Apprenticeship Program
We are constantly asked, “Where can I find qualified technicians and installers?”
The answer invariably is there are none or not enough. You are going to have to make your own. In-house training programs are great and we highly recommend that effort.
However, there is another alternative -
RACCA Apprenticeship
Our programs are cost effective. For a member firm, the tuition and book costs are about $400.00 per year per Apprentice. The Apprentice attends classes (3 hours each), two nights per week for 7 months during our off-season (September through March) and works for a contractor employer during the day. In four years you have developed a Journeyman. Classes begin each year in September.
Requirements:
- Apprentices must be employed by an HVACR Contractor located in Hillsborough, Pasco, or Pinellas Counties.
- Apprentices must be 18 years of age.
Program Description
A four year program of 624 classroom hours and 8,000 On-The-Job (OJT) hours. When completed the student is recognized as a Journeyman in residential and light commercial heating and air conditioning service and installation. Additionally, the Apprentice can elect to take a fifth year in refrigeration. * A REGISTERED PROGRAM TO MEET STATE AND FEDERAL STANDARDS.
First Year Curriculum:
Fabrication and Installation of Air Distribution systems. Includes rigid fiberglass ductboard, flexible duct and sheet metal. Special attention to industry standards and codes.
Second Year Curriculum:
Fundamentals of refrigeration, system components, piping and setting equipment, evacuation, charging and recovery.
Third Year Curriculum:
Basic electricity, Ohms law, series circuits, parallel circuits, low and line voltage training on boards. Control circuitry for residential and light commercial HVAC, there may be several seminars and field trips as time permits.
Fourth Year Curriculum:
Psychometrics, residential load calculations, layout and design (one project), electric heat, oil and gas fired systems overview, heat pump analysis and troubleshooting will complete this years training.
At this point the four-year program is completed; however you can transfer your credit into a commercial refrigeration program for additional training and credentials.
