The Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) program at Central Tech helps students find successful, gainful employment, and helps meet the growing need for skilled technicians.

“Central Tech’s first full-time HVAC class began in the fall of 2014, in response to industry outlook and projected demand for skilled workers. With many owners and contractors of air conditioning businesses in the Tulsa and Sapulpa area reaching retirement age, the HVAC industry was and is facing growing needs and shortages among skilled Residential and Light Commercial HVAC Technicians locally, state-wide and nationally. Seeing this growing need, and projected skills gap, Central Tech sought to be part of the solution,” said Diana Plummer, career counselor for Central Tech.

An advisory committee of industry leaders was formed to aid in curriculum and program development for the HVAC class, as well as hire the future graduates.

Since the class began, interest has skyrocketed, creating a need for an additional class and the opportunity for students to take evening courses. By August 2017, the full-time evening class was established mirroring the daytime class.

“The success of the HVAC program is demonstrated through 100 percent positive job placement of all the full-time Residential and Light Commercial Technicians,” said Dr. Kim Howard, Central Tech’s Sapulpa campus director. “Our graduates earn an average entry-level starting salary of $15 per hour, and students who complete the program are prepared for their apprenticeship, with the ability to sit for their journeyman certification after one year of work experience.”

The need is growing, and Central Tech’s HVAC programs are meeting the need of the industry as well as positively impacting the economy. According to the US Department of Labor, the median pay for HVAC technicians is more than $22 per hour, and jobs opportunities are projected to grow by 15 percent, which is much faster than average.

Join us for Central Tech’s Annual Open House on Sunday, February 18, from 1-4 p.m. and tour the class to see first-hand the industry-leading equipment and instruction our students receive.

For more information about Central Tech’s HVAC program, please visit staging.centraltech.edu or call 918-224-9300.