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Program facts 
Take the first step in your HVAC/R career with this 19-credit-hour certificate program designed to provide you with the skills necessary to perform preventative maintenance and repairs to residential heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems.
The six courses in this program emphasize practical application for performing system diagnostics and developing troubleshooting techniques.
This certificate provides a strong introduction to Harper College’s HVAC/R program, which is highly regarded by local employers.
Classes are taught in Harper’s state-of-the-art HVAC/R Open Lab, where you’ll work with more than 70 pieces of commercial and residential equipment.
Credit earned for this program can be applied to Harper’s Refrigeration/Air Conditioning Technology Degree AAS Degree.
This 19 credit-hour certificate program is designed provide students the skills set to perform preventative maintenance and repairs to residential heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Emphasis is placed on practical application to perform system diagnostics and develop troubleshooting techniques.
| Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| ELT 110 | Introductory Electronics | 4 |
Description: Introduces fundamentals of electricity and magnetism. Covers basic electrical laws and principles. Presents electrical quantities, units, symbols and notation. Examines foundational electronic materials and components. Presents elementary DC (direct current) and AC (alternating current) network analysis, key semiconductor devices, and simple analog and digital circuits. Also covers electrical safety considerations, laboratory instrumentation and test and measurement techniques. Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: 3 Contact Hours: 6 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| HVA 101 | Refrigeration Fundamentals | 3 |
Description: Introduces vocabulary, concepts and scientific principles used in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry. Studies theories on heat laws, pressures, matter and energy; examines refrigerant chemistry and the refrigeration cycle. Covers proper refrigerant management techniques and safe practices. Emphasizes practical application, troubleshooting techniques, measuring and testing the operation of the basic refrigeration cycle; includes working with ACR copper tubing, tools and instruments. Prerequisite: MTH 100, MTH 101 or higher. Lecture Hours: 2 Lab Hours: 2 Contact Hours: 4 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| HVA 103 | Heating Principles | 3 |
Description: Introduces vocabulary, concepts and scientific principles used in the heating industry. Studies heat laws, heat transfer, and examines fundamentals of the combustion process. Covers gas, oil and electric forced-air systems for residential comfort heating. Emphasizes practical application for testing and adjusting system performance, troubleshooting electrical systems and control, working with gas pipe, preventative maintenance, service and repair. Prerequisite: MTH 100, MTH 101 or higher. Lecture Hours: 2 Lab Hours: 2 Contact Hours: 4 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| HVA 105 | Heating and Cooling Controls | 3 |
Description: Introduces electrical principles and concepts, electrical safety, electrical controls and electrical wiring diagrams utilized in residential and light commercial HVAC systems. Covers electrical symbols, Ohms' Law, series and parallel circuits, power distribution, magnetism, transformers, switches, relays, contactors, AC motors, motor starters and capacitors. Emphasizes the practical application for electrical system diagnosing; measuring volts, ohms and amps; troubleshooting testing and adjusting electrical controls; interpreting wiring schematics; and wiring electrical circuits. Prerequisite: MTH 100, MTH 101 or higher. Lecture Hours: 2 Lab Hours: 2 Contact Hours: 4 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| HVA 108 | Domestic Refrigeration Appliances | 3 |
Description: Builds on concepts learned in HVA 101 and HVA 105. Introduces the application of the refrigeration cycle in respect to small appliances. Covers refrigerators, air conditioning and fundamentals of heat pump operations. Reviews work-safe practices, electrical systems diagnostics, proper refrigerant handline and charging techniques, brazing and soldering copper tubing. Emphasizes practical application, operation, installation, maintenance, service and repair. Prerequisite: HVA 101 with a grade of C or better, and concurrent or prior enrollment in HVA 105 with a grade of C or better. Lecture Hours: 2 Lab Hours: 2 Contact Hours: 4 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| MTH 100 | Applied Math for Technical Careers 1 | 3 |
Description: Reviews arithmetic, introduces basic algebraic and right triangle trigonometric techniques. Includes arithmetic, elementary algebra, geometry, ratio and proportions, measurements, right triangle trigonometry and their application to solve a variety of career and technical problems. Draws practical problems from the student’s career area, including emergency services, graphic communications, building trades, culinary arts and information technology. Intended for students pursuing Harper degrees and certificates in career program fields. This mathematics course is intended for AAS degree students only. Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: 0 Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| Total Hours | 19 | |
Students may take MTH 100, MTH 101 or higher.
Students interested in HVAC/R may also be interested in:
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For more information about residential HVAC/R training, contact Admission Outreach at 847.925.6700, or submit a request information form. You can also apply online.