVACR training includes a variety of media, such as text, audio, interactive 2D and 3D models/illustrations, quizzes, and hands-on experience. Our training systems offer learners an opportunity to get real experience with a wide variety of concepts and components, such as fluid pressure, heat capacity and transfer, phase change, compressors, valves, heat pumps, geothermal source circuits, air vents, boilers, refrigeration cycles, and more. Troubleshooting training systems also feature FaultPro, which is Amatrol’s unique computer-based fault insertion software that allows instructors to create challenging situations that teach realistic industry troubleshooting skills and help make learners well-rounded and prepared for their future as an HVACR technician.

Learning Topics

  • Temperature & Pressure
  • Insulation
  • Thermodynamics
  • Residential Heating & Cooling
  • Residential Mini-Split Heat Pump Systems
  • Refrigeration Systems
  • Refrigeration Installation
  • Refrigerant Recovery & Charging
  • Commercial Refrigeration
  • Multi-Zone Refrigeration
  • Smart Controllers
  • Pumps, Hoses, & Valves
  • Phase Change Effects

Why Are HVACR Technicians in High Demand?

Over the last few decades, technological advancements have changed the landscape of nearly every industry. This includes the HVACR industry, which has seen rapid employment growth in recent years. This trend is expected to continue due to an influx of new construction projects and homeowners seeking to upgrade their HVACR systems.

New HVACR technology is more complex than ever, meaning that even the simplest HVACR systems available today demand a combination of expertise and skills beyond that of most do-it-yourselfers. New systems often now require knowledge and experience in operating smart thermostats that work with Wi-Fi and apps on smart phones. Or, perhaps, a system needs to be converted to a green energy source, such as solar or geothermal solutions. An entire overhaul may be needed to switch from R22 refrigerant to the more environmentally friendly R410a refrigerant. All of these situations require calling a skilled HVACR technician, particularly one that is tech-savvy.

However, like most other industries, the HVACR industry is experiencing a shortage of highly-skilled technicians. Many current technicians in the field are around retirement age and are leaving the profession at a high rate each year. In contrast, the number of those entering the field each year is dwindling. This is largely due to a change in societal perception of HVACR professions. Between the Boomer and Millennial generations, there has been a shift to guide youth toward college degrees and away from trade professions. As a result, many trade courses have been eliminated over the past few years as schools transition to a college preparatory curriculum. It is also worth noting that even current HVACR technicians may not be up-to-date with the upgraded HVACR technology. So, although they’re still in the field, their skills are largely built around machines that are being phased out.

Demand for highly-skilled HVACR technicians will continue to rise as the shortage becomes more severe. So, how can this shortage be combatted? Amatrol’s HVACR program was designed to provide the tools that educators need to train both current and aspiring technicians to be well-prepared for the field.

What Skills Are Needed for a Career in HVACR?

HVACR technicians need both a strong theoretical foundation of HVACR system principles and thorough hands-on training in operation, installation, maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting of old and new HVACR systems. To be further well-equipped for the field, they must also possess a spectrum of basic to advanced skills in a variety of other disciplines, including thermal, geothermal, and steam systems.

This presents a challenge for most HVACR educators. HVACR systems for hands-on training typically come to a classroom as a donation. These systems are usually second-hand, broken, and obsolete by the time they are received. Even if the systems are new, they can take up a significant amount of time and space to install. They also don’t come with curriculum. Textbooks could be purchased separately, but it may be frustrating to transfer those skills to whatever system the educator has on-hand due to advancing technologies and practices not being accurately reflected in the system, the textbook, or both.

That’s why Amatrol has developed an HVACR Technology program that combines eLearning and hands-on training systems. This comprehensive curriculum covers key HVACR principles, basic and advanced core skills, thermal skills, geothermal skills, steam skills, and operation of specific HVACR components that technicians will see in everyday situations on the job.

Educators can use the HVACR Technology Skills Sequence chart as a road map to build their own custom HVACR program. An expert consultant from Amatrol can assist every step of the way with recommendations regarding the proper curriculum and equipment needed for instruction. By doing this, the program can be tailored to a class’s specific needs, skill level, and desired area of focus.

Are HVACR Certifications Important?

While certifications are by no means a guarantee of securing a job immediately, industry-standard certifications have taken on a greater importance in recent years. They are proof that a technician has passed an industry-standard test, which helps employers trust that they’re hiring qualified technicians. When a potential employer looks at a job candidate, certifications, or the lack of them, can tell them immediately whether that technician has the skills they’re looking for. This makes certifications an excellent way to market one’s skills.

Amatrol’s HVACR Technology program features comprehensive eLearning curriculum and hands-on training that lays a solid foundation for both current and aspiring HVACR technicians who wish to pursue an industry-standard HVACR certification. For example, Amatrol’s line of geothermal trainers can help prepare students for multiple geothermal certifications offered by the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA).

Equipped with foundational knowledge and hands-on skills, users of Amatrol’s HVACR Technology program will be able to earn industry-standard certifications that will put them on the path to a rewarding HVACR career.

How Can Amatrol Help You Set Up an HVACR Program?

Contact the expert consultants at Amatrol today to learn more about how they can help you develop a plan for implementing an effective HVACR training program. Simply click the “Request Info” button, located at both the top of this page and the bottom right-hand corner of your screen, and fill out the Contact Form.

Be sure to include any questions or comments regarding your interests or requirements, and an Amatrol representative will be in touch soon. With Amatrol’s help, you’ll be preparing students for highly-skilled HVACR positions in no time!

HVACR Training | Learning Systems

Amatrol’s HVACR training products mainly focus on industrial, commercial, and residential heating and cooling through traditional means like air conditioning, as well as topics like insulation, lighting, and ceiling fans, or through renewable energy systems like geothermal. This area also features a steam training system that covers key concepts and skills used in paper mills, power companies, and even nuclear submarines. Amatrol’s offering of thermal products align with several key programs, including: HVACR, Power & Energy, STEM, and Industrial Maintenance.

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