Though the path to becoming a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) engineer differs slightly from one location to the next, it generally entails a combination of formal education and on-the-job training. The majority of people begin their careers by earning a bachelor’s degree in an engineering-related field. Two-year or associate’s degrees are sometimes accepted, but only if you have a significant amount of experience in the field to compensate for any perceived lack of formal education. Engineers typically have more experience than technicians, and their training reflects this. You may also need to be certified or licensed by a regulatory body, depending on where you live. This usually entails passing a written exam or a hands-on, demonstration-style exam; in some cases, both are required. In competitive markets, having at least some experience working with heating and cooling systems is usually advantageous. The ability to lead, give direction, and devise innovative solutions to complex problems is also highly valued. Anything you can do to highlight these and other relevant skills will almost always help your application progress.
Job Fundamentals
Heating, cooling, ventilation, and refrigeration systems are designed, installed, maintained, and repaired by HVAC engineers. In layman’s terms, this means that these individuals plan the infrastructure for air conditioning and heating systems in homes and businesses. HVAC engineering and manufacturing is a growing field with opportunities for professionals at all levels. Engineers are typically considered to be on the higher end of the spectrum; they often work to update and repair systems as needed, but they also have the expertise to design and install them from the ground up.
HVAC design engineers design systems for residential, institutional, industrial, and commercial buildings from behind the scenes. Some HVAC professionals work directly with customers, meeting with them to find solutions to system issues or assisting with estimate preparation. An HVAC engineer can work for a variety of companies, including consulting and design firms, equipment manufacturers, and government agencies.
Requirements for Formal Education
Before you can work as an HVAC engineer in most areas, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in HVAC engineering technology, architectural engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field. Bachelor’s degrees are typically four years long, and in the field of infrastructure engineering, they usually include both theory and application courses. In most cases, you’ll need to take additional general coursework in physics, math, and both computer and mechanical engineering to complete the program, though this varies by institution.
The educational requirements aren’t set in stone, and they can be waived in some cases. People who decided to enter the field as a second career are one of the most common examples. For students with a degree in a different but related field, a number of schools offer graduate certificate programs in HVAC engineering. These programs may only require the student to take a small number of courses that are extremely focused on the topic. If you’re a mechanical engineer or have a long-standing career in a field like ventilation science, this could be a good option.
Licensing and certification
To become an HVAC engineer, some jurisdictions require additional certification or licensing, and many programs require some kind of hands-on internship or practicum. HVAC engineers may be able to specialize in areas such as high-performance building design with the help of special certifications. Furthermore, in order to stay current with changing technology, continuing education is frequently required throughout a professional’s career.
Other Desirable Qualifications and Skills
Before you can become an HVAC engineer, you should expect to demonstrate or be willing to learn a number of core skills. To meet consumers’ heating, ventilation, and air conditioning needs, good problem-solving and analytical skills are required. Because courses in Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) are typically part of any HVAC engineering curriculum, computer skills are also required. Interacting with clients, as well as coworkers and team members, necessitates good communication skills.