Expanding Educational Horizons: Programmatic Accreditation Grows for HVACR

Programmatic accreditation is an independent third party review of an educational program.  The process validates that established standards of excellence for HVACR educational programs are met. These standards are designed to assure that our future workforce receives the quality of training required to provide the skills necessary for success in the HVACR industry.
 
In 1999 HVAC Excellence was the first organization to create programmatic accreditation for HVACR programs in the United States.  Since that time, HVAC Excellence has grown to the industry's largest and oldest provider of HVACR programmatic accreditation.
 
HVAC Excellence reports that, as of January of 2014 there are now accredited programs coast to coast. Programs at community and technical colleges along with secondary programs in 32 states have chosen to validate the quality and integrity of their programs with HVAC Excellence.

These schools in order to earn accreditation voluntarily went through a thorough examination of: the mission of program, administrational responsibilities, finances and funds, student services, instruction design and program elements, physical facilities, equipment and tools, cooperative training, and instructor qualifications.
 
During 2013, 21 HVACR programs received accreditation. They are:
Baton Rouge Community College Elayn Hunt Campus - Baton Rouge, LA
Bucks County Technical High School - Fairless Hills, PA
Cape Girardeau Career & Technology Center - Cape Girardeau, MO
Central Carolina Technical College - Sumter, SC
Cypress College - Cypress, CA
Central New Mexico Community College - Albuquerque, MN
Dunwoody College of Technology - Minneapolis, MN
Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center - Altoona, PA
Greenville Technical College - Greenville, SC
Ivy Tech Community College - Evansville, IN
Ivy Tech Community College - Kokomo, IN
Ivy Tech Community College - Lafayette, IN
Jefferson College - Hillsboro, MO
Lancaster County Career & Technology Center - Brownstown, PA
Lincoln Technical Institute - Mahwah, NJ
Mount San Antonio Community College - Walnut, CA
North Technical High School - Florissant, MO
Pikes Peak Community College - Colorado Springs, CO
South Central Kentucky Community and Technical College - Bowling Green, KY
South Technical High School - Sunset Hills, MO
Traviss Technical Center - Lakeland, FL  

Now that these programs have been granted accreditation they can: provide students with quality assurance of the program, provide employers assurance that graduates are properly trained, can assists in establishing articulation agreements, an eligibility determinant for funding, can increase enrollment, student placement and employer satisfaction is enhanced, requires faculty participation in self-study and annual reporting, can assist students in the acceptability of transfer credits, creates goals for self-improvement.
 
To review the accreditation standards or a list of accredited programs, visit hvacexcellence.org.