Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
The best, highest paid HVACR (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration) Technicians:
- Have mastered fundamental HVACR concepts
- Are practiced in the art of critical thinking
- Effectively communicate details of their work to customers and co-workers.
For more than 25 years, we have been focused on these high performing characteristics!
To this end, our highly trained, exceptionally experienced instructors guide students toward a successful HVAC career in our state of the art, 7,000 square foot training facility. Throughout the program, you may take NATE, R-401A, EPA/Federal Clean Air Act – Section 608, or NCCER industry certifications.
Equipped with a degree, certificate, and/or certification in air conditioning, your first job as an HVAC Technician is closer than you might think!
Learn about our programs
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Overview (0:41)
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Programs (3:33)
Degrees
Certificates
Head of the Class Award
Fresno City College HVAC program has partnered with Purpose Built and Malco Tools for a Head of the Class award for the top student by grades each semester. The student with the top grades is given the opportunity to choose between the two sponsor's offerings.
Purpose Built's award is a pair of Keen boots
Malco offers a set of tools or a backpack tool bag
The winners for the Spring 2025 are:
- James Border - Purpose Built boots
- Jesus De La Cruz - Malco tools
- Tied - Joby (Joel) Rodriguez - Malco tools
- Tied - Elvin Dominguez - Malco tools
Join Now
To learn more about the HVAC program and courses, contact an Applied Technology counselor.
Call 559.442.8273 or schedule a counseling appointment with our Tech & Trades Pathway counselors.
Counselors are available in the Applied Technology Division Office to assist students with creating a Student Education Plan for a Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) Degree or Certificate.
Courses and Information
To see recommended courses, see the Catalog. To see upcoming scheduled classes, see the Schedule of Classes.
For more information, contact the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) Lead Program Instructor at 559.442.8200 ext. 8742 or email Robert Lewallen at rob.lewallen@fresnocitycollege.edu
FAQs
Tuition for the California Community College system $46 per unit.
A student will have the option of choosing one out of four certificates of achievement available within the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) program:
1. HVAC Technology I - Major #8041 - Certificate of Achievement
a. Courses include:
i. HVAC 50 Principles of HVAC 2.0 units
ii. HVAC 51 Electricity for HVAC 6.5 units
iii. HVAC 52 Heating Systems 6.5 units
iv. HVAC 53 Systems Analysis & Regulations 6.5 units
v. HVAC 54 Brazing and Motor Technology 6.5 units
Students will need 28 units of completion for this certificate, or a total of $1,288 in tuition costs.
Financial Aid, if available to the student, can cover tuition. Review our Financial Aid website for further information.
There are required textbooks for this program, along with recommended textbooks that are good reference as well as some free "open educational resources" required for some courses.
1. HVAC Technology I: $295.73 - $373.00
a. HVAC 50, 51, 52, 53, 54: Requires a 1 year online subscription
i. $213.74 / $170.00 Cengage Unlimited, Multi-term, ISBN: 9780357700013 (FCC Bookstore / amazon.com)
ii. $81.99 (digital) / $203.00 Recommended, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Technology, Ninth edition, ISBN: 9780357122273 (FCC Bookstore)
A. Required Fees:
- Health fee ($21 per semester, $13 if off campus/online per semester)
- Associated Student Body fee ($2 per semester, but opportunity to waive the fee at time of registration if the student so chooses)
Optional fees:
- Parking pass ($30 per semester)
- Fall 2022 semester: Parking is waived
- Spring 2023 semester: Parking is waived
- Student ID Card ($5)
B. Some courses require additional materials fee for the following courses:
- HVAC 54: ESCO EPA 608 testing fee: $30.00
* Testing fees are subject to change without notice
Some Courses require additional materials that will be required or recommended. Instructors will review and demonstrate examples of supplies, during the first week of class, to ensure that you are successful in the program.
ALL HVAC Courses:
Total Estimated for fees and materials: $565.76
*Materials can be purchased through other vendors if available. Instructors will review items during the first week of classes and will expect all students to have them ready by the second week of classes.
C. Vendor Recommendations:
Each HVAC certificate requires all students to have their materials prepared and purchased by the second week of classes. The following vendors are some examples where students may be able to purchase materials.
- Home Depot
- Walmart
- Lowes
- Harbor Freight
- Amazon.com
- FCC Bookstore
D. Technology Requirements:
- A Dell Precision laptop (or equivalent) or Desktop (8 GB and 500 GB storage) with Microsoft Windows 10 Operating Systems:
- Windows 10
- 16 GB of RAM
- Mac: MacOS 10.12 and above, must have Windows 10 or above
- iOS: 11.0 and above (iPad only) Must have a compatible LMS integration
- Memory:
- Windows: 75 MB permanent space on the hard drive
- Mac: 120 MB permanent space on the hard drive
- Additional Equipment:
- High Speed Internet
- Wireless USB mouse
- Webcam
- Earbuds with microphone 3.5mm stereo plug/jack
- Picture ready smartphone and be proficient to transfer digital pictures to Canvas
- A cloud-based file storage platform, such as iCloud, Google Drive, DropBox, or similar
Fresno City Library offers the opportunity for students to use the computer lab or to check out a laptop if available. For additional information and hours of operations.
