Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Service Technician: Duties & Job Market

If you're looking for a cool career -- in every sense of the word -- consider the coolest career track around: air conditioning & refrigeration service technician.

Duties of an air conditioning & refrigeration service technician
Air conditioning & refrigeration service technicians keep self-contained and split-system air conditioner units, electric refrigeration equipment, and electric refrigerators in good repair.

Small appliance products serviced by air conditioning & refrigeration service technicians include home refrigerators and freezers, room air conditioners, dehumidifiers, ice makers, vending machines, and water coolers. Service technicians also work on complex customized appliances as well as industrial ice machines and ice rinks.

Where to find air conditioning & refrigeration service technician jobs
About 55 percent of air conditioning & refrigeration service technicians worked for plumbing, heating, and air conditioning contractors in 2006, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The rest of the air conditioning & refrigeration service technician jobs were found in refrigeration and air conditioning service and repair shops; stores that sell air conditioning systems; schools; hospitals, office buildings; and other organizations that operate large air conditioning and refrigeration systems. About 13 percent of air conditioning & refrigeration service technicians were self-employed.

Air conditioning & refrigeration service technician programs
Many trade schools and community colleges offer six-month to two-year air conditioning & refrigeration service technician programs. Coursework typically includes the basics of installation, maintenance, and repair, as well as electronics, equipment design and construction, and theory of temperature control.

Make sure your air conditioning & refrigeration service technician program has been accredited by HVAC Excellence; the National Center for Construction Education and Research; or the Partnership for Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Accreditation. All air conditioning & refrigeration service technicians must pass a national written exam to become certified in the proper handling of refrigerants.

Demand for air conditioning & refrigeration service technician jobs
Air conditioning & refrigeration service technicians -- especially those with formal training -- will always be in demand. Even in a poor economy, people depend on their climate control and refrigeration systems.

Other factors contributing to the availability of air conditioning & refrigeration service technician jobs include the increasing complexity of air conditioning and refrigeration systems, the growing popularity of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly cooling systems, and changing regulations regarding the discharge and production of older types of refrigerants.

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