Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR)
Build a hands-on career that keeps homes, businesses and industries running.
College of the Mainland’s Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (HVACR) program prepares students to install, maintain, troubleshoot and repair heating, cooling and refrigeration systems.
Through hands-on training, students develop skills in electricity, refrigeration, residential air conditioning and heating systems while preparing for careers across residential, commercial and industrial settings.
Whether you want to enter the workforce quickly or continue building your skills, COM offers a stackable pathway from a Level I Certificate to advanced HVACR credentials and an Associate of Applied Science.
Choose Your Path
Level I Certificate – HVACR
Start with a focused workforce credential designed to prepare you for entry-level employment in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration. Students gain hands-on experience with electrical systems, refrigeration principles, residential air conditioning and gas and electric heating.
Level II Certificate – HVACR
Build on your Level I training with advanced skills in commercial refrigeration, industrial air conditioning, electrical systems, controls, installation and troubleshooting. The Level II Certificate is designed for students who want to expand their technical skills and prepare for more advanced HVACR positions.
Associate of Applied Science – HVACR
Take your HVACR training further with an Associate of Applied Science. The 60-credit-hour degree combines advanced technical training with general education courses and prepares students for a broader range of opportunities in residential, commercial and industrial HVACR.
HVACR Jobs in Industries
- HVACR Service Technician
- HVACR Installer
- Refrigeration Technician
- Residential Service Technician
- Facilities Maintenance Technician
- Building Maintenance Technician
- Commercial HVAC Technician
- Industrial HVAC Technician
Why Choose HVACR at COM?
- Hands-On Training: Develop practical skills using HVACR equipment, tools and systems.
- Start Working Sooner: Earn a Level I Certificate and begin preparing for entry-level employment while continuing toward advanced credentials.
- Built for Working Adults: Evening coursework provides an option for students balancing work and other responsibilities.
- Career-Focused Skills: Learn installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, electrical systems, refrigeration, heating and air conditioning.
- Industry Preparation: Coursework includes preparation related to EPA Section 608 refrigerant requirements.
- Affordable Education: Build valuable workforce skills at a fraction of the cost of many other education options
Program Details
Next Start Date
Fall 2026
Learning Format
In-Person
Program Length
4 semesters
Degree Plan
View in course catalog
Let’s Connect!
409-933-8286
outreach@com.edu
Careers & Outcomes
HVACR professionals work anywhere climate-control and refrigeration systems are needed, including homes, schools, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, commercial buildings, manufacturing facilities and industrial operations.
Additional Program Info
Financial Aid and Scholarships Available
High school diploma or High School Equivalency (HSE)
- Apply to COM and submit the necessary documents (transcripts, meningitis vaccination if under 22 and proof of Texas residency).
- Meet with Academic Advisor.
Demand for trained HVACR professionals is driven by new residential and commercial construction, increasingly sophisticated climate-control systems and the ongoing need to maintain, repair, replace and upgrade existing equipment.
Across the Gulf Coast, HVACR skills support residential service, commercial facilities, industrial operations and manufacturing, creating opportunities for technicians with strong troubleshooting and hands-on technical skills.
COM offers two HVACR training pathways depending on your goals.
Academic Credit HVACR Program
Choose the academic program if you want to earn college credit and build toward advanced credentials.
- Earn college credit
- Begin with a Level I Certificate
- Continue to a Level II Certificate and AAS
- Build toward COM’s BAS in Operations Management
- Financial aid may be available for eligible students
Continuing Education HVACR Program
Looking for shorter-term, noncredit workforce training? COM also offers a Continuing Education HVACR program designed to prepare students for employment through classroom and hands-on technical training.
The Continuing Education program is noncredit and nontransferable and leads to workforce credentials rather than a college certificate or degree.