In the United States, an associate’s degree in a refrigeration technology discipline may be required to work as a refrigeration technician. Some employers may be willing to accept qualified candidates with substantial work experience in lieu of a formal education. Employers typically seek candidates with technical certifications in at least one specialized area.
If you want to work as a refrigeration technician, you may need to have at least two or three years of experience in order to be hired. You might have to start your career as an intern, assistant, or apprentice if you don’t have this experience. Your employer may also require you to have a valid driver’s license in the state where you’ll be working, especially if your job requires you to travel between locations.
You should be familiar with maintenance and repair procedures for a variety of refrigeration systems as a general rule. You’ll almost always need experience troubleshooting and repairing plumbing and electrical systems to work as a refrigeration technician. You may need to be able to quickly calculate mathematical figures depending on the job requirements. Basic math skills are typically sufficient, though advanced mathematical formulas may be required in some cases.
It’s also common to need the ability to write legibly in order to create reports for customers and your employer. While some reports may require handwriting, you may also be required to create documents on a computer. You should be able to operate word processing programs and navigate the Internet if you want to work as a refrigeration technician.
You may be expected to read and understand drawings and blueprints while on the job, depending on your level of employment. You may be required to work on equipment that you are unfamiliar with in order to become a refrigeration technician and succeed in this field. In these cases, you may need to go over blueprints or other existing documentation to figure out what steps need to be taken to solve the problem.
Communication is widely regarded as a critical component of this type of job. Employers expect job candidates to communicate effectively with others by speaking clearly and intelligently. You should also be approachable and have the ability to work well with a diverse group of people.