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Heating, Air Conditioning, & Refrigeration

AAS Diploma Diploma
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      • Architectural Construction Technology
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      • Heating, Air Conditioning, & Refrigeration
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      • Water Environment Technologies

If you like to troubleshoot and repair, work with your hands, and apply your knowledge and skills to solve problems, the Heating, Air Condition, and Refrigeration (HVAC/R) program might be the right option or you.

Instructors

DEGREES IN Heating, Air Conditioning, & Refrigeration

Heating, Air Conditioning, & Refrigeration Commercial Associate of Applied Science

AAS
This AAS provides soft and technical skills needed to enter the HVAC/R field for a career in residential and commercial service, maintenance, and installation.
Course List

By the Numbers

72
Credits

Heating, Air Conditioning, & Refrigeration Commercial Diploma

DIP
This Diploma provides technical skills needed to enter the HVAC/R field for a career in residential and commercial service, maintenance, and installation.
Course List

By the Numbers

66
Credits

Heating, Air Conditioning, & Refrigeration Diploma

DIP
This Diploma provides technical skills needed to enter the HVAC/R field for a career in residential service, maintenance, and installation.
Course List

By the Numbers

35
Credits

Why Choose This Program

The HVAC/R program at SCTCC prepares graduates for residential and commercial installation, service, and maintenance of heating, cooling, and refrigeration systems, including troubleshooting electrical controls and motors. All students will be trained in the refrigeration and heating processes commonly used in the industry.

Well-trained technicians are in high demand with service, installation, and manufacturing companies. After graduation, students get to work in a demanding field with competitive pay.

The SCTCC program also allows you to put your skills to work in maintenance positions at hospitals, schools, supermarkets, and other public or private facilities. Positions are also available in sales for service, supply, and manufacturing companies. With so many options for a career path, our graduates are certain to find the right choice for them.

100%
2023 Program Placement Rate
$33
Minnesota Median Wage

Placement rate is self-reported data of graduates available for work in field of study up to one year post graduation. Wage data is from Minnesota Dept. of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). SCTCC Consumer Information.

From Degree to Career

When you choose the HVAC/R program at SCTCC, you’ll gain skills that will directly transfer to the workplace. There are several employers that are ready to hire including McDowall Company, Marco, Gilbert Mechanical, and more.

In the SCTCC HVAC/R program, students can expect to learn the skills necessary to succeed in the workforce. To prepare them for their careers, we teach students how to use VOM meters, understand the refrigeration and heating process, and read and interpret electrical diagrams.

After graduation, our students can even repair ice machines and refrigeration systems, solder and braze copper pipes, and even administer a combustion analysis. With a degree from SCTCC, graduates are skilled and ready to take on the path of HVAC/R.

Quick Glance
  • Use of VOM meters
  • Understanding of refrigeration and heating process
  • Reading and interpreting electrical diagrams
  • Solder and brazing of copper pipe
  • Repair of ice machines and refrigeration systems
  • Combustion analysis


View all program learner outcomes

With a degree in HVAC/R, graduates have many employment opportunities. Our students have worked as service and installation technicians, digital control programmers and technicians, and even equipment manufacture technicians. You can even utilize your degree as a wholesale distributor seller or a manufacture serve and install representative.

A day in the life of an SCTCC HVAC/R graduate often looks like working as a service technician under a contractor. The graduate deploys skills taught in our classrooms like reading and interpreting electrical diagrams and their knowledge of how heating and refrigeration works.

Students can find careers with a variety of employers. From service and installation contractors to wholesale companies, our graduates are certain to find a career path right for them. SCTCC graduates have even found opportunities working with public and private commercial facilities and even manufacturing distributers.

Quick Glance
  • Service/installation technician
  • Digital control programmer/technician
  • Equipment manufacture technician
  • Wholesale distributor sales
  • Manufacture service and install reps

Potential Employers

  • Service/Installation Contractors
  • Wholesale Companies
  • Public and Private Commercial Facilities
  • Manufacturing Distributers

By utilizing the skills taught in our classrooms, SCTCC graduates have worked in many successful organizations. Our students have worked with McDowall Company, Marco, Gilbert Mechanical, and many more:

  • South Town Refrigeration
  • SCR Central/Metro
  • Naylor Heating and Refrigeration
  • Climate Air
  • Precise
HVAC student
HVAC student
HVAC student and instructor
HVAC students working
HVAC student working

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Are you ready to learn more about the HVAC/R program and being a student at SCTCC?

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Request Information

Fill out this form to receive useful information that's specific to your program.

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Connect with the Admissions team

  • Call us at 320-308-5089
  • Email us at recruitment@sctcc.edu

  • On campus Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Visiting campus is an excellent opportunity to learn about SCTCC programs, the application process, and tour the state-of-the-art-labs and classrooms.

6.18.25 01:00pm
Main entrance: 1540 Northway Drive, St. Cloud, MN

Cyclone Tour

6.20.25 09:00am
Main entrance: 1540 Northway Drive, St. Cloud, MN

Cyclone Tour

6.24.25 08:00am
SCTCC Main Entrance

Express Enroll for Fall 2025

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Paying for College

Students choose SCTCC for a lot of reasons, but saving money is one reason we hear from almost every student at SCTCC. We’ve got a breakdown of the costs for the program, along with information on financial aid and scholarships.

Apply just once and you are considered for all eligible SCTCC scholarships. There are scholarships available specifically for students in the HVAC/R program.

Program Costs   Applying for Financial Aid   SCTCC Scholarships
SCTCC is the best value with tuition at $6124. MinnState university is $9959. UofM is $14962. MN private university is $50979. *Based on average 2024 tuition & fees for 15 credits or full-time for an academic year. Some institutions charge additional fees.  Fees vary by program. For exact costs, contact the institution that interests you. The listed costs do not include room & board.
HVAC-R lab
Virtual Lab Tour

Program Info for Current Students

SkillsUSA HVAC

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industries working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student excel and provides educational programs, events, and competitions that support career and technical education (CTE) in the nation’s classrooms. Join SkillsUSA to put your skills to work and prepare you for the workforce.

SCTCC Student Clubs

HVAC Instructor

If you are interested in learning more about our HVAC/R program, contact us today.

Good Stuff

04.10.25
Kate Wallace
Large group of skills students and instructors in red jackets posing

State SkillsUSA 2025 Sends Six to Nationals

SCTCC students held their record from last year and will be sending six champions to nationals. This time, half of them are PSEO students. This past weekend, SCTCC students were able show off their...
04.22.24
Kate Wallace
Transportation Skills State Winners in a row smiling

After State, SCTCC to Send Six to SkillsUSA Nationals

When SCTCC students head to the SkillsUSA Minnesota competition, they mean business. And this year, business was good. After competing on campus to determine who will attend the state Leadership &...
11.06.23
Kate Wallace
4 students in line in front of windows

Beanbag Tournament Brings Camaraderie

In October, several of the trades area programs finished up a bean bag tournament organized by Commissioner Al Raeker with competition spanning over the course of several weeks. Each program...
More News

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