A student can pay in one or a combination of ways:
- Pay in person: Fee Payments or Tuition, Business office Holds, Refunds/Fee Reversals, Financial Aid Payments/Repayments, Billing, Parking Permits
- Business Office: Location OAB 151A (Old Administration Building)
- Pay online (directly using a credit card): You may pay online in Self-Service or follow the steps about making a payment.
- through a grant (review our Financial Aid website for grant information)
- or with a scholarship or fee waiver through partner programs such as California's Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) which provides employment training resources for adults and dislocated workers. For more information about how to qualify for ETPL.
The HVAC certificates have the potential for entry-level to advanced skill sets, complimented by study in metal fabrication, computers, communication, and digital control systems. A potential resource for investigating jobs in the HVAC field is: O*Net Online or Career Coach.
Yes! The HVAC certificate is stackable - the units count - toward an associate degree in HVAC can be used as undergraduate coursework toward the transferring to a 4-year institution of higher education.
Every 4-year college accepts coursework differently, however, if a student would like to complete the associates degree at Fresno City College along with the general education to successfully transfer to a 4-year institution of choice.
The HVAC certificate is a "stackable" certificate meaning that your successful completion of this certificate can be used to apply for additional certificates and/or of two HVAC associate degrees.
The HVAC certificate is a "stackable" certificate meaning that your successful completion of this certificate can be used as valuable training in conjunction with other fabrication-related certificates such as Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM), or Electrical, Industrial Maintenance Mechanics. When the student applies for a bachelor's degree program, the 4-year institution of higher education would make the decision as to which courses are fully transferable. Consult with a college counselor to discuss these opportunities.
This HVAC program uses the same registration system as all California Community Colleges. A student must apply through CCCApply, if not already a California Community College student, in order to receive a student identification number. Once you have a student identification number, we can arrange for a counselor appointment to discuss the program and/or assist with registration through Self Service.
For more assistance with applying to Fresno City College, please access one or more of the resources below:
Initial Steps
Information to FCC Apply Now (Admissions & Aid)
If you are a first-time student, transfer student, high school student, graduating senior, or returning student, and would like to apply to become a Fresno City College student, start the enrollment process with the application, portal and email, orientation, advising, financial aid, and registration. Or feel free to join a Live Help via Zoom Session and find out more.
Extreme Registration (In person):
January 3rd, 2023: 1pm-6pm at Fresno City College Library
January 4th, 2023: 1pm-6pm at Fresno City College Library
If you are interested in dropping in for some academic counseling support, have registration questions, need financial aid assistance, or have questions about fees and payment, please join in one of the Extreme Registration activities listed above, or call 559-442-8226 during event hours to get placed in the queue or they can sign up through the virtual Kiosk. The Kiosk is closed until the day and time of the event.
RAM Ready
January 3rd, 2023: Virtual
January 4th, 2023: Virtual
RAM Ready is our New Student Welcome event designed to help students navigate their first week and semester of college. The virtual experience will consist of presentations, campus tours, information about on campus resources available for students.
If you have any questions about Ram Ready, please contact the College Relations Office by phone at 559.442.8225 or email at collegerelations@fresnocitycollege.edu and use the subject line “Ram Ready Question”. You can also visit the website to get further information.
New Student Registration Resources
Link for New Student Registration Resources
FCC offers live assistance on Zoom to assist students in filling out the online application, logging into the Student Portal, accessing Canvas and Self-Service, and more. Use the link below to view available support times and register to attend a live workshop.
To make an appointment via zoom.
Student Services
For additional support and guidance about starting at Fresno City college you may visit or contact the Student Services office. The office supports campus wide efforts to improve service delivery, communication, collaboration and the social/personal development of students within the division and the campus as a whole.
Please visit the website to discover the additional student services that are available to support you as a student.
Each HVAC certificate is designed to deliver 2-3 courses for a total of 13-15 units, over a period of eighteen weeks for each course. Typical this can occur over a two-semester period.
The HVAC Technology Certificate will help to prepare you to begin an entry level position in advanced HVAC job opportunities. With one to two years of work experience, students, often take and pass ESCO, NATE, ARI, and other industry certifications. Other than EPA 608 Refrigerant Handling Certification, the HVAC program does not target or endorse a specific industry certification.
The HVAC certificate instructor(s) can assist with job placement opportunities. In the second semester you could choose to take a course, AT-19, for a paid or unpaid work experience to build your resume and begin working in your field of study.
