The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) certification program offered at Lone Star College-Conroe Center was recently restructured to better prepare individuals for entry-level employment in the residential or light commercial heating and air conditioning industry.

“We have restructured the HVAC program from two, 80-hour courses to four, 48-hour courses,” explained Stephen Koszewski, program manager of continuing education. “This allows students with prior experience to directly enter the advanced HVAC or electrical courses.”

According to Koszewski, the first two courses in the program are exclusively electrical. The second two involve mechanical refrigeration systems and controls of typical residential and light commercial HVAC equipment.

LSC-Conroe Center’s HVAC lead instructor, Robert Watts, said the change in the program provides additional time to cover advanced troubleshooting scenarios in greater detail, thus better equipping students for the industry.

Using a specifically designed state-of-the-art refrigeration display, Watts or another instructor can introduce 18 different faults for students to troubleshoot and repair. The program also emphasizes training for HVAC systems in “smart homes,” where air conditioning and heating equipment are tied into other electronic devices.

“To me, it’s not just about helping the students get a job,” said Watts. “It’s about preparing them for the industry and helping them build a successful career in the HVAC field.”

All four courses are being offered this fall at LSC-Conroe Center. The first course, HVAC Excellence: Refrigeration Principles, begins August 19. Each class meets Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 6-10 p.m. for approximately four weeks each.

For more information about the HVAC program or to enroll in the program, contact Stephen Koszewski at stephen.t.koszewski@LoneStar.edu.

LSC-Conroe Center is located at 102 Longview Drive, just east of downtown Conroe on Highway 105 past the FM 1314 intersection. For more information about LSC-Conroe Center, call (936) 271-6000, or visit www.LoneStar.edu/conroe-center.

Lone Star College System consists of five colleges, including CyFair, Kingwood, Montgomery, North Harris, and Tomball, six centers and Lone Star College-University Center. With over 51,000 students, it is the largest college system in the Houston area and the third largest community college district in Texas. To learn more, visit http://www.lonestar.edu/.