PLUMBING
The value of NATE certification
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n today’s economic climate, professionals across all fields are seeking ways to increase their
business by differentiating themselves from the competition — and the HVAC/R industry is no different. One strategic step towards staying ahead of the curve is through gaining North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certification.
What is NATE? Founded in 1997, NATE is an
independent, third-party, non-profit certification body for HVAC/R technicians. With headquarters in Arlington, Va., NATE is the nation’s largest non-profit certification organization for heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration practices. While other organizations and
companies offer training and administer tests to technicians, NATE creates these tests for certification. The tests represent real-world working knowledge of HVAC and HVAC/R systems and are developed by NATE’s dedicated technical committee, comprised of various industry professionals, including contractors, educators, manufacturers and utilities. Technicians can earn certification
in one or more specialty areas, depending on their concentration and focus. Several of the most common specialties, for example, are heat pump, gas service and air conditioning. There are also numerous other specialties to choose from, and many technicians are certified in multiple areas.
Why is NATE certification important? By obtaining NATE certification,
a technician demonstrates, to the customer and contractor alike, his or her ongoing ability to perform at the industry’s highest standards, which increases their professional demand on all fronts. Many contractors insist that the technicians they partner with are NATE-certified, while an increasing number of homeowners are seeking out the NATE “stamp of approval” when scheduling HVAC/R installation and service.
In addition, the value of NATE
certification continues to grow as the industry evolves. Continual changes require industry professionals to stay ahead of the curve by regularly updating their knowledge and information about the industry, equipment and regulations. NATE certification helps
technicians demonstrate their commitment to ongoing excellence.
How do I become NATE- certified? To become NATE-certified you
must pass a core exam and a specialty test of your choice. The core test covers the candidate’s general knowledge in the areas of safety/tools/soft skills, heat transfer/comfort and electrical systems. Specialty exams cover the
candidate’s knowledge of the installation, service maintenance and/or repair of HVAC/R systems. There are a total of 22 different
NATE specialty exams, all of which cover information that nearly all technicians have an 80 percent chance of encountering each year. In order to determine which
NATE specialty test(s) to pursue, a technician can review the various knowledge areas of technician expertise, or KATEs, which are outlines of the information covered in each exam. Not only are KATEs a source of information when deciding which specialty or specialties best fit a technician’s career path, they are also excellent resources to use as reference
e Continued on p 142
Who supports NATE certification? Contractors support NATE certification because certified technicians
remain in the industry longer, have the knowledge to do the job right the first time and are more productive than non-certified technicians. Manufacturers and distributors support NATE certification because it
encourages proper installation and service of equipment by knowledgeable technicians, which means fewer warranty returns and, ultimately, a better bottom line. Educators and trainers support NATE certification because they benefit
from a uniform standard of knowledge that allows them to better prepare the technician workforce of tomorrow. Utilities support NATE certification because properly trained and tested
technicians can assure the correct installation and servicing of sophisticated HVAC/R equipment that saves energy and money when operating at peak efficiency. Consumers support NATE certification because third-party accreditation
assures them that a knowledgeable, well-trained and highly experienced technician will install and service their home heating or cooling system. When asked, 87 percent of consumers expressed the preference that certified technicians work on their home comfort system. That's proof that certification really does matter.
NATE in numbers Since NATE began in 1997, more than 190,000 exams have been
administered to more than 82,000 technicians. In 2010, a total of 19,000 tests were given, with an average passing rate of 69%. The following states have the highest number of NATE-certified
technicians: Florida, Texas, California, Ohio, Georgia. The top three tests taken by technicians are Heat Pump, Gas Service and
Air Conditioning. The top five testing organizations in 2010 gave 15% of all NATE exams.
They include the following: International Ground Source Heat Pump, Oklahoma; Lennox HVAC Learning Solutions, Texas; Institute of Heating and Air Conditioning Industries, California; Mingledorff’s Inc., Georgia; Carrier, Florida.
phc may 2011
www.phcnews.com
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