HVACR Partnership Provides Accreditation for Training Schools
Source: Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute
Contact: ARI Manager of Communication, (703) 524-8800
January 9, 2002
ARLINGTON, VA -- Heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) training programs that meet and/or exceed industry-validated standards in such areas as instructors, students, curriculum competencies, facilities and fiscal responsibility can now receive programmatic accreditation from the Partnership for Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation (PAHRA).
PAHRA, a partnership between HVACR educators and the HVACR industry, is available nationally for training programs that volunteer to have the quality of their program compared to national standards validated by the profession.
Partnerships in PAHRA include the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI), the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), the Gas Appliance Manufacturing Association (GAMA), the Heating, Airconditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI), the Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC) and the Council of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Educators (CARE).
Programmatic accreditation will help HVACR training schools obtain federal, state and local funding because they have been accredited by a recognized body. HVACR training programs have been declining in number in part due to inadequate funding.
PAHRA is the only HVACR programmatic accreditation program that was validated by representatives from each major HVACR trade association and is available to all training programs whether they are secondary, post secondary, public or private.
To become accredited, a training school must first evaluate its own strengths and weaknesses as compared to industry standards and then submit its findings in a self-study report. A survey team then conducts an on-site visit to corroborate the self-study report.
Each program can seek accreditation in one, two or all three of the following categories: Residential A/C and Heating; Light Commercial A/C and Heating; and/or Commercial Refrigeration.
PAHRA comprises ten articles dealing with issues such as student/instructor ratios and instructional staff qualifications. Programs must use the Industry Competency Exam (ICE) as the assessment tool for program completers, and an instructor must pass ICE with at least an 80 or be certified in the area taught by the North American Technician Excellence (NATE) program or the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES). If a program does not meet the stated safety standards, it is automatically disqualified and will not be awarded PAHRA accreditation until the safety requirements are met.
For more information about PAHRA contact ARI's Education Department.
Looking for a rewarding job? Log on to www.coolcareers.org to learn more about a career in the HVACR and plumbing industry.
ARI is headquartered in Arlington, Va. This release and other news items may be found on the Internet at ARI's World Wide Web site, www.ari.org
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