by Dr. Paul Wm. Conco

Paul D. Camp Community College was established in 1970, opened its Franklin campus in 1971 and launched its workforce development program roughly 10 years ago.

Since the inception of our Regional Workforce Development Center, the college has trained thousands of residents in a number of highly sought after fields. These students’ collective efforts have given root to the prosperity of the region and created life-changing and rewarding experiences for those taking advantage of the college’s workforce development service.

This of course is in addition to many transfer programs and other degrees and certificates we offer.

A new service and office established at PDCCC is our Career Development Center. It assists students and residents in areas from career exploration to job placement.

One of the newest workforce development programs that the college has established is our heating, ventilation and air conditioning program. HVAC technicians can work in homes, retail establishments, hospitals, office buildings and factories. They install, maintain and repair systems by adjusting controls and testing the performance of these systems.

Many may not know the career options available for a qualified HVAC technician. It is one of the most highly sought after fields in the nation.

Today, HVAC technicians hold nearly 300,000 jobs in the United States. That number is expected to grow even more over the next 10 years.

The average hourly wage for HVAC technicians in the United States is about $19.54, and the average annual salary is around $40,630.

 

HVAC CAREER STUDIES CERTIFICATE

The Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Certificate in Career Studies at the college is a 24-credit hour program designed for persons seeking employment in this field.

The program emphasizes training in theory, hands-on applications and on-the-job experience. Students learn the characteristics of refrigerants, circuit diagrams, characteristics of burners, heat pumps and advanced service techniques on a wide variety of equipment used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and phases of heating, ventilation and controls.

The program at the college fully prepares candidates over a very short period of time for the work world.

 

CONTACT AN ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR

If you have ever had a broken refrigerator or air conditioner, you understand the importance of properly functioning refrigeration equipment and climate control systems. That is where HVAC maintenance technicians come in — they are the professionals who make sure your heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems are in good working order.

For students looking for life-changing opportunities, know that PDCCC offers an expansive HVAC training program that fully meets the needs of employers. When you are ready to learn more, contact one of our admissions counselors, our Career Development Center, or visit www.pdc.edu.

DR. PAUL WM. CONCO is president of Paul D. Camp Community College. His email is pconco@pdc.edu